Debris Flow — Delta, Colorado

2023-05-02 to 2023-05-03 · near Paonia, Delta, Colorado

$2.0M

Property damage

Event narrative

Excessive spring runoff and debris backing up in culverts led to a large sinkhole developing on Highway 133 north of Paonia and south of Somerset, Colorado between mile markers 14 and 19. This resulted in the closure of the highway to allow emergency repairs to be made. The sinking soils were first noticed on April 29, 2023 with the eventual collapse of the highway occurring on May 2, 2023.

Wider weather episode

Very warm spring temperatures and an above normal snowpack resulted in excessive runoff leading to mud and debris flows across portions of west-central Colorado, as well as damage due to flooding.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.8891, -107.6006)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1084865. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.