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Published: 03 July 2013 03 July 2013

FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR GILA REGION NEAR SILVER FIRE BURN SCAR....

THE SILVER FIRE ON THE BLACK RANGE IN THE GILA NATIONAL FOREST
HAS REMOVED VEGETATION FROM A LARGE PORTION OF THE BURNED AREA
LEAVING BARE SOIL. THIS HAS MADE THE AREA PARTICULARLY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODING FROM EVEN MODERATE AMOUNTS OF
RAINFALL. A HALF AN INCH OR GREATER RAINFALL WILL BE SUFFICIENT
TO CAUSE FLOODING ALONG THE CREEKS AND DRAINAGES THAT ORIGINATE
WITHIN THE BURNED AREA. THIS WATCH IS FOR COMMUNITIES IN WESTERN
SIERRA AND EASTERN GRANT COUNTIES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE BURNED
AREA...INCLUDING HILLSBORO AND SAN LORENZO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR WITHIN THE AFFECTED AREA OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. CREEKS AND DRAINAGES MAY SEE RAPIDLY
RISING WATER FILLED WITH DEBRIS AND ASH AS RUNOFF FROM EXCESSIVE
RAINFALL OCCURS.


SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK RANGE-
SOUTHERN GILA FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY-
EASTERN BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS-SIERRA COUNTY LAKES-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SILVER CITY...LAKE ROBERTS...KINGSTON...
FORT BAYARD...MIMBRES...FAYWOOD...HURLEY...GRANT COUNTY AIRPORT...
HILLSBORO...WINSTON...TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES...DERRY...SPACEPORT
1109 AM MDT WED JUL 3 2013...FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR

* A PORTION OF NM...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...EASTERN
  BLACK RANGE FOOTHILLS...SIERRA COUNTY LAKES...SOUTHERN GILA
  FOOTHILLS/MIMBRES VALLEY AND SOUTHERN GILA HIGHLANDS/BLACK
  RANGE.

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* THE SILVER FIRE HAS BURNED OFF VEGETATION FROM A LARGE PORTION
  OF THE BLACK RANGE...LEAVING BARE SOIL THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE
  TO SOAK IN EVEN MODERATE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL OF A HALF INCH OR
  MORE. THIS MAKES THE BURNED AREA AND DRAINAGES ORIGINATING
  WITHIN THE BURNED AREA PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH
  FLOODING. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO
  OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

* CREEKS AND DRAINAGES MAY EXPERIENCE RAPIDLY RISING WATER
  FILLED WITH DEBRIS...LOGS AND ASH THAT COULD FLOOD AREAS DOWN
  STREAM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.