Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 123, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 15, 2021Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 15, 2021, 2:01 AM MDT for Costilla County, Huerfano County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 15, 2021, 2:01 AM MDT (08:01 UTC)
Expired
Aug 15, 2021, 4:33 AM 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), 133 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:02 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM (KABQ), launched 00:00Z, 8.0 hours before the alert went out and 306 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 00:00Z on 2021-08-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 51 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, Albuquerq/Krtlnd, NM at 00:00Z on 2021-08-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 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
51 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-66 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2052 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

225 
WGUS55 KPUB 150801
FFWPUB
COC023-055-151100-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0123.210815T0801Z-210815T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
201 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

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

* Until 500 AM MDT.

* At 201 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over the Spring Burn Scar. Between 0.5 and 1.2 inches 
  of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.1 to 0.3 
  inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or 
  expected to begin shortly.

Excessive rainfall over the warning area may cause mud slides near 
steep terrain. The mud slide 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 may experience flash flooding include...
  Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Costilla county, 
  northwestern Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano 
  county and southern Spring Burn Scar north of Highway 160.

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

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.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3748 10528 3749 10530 3752 10528 3753 10525
      3755 10524 3758 10523 3761 10520 3761 10514
      3759 10508 3757 10507 3756 10507 3755 10508
      3757 10511 3757 10512 3755 10512 3755 10511
      3753 10510 3751 10511

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

$$

Cohen
2 follow-up statements
752 
WGUS75 KPUB 150913
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
313 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC023-055-151100-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0123.000000T0000Z-210815T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Costilla CO-Huerfano CO-
313 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE SPRING BURN SCAR 
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MDT EARLY THIS MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN 
COSTILLA AND CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...

At 313 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated that earlier thunderstorms 
produced heavy rain, with rainfall accumulations between 0.6 and 1.3 
inches. While shower and thunderstorm activity has diminished, flash 
flooding could still be ongoing.

Earlier excessive rainfall over the warning area could cause mud 
slides near steep terrain. The mud slide can consist of rock, mud, 
vegetation and other loose materials.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Earlier 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 south of Highway 160 in Costilla county, 
  northwestern Spring Burn Scar south of Highway 160 in Huerfano 
  county and southern Spring Burn Scar north of Highway 160.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Earlier heavy rainfall may 
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.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the 
dangers of flooding.

&&

LAT...LON 3748 10528 3749 10530 3752 10528 3753 10525
      3755 10524 3758 10523 3761 10520 3761 10514
      3759 10508 3757 10507 3756 10507 3755 10508
      3757 10511 3757 10512 3755 10512 3755 10511
      3753 10510 3751 10511

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

$$

Cohen
245 
WGUS75 KPUB 151033
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
433 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC023-055-151043-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0123.000000T0000Z-210815T1100Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Costilla CO-Huerfano CO-
433 AM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SPRING BURN SCAR IS CANCELLED FOR 
NORTHEASTERN COSTILLA AND CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...

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

LAT...LON 3748 10528 3749 10530 3752 10528 3753 10525
      3755 10524 3758 10523 3761 10520 3761 10514
      3759 10508 3757 10507 3756 10507 3755 10508
      3757 10511 3757 10512 3755 10512 3755 10511
      3753 10510 3751 10511

$$

Cohen

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 14, 7:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache30 min
Aug 14, 7:41 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache34 min
Aug 14, 9:37 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso23 min
Aug 15, 1:05 PM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBAlamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano and 3 more7 hr
Aug 15, 1:50 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBChaffee, Saguache2 hr
Aug 15, 2:24 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso36 min
Aug 15, 2:58 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCuster32 min
Aug 15, 3:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee29 min
Aug 15, 3:08 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBChaffee2 hr
Aug 15, 4:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley, Pueblo44 min
Aug 15, 4:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBHuerfano52 min
Aug 15, 5:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCrowley27 min
Aug 15, 5:54 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas36 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.