Flash Flood — La Plata, Colorado

2018-07-17 · near Rockwood, La Plata, Colorado

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding and mudslides over the eastern portion of the 416 fire burn scar. Radar indicated rainfall rates of up to an inch within 15 minutes from the storms. The intense rainfall only lasted 10 to 20 minutes before flash flooding and debris flows started on the east side of the fire. Rain gauges in the area measured 0.30 to 0.75 of an inch of rain. Mud, rocks and other debris flowed over five sections of Colorado Highway 550 and over one section of County Road 250, which resulted in temporary road closures. Three houses in a nearby subdivision were hit and damaged by a debris flow. The KOA campground along the Animas River was completely inundated. 140 to 200 people were evacuated. Numerous structures at the campground, including trailers, cabins, the clubhouse, laundry house and pool facilities incurred damage from the debris flow. The train tracks for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad were covered by debris in about five places and the train had to stop above the first debris flow area on it's return trip to Durango. As a result, 450 people had to be evacuated by bus back to Durango. After this occurred, the bus slid off the road because of the mud and the people on the bus had to be evacuated for a second time.

Wider weather episode

Subtropical moisture trapped underneath a ridge of high pressure produced some thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in La Plata County. Flash flooding and significant debris flows occurred over the 416 fire burn scar.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.4844, -107.8094)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 766082. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.