Flash Flood Warning 13, NWS Phoenix, AZ

972 
WGUS75 KPSR 130550
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
1050 PM MST Thu Mar 12 2020

AZC013-130830-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-200313T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
1050 PM MST Thu Mar 12 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM MST FOR
MARICOPA COUNTY...

At 1049 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated heavy 
rain has fallen across the warned area. Over one inch of rain has 
already fallen in parts of the warned area. Flash flooding is 
ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing flash 
         flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, 
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Gila Bend, Cotton Center and Gila Bend Auxiliary Field. 

Affected washes and roadways include Rainbow Wash at Old US Highway
80 and Sand Tank Wash at Watermelon Road.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3321 11262 3296 11265 3256 11262 3253 11277
      3314 11298

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

18

949 
WGUS75 KPSR 130825
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
125 AM MST Fri Mar 13 2020

AZC013-130835-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0013.000000T0000Z-200313T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
125 AM MST Fri Mar 13 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 130 AM
MST...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3321 11262 3296 11265 3256 11262 3253 11277
      3314 11298

$$

CK

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
500 PM MST Thu Mar 12 2020

.UPDATE...
Updated 00Z aviation discussion.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
A slow moving and wet storm system will bring widespread showers
and thunderstorms into tonight with showers. Showers will linger
across much of Arizona on Friday. After a brief dry period this
weekend, another colder but not as wet storm system is expected
toward the middle of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Not much change in forecast thinking for the current system
impacting the region. GOES-17 water vapor imagery indicated the
center of the upper level low is finally progressing eastward, now
approaching the coast of the baja peninsula. Increasingly
diffluent flow ahead of the low, over an airmass of record high
PWAT values (1.2" observed at Yuma this morning, essentially at
record levels for the winter months), is allowing for widespread
showers to continually develop. A notable short wave in the moist
southwest flow is evident due to a developing baroclinic leaf. The
low should continue to progress through the region tonight as it
is nudged onward by a developing upstream anticyclone and and
pulled a bit by a jet streak moving through the Interior West.

Short-term, high-res convective allowing models continue to show
showers and storms increasing in coverage and intensity this
afternoon across southeast California, with a second round across
south-central Arizona (including Phoenix) this evening. The
coverage/intensity along with continued upslope southeasterly
flow in Imperial, eastern Riverside, Yuma, and La Paz counties
will likely lead to areas of flooding/flash flooding.
Precipitation amounts over the past 6-12 hours are on the order of
0.25-0.75". Additional precipitation from the HREF mean for this
area should be 0.5-1.5" with potential for localized 3". For this
reason, WPC earlier upgraded the area to a Moderate risk of
flooding on the Day 1 Excessive Rainfall Outlook. A Flash Flood
Watch remains in effect for this area through 11 AM Friday (as
runoff issues continue into the morning).

For south-central Arizona, including the Phoenix area and into
southern Gila County, rainfall will become more of an issue as the
afternoon and in particular evening unfold. Additional rainfall
of 0.5-1.0" is likely with potential for localized 3", especially
in upslope areas of northern Maricopa County and toward the Four
Peaks area. Saturated ground conditions from rains earlier in the
week will mean washes and creeks will quickly respond to this next
round. Flooding/flash flooding will become a significant concern
as the evening wears on. A Flash Flood Watch will remain in effect
through 5 PM Friday (as runoff conditions continue).

We can't rule out the threat of other modes of severe weather as
well for all areas - lightning of course with thunderstorms, but
hail as well with the steepening mid-level lapse rates. Enough
shear will be in place for a few of the storms to show rotating
characteristics, supporting stronger updrafts. Should a storm
becoming rooted in the boundary layer, a tornado or two will
become possible.

A rapid decrease in shower activity will take hold over our
western CWA by Friday, but conditions will be slow to improve for
Maricopa/Pinal/Gila counties. Precipitation chances will remain
quite high in this area for Friday due to remaining high moisture
levels and some mid-level instability, but actual additional rain
amounts should be fairly light (0.10-0.25").

The synoptic pattern Saturday through Wednesday will feature
anomalously strong anti-cyclones anchored over the Southeast US
and Gulf of Alaska. Between them, a closed (currently off the
coast of British Columbia) will deepen and gradually move toward
the Southwest US. Ensembles are showing fairly good agreement with
the timing, track, and overall intensity of this system. Ahead of
the system, persistent southwest flow will promote warming
temperatures, with widespread 70s (60s at higher elevations)
Saturday into Tuesday. Spread on temperatures is fairly tight
Sat-Tue, leading to above average confidence.

By Wednesday, our forecast area will begin to feel the influence
of this system as it moves across the region. Broad upper level
diffluence and isentropic/orographic lift will promote
precipitation development. Right now moisture availability looks
to be on the lower end, with GEFS members ranging from 0.4-0.7
inches (mean 0.5). While that would perhaps point to lower QPF
values, the system will be quite a bit colder, with 700 mb
temperatures forecast to be below the 10th percentile for mid/late
March. Given a colder airmass, precipitation processes and
forcing could compensate for the lower moisture content. The
current forecast leveraging WPC guidance indicates roughly half an
inch of precipitation for the Phoenix area. However, it is noted
that the latest NBM runs are wetter, with a 5% chance for 1.00"+.

