Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026
Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 23, 2026, 12:20 AM MDT for Lincoln County, Colorado. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Jul 23, 2026, 12:20 AM MDT (06:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 23, 2026, 3:15 AM MDT
- In force
- 3 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Lincoln County, CO
The radar
The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 103 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:19 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE (KLBF), launched 00:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 326 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1240 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 39 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 72 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 413 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
623
WGUS55 KBOU 230620
FFWBOU
COC073-230915-
/O.NEW.KBOU.FF.W.0011.260723T0620Z-260723T0915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
1220 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a
* Flash Flood Warning for...
Northeastern Lincoln County in east central Colorado...
* Until 315 AM MDT.
* At 1220 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain
have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are
possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, gulches,
roads, and poor drainage and low-lying areas.
* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Limon, Hugo, Arriba and Genoa.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Big Sandy Creek, Long Creek, Coon Creek, Sevenmile Creek, Hell
Creek, South Fork Republican River and Dugout Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
&&
LAT...LON 3926 10371 3929 10363 3934 10358 3935 10355
3937 10354 3941 10348 3944 10339 3945 10330
3937 10316 3914 10316 3913 10317 3908 10330
3908 10335 3905 10345 3904 10354 3905 10363
3906 10364 3905 10365 3906 10365 3910 10372
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
632 follow-up statements
561
WGUS75 KBOU 230742
FFSBOU
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
142 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026
COC073-230915-
/O.CON.KBOU.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-260723T0915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln CO-
142 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 AM MDT EARLY THIS
MORNING FOR NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY...
At 142 AM MDT, Doppler radar indicated only light rain across the
warned area. Between 3 and 5 inches of rain fell earlier. Flooding
impacts will continue, but no additional rainfall is expected. Flash
flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, gulches, roads,
and poor drainage and low-lying areas.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
Limon, Hugo, Arriba and Genoa.
This includes the following streams and drainages...
Dugout Creek, Hell Creek, South Fork Republican River, Coon Creek,
Big Sandy Creek, Long Creek and Sevenmile Creek.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.
&&
LAT...LON 3926 10371 3929 10363 3934 10358 3935 10355
3937 10354 3941 10348 3944 10339 3945 10330
3937 10316 3914 10316 3913 10317 3908 10330
3908 10335 3905 10345 3904 10354 3905 10363
3906 10364 3905 10365 3906 10365 3910 10372
FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
$$
63251
WGUS75 KBOU 230910
FFSBOU
Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
310 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026
COC073-230920-
/O.EXP.KBOU.FF.W.0011.000000T0000Z-260723T0915Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Lincoln CO-
310 AM MDT Thu Jul 23 2026
...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 315 AM MDT EARLY THIS MORNING
FOR NORTHEASTERN LINCOLN COUNTY...
Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed any remaining closures.
&&
LAT...LON 3926 10371 3929 10363 3934 10358 3935 10355
3937 10354 3941 10348 3944 10339 3945 10330
3937 10316 3914 10316 3913 10317 3908 10330
3908 10335 3905 10345 3904 10354 3905 10363
3906 10364 3905 10365 3906 10365 3910 10372
$$
63What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 22, 11:26 PM MDT, 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- More storms on Thursday as monsoonal moisture remains over region the region. Storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall along with a localized threat of flash flooding.
- Storm coverage expected to decrease again by Friday into this upcoming weekend, although mountain areas should see at least scattered storm coverage each afternoon and evening.
- Temperatures will rise back into the upper 90's to lower 100's over northeast Colorado for the weekend into early next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 22, 11:26 PM MDT, 54 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1126 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - More storms on Thursday as monsoonal moisture remains over region the region. Storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall along with a localized threat of flash flooding. - Storm coverage expected to decrease again by Friday into this upcoming weekend, although mountain areas should see at least scattered storm coverage each afternoon and evening. - Temperatures will rise back into the upper 90's to lower 100's over northeast Colorado for the weekend into early next week. && .DISCUSSION /Through Wednesday/... Issued at 209 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026 Today and tomorrow will bring beneficial rainfall to a majority of the area with an isolated risk of flash flooding. High temperatures will reach the low to mid 90s once again today across the plains. There are already several storms ongoing across the high country and the Palmer Divide. Storms today will migrate into the plains by mid-afternoon and push east into the early evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely continue across our area through at least midnight tonight. Low-level flow is currently southeast which is continuing to provide ample moisture to our area. Additionally, we already have MLCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg and 20-30 knots of bulk shear as of early this afternoon. Storms will be outflow dominant, so any storm could produce gusty winds up to 50-60 mph with the highest risk across the plains. PWATs are at 150-200% of normal today and will approach climatological record high values on Thursday. We have a low