Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 124, NWS Pueblo, CO

August 15, 2021Chaffee County, Saguache County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Aug 15, 2021, 1:50 PM MDT for Chaffee County, Saguache County, Colorado. It was in force for 2 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, 1:50 PM MDT (19:50 UTC)
Expired: Aug 15, 2021, 4:19 PM MDT
In force: 2 hr
Issued by: NWS Pueblo, CO
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Chaffee County, CO, Saguache County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 175 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:53 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

Grand Junction, CO (KGJT), launched 12:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 214 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: 15 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -410 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 3078 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 21 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 60 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

445 
WGUS55 KPUB 151950
FFWPUB
COC015-109-152300-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0124.210815T1950Z-210815T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

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

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  South Central Chaffee County in central Colorado...
  Northern Saguache County in central Colorado...

* Until 500 PM MDT.

* At 150 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over the Poncha Pass area. Flash flooding is ongoing or 
  expected to begin shortly. Mud and rock slides will be possible.

  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...
  Poncha Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3851 10631 3850 10607 3846 10606 3838 10603
      3837 10620 3843 10625 3844 10625 3844 10626

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Hodanish

4 follow-up statements

368 
WGUS75 KPUB 152005
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
205 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC015-109-152300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0124.000000T0000Z-210815T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-Saguache CO-
205 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHAFFEE AND NORTHERN SAGUACHE COUNTIES...

At 205 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have 
fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1 inch in 0.5 hours. 
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

This storm continues to produce very heavy rain in the Poncha Pass 
region and rock and mudslides are likely to occur on highway 285.

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...
  Poncha Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3851 10631 3850 10607 3846 10606 3838 10603
      3837 10620 3843 10625 3844 10625 3844 10626

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL...0.5-1 INCH IN 0.5 HOURS

$$

Hodanish

996 
WGUS75 KPUB 152017
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
217 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC015-109-152300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0124.000000T0000Z-210815T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-Saguache CO-
217 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHAFFEE AND NORTHERN SAGUACHE COUNTIES...

At 217 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing very 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain 
have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1 inch in 0.5 
hours. THERE IS A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY THAT FLASH FLOODING AND 
ROCKSLIDES ARE OCCURING ON PONCHA PASS.

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...
  Poncha Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3851 10631 3850 10607 3846 10606 3838 10603
      3837 10620 3843 10625 3844 10625 3844 10626

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...0.5-1 INCH IN 0.5 HOURS

$$

Hodanish

058 
WGUS75 KPUB 152048
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
248 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC015-109-152300-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0124.000000T0000Z-210815T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-Saguache CO-
248 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MDT THIS 
AFTERNOON FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHAFFEE AND NORTHERN SAGUACHE COUNTIES...

At 248 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms have weakened 
considerably and were moving south of Poncha Pass. However flash 
flooding will still be possible in the Poncha Pass area through 330 
pm.

HAZARD...Flash flooding and mudslides.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding and rockslides on highway 285.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Poncha Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3851 10631 3850 10607 3846 10606 3838 10603
      3837 10620 3843 10625 3844 10625 3844 10626

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

$$

Hodanish

349 
WGUS75 KPUB 152219
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
419 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

COC015-109-152229-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0124.000000T0000Z-210815T2300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Chaffee CO-Saguache CO-
419 PM MDT Sun Aug 15 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTH CENTRAL CHAFFEE AND 
NORTHERN SAGUACHE 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 Monday for a 
portion of southeast Colorado.

LAT...LON 3851 10631 3850 10607 3846 10606 3838 10603
      3837 10620 3843 10625 3844 10625 3844 10626

$$

Hodanish

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 14, 7:15 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Saguache	30 min
Aug 14, 7:41 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Saguache	34 min
Aug 14, 9:37 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	23 min
Aug 15, 2:01 AM MDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	PUB	Costilla, Huerfano	3 hr
Aug 15, 1:05 PM MDT	Flash Flood Watch	PUB	Alamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano and 3 more	7 hr
Aug 15, 2:24 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	El Paso	36 min
Aug 15, 2:58 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Custer	32 min
Aug 15, 3:01 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Chaffee	29 min
Aug 15, 3:08 PM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	PUB	Chaffee	2 hr
Aug 15, 4:16 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Crowley, Pueblo	44 min
Aug 15, 4:38 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Huerfano	52 min
Aug 15, 5:18 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Crowley	27 min
Aug 15, 5:54 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	PUB	Las Animas	36 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.