Durango Weather Guy

7/28/22 Thursday 6:30 am

Yesterday was relatively quiet during the day in most areas. The exception was San Miguel and portions of Ouray Counties where storms set up. Then Wednesday evening storms set up mostly east of 550 and a few isolated areas west of Forest Lakes really got hit with over 2 inches of rain. That was an anomaly compared to what other areas received.

Today we have another flood watch issued. The difference between today and yesterday is that the models support this idea of widespread showers developing. A repeat performance will be on tap for Friday. Cooler daytime highs will accompany this unsettled weather. Showers may persist into the evening hours and many areas may wake up to rain tomorrow morning.  An umbrella will be a recommended accessory today and tomorrow.

FLOOD WATCH  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO  
334 AM MDT THU JUL 28 2022  
  
COZ003-008>010-012-013-017>023-UTZ022-028-029-282200-  
/O.CON.KGJT.FA.A.0004.220728T1600Z-220729T0400Z/  
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/  
ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN-GRAND AND  
BATTLEMENT MESAS-GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-  
WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-FLAT TOPS-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND  
DALLAS DIVIDE-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN  
MOUNTAINS-PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER-FOUR CORNERS/UPPER  
DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH-  
LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF RIO BLANCO, EAGLE, EDWARDS, GLENWOOD   
SPRINGS, CARBONDALE, BASALT, SKYWAY, ASPEN, VAIL, SNOWMASS, CRESTED   
BUTTE, TAYLOR PARK, MARBLE, BUFORD, TRAPPERS LAKE, RIDGWAY, GLADE   
PARK, TELLURIDE, OURAY, LAKE CITY, SILVERTON, RICO, HESPERUS,   
GATEWAY, NUCLA, CORTEZ, DOVE CREEK, MANCOS, DURANGO, BAYFIELD,   
IGNACIO, PAGOSA SPRINGS, BLANDING, BLUFF, MEXICAN HAT, MONTICELLO,   
CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK, AND FRY   
CANYON  
334 AM MDT THU JUL 28 2022  
  
...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH   
10 PM MDT THIS EVENING...  
  
* WHAT...FLASH FLOODING CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE,   
  ESPECIALLY ON BURN SCARS AND AREAS WITH ALREADY SATURATED SOIL.  
  
* WHERE...PORTIONS OF COLORADO AND SOUTHEAST UTAH, INCLUDING THE   
  FOLLOWING AREAS, IN COLORADO, ANIMAS RIVER BASIN, CENTRAL COLORADO   
  RIVER BASIN, FLAT TOPS, FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER, GORE AND   
  ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, GRAND AND BATTLEMENT   
  MESAS, NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES   
  RIVER, ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, SOUTHWEST   
  SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE AND WEST   
  ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS. IN SOUTHEAST UTAH, CANYONLANDS/NATURAL   
  BRIDGES, LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHEAST UTAH.  
  
* WHEN...FROM 10 AM MDT THIS MORNING THROUGH 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING.  
  
* IMPACTS...EXCESSIVE RUNOFF MAY RESULT IN FLOODING OF RIVERS,   
  CREEKS, STREAMS, AND OTHER LOW-LYING AND FLOOD-PRONE LOCATIONS. IN   
  ADDITION, HEAVY RAINFALL OVER RECENT BURN SCARS SUCH AS THE   
  GRIZZLY CREEK FIRE, LAKE CHRISTINE FIRE, PINE GULCH FIRE, PACK   
  CREEK FIRE, ICE FIRE, 416 FIRE AND EAST CANYON FIRE BURN AREAS,   
  AMONG OTHER SMALLER, MORE RECENT BURN AREAS IN THE WATCH AREA.  
  
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...  
  - DEEP MONSOONAL MOISTURE WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION TODAY  
    RESULTING IN MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HEAVY  
    RAIN, FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS WILL BE POSSIBLE,  
    ESPECIALLY OVER RECENT BURN SCARS AND ALREADY SATURATED SOILS  
    FROM RECENT RAINFALL.  
  
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  
  
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION   
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.  
  

Here is something we don’t often see–we made the excessive rainfall outlook category 3 (out of 4).

My next update will be on Friday. Thanks for following and supporting the site!