Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 101, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 31, 2021El Paso County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2021, 5:35 PM MDT for El Paso County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 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 31, 2021, 5:35 PM MDT (23:35 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2021, 8:30 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

County El Paso County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:35 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
Jul 31, 6:09 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 34 Nw Peterson Afb, COIN THE PAST 1.5 HOURS.
Jul 31, 6:10 PM MDTFLASH FLOOD2 N Colorado Springs, COREPORT FROM MPING: STREET/ROAD FLOODING; STREET/ROAD CLOSED; VEHICLES STRANDED.

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

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDNR), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 186 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, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2021-07-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 44 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2021-07-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -71 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
44 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-277 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1127 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-21 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

293 
WGUS55 KPUB 312335
FFWPUB
COC041-010230-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0101.210731T2335Z-210801T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
535 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southwestern El Paso County in east central Colorado...

* Until 830 PM MDT.

* At 535 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain in Western EL Paso county. Between 2 and 3 inches of 
  rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1.5 inches 
  are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing. 1.03 
  inches of rain has been reported in the last 20 minutes at Powers 
  and North Carefree. Cars have been reported stalled in deep water 
  in and around the Colorado SPrings region.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Fort Carson, 
  Security, Stratmoor, Security-Widefield, Peterson AFB and Cimarron 
  Hills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3887 10495 3893 10464 3853 10462 3853 10493
      3880 10493

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Hodanish
3 follow-up statements
477 
WGUS75 KPUB 010007
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
607 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

COC041-010230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0101.000000T0000Z-210801T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
El Paso CO-
607 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM MDT THIS 
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTY...

At 607 PM MDT, trained weather spotters and social media indicate 
flash flooding is occurring in the Colorado Springs region. Several 
social media videos show street flooding occurring in several 
locations across the Colorado springs region. Water was half was 
above the wheels on stalled out cars at Hancock and Circle. Although 
radar trends have shown the raind decreasing, moderate to locally 
heavy rain will still be possible through 6:30 pm in western El Paso 
County.

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

SOURCE...Trained spotters and social media reports.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Fort Carson, 
  Security, Stratmoor, Security-Widefield, Peterson AFB and Cimarron 
  Hills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3887 10495 3893 10464 3853 10462 3853 10493
      3880 10493

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

Hodanish
689 
WGUS75 KPUB 010137
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
737 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

COC041-010230-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0101.000000T0000Z-210801T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
El Paso CO-
737 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM MDT THIS 
EVENING FOR SOUTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTY...

At 737 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated light to moderate rain was 
continuing over western El paso county. However, rain capable of 
causing flash flooding has ended.

HAZARD...Ponding of water will still be possible on local
         roadways

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Nuisance flooding will still be possible

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Fort Carson, 
  Security, Stratmoor, Security-Widefield, Peterson AFB and Cimarron 
  Hills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3887 10495 3893 10464 3853 10462 3853 10493
      3880 10493

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

$$

Hodanish
299 
WGUS75 KPUB 010223
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
823 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

COC041-010233-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0101.000000T0000Z-210801T0230Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
El Paso CO-
823 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 830 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR 
SOUTHWESTERN EL PASO COUNTY...

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures. There is still light to moderate rain falling over 
some locations and ponding is still expected over roadways, so 
hazardous travel conditions is still possible over some locations, 
but overall the flash flooding has ended.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 100 AM MDT for portions 
of central Colorado, east central Colorado, south central Colorado 
and southeast Colorado.

LAT...LON 3887 10495 3893 10464 3853 10462 3853 10493
      3880 10493

$$

KS

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 6:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBDouglas17 min
Jul 31, 12:57 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCostilla63 min
Jul 31, 1:12 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCuster33 min
Jul 31, 1:39 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBFremont3 hr
Jul 31, 1:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCuster49 min
Jul 31, 1:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee46 min
Jul 31, 2:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee44 min
Jul 31, 2:12 PM MDTRiver Flood WatchPUBPueblo18 hr
Jul 31, 2:12 PM MDTRiver Flood WatchPUBPueblo15 hr
Jul 31, 2:12 PM MDTRiver Flood WatchPUBPueblo13 hr
Jul 31, 2:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBConejos32 min
Jul 31, 2:36 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 31, 2:38 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster118 min
Jul 31, 2:48 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 31, 3:11 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBConejos34 min
Jul 31, 3:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache38 min
Jul 31, 3:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBAlamosa35 min
Jul 31, 3:30 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBRio Grande45 min
Jul 31, 3:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas36 min
Jul 31, 3:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca32 min
Jul 31, 3:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBHuerfano49 min
Jul 31, 4:05 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso25 min
Jul 31, 4:31 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 hr
Jul 31, 4:46 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBHuerfano4 hr
Jul 31, 4:50 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBCuster, Pueblo3 hr
Jul 31, 4:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca31 min
Jul 31, 5:03 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBCuster, Huerfano, Pueblo3 hr
Jul 31, 5:13 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBCostilla, Huerfano4 hr
Jul 31, 5:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca32 min
Jul 31, 5:29 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca46 min
Jul 31, 5:43 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBCostilla, Huerfano3 hr
Jul 31, 5:45 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca30 min
Jul 31, 5:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca35 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 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.