Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 86, NWS Phoenix, AZ

July 25, 2021Gila County, Maricopa County, Arizona

NWS Phoenix, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Jul 25, 2021, 2:10 PM MST for Gila County, 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: Jul 25, 2021, 2:10 PM MST (21:10 UTC)
Expired: Jul 25, 2021, 6:15 PM MST
In force: 4 hr
Issued by: NWS Phoenix, AZ
Area: Storm-based polygon
Damage threat: Considerable
Flood severity: None

Counties Gila County, AZ, Maricopa County, AZ

The radar

The Phoenix radar (KIWA), 48 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:10 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 25, 3:00 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	9 N Saguaro Lake, AZ	USGS GAGE SYCA3 ON SYCAMORE CREEK NEAR FORT MCDOWELL SHOWED A RAPID RISE WITH 6 FOOT RISE IN 1.5 HOURS AND CRESTED AT 6.4 FEET.
Jul 25, 4:30 PM MST	FLASH FLOOD	7 Nnw Saguaro Lake, AZ	DELAYED REPORT SEVERAL VIDEOS SHARED ON NEWS MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA SHOW INSTANCES OF MULTIPLE VEHICLES STUCK AND/OR SWEPT AWAY IN FLASH FLOOD WATERS IN LOWER SYCAMORE CREEK BETWEEN THE VERDE RIVER AND FOREST SERVICE RD 403. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAD TO BE RESCU

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

The nearest sounding before it

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 175 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 4 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -19 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 803 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 18 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -30 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 25 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

608 
WGUS55 KPSR 252110
FFWPSR
AZC007-013-260115-
/O.NEW.KPSR.FF.W.0086.210725T2110Z-210726T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
210 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Bush burn scar in...
  Gila County in east central Arizona...
  Maricopa County in south central Arizona...

* Until 615 PM MST.

* At 210 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over the Bush Burn Scar. Between 0.5 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 in and around the Bush Burn
           Scar.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around
           the Bush Burn Scar.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sugarloaf Mountain, Ballantine Trailhead, Round Valley and Fort 
  McDowell.

This includes the following highways...
	AZ Route 87 between mile markers 198 and 207.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Sycamore Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Picadilla Creek, Boulder Creek, 
  Mesquite Wash, Camp Creek and Ironwood Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where 
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become 
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or 
creeks. Recreation interests at Saguaro Lake should avoid washes 
draining into the Lake.

&&

LAT...LON 3358 11144 3363 11168 3381 11149 3379 11140
      3372 11133

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

$$

AJ

3 follow-up statements

285 
WGUS75 KPSR 252218
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
318 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

AZC007-013-260115-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0086.000000T0000Z-210726T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-Maricopa AZ-
318 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BUSH BURN SCAR REMAINS IN EFFECT 
UNTIL 615 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR GILA AND MARICOPA COUNTIES...

At 318 PM MST, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the Bush Burn Scar. Between 
0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding has likely 
started.

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

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around
         western and southern portions of the Bush Burn Scar.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sugarloaf Mountain, Ballantine Trailhead, Round Valley and Fort 
  McDowell.

This includes the following highways...
	AZ Route 87 between mile markers 198 and 207.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Sycamore Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Picadilla Creek, Boulder Creek, 
  Mesquite Wash, Camp Creek and Ironwood Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where 
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become 
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or 
creeks. Recreation interests at Saguaro Lake should avoid washes 
draining into the Lake.

&&

LAT...LON 3358 11144 3363 11168 3381 11149 3379 11140
      3372 11133

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

$$

AJ

347 
WGUS75 KPSR 260048
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
548 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

AZC007-013-260115-
/O.CON.KPSR.FF.W.0086.000000T0000Z-210726T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-Maricopa AZ-
548 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BUSH BURN SCAR REMAINS IN EFFECT 
UNTIL 615 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR GILA AND MARICOPA COUNTIES...

At 548 PM MST, Stream gauge reports show significant flow is 
continuing in Sycamore Creek. Tributary washes likely still have 
runoff as well.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around
         the Bush Burn Scar.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Sugarloaf Mountain, Ballantine Trailhead, Round Valley and Fort 
  McDowell.

This includes the following highways...
	AZ Route 87 between mile markers 198 and 207.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Picadilla Creek, Verde River, Boulder Creek, Mesquite Wash, Camp 
  Creek, Salt River, Sycamore Creek, Cottonwood Creek and Ironwood 
  Wash.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where 
you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become 
killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or 
creeks.

&&

LAT...LON 3358 11144 3363 11168 3381 11149 3379 11140
      3372 11133

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

$$

AJ

758 
WGUS75 KPSR 260118 RRA
FFSPSR

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Phoenix AZ
618 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

AZC007-013-260128-
/O.EXP.KPSR.FF.W.0086.000000T0000Z-210726T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Gila AZ-Maricopa AZ-
618 PM MST Sun Jul 25 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BUSH BURN SCAR HAS EXPIRED FOR GILA 
AND MARICOPA COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Water is slowly receding and flash 
flooding is no longer expected. However, ongoing runoff, especially 
in Sycamore Creek, will continue to pose a hazard. Please continue 
to heed remaining road closures.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 1200 AM MST for a 
portion of south central Arizona.



LAT...LON 3358 11144 3363 11168 3381 11149 3379 11140
      3372 11133

$$

AJ

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 24, 10:57 PM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	5 hr
Jul 25, 4:45 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 6:27 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Pinal	3 hr
Jul 25, 7:14 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 7:38 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 7:57 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Pinal	3 hr
Jul 25, 8:01 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 8:45 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	4 hr
Jul 25, 8:51 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	6 hr
Jul 25, 9:00 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Pinal	4 hr
Jul 25, 9:39 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa	17 min
Jul 25, 9:47 AM MST	Areal Flood Advisory	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	3 hr
Jul 25, 9:56 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	8 hr
Jul 25, 10:08 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa, Pinal	4 hr
Jul 25, 10:16 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	4 hr
Jul 25, 10:41 AM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	4 hr
Jul 25, 12:11 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Gila	4 hr
Jul 25, 12:35 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	4 hr
Jul 25, 12:54 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	Maricopa	4 hr
Jul 25, 2:14 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 2:18 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning	PSR	Maricopa	3 hr
Jul 25, 3:29 PM MST	Special Weather Statement	PSR	La Paz	31 min
Jul 25, 4:02 PM MST	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PSR	La Paz	4 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2021 Every 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.