Boulder Flood 2013

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Potential for flash flooding in the mountains, and in and near the foothills this afternoon through Sunday afternoon.

A weak upper level trough will move slowly across the area this afternoon through Sunday. Meanwhile a cool front will move across Northeast Colorado late tonight and increase upslope flow.

U.S. 36, one of two arteries into Estes Park, is damaged

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and linger into the early evening hours. Rainfall amounts will range from one quarter inch to one half inch. However stronger thunderstorms could produce up to an inch or more of rain in less than 45 minutes in a few locations.

There will be a lull in activity this evening however rain and a few thunderstorms may increase in the northern foothills and mountain areas north of I-70 after midnight as upslope flow develops. Additional rainfall amounts of one half inch to one inch may occur between midnight and 6 am Sunday morning in some locations. For Sunday there will be periods of rain along with a few thunderstorms in the mountains and in and near the foothills. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches could occur in some locations by late Sunday afternoon.

Thus if this additional heavy rainfall occurs then there could be more flash flooding as the ground is extremely saturated.

Flash Flood Watch in effect from noon MDT today through Sunday afternoon.

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of central Colorado, North Central Colorado and northeast Colorado, including the following areas, in central Colorado, Jefferson and West Douglas Counties above 6000 feet/gilpin/clear Creek/northeast Park counties below 9000 feet and south and southeast grand/west Central and Southwest Boulder/gilpin/clear Creek/summit/north and West Park counties above 9000 feet. In North Central Colorado, Larimer County below 6000 feet/northwest Weld County, Larimer and Boulder counties between 6000 and 9000 feet and South and East Jackson/larimer/north and northeast Grand/northwest Boulder counties above 9000 feet. In Northeast Colorado, Boulder and Jefferson counties below 6000 feet/west Broomfield County.

• From noon MDT today through Sunday afternoon.
• Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with up to 3 inches will be possible in the mountains, and in and near the foothills through Sunday afternoon. At this time the best chance of heavier rainfall appears to be from late tonight through Sunday afternoon. However Scatttered thunderstorms this afternoon into the early evening hours could produce up to an inch of rain in less than 45 minutes in some locations which could lead to flash flooding as well.