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000 

WGUS75 KPUB 190405

FFSPUB

COC089-190545-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO

958 PM MDT WED AUG 18 2004



...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN OTERO 

COUNTY UNTIL 1145 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING...



VERY HEAVY RAINS CONTINUE TO FALL FROM NEARLY STATIONARY 

THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHEAST OTERO COUNTY.  A SPOTTER IN CHERAW 

REPORTED 4.25 INCHES OF RAIN IN 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES...AND IT WAS 

STILL RAINING HARD.  RADAR ALSO ESTIMATED 4 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN IN 

THIS REGION.  THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS FROM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF LA 

JUNTA...ALONG HIGHWAY 50...TO 12 MILES NORTH OF LA JUNTA.  

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NEARLY STATIONARY OVER THIS REGION...AND 

ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL WILL OCCUR.



OVER THE REST OF NORTHERN OTERO COUNTY...WHERE HEAVIER RAIN FELL 

EARLIER...ONLY LIGHT TO OCCASIONAL MODERATE RAINFALL WAS OCCURRING. 



BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF

NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS

LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR

VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...

INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE

VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING

WATER AND STORM DRAINS...WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY DURING HIGH WATER.

FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...IN

UNDERPASSES...OVER STREETS AND RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES

AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.



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