Debris Flow — Rio Blanco, Colorado

2024-08-20 · near Meeker, Rio Blanco, Colorado

Event narrative

Colorado Department of Transportation reported Colorado State Highway 64 closed at mile marker 56, between Wray Gulch Road and Indian Valley, due to a mudslide. This was just north of White River City, or 18 miles west of the town of Meeker along Highway 64. The road remained closed for several hours while cleanup was undertaken. This stretch of Highway 64 runs along the base of a steep cliff, leaving it prone to debris and mudflows during intense, heavy rainfall events.

Wider weather episode

August 20th was characterized by a relative downturn in available moisture as some drier air worked in from the northwest. With the lack of upper level support, the higher terrain would preferentially see shower and thunderstorm development. A weak moisture gradient set up across northeast Utah and northwest Colorado during the afternoon, providing an additional focus for instability and lift, and it was this gradient that eventually spawned a stronger storm capable of producing heavy rainfall and a debris flow in Rio Blanco County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.0976, -108.2389)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1208350. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.