Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 43, NWS Pueblo, CO

July 31, 2026Custer County, Pueblo County, Colorado

NWS Pueblo, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jul 31, 2026, 1:13 PM MDT for Custer County, Pueblo County, Colorado. It was in force for 71 min. 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 31, 2026, 1:13 PM MDT (19:13 UTC)
Expired
Jul 31, 2026, 2:24 PM MDT
In force
71 min
Issued by
NWS Pueblo, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Custer County, CO, Pueblo County, CO

The radar

The Pueblo radar (KPUX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:14 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 text

As transmitted.

285 
WGUS55 KPUB 311913
FFWPUB
COC027-101-312215-
/O.NEW.KPUB.FF.W.0043.260731T1913Z-260731T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
113 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

The National Weather Service in Pueblo has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  The Middle and South Aspen Acres Burn Scar in...
  Southeastern Custer County in southeastern Colorado...
  Southwestern Pueblo County in southeastern Colorado...

* Until 415 PM MDT.

* At 113 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain over the Middle and South Aspen Acres Burn Scar. Between
  0.2 and 0.5 inches of rain have fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing
  or expected to begin shortly. Excessive rainfall over the burn scar
  will result in debris flow. The debris flow can consist of rock,
  mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
           flash flooding in and around the Middle and South Aspen
           Acres Burn Scar.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the
           Middle and South Aspen Acres Burn Scar.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Rye, San Isabel and Colorado City.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause
extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and ditches
in the Middle and South Aspen Acres Burn Scar. Severe debris flows
can also be anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be
washed away in places. If you encounter flood waters...climb to
safety.

&&

LAT...LON 3797 10505 3801 10513 3803 10507 3803 10501
      3802 10498 3803 10494 3803 10491 3802 10488
      3801 10488 3800 10484 3797 10486 3793 10485
      3791 10491 3793 10498 3792 10502 3794 10505
      3796 10504

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$
1 follow-up statement
501 
WGUS75 KPUB 312024
FFSPUB

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
224 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

COC027-101-312034-
/O.CAN.KPUB.FF.W.0043.000000T0000Z-260731T2215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Custer CO-Pueblo CO-
224 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR THE MIDDLE AND SOUTH ASPEN ACRES BURN SCAR
IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN CUSTER AND SOUTHWESTERN PUEBLO
COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT Friday for a
portion of southeast Colorado.

&&

LAT...LON 3797 10505 3801 10513 3803 10507 3803 10501
      3802 10498 3803 10494 3803 10491 3802 10488
      3801 10488 3800 10484 3797 10486 3793 10485
      3791 10491 3793 10498 3792 10502 3794 10505
      3796 10504

$$

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 Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jul 31, 1:09 PM MDT, 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Flash Flood Watch in effect until 11 PM due to heavy rainfall potential on the Aspen Acres Burn scar.
  • Warmer and drier conditions for the weekend into early next week with temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 degrees for the southeast plains Sunday and Monday.
  • First round of Heat Advisories issued for the northern I-25 corridor Sunday. Another Heat Advisory will likely be needed for much of the southeast plains on Monday.
  • Front for Tuesday will bring another uptick in thunderstorm chances with potential for heavy rainfall and burn scar flash flooding for the southeast mountains and plains.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 1:09 PM MDT, 4 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
109 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Flash Flood Watch in effect until 11 PM due to heavy rainfall
  potential on the Aspen Acres Burn scar.

- Warmer and drier conditions for the weekend into early next
  week with temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 degrees
  for the southeast plains Sunday and Monday.

- First round of Heat Advisories issued for the northern I-25
  corridor Sunday. Another Heat Advisory will likely be needed
  for much of the southeast plains on Monday.

- Front for Tuesday will bring another uptick in thunderstorm
  chances with potential for heavy rainfall and burn scar flash
  flooding for the southeast mountains and plains.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Issued at 107 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

Amplifying upper ridge out west will put CO under northwest aloft
tonight and Saturday.  Storms over the mountains and I-25 corridor
will be moving southward through the evening, with a little better
deep layer shear resulting in the potential for stronger storm
strengths. High res models indicate a couple rounds of
thunderstorms, initially peaking in the late afternoon and evening,
with the potential for some regeneration across the Pikes Peak
region/Park County around 8 PM which will drop southward into the
overnight hours depending on the model.  As stated earlier, repeated
rounds of storms could lead to training storms for the vulnerable
burn scar areas which is one nudging factor for putting up a flash
flood watch for the Aspen Acres burn scar. Light easterly winds
should keep dew points in the 50s banked up against the lower
eastern slopes of the southeast mountains, with surface heating
resulting in CAPEs of up to 1500 J/kg, which would support the
potential for locally heavy rainfall, as well as some marginally
severe hail and potential for damaging wind gusts.  Greatest concern
though will be the flash flood potential for the Aspen Acres Burn
scar.  Current watch goes until 11 PM and will maintain. 12z NAMNest
shows another round of rain possible across this area through 2 AM,
but it is the outlier in this later timing, and will maintain watch
duration as is.  Extensions can be made as better clarity is gained.
If this later round does occur, it looks like it is being forced by
some weak energy dropping down the the east side of the upper ridge.
It is likely that storm strengths will be weaker with this final
round.

