Grand Junction, Colorado – Slow-moving thunderstorms will continue to drench western Colorado and southeast Utah this afternoon and evening, raising the risk of flash flooding, debris flows, and rapidly rising creeks through midnight tonight. Steep terrain, slot canyons, and recent burn scars—including Deer Creek, Lee, Elk, South Rim, Turner Gulch, and Stoner Mesa—are the most vulnerable.
According to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction, a Flood Watch remains in effect for much of the Western Slope—Grand Valley, Debeque to Silt Corridor, Central Colorado River Basin, Gunnison and Uncompahgre basins, the Flat Tops, West Elk and Sawatch ranges, the San Juan Mountains—and for southeast Utah, including Canyonlands/Natural Bridges and communities from Moab to Blanding.
Drivers should expect quick ponding and rockfall on I-70 through Glenwood Canyon, US-550 between Ouray and Silverton, CO-133 over McClure Pass, CO-141 along the Dolores River, and US-160 near Durango and Pagosa Springs. In Utah, avoid narrow canyons along UT-191, UT-95, and backcountry routes near the Colorado and San Juan rivers. Never enter flooded dips or washes; turn around, don’t drown. Keep phones charged and be ready to move to higher ground if warnings are issued.
Showers taper late tonight, but additional advisories are possible if storms redevelop.
