Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 102, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 31, 2021Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2021, 5:43 PM MDT for Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. 1 report 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, 5:43 PM MDT (23:43 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2021, 8:45 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Costilla County, CO, Huerfano County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 125 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:44 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, 6:19 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 0.484 Ese La Veta Pass, CO0.24 OF THAT AMOUNT WAS RECORDED IN 15 MINUTES.

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, 11.7 hours before the alert went out and 300 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.

361 
WGUS55 KPUB 312343
FFWPUB
COC023-055-010245-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0102.210731T2343Z-210801T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Spring Burn Scar in...
  Northeastern Costilla County in south central Colorado...
  Central Huerfano County in southeastern Colorado...

* Until 845 PM MDT.

* At 543 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over the Spring Burn Scar. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of 
  rain has fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the North Abeyta Creek, Dog Springs, and south Oak 
Creek. . The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and 
other loose materials.

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

  SOURCE...Radar.

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

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Spring Burn Scar north of Highway 160, northwestern Spring Burn 
  Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county, northern Spring Burn 
  Scar south of Highway 160 in Costilla county and La Veta Pass.

This includes the following high risk locations...
South Abeyta Creek near County Road 443, South Abeyta Creek near 
County Road 442 and South Abeyta Creek near County Road 441.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause 
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and 
ditches in the Spring Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also be 
anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away in 
places. If you encounter flood waters...climb to safety.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3756 10519 3758 10522 3763 10521 3769 10513
      3768 10503 3766 10500 3764 10499 3759 10502
      3756 10505 3754 10510 3757 10516

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

$$

KS
2 follow-up statements
184 
WGUS75 KPUB 010054
FFSPUB

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

COC023-055-010245-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0102.000000T0000Z-210801T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Costilla CO-Huerfano CO-
654 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SPRING BURN SCAR REMAINS IN EFFECT 
UNTIL 845 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA AND CENTRAL 
HUERFANO COUNTIES...

At 654 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain over the Spring Burn Scar. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have 
fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow 
moving through the North Abeyta Creek, Dog Springs, and south Oak 
Creek. . The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and 
other loose materials.

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

SOURCE...Radar.

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

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Spring Burn Scar north of Highway 160, northwestern Spring Burn 
  Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano county, northern Spring Burn 
  Scar south of Highway 160 in Costilla county and La Veta Pass.

This includes the following high risk locations...
South Abeyta Creek near County Road 443, South Abeyta Creek near 
County Road 442 and South Abeyta Creek near County Road 441.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause 
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and 
ditches in the Spring Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also be 
anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away in 
places. If you encounter flood waters...climb to safety.

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

&&

LAT...LON 3756 10519 3758 10522 3763 10521 3769 10513
      3768 10503 3766 10500 3764 10499 3759 10502
      3756 10505 3754 10510 3757 10516

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

$$

KS
829 
WGUS75 KPUB 010240 RRA
FFSPUB

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

COC023-055-010250-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0102.000000T0000Z-210801T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Costilla CO-Huerfano CO-
840 PM MDT Sat Jul 31 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SPRING BURN SCAR WILL EXPIRE AT 845 
PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA AND CENTRAL HUERFANO 
COUNTIES...

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.

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 3756 10519 3758 10522 3763 10521 3769 10513
      3768 10503 3766 10500 3764 10499 3759 10502
      3756 10505 3754 10510 3757 10516

$$

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, 5:35 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso3 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.