Debris Flow in San Miguel County, Colorado

A large mudslide occurred across Colorado Highway 145 near Sawpit as a result of heavy rains. The highway was closed for a couple of hours due to cleanup operations. The most severe slide occurred at mile marker 79 with 1 to 2 feet of debris and boulders across the road.

High pressure retrograted in response to a deepening mid-level trough over the center of the nation and parked over western Colorado. Even so, subtropical moisture remained entrenched over the area with precipitable water values exceeding an inch and trending over 150% of the climatological norm. As a result, widespread showers and thunderstorms erupted over western Colorado. Additionally, convergence along the Continental Divide enhanced storm coverage. Heavy rain and training was common with storms which led to numerous reports of flash flooding and debris flows, including over the Pine Gulch and Grizzly Creek Fire burn scars.