Issue Date: Monday, August 8th, 2022
\nIssue Time: 11:45 AM MDT<\/p>\n
As anticipated, yesterday was a very active day across Colorado. By late morning scattered<\/span> showers developed over the Northeast Plains and Palmer Ridge along a weak frontal boundary dipping into the state from the northeast to southwest. In the afternoon, isolated<\/span> to widely scattered<\/span> storms began firing up in the high elevations of the Front Range, Central and San Juan Mountains, Raton Ridge, and Southeast Plains; scattered<\/span> storms also developed in the Southwest Slope. These storms quickly increased in coverage and intensity, spilling onto the Southeast Plains and tapping into moisture funneling in from southwest along the stalled frontal boundary draped across the southeast quadrant of state. In the evening, strong thunderstorms developed along the Front Range, Urban Corridor, Southeast Mountains, Raton Ridge, and Southeast Plains. General drying occurred from north to south as storms began to taper off overnight for the Urban Corridor. Showers and thunderstorms remained overnight for the Palmer Ridge and Southeast Plains. Lingering moisture overnight and this morning resulted in many waking up to dense fog across the Eastern Plains.<\/p>\n A total of 27 flood warnings or advisories were issued across the state yesterday and wide swaths of heavy rain was reported from Fort Collins to Walsenburg and Pueblo to Kit Carson! In addition to the many flood warnings, several severe thunderstorm<\/span> and tornado warnings were issued for the Eastern Plains. Torrential rainfall also occurred with the severe thunderstorms<\/span>, making them particularly dangerous with a combination of high winds, large hail, heavy rain, and several reported funnel clouds.<\/p>\n The Cameron Peak and Spring Creek burn scars were the two scars most threatened by heavy rain yesterday and both were issued flash flood<\/span> warnings for all or portions of each scar. A CoCoRaHS<\/span> gauge near Livermore in Larimer County reported 1.00 inches of rain yesterday, accompanied by up to 0.75 inch hail. Thankfully no flooding was reported on either of these scars, though there were still plenty of flood reports across Central and Southern Colorado.<\/p>\n In La Plata county, a “mudslide occurred north of the Vallecito Marina and Yacht Club<\/strong> as a result of heavy rain from thunderstorms”. The Vallecito Reservoir and Vallecito Creek MesoWest gauges only reported 0.01 and 0.06 inches of rain, respectively, but CoCoRaHS<\/span> observers in Bayfield (south of the reservoir) reported between 0.32-0.48 inches of precipitation yesterday, and the Durango area received up to 0.70 inches of rain. A bit further west in Cortez, up to 0.87 inches was reported along with “minor flooding on local fields and ditches”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In Alamosa, a CoCoRaHS<\/span> observer reported 0.70 inches of rain from a “heavy thunderstorm” that caused street and parking lots to flood. <\/strong><\/p>\n On Poncha Pass in the Central Mountains, a “boulder the size of an engine” was reported to have fallen on Highway 285<\/strong>. Nearby rainfall reports are modest, ranging from only 0.09-0.13 inches. However, 72-hour QPE<\/span> for this area suggests up to 0.50-1.00 inches of rain have fallen in this area in the last few days.<\/p>\n In Walsenburg, Huerfano County Road 340 was reported flooded by law enforcement<\/strong>. Impressive rainfall totals of 1.75 inches and 2.20 inches were reported in or near Walsenburg and Lathrop State Park.<\/p>\n Multiple flood reports were made across the Denver Metro Area and Urban Corridor<\/strong> last night, including:<\/p>\n Floodwater blocking I-70 between York and Brighton! Traffic at a complete standstill #Denver<\/a> #cowx<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IINXxdn0nb<\/a><\/p>\n — Chris Riske (@RiskeChris) August 8, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n