Flash Flood — Otero, Colorado

2023-07-19 · near Timpas, Otero, Colorado

Event narrative

Highway 350 closed between mile marker 47 and 48 due to road damage and flooding.

Wider weather episode

An upper level high pressure center was located over central Arizona and central New Mexico which resulted in a favorable pattern for efficient diurnal wind fluctuations including upslope oriented winds towards WFO Pueblo's eastern mountains. Weak waves embedded in the upper level northwesterly flow enhanced the lift and the pattern enhanced the deep shear. The result was a very rare mountainous tornado that was observed at around 9,000 feet.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.7900, -103.8100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1128702. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.