&&

.AVIATION...Updated at 0000Z.

South-Central Arizona including KPHX, KIWA, KSDL, and KDVT:
A brief lull in the shower and thunderstorm activity is expected
for the next couple of hours with ceilings generally remaining at
or above 4 kft before conditions rapidly deteriorate this evening.
Convective coverage will increase between 01-03Z as SCT-BKN MVFR
ceilings persist, with thunderstorms expected after 03Z as the
cold front approaches. Some hi-res models are pointing towards a
period of training or backbuilding thunderstorms between 04-08Z
over a fairly narrow corridor of the Phoenix metro, whereas others
depict a more progressive system. Regardless, this period should
have persistent IFR-MVFR ceilings and visibilities with a brief
period of W-SW 25-30 knot gusts. Otherwise, winds will generally
retain more southerly or S-SE headings around 10-15 knots.
Convective activity should become more isolated by 08-09Z and end
by 14Z with SCT-BKN ceilings generally staying above 3-4 kft.
Winds will be more S-SW on Friday morning and afternoon with
isolated convective showers expected to redevelop after 21Z.

Southeast California/Southwest Arizona including KIPL and KBLH:

A line of strong showers and thunderstorms will continue to slowly
push east over the next few hours, exiting the vicinity of KIPL by
01Z and KBLH by 02Z. More significant impacts are expected over
the next couple of hours at KBLH where thunderstorms will likely
cause 30-35 knot gusts and MVFR ceilings and visibilities. Behind
this line of storms along the cold front, more westerly winds at
KIPL and southwesterly winds at KBLH are expected, with gusts up
to 25 knots this evening subsiding to 10-15 knots overnight.
Ceilings should generally remain above 3 kft overnight, but patchy
fog is possible, particularly at KBLH through mid-morning. Wind
gusts should increase to around 25 knots tomorrow afternoon across
the region, with more W-SW winds at KIPL and S-SW winds at KBLH.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Saturday through Wednesday:
Drier conditions will move in during the weekend before more
unsettled weather is expected into the middle part of next week.
Humidity levels will stay elevated through the period with minimum
readings generally 25-40%. High temperatures will stay near or a
bit below seasonal normals through the weekend with well below
normal temperatures likely by the middle of next week. Winds will
be breezy at times through much of the period, especially during
the daytime hours. Gusts will mostly reach into the 20-25 mph
range.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotters should follow standard reporting procedures.

&&

.PSR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
AZ...Flash Flood Watch through Friday afternoon for AZZ534-537>560-
     562-563.

     Flash Flood Watch through Friday morning for AZZ530>533-536.

CA...Flash Flood Watch through Friday morning for CAZ560>570.

&&

DISCUSSION...Iniguez
AVIATION...Hopper
FIRE WEATHER...Kuhlman

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
614 PM MST THU MAR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0347 PM     HAIL             4 NW HOLTVILLE          32.85N 115.44W
03/12/2020  E0.25 INCH       IMPERIAL           CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BETWEEN IMPERIAL AND HOLTVILLE RD.

&&

JS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
625 PM MST THU MAR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0608 PM     FLASH FLOOD      10 SSW PALO VERDE       33.28N 114.78W
03/12/2020                   IMPERIAL           CA   PUBLIC

            CALTRANS REPORTS VEHICLE SWEPT AWAY IN A
            FLASH FLOOD ALONG STATE ROUTE 78 WITH
            MULTIPLE PERSONS IN THE VEHICLE.

&&

LJH

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
655 PM MST THU MAR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0556 PM     FLOOD            1 NNW WIEST             33.08N 115.45W
03/12/2020                   IMPERIAL           CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            IMPACTING TRAFFIC.

&&

JS

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
745 PM MST Thu Mar 12 2020

AZZ538-539-130330-
Gila Bend AZ-Tonopah Desert AZ-
745 PM MST Thu Mar 12 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MARICOPA COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM
MST...

At 745 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12
miles east of Sentinel, or 18 miles west of Gila Bend, moving north
at 30 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of Maricopa County.
This includes AZ Interstate 8 between mile markers 94 and 107.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Very heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3279 11289 3280 11310 3333 11316 3333 11284
TIME...MOT...LOC 0245Z 179DEG 28KT 3289 11300

AJ

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
832 PM MST THU MAR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0937 AM     FLASH FLOOD      4 NNW AK-CHIN VILLAGE   33.08N 112.11W
03/12/2020                   PINAL              AZ   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            DELAYED REPORT. HIGHWAY 238 CLOSED DUE TO
            FLOODING.

&&

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
838 PM MST THU MAR 12 2020

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0826 PM     FLOOD            10 SSW PALO VERDE       33.28N 114.78W
03/12/2020                   IMPERIAL           CA   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            MULTIPLE VEHICLES STUCK NEAR FLOOD WATERS
            SR78 AND MILPITAS WASH RD. IMPERIAL CTY.,
            CA.

&&

JS