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RWUS32 KGJT 222316

FFSGJT

COC085-UTC037-230030-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO

513 PM MDT MON JUL 22 2002



...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR NORTHEAST SAN JUAN AND WESTERN MONTROSE

COUNTIES IN REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 630 PM MDT...



DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO SHOW HEAVY RAIN ACROSS PORTIONS OF

NORTHEAST SAN JUAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST UTAH WITH PRECIPITATION

ESTIMATES UP TO 1.5 INCHES PER HOUR WERE PREVALENT. THE HEAVIEST RAIN

HAD MOVED INTO OPEN COUNTRY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 46 AND EAST OF HIGHWAY

191. AS THIS STORM MOVED OVER THE HANG DOG FIRE COMPLEX VERY HEAVY

RAIN AND SMALL HAIL ACCUMULATIONS UP TO ONE QUARTER INCH DEEP WERE

REPORTED.



MEANWHILE...DOPPLER RADAR RAINFALL ESTIMATES INDICATED AMOUNTS UP

TO ONE INCH PER HOUR WERE FALLING FROM THUNDERSTORM CELLS NORTHWEST

OF URAVAN.



ALL OF THESE STORMS WERE MOVING VERY SLOWLY AND DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT

WAS VARIABLE AS STORMS CONTINUED TO COMBINE AND REGENERATE OVER THE

AREA.



EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL

CREEKS AND STREAMS...COUNTRY ROADS...NORMALLY DRY WASHES AND

ARROYOS...AS WELL AS FARMLAND ALONG THE BANKS OF CREEKS AND STREAMS.



MOST FLASH FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.  DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE

INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY OR PAST POLICE BARRICADES.

RAPIDLY RISING WATER CAN ENGULF A VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS AND SWEEP

THEM AWAY.  IF YOUR VEHICLE STALLS IN THE WATER...ABANDON IT

IMMEDIATELY AND SEEK HIGHER GROUND.



TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER HAVE THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.



NL

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