Debris Flow in Montezuma County, Colorado

Emergency manager for Montezuma County reported a large boulder loosened from multiple consecutive days of heavy rain having fallen onto Road G, near the intersection of Road 21, about 2.5 miles from Cortez-Montezuma County Airport. This large boulder necessitated heavy machinery to clean up, but did not impact traffic on the road, despite partially blocking the west-bound lane.

A strong southwesterly jet aloft was in place of eastern Utah and western Colorado, not only advecting rich monsoonal moisture into the area, but also providing enhanced lift a some decent wind shear. All this to say the environment was perfect for stronger, and more organized convection to form during the afternoon hours of August 25th. With the above normal moisture and indications of potential training thunderstorms, as well as the fact of the unusually supportive environment itself, the local Grand Junction office issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of the area, in addition to a moderate risk of excessive rainfall from the Weather Prediction Center and a slight risk of severe weather from the Storm Prediction Center, prompting a Severe Thunderstorm Watch.