Flood Warning recorded from KCSU (2:15 PM)
Update (6:52 PM):
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The National Weather Service posted a Flash Flood Watch until Sunday at 6 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, “a watch indicates conditions are favorable for development of storms and flooding in and around the watch area.”
According to the City of Fort Collins, the river is flowing between 3,000 cfs and 4,000 cfs and is being monitored closely.
People are urged to stay away from “soft, unstable river banks” and any flood water. Floodwater poses health risks, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards and injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Update (1:56 PM):
Loveland is receiving a heavy amount of calls in regards to water quality. According to Loveland Water and Power, water quality remains “well within State and Federal water quality standards.”
Update (9:10 PM):
After a day of flooding, residents of Andersonville, Alta Vista and Buckingham neighborhoods, were allowed to go home.
According to a statement released by the City of Fort Collins, residents should still be cautious given the neighborhoods are still at risk for more flooding.
The Poudre River is decreasing in strength, but emergency crews will continue to monitor the flow tonight.
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Update (4:36 PM):
As of now CSU’s football team will still have its first home game against Cal Poly tomorrow, according to City Manager, Darin Atteberry who spoke at a media briefing earlier today.
Atteberry said President Tony Frank will issue good judgement depending on the weather, but for now the game is still on.
Cal Poly’s football team is already in Fort Collins and unaffected by road closures.
Update (2:29 PM):
At 2:15 PM, KCSU received an alert stating that the Flood Warning has been extended until 7:30 AM Saturday. Listen to the audio at the top of this post for the full details.
Update (1:55 PM):
According to Fort Collins officials, southbound County Road 5 is closed at Harmony Road.
US Highway 287 is open in Colorado, but closed from the Wyoming border to Laramie.
A second evacuation shelter will open at 3 p.m. at Tevelli Elementary School, which is located at 1116 Miramont Dr.
Officials warn that even though there is a break in the weather, residents should still remain cautious and stay in a safe place until the storm has completely passed.
I-25 remains closed.
Xcel Energy is reporting several issues, with its Poudre Valley regulator station underwater.
Update (12:05 PM):
According to Fort Collins officials, Poudre River water levels are continuing to decrease with stream flows below 9,000 cfs.
US Highway 287 is closed from Fort Collins to the Wyoming border.
Officials advise not playing in or drinking untreated flood water.
The Larimer County Humane Society is quickly running out of room and resources to care for evacuated animals and advises that animals be taken to friends, family, veterinarians or boarding shelters instead.
Update (11:21 PM):
According to Fort Collins officials, the Poudre River water levels have decreased.
Harmony Road is now open, although Mulberry Road is still closed from Riverside Ave. to Summitview Dr.
Power is currently down at Mulberry and Lemay.
There is also no concern of a dam breach at Horsetooth Reservoir at this time.
Update (9:59 PM): For the most recent updates follow the #ftcollinsflood feed here.
Update (7:53 AM):
CSU campus is closed today, Sept. 13 due to “changing conditions,” according to the CSU Public Safety Team. Dining centers will remain open.
Update (7:44 AM):
Transfort is canceling routes 8,14 and 81 until further notice. Routes 5, 17, 18 and Flex will run on a detour, according to a press release from the City of Fort Collins.
Update (7:53 PM):
Water continues to rise and flooding is imminent along the Poudre River, according to an emergency notice from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. The height of the water at 7:15 p.m. was 9.31 feet. Flood stage occurs at 10.5 feet, but the a prediction by the National Weather Service estimates the Poudre will peak at 10.6 feet on Friday and decrease from there.
Residents and businesses located along the river in low-lying areas are recommended to monitor or evacuate. A shelter is set up at Timberline Church at 2908 Timberline Rd.
Update (5:33 PM):
The National Weather Service has issued a flash Flood Warning for the Poudre River.
It’s estimated that the river will peak at 7,000 cubic feet per second , which is comparable to the flooding in April 1999, according to a statement released from the city of Fort Collins.
More rain can be anticipated through the evening.
Update (5:05 PM):
The Poudre River is rising due to runoff from surrounding passes. That means that the City of Fort Collins may be expecting some flooding in the near future.
“Based on the current projections, the Poudre river as it exits Poudre canyon is currently at a stage of a little over seven feet which is approximately 5,000 cubic ft. per second. Right now, the prediction based on current information is that it will only rise less than an additional foot,” said Nolan Doeskin, a climatologist at CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science.
Right now, Fort Collins is in the clear but continues to be under a flash flood warning.
“Fort Collins remains in the clear; [the] heaviest rains are northwest of town. Fortunately, they appear to be diminishing a little bit, but increasing as we speak just west of Horsetooth reservoir and a little bit developing down south of town.”
