Elevated flash flood alert for Cameron Peak burn scar set for this weekend

Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·4 min read

The National Weather Service in Boulder has designated an elevated flood threat risk Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday for the Cameron Peak burn scar.

The weather service said Sunday has the greatest risk for storms capable of producing an inch of rain in 30 minutes. An elevated risk designation was in place for the burn scar during the July 15 fatal flash flood in the Crystal Mountain and Buckhorn Canyon areas about 20 miles west of Fort Collins.

Elevated is the third highest risk level on a scale of 1 to 4.

Those living or recreating in the area are encouraged to sign up for alerts through the Larimer Emergency Telephone Authority. In addition, you can follow the weather service, Larimer County Sheriff's Office and Poudre Fire Authority on social media for alerts and additional information.

Flash floods happen very quickly and without warning, so being aware of the weather and your surroundings is highly encouraged.

More:Heat advisory? Special weather statement? Here's what these weather watches, warnings mean

Here is how to sign up for free alerts

Visit LETA's alert website at https://nocoalert.org/ to sign up. Log into your account or create an account. Then go to ''my subscriptions,'' select "event alerts'' and then select the categories you would like alerts for and fill out the information. The system can send you alerts via cellphone, landline and email.

For text messages only for flash flood warnings in Larimer County’s burn scar, text FLOOD2022 to 888777.

For text messages only for an array of emergency events throughout Larimer County, text NOCOAlert to 888777.

For more information, visit https://nocoalert.org/.

More:Signing up for these Larimer County emergency alerts could save your life

Follow these social media sites

Alerts and other important weather information are updated as conditions change on the weather service in Boulder's Twitter account at twitter.com/nwsboulder, on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NWSBoulder or its website at www.weather.gov/bou/.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office Twitter account at twitter.com/LarimerSheriff and Poudre Fire Authority's Twitter account at twitter.com/poudrefire share important notifications.

You can also find LETA on social media at www.facebook.com/LETA911 on Facebook and twitter.com/LETA_911 on Twitter.

Flash flood closures still in place

The Buckhorn Road (Larimer County Road 44H) remains closed from Larimer County Road 27 to Larimer County Road 63 (Pingree Park Road) to the general public. Access is allowed for residents and emergency vehicles only.

A section of the road was heavily damaged during the July 15 flood. Barring further flood damage, the road is expected to open to the general public Thursday, according to the county.

The Roosevelt National Forest's closure on all national forest lands between Buckhorn, Glen Haven and the junction of Buckhorn Road and U.S Highway 34 remains in effect due to the flood.

The closure map can be found here.

Flash flood safety tips

Flash flooding is the No. 1 storm-related killer in Colorado and the U.S. because most people don't understand how quickly these floods can happen and don't realize the power of water.

Here are ways to stay safe:

  • Continually monitor the weather if you are in a prone area as well as have a way to monitor weather updates and alerts.

  • Be aware of streams, drainage channels and areas known to flood that may cut off your evacuation routes.

  • Have an evacuation plan and make sure to communicate it with your entire group.

  • Even if during a rain you don't see flooding occurring where you are, if you are in a prone area prepare to move to higher ground as there may be a delay in the flooding reaching you if rain fell above where you are.

  • If you see flooding occurring, move to higher ground immediately and remain there well past the time the flood subsides.

  • Do not attempt to cross floodwaters by walking or with a vehicle. Six inches of floodwater can knock a person off their feet, and 12 inches can move a vehicle.

Source: National Weather Service

Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt.

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This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Elevated flash flood alert for Cameron Peak burn scar