Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 209, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 18, 2021Gila County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 11:16 AM MST for Gila 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, 11:16 AM MST (18:16 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 2:04 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Emergency
Flash flood emergency
Damage threat
Catastrophic
Flood severity
None

County Gila County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:17 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

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 105 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, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-18Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1239 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Phoenix, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-18The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 52 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1239 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1144 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
52 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
40 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

245 
WGUS55 KPSR 181816
FFWPSR
AZC007-182215-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0209.210818T1816Z-210818T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
1116 AM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY FOR RUSSELL GULCH...

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Telegraph burn scar in...
  Gila County in east central Arizona...

* Until 315 PM MST.

* At 1116 AM MST, emergency management reported multiple homes 
  flooded along Russell Gulch from rainfall over the Telegraph Burn 
  Scar. Between 2 and 2.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional 
  rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area. 
  Flash flooding is already occurring.

Russell Gulch is cut off to access and reports of US 60 at Russell 
Gulch overtopped with flood waters.  The bridge near the medical 
center is overtopped.

  This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Russell Gulch. This is a 
  PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding in and around the Telegraph
           Burn Scar.

  SOURCE...Emergency management reported.

  IMPACT...This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK
           HIGHER GROUND NOW! IMMEDIATE EVACUATION for areas in
           and around the Telegraph Burn Scar.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Globe, Claypool and Central Heights-Midland City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and 
life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are 
fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3332 11091 3338 11085 3344 11084 3343 11081
      3341 11078 3338 11079 3334 11082 3329 11088

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CATASTROPHIC

$$

MS
1 follow-up statement
954 
WGUS75 KPSR 182104
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
204 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

AZC007-182114-
/O.CAN.KPSR.FF.W.0209.000000T0000Z-210818T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-
204 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE TELEGRAPH BURN SCAR IS CANCELLED FOR 
GILA COUNTY...

Flood waters have receded significantly in Russel Gulch. Please 
continue to heed remaining road closures. Any additional rainfall 
could cause Russell Gulch and nearby creeks to rise again.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MST for a portion 
of south central Arizona.

LAT...LON 3332 11091 3338 11085 3344 11084 3343 11081
      3341 11078 3338 11079 3334 11082 3329 11088

$$

MS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 17, 5:16 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila6 hr
Aug 17, 6:05 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila6 hr
Aug 17, 9:08 PM MSTFlash Flood WatchPSRGila, Maricopa, Pinal23 hr
Aug 18, 7:55 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila4 hr
Aug 18, 8:48 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa, Pinal6 hr
Aug 18, 9:26 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Pinal5 hr
Aug 18, 9:39 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila4 hr
Aug 18, 10:16 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila4 hr
Aug 18, 11:37 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila5 hr
Aug 18, 11:46 AM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa29 min
Aug 18, 11:59 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa5 hr
Aug 18, 12:16 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa29 min
Aug 18, 12:26 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa49 min
Aug 18, 12:28 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa5 hr
Aug 18, 12:28 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa4 hr
Aug 18, 12:29 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR46 min
Aug 18, 12:38 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR52 min
Aug 18, 12:45 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR45 min
Aug 18, 12:52 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa53 min
Aug 18, 1:00 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa45 min
Aug 18, 1:06 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa5 hr
Aug 18, 1:11 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa35 min
Aug 18, 1:19 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila41 min
Aug 18, 1:23 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa4 hr
Aug 18, 1:39 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa51 min
Aug 18, 1:40 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa6 hr
Aug 18, 1:46 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa4 hr
Aug 18, 1:47 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR43 min
Aug 18, 2:09 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR51 min
Aug 18, 2:13 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa47 min
Aug 18, 2:15 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRMaricopa6 hr
Aug 18, 2:29 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRGila, Maricopa46 min
Aug 18, 2:32 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR43 min
Aug 18, 2:34 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila41 min
Aug 18, 2:45 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa6 hr
Aug 18, 3:02 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR43 min
Aug 18, 3:03 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRPinal42 min
Aug 18, 3:11 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa5 hr
Aug 18, 3:19 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSR41 min
Aug 18, 3:33 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila, Maricopa4 hr
Aug 18, 3:41 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRGila64 min
Aug 18, 3:46 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPSRGila5 hr
Aug 18, 4:13 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa47 min
Aug 18, 4:39 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementPSRMaricopa51 min
Aug 18, 4:58 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPSRMaricopa32 min

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.