Debris Flow in Eagle County, Colorado

Numerous mudslides occurred 1 to 3 miles east of Basalt along Frying Pan Road as well as in the northwest side of town along Cedar and Pinion Drives in the Lake Christine Fire burn scar. The mud and debris closed several neighborhood roads with water flows estimated at 6 feet above normally dry channels, creeks, and washes. Drainage culverts were overwhelmed by mud and rocks flowing off the burn scar with 1 to 3 feet of ash-filled mud covering lawns and surrounding a few homes. Portions of Frying Pan Road were closed and, while the mud and debris flows that occurred were not associated with the Lake Christine Fire burn scar itself, the steep terrain and heavy rainfall still resulted in several vehicles being trapped by the flows. United States Geological Survey (USGS) rain gauges recorded about 1.60 inches of rain fell over the area in less than 2 hours.

Pulses of monsoonal moisture paired with passing mid-level disturbances led to several days of orographic showers and thunderstorms across western Colorado. Some storms produced heavy rain which led to localized flooding and debris flows across some southwest and west-central counties, including over the Lake Christine Fire burn scar.