Debris Flow — San Juan, Colorado

2021-07-30 · near Elk Park, San Juan, Colorado

Event narrative

A section of Hotel Draw Road (Forest Service Road 550) was blocked by a mudslide one-half mile east of its intersection with the Colorado Trail.

Wider weather episode

The prolonged North American Monsoon pattern prevailed across western Colorado with abundant moisture present as precipitable water values trended to 170% of normal. Additionally, morning sunshine allowed the atmosphere to rapidly destabilize over the higher terrain. As a result, another round of strong thunderstorms developed and produced heavy rain which caused several mudslides across portions of west-central Colorado.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.6557, -107.9578)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 965810. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.