Alert archive / California / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 2, NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

January 26, 2021San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, California

NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued this flash flood warning at Jan 26, 2021, 10:56 PM PST for San Mateo County, Santa Cruz County, California. It was in force for 4 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
Jan 26, 2021, 10:56 PM PST (06:56 UTC)
Expired
Jan 27, 2021, 3:10 AM PST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties San Mateo County, CA, Santa Cruz County, CA

The radar

The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:55 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

Oakland, CA (KOAK), launched 00:00Z, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 68 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, Oakland, CA at 00:00Z on 2021-01-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Oakland, CA at 00:00Z on 2021-01-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 118 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
1 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
863 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
49 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
118 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
329 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

308 
WGUS56 KMTR 270656
FFWMTR
CAC081-087-271245-
/O.NEW.KMTR.FF.W.0002.210127T0656Z-210127T1245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1056 PM PST Tue Jan 26 2021

The National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The CZU Lightning Complex burn area in...
  Southeastern San Mateo County in northern California...
  Northwestern Santa Cruz County in northern California...

* Until 445 AM PST.

* At 1056 PM PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  heavy rain falling over the CZU Lightning Complex Burn Area. 
  Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Flash flooding is 
  ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn area will result in debris flow 
moving through the CZU Lightning Complex burn area. The debris flow 
can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing
           flash flooding in and around the CZU Lightning Complex
           Burn Area.

  SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around
           the CZU Lightning Complex Burn Area.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Boulder Creek.

This is a life threatening situation for people in or near the CZU 
Lightning Complex burn area. Some drainage basins impacted include...
Butano Creek...Gazos Creek...Waddell Creek...Scott Creek...Big Creek 
and Boulder Creek.
 
Heavy rainfall will cause flash flooding of creeks and streams from 
the CZU Lightning Complex burn area downstream. Anyone living or 
traveling on roads in the CZU Lightning Complex burn area or along 
secondary roads like Swanton Road...Jamison Creek Road...and Hwy 9 
from Boulder Creek to Brookdale...should be alert for possible road 
problems due to erosion...debris flows...rockfalls and debris. 
Roadways and bridges may be washed away in places.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life-threatening situation. If you observe movement of 
soils move to higher ground immediately.

&&

LAT...LON 3714 12234 3720 12235 3727 12231 3725 12222
      3718 12214 3713 12213 3714 12215 3711 12211
      3704 12209 3702 12211 3703 12213 3706 12214
      3707 12212 3708 12214 3707 12214 3703 12220
      3711 12227

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...2-4 INCHES IN 6 HOURS 

$$

RWW
2 follow-up statements
103 
WGUS76 KMTR 270906
FFSMTR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
106 AM PST Wed Jan 27 2021

CAC081-087-271245-
/O.CON.KMTR.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210127T1245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
San Mateo CA-Santa Cruz CA-
106 AM PST Wed Jan 27 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE CZU LIGHTNING COMPLEX BURN AREA 
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 AM PST EARLY THIS MORNING FOR 
SOUTHEASTERN SAN MATEO AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES...

At 106 AM PST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
that heavy rain was falling over the CZU Lightning Complex Burn 
Area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen.

Excessive rainfall over the burn area will result in debris flow 
moving through the CZU Lightning Complex burn area. The debris flow 
can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Heavy rain producing
         flash flooding in and around the CZU Lightning Complex
         Burn Area.

SOURCE...Doppler radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around
         the CZU Lightning Complex Burn Area.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Boulder Creek.

This is a life threatening situation for people in or near the CZU 
Lightning Complex burn area. Some drainage basins impacted include...
Butano Creek...Gazos Creek...Waddell Creek...Scott Creek...Big Creek 
and Boulder Creek.
 
Heavy rainfall will cause flash flooding of creeks and streams from 
the CZU Lightning Complex burn area downstream. Anyone living or 
traveling on roads in the CZU Lightning Complex burn area or along 
secondary roads like Swanton Road...Jamison Creek Road...and Hwy 9 
from Boulder Creek to Brookdale...should be alert for possible road 
problems due to erosion...debris flows...rockfalls and debris. 
Roadways and bridges may be washed away in places.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

This is a life-threatening situation. If you observe movement of 
soils move to higher ground immediately.

&&

LAT...LON 3714 12234 3720 12235 3727 12231 3725 12222
      3718 12214 3713 12213 3714 12215 3711 12211
      3704 12209 3702 12211 3703 12213 3706 12214
      3707 12212 3708 12214 3707 12214 3703 12220
      3711 12227

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-3 INCHES IN 4 HOURS 

$$

RWW
112 
WGUS76 KMTR 271110
FFSMTR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
310 AM PST Wed Jan 27 2021

CAC081-087-271120-
/O.CAN.KMTR.FF.W.0002.000000T0000Z-210127T1245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
San Mateo CA-Santa Cruz CA-
310 AM PST Wed Jan 27 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE CZU LIGHTNING COMPLEX BURN AREA IS 
CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN SAN MATEO AND NORTHWESTERN SANTA CRUZ 
COUNTIES...

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

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 400 PM PST Thursday for 
the CZU Lightning Complex Burn Area.

LAT...LON 3714 12234 3720 12235 3727 12231 3725 12222
      3718 12214 3713 12213 3714 12215 3711 12211
      3704 12209 3702 12211 3703 12213 3706 12214
      3707 12212 3708 12214 3707 12214 3703 12220
      3711 12227

$$

RWW

The office that day

Everything else NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 26, 9:39 PM PSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatMTRSonoma81 min
Jan 26, 10:22 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRMarin, Napa, Sonoma4 hr
Jan 26, 11:18 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRAlameda, City and County of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara4 hr
Jan 26, 11:46 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR14 min
Jan 27, 1:31 AM PSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatMTRMonterey3 hr
Jan 27, 1:38 AM PSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatMTRMonterey14 hr
Jan 27, 1:45 AM PSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatMTRMonterey3 hr
Jan 27, 2:06 AM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR24 min
Jan 27, 2:18 AM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRMonterey, Santa Cruz117 min
Jan 27, 2:23 AM PSTGale WarningMTR3 hr
Jan 27, 2:23 AM PSTSmall Craft AdvisoryMTR55 hr
Jan 27, 5:27 AM PSTGale WarningMTR21 hr
Jan 27, 12:03 PM PSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatMTRMonterey3 hr
Jan 27, 12:05 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningMTRMonterey3 hr
Jan 27, 12:33 PM PSTFlash Flood WarningMTRSan Mateo, Santa Cruz6 hr
Jan 27, 12:53 PM PSTSpecial Marine WarningMTR52 min
Jan 27, 2:11 PM PSTAreal Flood AdvisoryMTRAlameda, Monterey, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz5 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in California, 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.