Alert archive / Arizona / Flash Flood Warnings in 2022

Flash Flood Warning 298, NWS Flagstaff, AZ

August 27, 2022Yavapai County, Arizona

NWS Flagstaff, AZ issued this flash flood warning at Aug 27, 2022, 1:26 PM MST for Yavapai County, Arizona. 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 counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 27, 2022, 1:26 PM MST (20:26 UTC)
Expired
Aug 27, 2022, 4:30 PM MST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Flagstaff, AZ
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

County Yavapai County, AZ

The radar

The Flagstaff radar (KFSX), 124 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:26 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

Flgstf/Belemont, AZ (KFGZ), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 98 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, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2022-08-27Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 295 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Flgstf/Belemont, AZ at 12:00Z on 2022-08-27The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 26 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
295 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-102 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
3090 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
14 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-12 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Flagstaff, AZ wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Aug 27, 9:02 AM MST, 4 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 27, 9:02 AM MST, 4 hours 24 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Flagstaff AZ
902 AM MST Sat Aug 27 2022

.SYNOPSIS...Widespread showers and storms are forecast for today,
making flash flooding possible in vulnerable areas. Scattered
storms persist Sunday before drier conditions begin to develop
for the start of the week. With this drier air in place, daytime
highs will heat up to above normal much of next week.

&&

.UPDATE...Skies are sunny to start the day across northern and
central Arizona. Low level moisture remains plentiful with surface
dewpoints in the 50s to low 60s for the entire forecast area.
Instability will be highest along/south of the Mogollon Rim, with
mean MUCAPE from HREF at 1000-1500 J/kg in Yavapai County this
afternoon. General storm motion toward the east at 10-15 mph with
light low level flow. A few strong or possibly severe pulse storms
are likely this afternoon, with flash flooding also a risk
especially for vulnerable areas such as burn scars. Updated
today's rain chances to show an increase in northeast AZ,
otherwise the current forecast looks good.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /235 AM MST/...Widespread monsoonal thunderstorm
activity is expected today, especially from Greater Flagstaff to
the White Mountains and points south. Clear skies in many spots
could allow for an early start to convection, as the sun gets to
work in the morning, injecting instability into the atmosphere.
Overall, storms will move generally eastward, giving the Painted
Desert and Navajo Nation more chances for storms as the day
progresses. If storms train over vulnerable locations, flash
flooding could become a concern.

A significant shift in the pattern next week will result in
widespread hotter and drier conditions. The incoming intrusion of
dry air due to a swift northwesterly flow will inhibit monsoonal
activity for most, except for the White Mountains.

However, much uncertainty exists over the days heading into this
drier period. While the upper level flow looks increasingly less
conducive for storms day-after-day, robust instability from steep
lapse rates and moisture near the surface could provide the
catalyst for isolated strong thunderstorms.

Toward the end of next week, moisture looks poised to return to
northern Arizona, bringing higher storm chances along with it. But
the placement of the Southwest High will largely determine the
strength of this monsoonal pattern's return. The specifics of this
synoptic setup are still unclear.

&&

AVIATION...For the 18Z TAF package...Scattered showers and
thunderstorms developing over higher elevations around mid day,
spreading slowly eastward through the mid afternoon to early
evening. Localized/brief MVFR in storms. Highest coverage KFLG-KSJN
southward. Showers and storms diminishing after 03Z. Gusty winds in
the vicinity of storms. Otherwise, light winds and VFR conditions
away from storms. Aviation discussion not updated for TAF amendments.

&&

FIRE WEATHER...Look for scattered showers and thunderstorms
today with decreased activity on Sunday. Lightning, flash flooding,
and outflow winds will be the main threats.

Monday through Wednesday...Warmer and drier with only a slight
chance of thunderstorms.

&&

&&

.FGZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE.

&&

PUBLIC...JJ/BAJ
AVIATION...JJ
FIRE WEATHER...McCollum

For Northern Arizona weather information visit
weather.gov/flagstaff

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 27, 1:07 PM MST, 19 minutes before
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 11:59 AM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Aug 27, 2:13 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai3 hr
Aug 27, 3:00 PM MSTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatFGZYavapai2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Arizona, 2022Every flash flood warning in 2022

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.