Storm Report: Nov. 30 th Dec. 1 st, 2007 Maricopa County, AZ

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1 Storm Report: Nov. 30 th Dec. 1 st, 2007 Maricopa County, AZ Engineering Division, Flood Warning Branch

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Meteorology...2 Precipitation...4 Runoff...9 ALERT System Alarms...13 TABLES Table 1 Summary of Strorm-total Reports...4 Table 2 Storm-total, 24-hour Intensity and 24-hour Return Periods...4 FIGURES Figure I Colorized infrared satellite photos from Nov. 25 & Dec Figure II Temperature/Dewpoint plot at Gila Bend Landfill Wx Station...3 Figure III Temperature/Dewpoint plot at Carefree Ranch Wx Station...3 Figure IV Plot of selected storm-total rainfall values vs. elevation...5 Figure V Isohyetal map of storm-total values from ALERT gages only...6 Figure VI Storm-total rainfall depth map derived from radar data only...7 Figure VII Storm-total rainfall depth map derived from radar & gage data....7 Figure VIII Storm-total rainfall depth map derived from gage data & radar...8 Figure IX Storm hyetograph hourly values at Cooks Mesa and 7 Springs...8 Figure X Cave Buttes Dam impoundment graphic...9 Figure XI Storm hydrograph, Cave Creek blw Cottonwood Cr Figure XII Storm hydrograph, gage 4923 Cave Spur Cross Figure XIII Storm hydrograph, gage 5583 Cline Creek Figure XIV Storm hydrograph, gage 5638 New River Fire Figure XV Storm hydrograph, gage 5543 Scatter Wash Figure XVI Storm hydrograph, gage 4963 Seven Springs Wash A special thank you to the NWS, USGS and Unisys for supplying several of the figures in this report. Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 1

METEOROLOGY Starting on Sunday November 25 th, a weather disturbance began to develop in the eastern Pacific Ocean west of the Baja peninsula (see left panel in Figure I below).

3 METEOROLOGY Starting on Sunday November 25 th, a weather disturbance began to develop in the eastern Pacific Ocean west of the Baja peninsula (see left panel in Figure I below). It remained quasi-stationary for about three days, and its counterclockwise circulation entrained considerable sub-tropical moisture. Some of this mid and upper-level moisture streamed north into the southwestern U.S. resulting in mainly high clouds Tuesday the 27 th and Wednesday the 28 th. On Thursday the 29 th another weather disturbance formed off the coast of Oregon and northern California and moved southeast along the coast. This coastal disturbance interacted with the Baja system, absorbing it and moving east into Arizona on November 30 th (right panel below). The combination of copious Pacific moisture associated with the Baja remnants and dynamic triggers within the coastal system resulted in about 30 hours (Friday morning to Saturday afternoon) of moderate to locally heavy rain bands moving east across central Arizona, with the heaviest rain over the higher terrain of northeast Maricopa County. The two disturbances moved off to the east late Saturday December 1 st returning dry conditions to our state by Saturday night. A good portion of the central Arizona mountains were shrouded in fog on the morning of December 2 nd. Figure I Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 2

4 Figure II Figure II above shows a plot of temperature and dewpoint at our Gila Bend Landfill weather station in southwest Maricopa County elevation 750 feet. Figure III Figure III above shows a plot of temperature and dewpoint at our Carefree Ranch weather station in northeast Maricopa County elevation 2,960 feet. Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 3

5 PRECIPITATION Summary Statistics Total automated rain gages: 301 Total operational automated rain gages: 292 Gages that failed to operate during the storm: 4640, 4820, 5175, 5260, 5430, 5610, 5670, 5910, and 6900 mostly due to plugged funnels because of mostly dry conditions for the previous two months. Table 1 For the period 11/30/ :00 through 12/01/ :00 MST: Number of gages recording rainfall 301 (all of them) Number of gages > = 6.00 inches 2 Number of gages > = 5.00 inches 6 Number of gages > = 4.00 inches 14 Number of gages > = 3.00 inches 29 Number of gages > = 2.00 inches 105 Number of gages < 1.00 inch 11 Table 2 Storm-total, 24-hour Intensity and 24-hour Return Periods for Selected Stations Storm-total Peak 24-Hour 24-hr. Return Gage Name Gage ID Installed El. (ft) Jurisdiction Rainfall (in) Intensity (in) Period* (years) Horsethief Basin /24/1986 6,705 Yavapai County Camp Creek /18/2005 3,720 Maricopa County Towers Mtn /1/1992 7,630 Yavapai County Rackensack Canyon /28/2007 4,520 Maricopa County Seven Springs Wash /12/2002 3,530 Maricopa County Fraesfield Mtn /2/1989 2,690 Scottsdale New River Fire /20/2005 2,485 Maricopa County Carefree Ranch /15/1985 2,960 Scottsdale Horseshoe Lake /11/2000 2,070 Maricopa County Upper Cline Creek /21/2001 2,520 Maricopa County Cline Creek /1/1981 2,170 Maricopa County Mt. Union Wx /16/1982 7,495 Yavapai County Seven Springs /12/1981 4,615 Yavapai County Cooks Mesa /21/1984 4,570 Yavapai County * Values estimated from NOAA Atlas 14, version 4 Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 4

