Flooding in southwestern Colorado widened late Thursday, October 22, as the National Weather Service issued a new flood warning for southwestern Saguache County, Mineral County and Rio Grande County until 11 a.m. MDT Friday, covering the South Fork area and the Rio Grande River and its tributaries along Highway 160 toward Wolf Creek Pass.
Source: National Weather Service via WeatherWorld
Emergency management reported at 10:02 p.m. MDT that flooding was ongoing or expected to begin shortly, with between 1 and 3.5 inches of rain already fallen and up to 1 more inch possible, the warning said. Several structures are flooded and sandbagging operations are continuing.
Source: National Weather Service via WeatherWorld
Evacuations, a washed-away bridge and a closed highway
Evacuations are occurring from Wolf Creek Ranch to Fun Valley, some roads remain closed due to flooding including Highway 160 and FR380, and the Park Creek bridge has been washed away with considerable debris in the water, according to the warning. The Weather Service urged people to move to higher ground and not drive on flooded roads.
Source: National Weather Service via WeatherWorld
The South Fork warning is part of the same storm system that has flooded the wider southwest of the state. In neighbouring Archuleta County, the sheriff's office and the town of Pagosa Springs evacuated residents in low-lying areas near the San Juan, Rio Blanco, Navajo and Piedra rivers, with a mandatory evacuation order issued shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday, Colorado Public Radio reported. The Weather Service in Grand Junction issued a flood warning at 5:44 p.m. Thursday for Archuleta County through 5:45 a.m. Friday.
Source: Colorado Public Radio
Road closures in that area include County Road 500, part of CO 151 south of the US 160 junction, and streets in Pagosa Springs, while the Colorado Department of Transportation had already closed US 550 Red Mountain Pass between Silverton and Ouray, CPR reported. In La Plata County, County Road 509 collapsed after a culvert was lost, and a pre-evacuation order was issued for the North Vallecito area.
Source: Colorado Public Radio
Highway 160 is closed in the flooded South Fork stretch and US 550 Red Mountain Pass is also closed. Do not drive through flooded roads — most flood deaths occur in vehicles, the Weather Service says.
What is solid
- NWS flood warning for Saguache, Mineral and Rio Grande counties until 11 a.m. MDT Friday, Oct 23 (NWS via WeatherWorld)
- 1 to 3.5 inches of rain reported by 10:02 p.m. MDT Thursday; evacuations Wolf Creek Ranch to Fun Valley; Park Creek bridge washed away (NWS)
- Pagosa Springs mandatory evacuations and Archuleta/La Plata road closures in the same storm (Colorado Public Radio)
What is only claimed
- How long Highway 160 and FR380 stay closed — the warning gives no reopening time; check CDOT before travelling