Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 215, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 18, 2021Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 1:23 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 4 hr. 5 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, 1:23 PM MST (20:23 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 5:30 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), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:27 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, 2:03 PM MSTHEAVY RAIN 3.117 Ne Carefree, AZFLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT OF MARICOPA COUNTY RAIN GAUGE AT RACKENSACK CANYON MEASURED 3.11 INCHES OF RAIN IN ONE HOUR, AND 3.86 INCHES TOTAL.
Aug 18, 2:18 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD10 Nne Carefree, AZFCDMC STREAMGAUGE #21807 SEVEN SPRINGS WASH REACHED AND EXCEEDED ALARM STAGE AND CRESTED AT 5.06 FEET. DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS INCLUDE LOW WATER CROSSING AT SEVEN SPRINGS RD. NEAR CAMPGROUND.
Aug 18, 2:44 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD1 Ne Cave Creek, AZSIGNIFICANT FLOW IN GALLOWAY WASH AND ACROSS SPUR CROSS RD.
Aug 18, 3:51 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD2 Ssw Carefree, AZWASH ACROSS CAREFREE HIGHWAY FLOODED OUT.
Aug 18, 3:53 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD1 Ssw Carefree, AZTOM DARLINGTON DR. IS FLOODED OUT AND GRAVEL, DIRT AND LARGE ROCKS ALL OVER THE SOUTHBOUND LANES.

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, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 51 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.

418 
WGUS55 KPSR 182023
FFWPSR
AZC013-190030-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0215.210818T2023Z-210819T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
123 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 530 PM MST.

* At 123 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. 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...
  Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Mountain, Camp Creek and 
  Seven Springs.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Grapevine Wash, Seven Springs Wash, Apache Wash, Camp Creek, Blue 
  Wash, Cave Creek, Galloway Wash and Cottonwood Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3399 11186 3397 11180 3392 11180 3384 11180
      3380 11188 3380 11195 3382 11201 3385 11201
      3389 11193 3389 11191

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

$$

MS
1 follow-up statement
603 
WGUS75 KPSR 182143
FFSPSR

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

AZC013-190030-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0215.000000T0000Z-210819T0030Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
243 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 530 PM MST THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR MARICOPA COUNTY...

At 243 PM MST, Rain gauge reports indicated thunderstorms producing 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 and 4 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...
  Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Mountain, Camp Creek and 
  Seven Springs.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Grapevine Wash, Seven Springs Wash, Apache Wash, Camp Creek, Blue 
  Wash, Cave Creek, Galloway Wash and Cottonwood Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3399 11186 3397 11180 3392 11180 3384 11180
      3380 11188 3380 11195 3382 11201 3385 11201
      3389 11193 3389 11191

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, 12:28 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, 1:39 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.