Doeskin urges CSU students to be safe out there. More rain is anticipated to come in the evening.
“If rains start to become heavy, with so much rain that we have already had and with rivers already as high as they are, do not venture any further,” Doeskin said.
Update (4:45 PM):
The City of Fort Collins released a statement warning residents of debris from the Poudre River due to heavy rainfall.
The situation is being monitored. The recent rainfall has caused the river levels to rise dramatically. Rainfall has brought sediment and debris into the city.
“(The water) can only go down, not out,” said Lisa Rosintoski, the Customer and Connections Division Manager. “The potential (of flooding) exists.”
The Poudre Trail is closed due to proximity to the river. Water intake from the Poudre has been shut off since Sept. 6, so no debris will enter the public water supply.
To report flooding or debris buildup, call 970-221-6700.
Residents are advised to stay away from the river and to exercise caution while driving through water.
The National Weather Service has extended the Flash Flood Warning for South-Eastern Larimer County until 9:30PM tonight.
Update (2:24 PM):
The Larimer County Sheriff’s department is evacuating residence who live in the area of Big Thompson Canyon due to heavy rain and the possibility for more flooding.
At mile maker 74 there is a breach in Hwy 34 in Big Thompson Canyon. The Sheriff department urges those west of mile maker 74 go to the evacuation center in Estes Park, while those east of the maker to go to the Loveland evacuation center.
A pre-alert was issued to Poudre Canyon for potential danger as well.
A Flash Flood Warning has been extended until 8:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Moderate and heavy rain is still being reported in the area as of 1:39 p.m.
This most recent alert is directed towards South-Eastern Larimer County. At 12:29 PM, Doppler radar indicated moderate to heavy rain over the foothills of Southern Larimer County. Dam operators at the Olympus Dam will also be increasing the release of water from Lake Estes through the afternoon. Flash flooding is expected to continue throughout the afternoon. Some locations that will experience flooding include Western Loveland, Estes Park, Berthoud, Glen Haven, and Drake. Listen to the audio file for the full details.
The most recent Flood Alert from the National Weather Service reported that the observed flooding increased form minor to moderate severity. The forecast flooding also increased from minor to moderate severity. Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. Click the link at the top of this news feed for the most recent audio file of the alert.
Update (10:56 AM):
Flash-flood warnings are in effect for northern Larimer County.
According to the National Weather Service, Rustic, Poudre Park, Red Feather Lakes and Mishawaka are expected to experience flooding
Update (9:08 AM):
Due to flooding and rock slides, multiple road closures are still in effect near the Fort Collins area, according to CDOT.
A Flash Flood Warning has been extended for central Larimer county and will be in effect until 10 a.m., today.
Doppler Radar indicates two to five inches of heavy rain fall in the area with the chance of flash flooding greater in mountain areas and canyons near the High Park Burn scar. Rock slides can also be expected in the burn area.
The National Weather Service highly advises those in mountain areas to move to higher ground immediately.
Update (10:44 PM):
At 10:44 PM, the Flash Flood Warning was updated. This alert will be active until 3:45 AM. Flash flooding has already occurred in Boulder and in the High Park burn areas. The updated information supersedes all previous warnings.
Alert audio as recorded and received by KCSU EAS equipment.
Issued by The National Weather Service
Denver/Boulder, CO
...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 AM MDT FOR LARIMER COUNTY... AT 805 AM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED HEAVY RAIN ACROSS THE WARNED AREA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN HAVE FALLEN IN SOME AREAS. FLASH FLOODING WILL CONTINUE. BUCKHORN CANYON WAS FLOODED AND DESTROYED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ACCORDING TO SPOTTERS. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...HIGH PARK BURN AREA...ESTES PARK...PINGREE PARK...GLEN HAVEN...POUDRE PARK...MISHAWAKA... DRAKE...TRAIL RIDGE...BUCKHORN MOUNTAIN AND RUSTIC. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS...STREAMS...ROADS AND CULVERTS IN THE HIGH PARK BURN AREA. SOME AREAS AFFECTED INCLUDE RIST CANYON...BUCKHORN CREEK...REDSTONE CANYON...STOVE PRAIRIE...AND GULCHES DRAINING INTO THE POUDRE CANYON ALONG HIGHWAY 14. ROCK SLIDES OR DEBRIS FLOWS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED ACROSS ROADS IN THE BURN AREA. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING OF CREEKS AND STREAMS...ROADS AND ROADSIDE CULVERTS. THE HEAVY RAINS COULD ALSO TRIGGER ROCK SLIDES OR DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE HIGH PARK BURN AREA. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. ACT QUICKLY TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE. STAY AWAY OR BE SWEPT AWAY. RIVER BANKS AND CULVERTS CAN BECOME UNSTABLE AND UNSAFE.
