Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 203, NWS Flagstaff, AZ

August 18, 2021Apache County, Navajo County, Arizona

NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 12:07 PM MST for Apache County, Navajo County, Arizona. 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
Aug 18, 2021, 12:07 PM MST (19:07 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 3:15 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Apache County, AZ, Navajo County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 167 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:08 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

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 12:00Z, 7.1 hours before the alert went out and 180 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 590 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 23 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
590 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-3 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
634 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
10 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

083 
WGUS55 KFGZ 181907
FFWFGZ
AZC001-017-182215-
/O.NEW.KFGZ.FF.W.0203.210818T1907Z-210818T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
1207 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Flagstaff has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Navajo County in north central Arizona...
  Apache County in northeastern Arizona...

* Until 315 PM MST.

* At 1207 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are 
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected 
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water
           crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Greasewood Springs, Sunrise Springs, Cornfields Chapter House, 
  Greasewood and Navajo Reservation.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly or mountainous terrain, there are many low water crossings 
which will become dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross 
flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. 
Normally dry washes, slot canyons and creeks can become raging 
killer currents in a matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3566 10990 3575 10983 3566 10965 3548 10983
      3547 10994 3554 10999

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

$$

EL
2 follow-up statements
165 
WGUS75 KFGZ 181938
FFSFGZ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
1238 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZC001-017-182215-
/O.CON.KFGZ.FF.W.0203.000000T0000Z-210818T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Apache AZ-Navajo AZ-
1238 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM MST THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR NAVAJO AND APACHE COUNTIES...

At 1237 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated the heavy rainfall produced 
by thunderstorms has decreased in intensity across the warned area. 
However, flash flooding is still likely as water drains. Between 0.5 
and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or 
expected to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water crossings,
         creeks, normally dry washes and roads.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Greasewood Springs, Sunrise Springs, Cornfields Chapter House, 
  Greasewood and Navajo Reservation.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly or mountainous terrain, there are many low water crossings 
which will become dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross 
flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain. 
Normally dry washes, slot canyons and creeks can become raging 
killer currents in a matter of minutes, even from distant rainfall.

&&

LAT...LON 3566 10990 3575 10983 3566 10965 3548 10983
      3547 10994 3554 10999

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

$$

EL
825 
WGUS75 KFGZ 182221
FFSFGZ

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
321 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZC001-017-182231-
/O.EXP.KFGZ.FF.W.0203.000000T0000Z-210818T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Apache AZ-Navajo AZ-
321 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR NAVAJO AND APACHE COUNTIES...

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

LAT...LON 3566 10990 3575 10983 3566 10965 3548 10983
      3547 10994 3554 10999

$$

DB

The office that day

Everything else NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 5:02 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino3 hr
Aug 17, 6:23 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino2 hr
Aug 17, 8:30 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino2 hr
Aug 17, 8:42 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZCoconino33 min
Aug 17, 9:07 PM MSTFlash Flood WatchFGZApache, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, Yavapai26 hr
Aug 17, 10:42 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino11 hr
Aug 18, 8:43 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ47 min
Aug 18, 9:29 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino3 hr
Aug 18, 9:44 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZGila7 hr
Aug 18, 10:37 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ38 min
Aug 18, 10:47 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Aug 18, 11:11 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ34 min
Aug 18, 11:54 AM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ36 min
Aug 18, 12:01 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ44 min
Aug 18, 12:24 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Aug 18, 12:31 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Aug 18, 12:51 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZGila, Yavapai4 hr
Aug 18, 1:05 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZGila, Yavapai40 min
Aug 18, 1:09 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino3 hr
Aug 18, 1:37 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGZCoconino38 min
Aug 18, 1:47 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZCoconino118 min
Aug 18, 2:19 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGZNavajo3 hr
Aug 18, 2:44 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZYavapai31 min
Aug 18, 2:52 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningFGZNavajo3 hr
Aug 18, 3:32 PM MSTFlash Flood WarningFGZCoconino, Yavapai3 hr
Aug 18, 3:45 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementFGZ30 min
Aug 18, 4:12 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2021Every flash flood warning in 2021

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.