Debris Flow — Pitkin, Colorado

2021-07-29 · near Redstone, Pitkin, Colorado

Event narrative

Several mudslides occurred along Colorado Highway 133 near Redstone as a result of heavy rains. Debris depth was 7 to 8 feet with one slide and 3 to 4 feet deep with another. As a result, motorists were stranded until cleanup operations were complete.

Wider weather episode

Substantial monsoon moisture remained over the area as high pressure drifted east over the Plains. Additionally, strong instability was in place as a midlevel shortwave trough moved overhead. As a result, widespread showers and thunderstorms developed across the area with many storms producing heavy rain. This led to multiple debris flows across portions of west-central Colorado including over the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar. Additionally, a severe thunderstorm produced large hail in Garfield County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.1900, -107.2400)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 965529. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.