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Colorado Flood Stories

553 first-hand accounts of flood events in Colorado, ranked by impact. Each is a NOAA-written narrative of the moment.

Flash Flood

Rio Blanco, CO · Aug 24, 2025

A plume of anomalously rich monsoonal moisture pushed into eastern Utah and western Colorado in the days prior to these debris flows. On the day of the flows, precipitable water values were in excess of 1.00 inch across the region.

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Flash Flood

Mesa, CO · Jul 18, 2025

A somewhat classic monsoonal pattern set up in the days leading up to this flash flooding event. A high centered over the Southern Plains and a low off the West Coast, drawing tropical and subtropical moisture northward out of Mexico and the tropical Pacific ocean.

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Flood$100K damage

Bent County/las Animas And Vicinity, CO · May 1, 1999

The most significant river flooding along the Arkansas River since at least 1965 was caused by widespread and persistent rainfall...especially along the eastern slopes of the southeast mountains.

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Flood

La Plata, CO · Oct 11, 2025

Between October 10-14, 2025, southwest Colorado experienced prolonged periods of rain and some of the largest multiday rainfall totals on record with rainfall accumulations between 3 and 8 inches, with locally higher amounts across the San Juan Mountains.

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Flood

Archuleta, CO · Oct 11, 2025

Between October 10-14, 2025, southwest Colorado experienced prolonged periods of rain and some of the largest multiday rainfall totals on record with rainfall accumulations between 3 and 8 inches, with locally higher amounts across the San Juan Mountains.

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Flood

Archuleta, CO · Oct 13, 2025

Between October 10-14, 2025, southwest Colorado experienced prolonged periods of rain and some of the largest multiday rainfall totals on record with rainfall accumulations between 3 and 8 inches, with locally higher amounts across the San Juan Mountains.

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Flood

Archuleta, CO · Oct 11, 2025

Between October 10-14, 2025, southwest Colorado experienced prolonged periods of rain and some of the largest multiday rainfall totals on record with rainfall accumulations between 3 and 8 inches, with locally higher amounts across the San Juan Mountains.

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Flash Flood$30K damage

La Plata, CO · Sep 22, 2013

A negatively tilted upper trough and associated cold front swung across the 4 Corners region and incorporated monsoonal moisture to produce strong thunderstorms with large hail and heavy rainfall across southwest Colorado.

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Flash Flood$20K damage

El Paso, CO · Jul 30, 2012

Heavy rain occurred over a large portion of the Waldo Canyon burn scar from late afternoon through early morning. A flow of ash and gravel covered US Highway 24 to a depth of five feet, stranding a truck and trailer.

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Flood$100K damage

Upper Yampa River Basin/steamboat Springs And Vicinity, CO · Jun 1, 1997

Flooding was reported from Steamboat Springs to Craig along the upper and central portions of the Yampa River for the first eleven days of June. The Elk River and other tributaries were also above flood stage for much of the same time period.

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Flash Flood$15K damage

Weld, CO · Sep 26, 2012

A man was seriously injured when he was struck by lightning outside the Hebrew Educational Alliance as he and his family were getting in their car.

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Flash Flood$100K damage

El Paso, CO · Jul 10, 2013

Thunderstorms will heavy rainfall rates caused flash flooding on the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest burn scars. The Waldo Canyon watershed received around one inch of rainfall, which caused a torrent of water, rock and debris to flow onto US Highway 24.

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Flash Flood

Mesa, CO · Aug 5, 2017

A persistent and unsettled northwesterly flow aloft brought yet another embedded upper level disturbance into the region that produced scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across western Colorado.

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Flash Flood$150K damage

Delta, CO · Jul 18, 2013

The active monsoon pattern continued to bring heavy rainfall to portions of western Colorado. After several consecutive days of heavy rainfall, more flash flooding and debris flows were reported during the afternoon and evening hours when thunderstorms were at their peak…

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Flash Flood$50K damage

San Miguel, CO · Jul 31, 1999

Heavy rains resulted in widespread flash flooding, mudslides, and turned Leopard Creek into a raging torrent which overflowed its banks and washed across State Highway 62, undercutting the roadbed.

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Flash Flood$50K damage

Garfield, CO · Aug 5, 2002

Flash flooding occurred in the Mitchell Creek drainage area where the Coal Seam fire burned earlier in the summer. The flash flood blasted through a line of concrete jersey barriers linked with heavy rebar and carried them down the hillside as the flash flood waters and debris…

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Flash Flood$50K damage

Weld, CO · Aug 6, 2008

Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Greeley. Many roads in and around town were either flooded or washed out. Floodwaters along 10th Street, the main thoroughfare in Greeley, had anywhere from 1 to 3 feet of water covering the roadway.

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Flash Flood$50K damage

Morgan, CO · Jun 13, 2009

Severe thunderstorms produced large hail, very heavy rain and flash flooding in parts of Morgan County. In addition, three tornadoes briefly touched down; two in Adams County and the other in Morgan County. Heavy rain caused extensive flash flooding north of Fort Morgan.

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Flash Flood

Arapahoe, CO · Aug 3, 2013

Severe thunderstorms brought damaging hail, wind, tornadoes, heavy rain and flash flooding to portions of the Urban Corridor and Northeast Plains. Very large hail, ranging from quarter to softball size, caused extensive damage to property and crops.

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Flood$50K damage

Upper Yampa River Basin, CO · May 29, 2003

A stretch of above normal temperatures produced significant snowmelt across the northern mountains resulting in elevated river levels and flooding along the upper Yampa River. The Yampa River crested just above flood stage during the night of the 29th and 30th of May.

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Flood$50K damage

San Juan River Basin, CO · May 22, 2005

Warm spring temperatures resulted in rapid melting of snowpack which caused flooding along the Rio Blanco River near Pagosa Springs. After years of drought and a lack of flushing flows, debris buildup in rivers and creeks enhanced flooding.

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Flash Flood$10K damage

Larimer, CO · Jul 7, 2012

Heavy rain produced flash flooding in and near the Front Range Foothills. In central Larimer County, heavy rain from nearly stationary thunderstorms caused flash flooding in the High Park burn scar.

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Flash Flood$10K damage

Weld, CO · Jun 7, 2012

Severe thunderstorms brought damaging wind and hail, heavy rain, along several tornadoes, one of which was rated an EF-2. The storms produced hail from 1.5 to 2.75 inches in diameter. In addition to the large hail, heavy rainfall from 1 to 2 inches also accompanied the storms.

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Flash Flood

Mesa, CO · Jun 20, 2024

Very deep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto combined with monsoonal moisture was forced through eastern Utah and western Colorado due to a large high pressure ridge over the Central U.S. and a deep low pressure trough over the Great Basin.

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