Flood — Routt, Colorado

2023-04-12 to 2023-04-15 · near Hayden, Routt, Colorado

Event narrative

Rapid snowmelt resulted in Dry Creek, which runs underneath Highway 40, coming out of its banks. As a result, Highway 40 was closed and shut down in both directions from Craig to Steamboat Springs due to safety concerns. Schools in Hayden were closed. Flood waters did not recede for several days.

Wider weather episode

Above normal temperatures accelerated snowmelt from a near-record snowpack. This resulted in high and fast flows on several rivers and drainages across Western Colorado. The increased runoff and flooding compromised several county roads and bridges across Montezuma, Archuleta, Routt, Delta, Dolores, Montrose, and Moffat counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.4944, -107.2696)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1081479. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.