Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 218, NWS Phoenix, AZ

August 18, 2021Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 18, 2021, 2:15 PM MST for Maricopa County, Arizona. It was in force for 6 hr. 3 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, 2:15 PM MST (21:15 UTC)
Expired
Aug 18, 2021, 7:45 PM MST
In force
6 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), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:19 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, 3:09 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD3 Sse Deer Valley, AZMEDIA FOOTAGE SHOWS RUSHING WATER OVER 7TH AVE NEAR CORAL GABLES DR AT APPROX 3:30 PM. COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL GAUGE, LOCATED JUST UP STREAM, REACHED 1500 CFS AND 3.6 FEET AT 3:09 PM.
Aug 18, 4:05 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD5 S Deer Valley, AZFLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT OF MARICOPA COUNTY GAUGE #11807. REACHED ALARM STAGE @ 2305. PEAKED AT 1567 CFS/11.14 FT 2332.
Aug 18, 4:30 PM MSTFLASH FLOOD3 Se Deer Valley, AZSIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF WASH IN MOON VALLEY.

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, 9.3 hours before the alert went out and 27 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.

560 
WGUS55 KPSR 182115
FFWPSR
AZC013-190115-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0218.210818T2115Z-210819T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
215 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 615 PM MST.

* At 215 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 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 creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Deer Valley 
  Airport, North Mountain Park and Metro Center Mall.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek and Apache Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3382 11200 3380 11193 3375 11194 3369 11199
      3365 11199 3362 11202 3360 11204 3358 11204
      3356 11209 3355 11213 3357 11218

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

$$

MS
3 follow-up statements
841 
WGUS75 KPSR 182142
FFSPSR

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

AZC013-190115-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0218.000000T0000Z-210819T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
242 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM MST THIS 
EVENING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY...

At 242 PM MST, gauge reports indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have 
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.1 to 0.5 inches 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...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, Glendale, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Deer Valley 
  Airport, North Mountain Park and Metro Center Mall.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek and Apache Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3382 11200 3380 11193 3375 11194 3369 11199
      3365 11199 3362 11202 3360 11204 3358 11204
      3356 11209 3355 11213 3357 11218

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

$$

AD
605 
WGUS55 KPSR 190101
FFWPSR
AZC013-190245-
/O.EXT.KPSR.FF.W.0218.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has extended the

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

* Until 745 PM MST.

* At 601 PM MST, Gauge reports 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...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, Glendale, Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Deer Valley 
  Airport, North Mountain Park and Metro Center Mall.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Cave Creek and Apache Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3382 11200 3380 11193 3375 11194 3369 11199
      3365 11199 3362 11202 3360 11204 3358 11204
      3356 11209 3355 11213 3357 11218

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

$$

AD
142 
WGUS75 KPSR 190243
FFSPSR

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

AZC013-190253-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0218.000000T0000Z-210819T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Maricopa AZ-
743 PM MST Wed Aug 18 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 745 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR 
MARICOPA COUNTY...

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

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

LAT...LON 3382 11200 3380 11193 3375 11194 3369 11199
      3365 11199 3362 11202 3360 11204 3358 11204
      3356 11209 3355 11213 3357 11218

$$

CK

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, 1:23 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, 2:29 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.