Debris Flow in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

At approximately 1:18 PM MDT, a report reached NWS Grand Junction that heavy rain over the Lee Burn Scar had triggered a debris flow over Rio Blanco County Road 5 in the same area that had run on August 24th. This time, no vehicles were trapped and no other damage occurred, nor were any injuries or fatalities reported.

Unusually rich monsoonal moisture was in place on the morning of August 26th, with precipitable water close to 1.00 inch across eastern Utah and western Colorado. A jet streak moving in aloft brought not only additional moisture, but some extra lift as well. In addition, daytime heating on the complex terrain in this region help to spur on afternoon convection. As a result, widespread shower and thunderstorm activity developed during the afternoon, producing localized very heavy rain and high rainfall rates.