Flash Flood — La Plata, Colorado

2018-07-24 · near Rockwood, La Plata, Colorado

Event narrative

Major flooding, mud and rockslides occurred in the Animas Valley along the Colorado Highway 550 corridor between mile markers 33 and 37. Fast moving flood waters and debris flowed in excess of 6 feet deep in places. About 6 feet of debris blocked Highway 550. The highway was closed for approximately 4.5 hours for debris cleanup. The flood waters and debris also flowed across the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad tracks which lead the train to stop and, as a result of the closure of the highway, about 800 passengers were stranded north of Durango. A section of the railroad track was heavily damaged. Significant damage occurred in the Whispering Pines and Pine Acres subdivisions where flash flood waters flowed. The flash flood waters and debris also traveled across a section of County Road 250 and caused widespread damage at the Durango North/Riverside KOA campground. Radar estimated half an inch to an inch of rain fell within a short period of time in the general area of the flash flooding.

Wider weather episode

As high pressure spun southeast of the Four Corners region, subtropical moisture moved northward along the western periphery of the high. This increase in moisture produced some thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in La Plata County. Flash flooding with extensive debris flow occurred especially over the 416 Wildfire burn scar.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.4700, -107.8100)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 766181. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.