Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2021

Flash Flood Warning 121, NWS Tucson, AZ

August 13, 2021Cochise County, Arizona

NWS Tucson, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 13, 2021, 3:56 PM MST for Cochise County, Arizona. It was in force for 5 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 13, 2021, 3:56 PM MST (22:56 UTC)
Expired
Aug 13, 2021, 8:30 PM MST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Tucson, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Cochise County, AZ

The radar

The Tucson radar (KEMX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:58 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

Tuscon, AZ (KTUS), launched 12:00Z, 10.9 hours before the alert went out and 166 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 544 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, Tuscon, AZ at 12:00Z on 2021-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -36 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
544 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-46 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1049 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
1 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-36 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-1 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

282 
WGUS55 KTWC 132256
FFWTWC
AZC003-140200-
/O.NEW.KTWC.FF.W.0121.210813T2256Z-210814T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
356 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 700 PM MST.

* At 356 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are 
  possible in the warned area. 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...
  Portal, Chiricahua National Monument, Paradise, San Simon and 
  Rucker Canyon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3181 10905 3173 10907 3173 10948 3210 10949
      3232 10942 3238 10929 3239 10905 3207 10905
      3203 10905 3200 10905 3190 10905 3187 10905
      3184 10905 3183 10905

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

$$

JRM
3 follow-up statements
334 
WGUS75 KTWC 132357
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
457 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

AZC003-140200-
/O.CON.KTWC.FF.W.0121.000000T0000Z-210814T0200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
457 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MST THIS EVENING 
FOR NORTHEASTERN COCHISE COUNTY...

At 457 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy 
rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain have 
fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in 
the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
shortly. Expect significant flows exiting the Chiricahua Mountains 
into the evening.

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...
  Portal, Chiricahua National Monument, Paradise, San Simon and 
  Rucker Canyon.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Fivemile Creek, East Turkey Creek, Happy Camp Wash, Onion Creek, 
  Whitewater Draw, West Whitetail Creek, Ash Creek, Witch Creek, 
  Wood Canyon, Stanford Creek, Indian Creek, San Simon River, Turkey 
  Creek, South Fork Keating Creek, Pinery Creek, Rucker Canyon, 
  Pridham Creek, Silver Creek, O B Draw, Cave Creek, Big Sand Wash, 
  East Whitetail Creek and Keating Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3181 10905 3173 10907 3173 10948 3210 10949
      3232 10942 3238 10929 3239 10905 3207 10905
      3203 10905 3200 10905 3190 10905 3187 10905
      3184 10905 3183 10905

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

$$

JRM
873 
WGUS55 KTWC 140147
FFWTWC
AZC003-140330-
/O.EXT.KTWC.FF.W.0121.000000T0000Z-210814T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
647 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

The National Weather Service in Tucson has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northeastern Cochise County in southeastern Arizona...

* Until 830 PM MST.

* At 647 PM MST, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of up to 1 inch are 
  possible in the warned area. 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...
  Portal, Chiricahua National Monument, Paradise, San Simon and 
  Rucker Canyon.

This includes the following streams and drainages...
  Fivemile Creek, East Turkey Creek, Happy Camp Wash, Onion Creek, 
  Whitewater Draw, West Whitetail Creek, Ash Creek, Witch Creek, 
  Wood Canyon, Stanford Creek, Indian Creek, San Simon River, Turkey 
  Creek, South Fork Keating Creek, Pinery Creek, Rucker Canyon, 
  Pridham Creek, Silver Creek, O B Draw, Cave Creek, Big Sand Wash, 
  East Whitetail Creek and Keating Creek.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are 
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded 
roads. Find an alternate route.

&&

LAT...LON 3181 10905 3173 10907 3173 10948 3210 10949
      3232 10942 3238 10929 3239 10905 3207 10905
      3203 10905 3200 10905 3190 10905 3187 10905
      3184 10905 3183 10905

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

$$

JRM
159 
WGUS75 KTWC 140327
FFSTWC

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Tucson AZ
827 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

AZC003-140337-
/O.EXP.KTWC.FF.W.0121.000000T0000Z-210814T0330Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Cochise AZ-
827 PM MST Fri Aug 13 2021

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 830 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR 
NORTHEASTERN COCHISE COUNTY...

Flash flooding is no longer expected to pose a threat. Please 
continue to heed remaining road closures. Flows in washes may 
continue well into the night.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 500 PM MST Sunday for a 
portion of Southeast Arizona.

LAT...LON 3181 10905 3173 10907 3173 10948 3210 10949
      3232 10942 3238 10929 3239 10905 3207 10905
      3203 10905 3200 10905 3190 10905 3187 10905
      3184 10905 3183 10905

$$

JRM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tucson, AZ issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 6:10 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 12, 6:42 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise2 hr
Aug 12, 11:08 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz112 min
Aug 13, 1:56 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCCochise, Santa Cruz118 min
Aug 13, 2:04 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCSanta Cruz109 min
Aug 13, 2:25 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCGraham50 min
Aug 13, 2:42 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatTWCCochise3 hr
Aug 13, 3:14 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCGraham46 min
Aug 13, 3:20 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWC40 min
Aug 13, 3:30 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCGraham, Pinal45 min
Aug 13, 4:06 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCCochise39 min
Aug 13, 4:35 PM MSTSpecial Weather StatementTWCSanta Cruz25 min
Aug 13, 4:37 PM MSTAreal Flood AdvisoryTWCGraham, Greenlee113 min
Aug 13, 4:43 PM MSTSevere Thunderstorm WarningTWCSanta Cruz47 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 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.