flooding risk today given slow storm motions and the warm cloud layer depth approaching 5000 feet. The highest risk of flooding will be across the high country, mainly for burn areas and also where storms train or for areas that received significant rainfall yesterday (and thus have lower flash flood guidance). A shortwave moves through tomorrow during the day which should provide a slight increase in rainfall coverage tomorrow afternoon as well as high temperatures in the upper 80s for the plains. Storms will once again form in the high country by late morning to early afternoon and then move into the plains during the afternoon and evening. Storm motion will be faster than today (around 20 kts) given increased flow aloft, but tomorrow still carries a low risk for flash flooding. Additionally, the warm cloud layer should be deeper than today allowing for more efficient warm rain processes. Tomorrow will likely be the 3rd day in a row of rainfall for some areas. Rainfall rates could once again approach 2-3 inches per hour, so the WPC is now highlighting most of our area in a slight (2 out of 4) risk for flooding. In summary, there are several ingredients in place that lead us to be concerned about the potential for isolated instances of flash flooding in our area, but also some ingredients that will lessen the extent of the threat. Given the nature of these storms, there will be varying rainfall totals across short distances. Overall, additional rainfall totals across the area will generally be around 0.25 to 0.75 inches with some isolated totals of 2-3+ inches by Thursday evening. The high pressure will build back into the area starting Friday and strengthen through the weekend. The last several model runs have been keying in on the heat peaking on Sunday. This is when temperatures across the plains could reach 100 degrees F once again, given the thermal ridge aloft will be near 20 C and centered over our area. Record highs could be in play and a Heat Advisory could be needed as we get closer to the weekend. A chance for scattered showers is expected to continue through the weekend for the high country. By Monday and Tuesday, models show the ridge weakening and shifting slightly off to the southeast. At the same time, moisture from the remnants of Bertha could be pulled into the Southwest United States and into western Colorado. This will be something to watch as this could bring an increase in rain chances, mainly for the high country. Otherwise, highs should still be in the mid to upper 90s for the plains through much of next week. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday/... Issued at 1113 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026 Winds have trended to light drainage late this evening and will continue overnight. By 12z Thu winds will go light and variable and then shift to light north by 17z. By 20z winds will become ENE. Sct tstms will move across between 21z and 00z with gusty outflow winds up to 40 mph along with brief visibility down to 3 to 5 miles. Tstm activity should gradually end by 01z. Winds will gradually shift to the SE by 02z. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && DISCUSSION...MV AVIATION...RPK
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 22, 8:37 PM MDT, 3 hours 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
837 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NW Sterling 40.66N 103.25W
07/22/2026 M61 MPH Logan CO Public
Personal weather station.
0815 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 WSW Sterling 40.62N 103.27W
07/22/2026 M82 MPH Logan CO AWOS
AWOS station KSTK Sterling.
0809 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Sterling 40.65N 103.25W
07/22/2026 M62 MPH Logan CO Public
Personal weather station.
0803 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NE Merino 40.50N 103.33W
07/22/2026 M53 MPH Logan CO Public
Personal weather station.
0655 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SE Brush 40.23N 103.59W
07/22/2026 M72 MPH Morgan CO Public
WeatherLink station.
0649 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 SSW Hillrose 40.31N 103.53W
07/22/2026 M53 MPH Morgan CO Public
Personal weather station. Recorded at 53 mph
gust before the station stopped reporting.
0648 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 S Hillrose 40.27N 103.53W
07/22/2026 M51 MPH Morgan CO Public
Personal weather station. Recorded a 51 mph
gust before the station stopped reporting.
0604 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 E Arriba 39.29N 103.25W
07/22/2026 M62 MPH Lincoln CO Public
WeatherLink station.
&&Local storm report, Jul 22, 8:58 PM MDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
858 PM MDT Wed Jul 22 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0830 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NE Sterling 40.66N 103.17W
07/22/2026 M61 MPH Logan CO Public
Personal weather station.
0821 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 ESE Sterling 40.62N 103.19W
07/22/2026 M66 MPH Logan CO Public
Personal weather station.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 6:16 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Lincoln | 3 hr |
| Jul 22, 6:41 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Morgan, Washington | 49 min |
| Jul 22, 7:18 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Lincoln | 2 hr |
| Jul 22, 7:44 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan, Morgan, Washington | 46 min |
| Jul 22, 8:07 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Lincoln | 97 min |
| Jul 22, 8:18 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan | 42 min |
| Jul 22, 8:43 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Logan | 2 hr |
| Jul 22, 8:48 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 3 hr |
| Jul 22, 8:56 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Logan, Sedgwick | 49 min |
| Jul 23, 12:50 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | BOU | Jefferson | 115 min |
| Jul 23, 2:18 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Lincoln | 27 min |
| Jul 23, 3:03 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Weld | 42 min |
| Jul 23, 3:36 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Lincoln | 24 min |
| Jul 23, 3:58 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 35 min |
| Jul 23, 4:32 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | BOU | Elbert, Lincoln | 3 hr |
| Jul 23, 4:44 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BOU | Morgan | 61 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.