Debris Flow in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

The NWS Incident Meteorologist assigned to the Lee Fire reported this event to NWS Grand Junction. Mud and debris were confirmed to be flowing across Rio Blanco County Road 5 at mile marker 6 and mile marker 12, making the road impassable. As a result, County Road 5 was closed from miles marker 12 to the intersection with Highway 13 for roughly half an hour.

Unusually rich tropical moisture continued to stream over eastern Utah and western Colorado, with precipitable water values in excess of an inch. Combination of upper level support in the form of a jet streak and daytime heating on complex terrain provided the lift to start showers and thunderstorms. These storms, as had been the case in the days prior, were capable of producing heavy rain and high rain rates. Over sensitive terrain, such as slot canyons or recent burn scars, this could cause flash flooding and debris flows.