Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2020

Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Pueblo, CO

May 29, 2020Huerfano County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at May 29, 2020, 5:56 PM MDT for Huerfano County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: May 29, 2020, 5:56 PM MDT (23:56 UTC)
Expired: May 29, 2020, 8:46 PM MDT
In force: 3 hr
Issued by: NWS Pueblo, CO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Flood severity: None

County Huerfano County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 135 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:57 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 302 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL: 2531 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 16 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 134 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 285 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

082 
WGUS55 KPUB 292356
FFWPUB
COC055-300300-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0003.200529T2356Z-200530T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
556 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South central Huerfano County in southeastern Colorado...

* Until 900 PM MDT.

* At 552 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over Indian Creek and Oak Creek on the southeastern 
  Spring Burn Scar. The rain is moving south at 5 mph. Up to one 
  half inch of rain has already fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or 
  expected to begin shortly.

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

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

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

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Indian Creek on the southeastern Spring Burn Scar, Spring Burn Scar
  south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county, and La Veta.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the Indian Creek and Oak Creek drainages. The debris 
flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

This includes the following streams and drainages... South Middle 
Creek, Cherry Creek, Middle Creek, Oak Creek, Wagon Creek and North 
Middle Creek.

This includes the following areas, Sulphur Springs on Indian Creek,
County Road 421 near Indian Creek, South Abeyta Creek near County
Road 442, South Abeyta Creek near County Road 441, and North Abeyta
Creek near Highway 160.
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3743 10515 3745 10515 3746 10517 3749 10518
      3752 10517 3754 10518 3755 10518 3758 10519
      3754 10507 3756 10500 3742 10497

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...0.50 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

KT

4 follow-up statements

517 
WGUS75 KPUB 300000
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
600 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

COC055-300300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200530T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-
600 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...

At 558 PM MDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the southeast Spring Burn 
Scar. Up to one half inch of rain has already fallen. 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.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the Indian Creek and Oak Creek drainages. The debris 
flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Indian Creek on the southeastern Spring Burn Scar, and Spring Burn 
Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county.

Additional rainfall amounts of up to one half inch are possible in 
the warned area.

This includes the following areas, Sulphur Springs on Indian Creek,
County Road 421 near Indian Creek, South Abeyta Creek near County
Road 442, and South Abeyta Creek near County Road 441.
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3743 10515 3745 10515 3746 10517 3749 10518
      3752 10517 3754 10518 3755 10518 3758 10519
      3754 10507 3755 10502 3743 10501

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...0.75 IN 1 HOUR

$$

KT

892 
WGUS75 KPUB 300033
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
633 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

COC055-300300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200530T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-
633 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...

At 626 PM MDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain have moved across the southeast 
side of the Spring Burn scar. 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.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the Oak Creek, Middle Creek and South Abeyta Creek. 
The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose 
materials.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county, and 
southeastern Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Costilla 
county.

This includes the following areas, Sulphur Springs on Indian Creek, 
County Road 421 near Indian Creek, South Abeyta Creek near County 
Road 442, and South Abeyta Creek near County Road 441.
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains
will likely trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep
terrain, especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3743 10515 3745 10515 3746 10517 3749 10518
      3752 10517 3754 10518 3755 10518 3758 10519
      3754 10507 3755 10502 3743 10501

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

$$

KT

187 
WGUS75 KPUB 300146
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
746 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

COC055-300300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200530T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-
746 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY...

At 737 PM MDT, Doppler radar and automated gauges indicated heavy 
rain has ended across the southern portions of the Spring Burn scar. 
Radar estimated up to 0.6 inches of rain has fallen across the Oak 
Creek and portions of the Middle Creek drainages.  the South Abeyta 
Creek gage reported 0.42 inches of rainfall fell between 
approximately 5 PM and 6 PM. Flash flooding will continue until the 
water has a chance to recede.  

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

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

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

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the Oak Creek and Middle Creek Drainages. The debris 
flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county.

This includes the following areas, South Abeyta Creek near County 
Road 441, and North Abeyta Creek near Highway 160.
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move away from recently burned areas. Life-threatening flooding of 
creeks, roads and normally dry arroyos is likely. The heavy rains 
may trigger rockslides, mudslides and debris flows in steep terrain, 
especially in and around these areas.

&&

LAT...LON 3743 10510 3748 10514 3757 10517 3754 10507
      3755 10504 3750 10504 3748 10505 3747 10503
      3743 10502

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

$$

KT

286 
WGUS75 KPUB 300246
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
846 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

COC055-300256-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200530T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Huerfano CO-
846 PM MDT Fri May 29 2020

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining road closures.

LAT...LON 3743 10510 3748 10514 3757 10517 3754 10507
      3755 10504 3750 10504 3748 10505 3747 10503
      3743 10502

$$

KT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
May 28, 6:40 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Alamosa	35 min
May 29, 1:39 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Rio Grande	36 min
May 29, 2:29 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	31 min
May 29, 4:36 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Custer	24 min
May 29, 5:40 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PUB	Costilla, Huerfano	3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2020 Every flash flood warning in 2020

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.