Debris Flow in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

The NWS Incident Meteorologist deployed to the Lee Fire reported this event to NWS Grand Junction. Thunderstorms produced heavy rain over the Lee Burn Scar on the afternoon of August 28th. This in turn resulted in water, mud, and debris flowing over Rio Blanco County Road 5 near mile marker 30, roughly 20 miles west of meeker and on the west side of the Lee Burn Scar. A Flash Flood Warning had been issued for this region with 30 minutes of lead time. No reports of damages, injuries, or fatalities were received. County Road 5 did have to be closed for a short duration to clear the debris.

Unusually rich monsoonal moisture remained in place over eastern Utah and western Colorado on the 28th. With daytime heating over the complex terrain providing lift, showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and tapped into this moisture, producing heavy rain and high rain rates. These storms were capable of producing flooding and debris flows over sensitive terrain, including slot canyons and debris flows.