Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 11, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

July 23, 2026Lincoln County, Colorado

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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-07-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, N. Platte/Lee Bi, NE at 00:00Z on 2026-07-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 72 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

63
2 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

$$

63
251 
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

$$

63

What 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 22, 6:16 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOULincoln3 hr
Jul 22, 6:41 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUMorgan, Washington49 min
Jul 22, 7:18 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOULincoln2 hr
Jul 22, 7:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Morgan, Washington46 min
Jul 22, 8:07 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOULincoln97 min
Jul 22, 8:18 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan42 min
Jul 22, 8:43 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOULogan2 hr
Jul 22, 8:48 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOULincoln3 hr
Jul 22, 8:56 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULogan, Sedgwick49 min
Jul 23, 12:50 PM MDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOUJefferson115 min
Jul 23, 2:18 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOULincoln27 min
Jul 23, 3:03 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUWeld42 min
Jul 23, 3:36 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOULincoln24 min
Jul 23, 3:58 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln35 min
Jul 23, 4:32 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningBOUElbert, Lincoln3 hr
Jul 23, 4:44 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBOUMorgan61 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.