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000 

WGUS74 KEPZ 170109

FFSELP

NMC013-170200-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX

707 PM MDT TUE JUL 16 2002



...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 PM FOR

NORTHWEST DONA ANA COUNTY...



A CLUSTER OF FORMERLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BETWEEN HATCH AND

RADIUM SPRINGS HAS REMAINED STATIONARY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR JUST

WEST OF INTERSTATE 25.  THE AREA RECEIVING THE MOST RAIN IS OVER

THE SIERRA DE LAS UVAS MOUNTAINS.  RADAR ESTIMATES OF UP TO FOUR

INCHES HAVE FALLEN OVER THIS AREA. AN OBSERVATION SITE IN THE

SAME MOUNTAINS DID RECORD ALMOST FOUR INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE

LAST HOUR.



THESE STORMS ARE COLLAPSING AND DIMINISHING IN INTENSITY...

HOWEVER RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE AREA FOR THE NEXT

HOUR. DRAINAGES AND ARROYOS WHICH DRAIN EAST FROM THE SIERRA DE

LAS UVAS MOUNTAINS INTO THE RIO GRANDE ARE LIKELY TO BE RUNNING

AND SOME MANY BE OUT OF THERE BANKS. EXPECT FLOODED LOW WATER

CROSSINGS AND ARROYOS WEST OF INTERSTATE 25 BETWEEN HATCH AND

LEASBURG.



MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO

CROSS BRIDGES... DIPS... OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS IF WATER COVERS

THE ROADWAY. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM... EVEN A SMALL

ONE... ON FOOT. TO ESCAPE RISING WATER MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

FLOODING OF SOME AREAS MAY BE DELAYED WELL AFTER THE RAIN STOPS

AS WATER CONTINUES TO DRAIN.



 

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