Debris Flow — Gunnison, Colorado

2024-06-21 · near Waunita Hot Spgs, Gunnison, Colorado

Event narrative

A strong storm produced heavy rain and caused a rockslide on Highway 50 eastbound between County Road 888 and County Road 237B at mile point 192.

Wider weather episode

Very deep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto combined with monsoonal moisture was forced through eastern Utah and western Colorado due to a large high pressure ridge over the Central U.S. and a deep low pressure trough over the Great Basin. This deep moisture combined with strong instability and shear to produce widespread severe weather across eastern Utah and western Colorado with thunderstorms producing severe wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain which resulted in flash flooding and debris flows. One particular storm even produced a landspout tornado in southeast Utah. Frequent lightning also resulted in lightning damage in Montrose, Colorado.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.4381, -106.3954)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1198339. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.