6 Figure IV In Figure IV above, the blue squares are the NOAA Atlas hr point precipitation frequency estimates (annual maximum series) for all FCDMC ALERT stations with 10 or more years of record versus the station elevation. The trend line was plotted in Microsoft Excel using the power function option and represents an average value of the 24-hour, 100-year return period rainfall depth versus elevation. Red dots are the 24- hour measured intensity values for the selected stations in Table 2. Dots close to the line in the horizontal plane approach 100-year, 24-hour return period values. Appendix A contains hourly rainfall values recorded at all automated ALERT rainfall stations. Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 5

Figure V Figure V above is an isohyetal map of storm-total values recorded by the automated ALERT stations. It was created using ESRI ArcView with Spatial Analyst.

7 Figure V Figure V above is an isohyetal map of storm-total values recorded by the automated ALERT stations. It was created using ESRI ArcView with Spatial Analyst. Using data that was quality-controlled after the storm, failed gages were excluded from the analysis and gages where estimates were made from radar and nearby gages were included. Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 6

Figure VI Figure VII Figures VI and VII above are storm-total rainfall depth maps derived by our weather products vendor, Weather Decision Technologies, Inc.

8 Figure VI Figure VII Figures VI and VII above are storm-total rainfall depth maps derived by our weather products vendor, Weather Decision Technologies, Inc., from the Phoenix NEXRAD radar data stream and from our ALERT gages. The upper figure was developed from radar data only. The lower figure was developed from the radar data and locally corrected using ground-truthed rainfall data from the ALERT rain gages. Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 7

Figure VIII Figure VIII above is a storm-total rainfall depth map derived from the Phoenix NEXRAD radar data stream and from our ALERT gages using ArcView.

9 Figure VIII Figure VIII above is a storm-total rainfall depth map derived from the Phoenix NEXRAD radar data stream and from our ALERT gages using ArcView. It was developed from the radar data and locally corrected using ground-truthed rainfall data from the ALERT rain gages. Labels are placed on the map to show areas where the ALERT gage data caused the map estimates to be too low (Down) or too high (Runaway). Storm-total Rainfall Distribution Figure IX Cooks Mesa inches Seven Springs inches Rainfall (inches/hour) /30-00:00 11/30-02:00 11/30-04:00 11/30-06:00 11/30-08:00 11/30-10:00 11/30-12:00 11/30-14:00 11/30-16:00 11/30-18:00 11/30-20:00 11/30-22:00 11/30-24:00 12/01-02:00 12/01-04:00 Date-Time 12/01-06:00 12/01-08:00 12/01-10:00 12/01-12:00 12/01-14:00 12/01-16:00 12/01-18:00 12/01-20:00 12/01-22:00 12/01-24:00 Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 8

RUNOFF Summary Statistics Total automated water-level gages: 152 Total operational automated rain gages: 149 Water-level gages that recorded significant flow or impoundment: 89 Water-level gages that

10 RUNOFF Summary Statistics Total automated water-level gages: 152 Total operational automated rain gages: 149 Water-level gages that recorded significant flow or impoundment: 89 Water-level gages that failed to operate during the storm: New River pool gage failed, Hassayampa River at Wagoner stream and White Tank FRS # 3 pool were out of service because of construction projects. Appendix B contains a listing of all Water-level gages, their peak stage/flow values, the time of the peak, and an abbreviated location description. Figure X Cave Buttes Dam impoundment information near its peak stage value, which actually occurred at 03:49. Although it reached 43 feet and nearly 3,000 acre-feet of storage, it never reached alarm level (10% full). Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 9

Selected Hydrographs Figure XI 4923 - Cave Creek near Spur Cross Road 7000 6000 Figure XII 5000 Discharge (cfs) 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 11/30/2007 12:00 11/30/2007 18:00 12/1/2007

11 Selected Hydrographs Figure XI Cave Creek near Spur Cross Road Figure XII 5000 Discharge (cfs) /30/ :00 11/30/ :00 12/1/2007 0:00 12/1/2007 6:00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/2/2007 0:00 12/2/2007 6:00 12/2/ :00 12/2/ :00 12/3/2007 0:00 Date / Time Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 10

