Debris Flow — Rio Blanco, Colorado

2025-08-26 · near Meeker, Rio Blanco, Colorado

Event narrative

Heavy rain on the Lee Burn Scar led to debris flows that filled culverts along Highway 13, particularly at the intersection of Rio Blanco County Road 33. This led to flooding of fields and ranches in the Josephine Basin region, just south and west of Meeker. Some debris was also noted along the side of both County Road 33 and Highway 13.

Wider weather episode

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.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (40.0161, -107.9761)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1291261. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.