DENVER – After flash flooding killed one person and left two missing in Larimer County and closed highways across the state Tuesday, flash flood watches are again in effect near several burn scars and in southwest Colorado, and a flash flood warning was put into effect until 4:30 p.m. for the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar.
The flash flood watches went into effect at noon in areas including the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome burn scars, the central mountains above 9,000 feet including the Eastern Sawatch Mountains, La Garita Mountains, Eastern San Juan Mountains and Upper Rio Grande Valley. A flash flood watch went into effect in the northwestern San Juans starting at noon.
The NWS says higher elevations where rain is expected could get an inch of rain, with some higher precipitation levels over the plains.
“Rainfall amounts of 1” in 30 minutes or less certainly could occur with some of the activity over the burn scars,” the NWS wrote in Wednesday morning’s forecast discussion.
Just after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the NWS issued a flash flood warning for the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar, which saw mudslides and flash flooding that killed a woman in the Black Hollow Road area. Just before 3 p.m., the flash flood warning also included the western part of the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar and West Central Larimer County.
Here is a more detailed map regarding the flash flood warning issued over the Cameron Peak burn area. #COwx https://t.co/9152N4oTir pic.twitter.com/YqF1oBqwUc
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 21, 2021
A small stream flood advisory was also issued for northeastern Grand County, including the East Troublesome Fire burn scar and Grand Lake, until 4:30 p.m. The NWS upgraded it at approximately 3:16 p.m. to a flash flood warning, including Grand Lake and part of Rocky Mountain National Park. By approximately 6:23 p.m., the NWS said a flash flood warning was in effect for the western part of the East Troublesome burn scar in Grand County until 9:15 p.m. It said the greatest impacts are expected on CO-125 between Granby and the Jackson County border.
Flash Flood Warning for the western part of the East Troublesome burn scar, in Grand County, until 9:15 PM MDT. The greatest impacts are expected on CO-125 between Granby and the Jackson County border. #COwx pic.twitter.com/qbMEab3Cvt
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 22, 2021
The Grand County Sheriff's Office reported a mudslide had completely blocked Highway 125 at mile point 10, leading to a shutdown in both directions between Cabin Creek and Buffalo Creek.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction said monsoon moisture is likely to bring numerous showers and thunderstorms across western Colorado and heavy rain Wednesday, which will continue Thursday.
Flash flooding in the Poudre Canyon area from the Cameron Peak burn scar damaged or destroyed five homes, killed one woman and left two other adults missing, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. Highway 14 is closed from Rustic to east of Gould.
The National Weather Service in Pueblo issued a flash flood warning for Costilla and Huerfano counties until 9:30 p.m. in the Spring Fire burn scar area. The Spring Fire is Colorado's fifth largest fire in state history, burning in 108,045 acres beginning in June 2018.
A flash flood warning is also in place for Franktown until 9:15 p.m., and another warning expired for Clear Creek County at 8:15 p.m.
Interstate 70 remains closed Wednesday through Glenwood Canyon after it was shut down again Tuesday evening because of five mudslides and flash flooding from the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar.
In southwestern Colorado, multiple people had to be rescued by search and rescue crews and San Miguel County sheriff’s deputies because of flash flooding in the Telluride area Tuesday. The same area remains under a flash flood watch Wednesday. The sheriff’s office said Highway 145 was open with alternating traffic Wednesday morning as the mudslide cleanup continued.
Black Bear Pass was open as of 10:20 a.m., but Imogene Pass was closed. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office says travel on Black Bear Pass and Bridal Veil Road is discouraged this afternoon because of the forecast.
In Redstone — between Marble and Carbondale — a mudslide covered Colorado Highway 133 with up to eight feet of mud late Tuesday, which Colorado Department of Transportation crews were working to clear Wednesday morning.
Stay with the Denver7 news and weather teams Wednesday as the storms develop. We’ll have the latest on any flash flooding that occurs. You can also Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream on the free Denver7+ app.
