Dolores storm history

Lightning struck two mountain bikers who had gotten below tree line to seek shelter. One mountain biker was killed. The other only had minor injuries and her clothes were shredded. They had been riding on a trail just above the 10,200 foot level on the East Fork Trail near the Li…

The NWS Incident Meteorologist on the Stoner Mesa fire reported snapped trees and uprooted cottonwood trees along Colorado State Route 38 near the Mavreeso Campground. No direct measurement of the winds was recorded, therefore the wind for this entry was estimated. This was the o…

A severe thunderstorm tracked southeast from 11 miles southwest of Dove Creek from eastern San Juan County, Utah through west-central Dolores County and into northwestern Montezuma County in Colorado. This storm produced hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter, which fell over southwes…

Increased snowmelt along the Dolores River led to the inundation of the campground and parking lot along the boat launch at the Bradfield Recreation Site outside Cahone. Some vehicles were stuck in the mud as a result.

Increased flood waters due to rapid snowmelt damaged a private bridge off of Colorado Highway 145, near mile marker 22.

Rapid snowmelt resulted in flooding across Road 9.7 in Dolores County, as the Dolores River overran its banks. The road was closed for a prolonged period as flood waters did not recede for several days. The accelerated snowmelt and subsequent pooling of water flooded the local hi…

A funnel cloud was spotted roughly in the vicinity of Lone Mesa in a remote area of Lone Mesa State Park.

While performing a search and rescue operation for an injured hiker at El Diente Peak, Dolores County Search and Rescue members narrowly escaped a portion of the road exiting the trailhead being washed out as a result of flash flooding from heavy rain.

A peak wind gust of 59 mph was measured by the Dove Creek automated weather station.

A resident west-northwest of Cahone estimated a peak wind gust of 60 mph.

Heavy rainfall resulted in up to a foot of water depth that flowed across Colorado Highway 141 north of Dove Creek.

A primary funnel cloud with two smaller vortices spinning around it was observed by a farmer near Cahone.

Ping pong ball sized hail was observed at intersection of Highway 141 and County Road E.

Ping pong ball sized hail was reported.

Coal Bed Creek was out of its banks. Mud and debris also flowed underneath Highway 491 through a sixteen foot diameter culvert that was 3/4 full.

Exactly an inch of rain fell at the Salter RAWS site within one hour.

A rainfall total of 1.30 inches fell in less than an hour near Dove Creek. No significant flooding was reported.

A rainfall total of 0.74 within 30 minutes resulted in minor street flooding.

Heavy rainfall caused multiple mud slides across Highway 145 at mile marker 75, which prompted the road to be closed around 5:00 PM MDT.

Rainfall of 1.50 inches was reported. The Dolores River was running high and overflowed its banks into a grassy area at North Bridge.

Rainfall runoff from slow moving thunderstorms over northwest Dolores County deposited debris at various locations on Highway 141. Colorado Department of Transportation road crews used plows to clear the debris.