Showers and thunderstorms will percolate southward through the
overnight hours with gradual clearing towards morning.  Drier air
works in from the north on Saturday cutting back the afternoon
thunderstorm potential.  Dew points out west and in the interior
valleys will drop back down into the 20s and 30s.  There will be
enough moisture for some isolated thunderstorms across the eastern
and southwest mountains with a little better coverage towards the NM
border in the afternoon.  But the risk for burn scar flash flooding
looks considerably lower and no flash flood watches are anticipated.
Temperatures will be generally similar to a degree or two warmer
than today.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Issued at 107 PM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

The drying and warming trend continues for Sunday and Monday with
temperatures across the plains anticipated to crest over 100 once
again.  Heat Advisories have been issued for the urban areas of the
I-25 corridor where temperatures in the upper 90s to lower 100s put
it into the higher end of the Heat Impact Levels.  There could still
be some isolated thunderstorms across the southern mountains, but
these will be higher based with more of a gusty outflow wind
potential, and only spotty moderate rainfall.  Monday looks similar
but a few degrees hotter and it is likely that more Heat Advisories
will be needed over a more widespread area of the southeast plains.
Will let later shifts hone down that area as we get closer.  Highs
up to 106 will be possible on Monday.

A cool front pushes into the southeast plains Monday night with low
level flow shifting around from the east on Tuesday.  This will
bring another uptick in thunderstorms for the southeast mountains
and plains depending on how quickly low level moisture advects back
westward.  This will increase the risk of flash flooding on Aspen
Acres.

After a cool down for Tuesday, temperatures gradually warm again,
but the area will be under the influence of northwest flow aloft
with embedded shortwaves bringing episodic thunderstorm chances to
the area most days.  Main monsoon tap looks suppressed to the south
so moisture quality doesn't looks as high as it was this week.
Precipitable waters remain around to a little below normal through
the period.  So the signal for burn scar flash flooding looks
minimal for the time being.  But temperatures will be rebounding
back towards the century mark across the plains by late week.
-KT

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1123 AM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

Showers and thunderstorms will develop over the mountains around
noon and move south southeastward, possibly affecting KALS,
KCOS and KPUB in the 20z-03z timeframe. VFR cigs and brief MVFR
vis with heavy rainfall will be the primary risks if storms
directly impact the terminals. Gusty outflow winds up to 40-50
kts could also occur in the vicinity of storms along with small
hail. Odds of a direct impact are on the lower side of the
spectrum, so PROB30 was maintained for generally VFR conditions
with gusty outflow winds up to 35 kts at all three taf sites.
Winds will be dominated by thunderstorm outflows through the
evening, with generally north to northwesterly directions for
KCOS and KPUB...and easterly directions for KALS. Otherwise,
expect clearing skies with winds settling into diurnal patterns
overnight into Saturday morning.
-KT

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flash Flood Watch until 11 PM MDT this evening for COZ079-080-
086.
Heat Advisory from noon to 8 PM MDT Sunday for COZ083>086.

&&

SHORT TERM...KT
LONG TERM...KT
AVIATION...KT
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 11:26 AM MDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
1126 AM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

COZ058>089-093>099-011730-
Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet-
Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet-
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet-
Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet-
Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet-
Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below
10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Alamosa  Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Southern San Luis Valley-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet-
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet-
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet-
Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet-
Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet-
Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between
7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet-
Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County-
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below
7500 Feet-
Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range
Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet-
Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet-
Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet-
Crowley County-La Junta Vicinity/Otero County-
Eastern Las Animas County-Western Kiowa County-
Eastern Kiowa County-Las Animas Vicinity/Bent County-
Lamar Vicinity/Prowers County-Springfield Vicinity/Baca County-
1126 AM MDT Fri Jul 31 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east
central...south central and southeast Colorado.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Showers and thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across the
mountains and spread into the I-25 corridor counties. Training
echoes with heavy rainfall could lead to dangerous flash flooding
across the Aspen Acres burn scar through this evening. In addition to
heavy rainfall, one or two storms could become strong to marginally
severe, producing hail up to 1 inch in diameter, gusty outflow
winds up to 60 mph and lightning.

Thunderstorms will continue through the evening hours before
weakening and diminishing overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Drier, hotter conditions will arrive for the weekend.  Afternoon
temperatures by Sunday and Monday will reach well into the 90s to
lower 100s across the Plains, with the hottest conditions on Monday.

A return of showers and thunderstorms will arrive Tuesday through
Friday.  Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall could lead to flash
flooding on area burn scars, especially Tuesday and Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will
be possible over portions of the region.

31/31

The office that day

Everything else NWS Pueblo, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 30, 6:02 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBPueblo28 min
Jul 30, 6:39 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBOtero36 min
Jul 30, 8:33 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca42 min
Jul 30, 8:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBBaca49 min
Jul 30, 9:10 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBBaca45 min
Jul 31, 4:45 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCostilla30 min
Jul 31, 11:41 AM MDTHeat AdvisoryPUBCuster, El Paso, Fremont, Pueblo, Teller56 hr
Jul 31, 1:32 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso28 min
Jul 31, 1:34 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCostilla26 min
Jul 31, 1:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBTeller37 min
Jul 31, 1:57 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBEl Paso48 min
Jul 31, 2:09 PM MDTFlash Flood WarningPUBEl Paso2 hr
Jul 31, 2:14 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBHuerfano46 min
Jul 31, 2:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBTeller29 min
Jul 31, 2:22 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBFremont53 min
Jul 31, 2:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso42 min
Jul 31, 2:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBEl Paso37 min
Jul 31, 3:15 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBHuerfano45 min
Jul 31, 3:32 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBPueblo43 min
Jul 31, 3:50 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBFremont25 min
Jul 31, 3:55 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBFremont35 min
Jul 31, 3:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBCostilla49 min
Jul 31, 4:16 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBRio Grande29 min
Jul 31, 4:22 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningPUBCuster23 min
Jul 31, 4:27 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBFremont33 min
Jul 31, 4:52 PM MDTFlash Flood Warning Considerable damage threatPUBCuster, Pueblo3 hr
Jul 31, 5:25 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBLas Animas35 min
Jul 31, 5:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementPUBHuerfano34 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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.