FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– A Message from the National Weather Service:
IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE SCHULTZ FIRE...THE BURNED AREA AND AREAS EXTENDING EASTWARD AND DOWNSTREAM FROM THE BURNED AREA ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS. THIS INCLUDES THE HUTCHINSON ACRES...TIMBERLINE...WUPATKI TRAILS...AND FERNWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS IN ADDITION TO THE LOW-LYING AREAS IN DONEY PARK EAST OF HIGHWAY 89. RISES IN WATER LEVELS DURING SUCH EVENTS CAN OCCUR MORE RAPIDLY AND CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THOSE PRODUCED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS FLOWS WILL LIKELY BE IN AND NEAR THE MINOR DRAINAGES EXTENDING EASTWARD FROM THE BURN. A SHORT PERIOD OF MODERATE RAINFALL ON A BURNED WATERSHED CAN LEAD TO FLASH FLOODS OR DEBRIS FLOWS. RAINFALL THAT IS NORMALLY ABSORBED CAN RUN OFF EXTREMELY QUICKLY AFTER SOILS AND VEGETATION HAVE BEEN CHARRED. CONSEQUENTLY...RUNOFF WILL BE GREATER AND MORE RAPID THAN PRIOR TO THE FIRE. FLOOD WATERS CAN PICK UP LARGE AMOUNTS OF ASH...SAND...SILT...ROCKS...AND REMNANTS OF VEGETATION. THE FORCE OF RUSHING WATER AND DEBRIS CAN DAMAGE OR DESTROY CULVERTS... BRIDGES...ROADWAYS...AND IN SOME CASES BUILDINGS...POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. RESIDENTS IN THESE FLOOD PRONE AREAS SHOULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY KIT AND A PLAN TO EVACUATE. IF ROADS ARE BLOCKED OR IT IS UNSAFE TO EVACUATE /DUE TO FLASH FLOODING...DEBRIS FLOWS...HEAVY RAIN...OR POOR VISIBILITY/ IT IS BEST TO SHELTER IN PLACE IN A STURDY STRUCTURE. CALL 911 IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD OR DEBRIS FLOW. IF YOU ARE IN A VEHICLE...DO NOT DRIVE INTO FLOOD WATERS OR DEBRIS FLOWS. WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SCHULTZ BURN AREA...IT MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN YOUR AREA. YOU SHOULD START PLANNING FOR POSSIBLE EVACUATION IF YOUR AREA IS PRONE TO FLASH FLOODING. WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SCHULTZ BURN AREA...IT MEANS THAT FLASH FLOODING IS ALREADY OCCURRING OR WILL OCCUR VERY SOON. DO NOT DELAY TAKING PROTECTIVE MEASURES EVEN IF RAINFALL IS LIGHT AT YOUR LOCATION. ONCE RAINFALL BECOMES HEAVY...EVACUATION ROUTES MAY BECOME IMPASSIBLE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE CONTENT OF THIS PRODUCT...PLEASE CONTACT GEORGE HOWARD WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE - FLAGSTAFF 928-556-9161 X223 GEORGE.HOWARD@NOAA.GOV VISIT WEATHER.GOV/FLAGSTAFF FOR OFFICIAL WARNINGS AND FORECASTS.
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