Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 213, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 18, 2021Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 12:28 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 4 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 18, 2021, 12:28 PM MST (19:28 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 4:30 PM MST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Maricopa County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 81 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:29 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 18, 1:43 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD10 Nne Carefree, AZFCDMC STREAMGAUGE #21307 CAVE CREEK ASHDALE REACHED AND EXCEED ALERT STAGE CRESTING AT 5.23 FEET. DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS INCLUDE LOW LYING PROPERTIES AND CROSSINGS IN CAVE CREEK.
Aug 18, 3:00 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD4 Se New River, AZSOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO SHOWED FLOWING WATER OVER HONDA BOW RD AT SKUNK CREEK. A SECOND VIDEO SHOWED A VEHICLE STUCK IN THE FLOWING WATER, INDICATING THE ROAD IS IMPASSABLE.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Phoenix, AZ (KPSR), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 58 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.

488 
WGUS55 KPSR 181928 RRA
FFWPSR
AZC013-182330-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0213.210818T1928Z-210818T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
1228 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Maricopa County in south central Arizona...

* Until 430 PM MST.

* At 1228 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain in Cline Creek. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has 
  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 creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Phoenix, New River and Cave Creek.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Skunk Creek, Apache Wash, Cave Creek, Rodger Creek, Little Squaw 
  Creek, New River, Cottonwood Creek, Deadman Wash and North Canyon 
  Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3389 11215 3390 11215 3390 11214 3393 11211
      3397 11211 3400 11211 3404 11212 3403 11209
      3402 11201 3401 11187 3399 11186 3389 11191
      3383 11205 3385 11212

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

$$

MS
2 follow-up statements
414 
WGUS75 KPSR 182011
FFSPSR

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

AZC013-182330-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0213.000000T0000Z-210818T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
111 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM MST THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR MARICOPA COUNTY...

At 111 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain in Cline Creek and New River drainages. Between 1 and 2 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 creeks and streams,
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Phoenix, New River and Cave Creek.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Skunk Creek, Apache Wash, Cave Creek, Rodger Creek, Little Squaw 
  Creek, New River, Cottonwood Creek, Deadman Wash and North Canyon 
  Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3389 11215 3390 11215 3390 11214 3393 11211
      3397 11211 3400 11211 3404 11212 3403 11209
      3402 11201 3401 11187 3399 11186 3389 11191
      3383 11205 3385 11212

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

$$

MS
227 
WGUS75 KPSR 182144
FFSPSR

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

AZC013-182330-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0213.000000T0000Z-210818T2330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
244 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 430 PM MST THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR MARICOPA COUNTY...

At 244 PM MST, Rain gauge reports indicated thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain in Cline Creek and New River. Between 1 and 2 inches of 
rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
shortly.

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

SOURCE...Gauges reported.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Phoenix, New River and Cave Creek.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Skunk Creek, Apache Wash, Cave Creek, Rodger Creek, Little Squaw 
  Creek, New River, Cottonwood Creek, Deadman Wash and North Canyon 
  Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3389 11215 3390 11215 3390 11214 3393 11211
      3397 11211 3400 11211 3404 11212 3403 11209
      3402 11201 3401 11187 3399 11186 3389 11191
      3383 11205 3385 11212

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

$$

AD

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, 11:16 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning EmergencyCatastrophic damage threatPSRGila3 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, 12:29 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.