12 Cline Creek Figure XIII Discharge (cfs) /30/ :00 11/30/ :00 11/30/ :00 11/30/ :00 12/1/2007 0:00 12/1/2007 3:00 12/1/2007 6:00 12/1/2007 9:00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 Date / Time New River Fire Figure XIV Discharge (cfs) /1/2007 4:00 12/1/2007 6:00 12/1/2007 8:00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 Date / Time 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/2/2007 0:00 12/2/2007 2:00 12/2/2007 4:00 Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 11

13 Scatter Wash 1200 Figure XV Discharge (cfs) /29/ :00 11/30/2007 0:00 11/30/ :00 12/1/2007 0:00 12/1/ :00 12/2/2007 0:00 12/2/ :00 12/3/2007 0:00 12/3/ :00 12/4/2007 0:00 12/4/ :00 Date / Time Seven Springs Wash 3000 Figure XVI Discharge (cfs) Gage failed at 15: /30/ :00 11/30/ :00 12/1/2007 0:00 12/1/2007 6:00 12/1/ :00 12/1/ :00 12/2/2007 0:00 Date / Time Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 12

14 ALERT SYSTEM ALARMS Date-Time ID Sensor_Name Sensor_Type Alarm_Type /01/ :01: Vineyard FRS Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :23: Fraesfield Mountain Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :22: Cave Cactus Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :00: th St. Wind speed DEV upper limit 12/01/ :25: Bulldog Canyon Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :23: Magma FRS Wind speed DEV upper limit 12/01/ :20: Lake Pleasant North Wind speed DEV upper limit 12/01/ :31: Cave Cr nr Cave Cr Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :24: Cave Creek Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :38: New River Dam Outlet Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :50: Cline Creek Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :44: Seven Springs Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :32: Cave Creek Fire Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :27: Seven Springs Wash Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :07: Seven Springs Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :00: Camp Creek Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :51: McKellips Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :28: Adobe Dam Outlet Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :06: Skunk Cr nr New R. Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :42: New River Fire Water-level DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :25: Powerline FRS Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :09: Cave Cr.@ SpurCross Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :28: Baker Butte Rain DEV rainfall rate 12/01/ :17: Cave Creek Fire Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :07: EFCC nr 7th Ave Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :05: Delaney Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 12/01/ :03: Indian School Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :56: Cooks Mesa Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :56: Tiger Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :47: Cooks Mesa Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :44: Guadalupe FRS Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :39: Rackensack Canyon Wind speed DEV upper limit 11/30/ :35: Horsethief Basin Wind speed DEV upper limit 11/30/ :56: Casandro Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :52: Granite Reef Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :42: th of July Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :37: McDonald Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :34: Indian Bend Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :16: Eagle Eye CAP Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :22: South Mountain Park Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :17: Cave Buttes Dam Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :53: Reata Pass Dam Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :00: Skunk I-17 Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :17: South Mtn.Park HQ Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :10: Winters IS Rd. Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :46: EFCC nr 7th Ave Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :44: Shea Blvd. Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :34: Freestone Basin Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :31: Carefree Ranch Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :30: Skunk I-17 Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :42: Dysart LAFB Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :34: rd Ave Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :29: rd Ave Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :54: Scatter Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :45: Cave Buttes Pool Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :08: Granite Reef Wash Water-level DEV upper limit 11/30/ :36: Camp Creek Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :18: Rackensack Canyon Rain DEV rainfall rate 11/30/ :14: Gila Bend Mountains Wind speed DEV upper limit Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 13

15 APPENDIX A Hourly rainfall values for all automated ALERT rainfall stations Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 14

16 P1: Gages /09/ :51:25 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 15

17 P2: Gages /09/ :51:25 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 16

18 P3: Gages /09/ :51:25 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 17

19 P4: Gages /09/ :51:25 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 18

20 P5: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 19

21 P6: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 20

22 P7: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 21

23 P8: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 22

24 P9: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 23

25 P10: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 24

26 P11: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 25

27 P12: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 26

28 P13: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 27

29 P14: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 28

30 P15: Gages /09/ :51:26 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 29

31 P16: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 30

32 P17: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 31

33 P18: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 32

34 P19: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 33

35 P20: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 34

36 P21: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 35

37 P22: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 36

38 P23: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 37

39 P24: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 38

40 P25: Gages /09/ :51:27 DeviceID TOTALS: Storm Report, Nov. 30 Dec. 1, 2007; Page 39

Storm Report: January 27, 2008 Maricopa County, AZ

Storm Report: January 27, 2008 Maricopa County, AZ Engineering Division, Flood Warning Branch TABLE OF CONTENTS Meteorology...2 Precipitation...4 Runoff...9 ALERT System Alarms...12 TABLES Table 1 Summary