Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 60, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 21, 2021Custer County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 21, 2021, 4:08 PM MDT for Custer County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. 4 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 21, 2021, 4:08 PM MDT (22:08 UTC)
Expired
Jul 21, 2021, 7:15 PM MDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Custer County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 116 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:10 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 21, 4:30 PM MDTFLASH FLOODWestcliffe, COHERMIT ROAD CUTOFF FROM HIGHWAY 69 TO 96 CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.
Jul 21, 5:10 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 0.87Westcliffe, CO
Jul 21, 5:27 PM MDTFLASH FLOODWestcliffe, COFLOODING OF INTERSECTION NEAR 3RD AND EDWARDS AVE.
Jul 21, 6:20 PM MDTHEAVY RAIN 1.921 Nne Westcliffe, CO

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, 10.1 hours before the alert went out and 272 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 2021-07-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2021-07-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2182 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

234 
WGUS55 KPUB 212208
FFWPUB
COC027-220115-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0060.210721T2208Z-210722T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
408 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Central Custer County in southeastern Colorado...

* Until 715 PM MDT.

* At 408 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 1.25 to 1.75 
  inches in 1 hour. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  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...
  Silver Cliff, Westcliffe and Rosita.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3819 10553 3816 10534 3812 10532 3805 10532
      3803 10548 3812 10557

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1.25-1.75 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

KS
4 follow-up statements
972 
WGUS75 KPUB 212212
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
412 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

COC027-220115-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0060.000000T0000Z-210722T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Custer CO-
412 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM MDT THIS 
EVENING FOR CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY...

At 412 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 0.25 to 0.75 inches in 1 hour. 
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Reports from 
Emergency Managers are that the ditches are full. There is some 
erosion on the road shoulders on CR40.

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...
  Silver Cliff, Westcliffe and Rosita.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3819 10553 3816 10534 3812 10532 3805 10532
      3803 10548 3812 10557

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...0.25-0.75 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

KS
639 
WGUS75 KPUB 212214
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
414 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

COC027-220115-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0060.000000T0000Z-210722T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Custer CO-
414 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM MDT THIS 
EVENING FOR CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY...

At 414 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 1 to 1.5 inches in 1 hour. 
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.

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...
  Silver Cliff, Westcliffe and Rosita.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3819 10553 3816 10534 3812 10532 3805 10532
      3803 10548 3812 10557

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-1.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

KS
113 
WGUS75 KPUB 212217
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
417 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

COC027-220115-
/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0060.000000T0000Z-210722T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Custer CO-
417 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM MDT THIS 
EVENING FOR CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY...

At 417 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 1 to 1.5 inches in 1 hour. 
Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Street 
flooding has been reported in the town of Westcliffe.

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...
  Silver Cliff, Westcliffe and Rosita.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 3819 10553 3816 10534 3812 10532 3805 10532
      3803 10548 3812 10557

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
EXPECTED RAINFALL...1-1.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

KS
653 
WGUS75 KPUB 220121
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
721 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

COC027-220131-
/O.EXP.KPUB.FF.W.0060.000000T0000Z-210722T0115Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Custer CO-
721 PM MDT Wed Jul 21 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING HAS EXPIRED FOR CENTRAL CUSTER 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.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 1200 AM MDT for portions 
of central Colorado, south central Colorado and southeast Colorado.

LAT...LON 3819 10553 3816 10534 3812 10532 3805 10532
      3803 10548 3812 10557

$$

KT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 20, 7:03 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBChaffee12 min
Jul 21, 2:57 AM MDTFlash Flood WatchPUBAlamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont and 5 more19 hr
Jul 21, 1:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCostilla61 min
Jul 21, 1:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBConejos54 min
Jul 21, 2:02 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBChaffee3 hr
Jul 21, 2:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBAlamosa35 min
Jul 21, 2:34 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBMineral56 min
Jul 21, 2:59 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBTeller46 min
Jul 21, 3:38 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBFremont2 hr
Jul 21, 3:40 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCuster35 min
Jul 21, 3:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster33 min
Jul 21, 3:57 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBTeller48 min
Jul 21, 5:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBSaguache44 min
Jul 21, 5:43 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso47 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.