The Carl Smith Dam at Patterson Reservoir #3 failed, sending a wall of water down Leroux Creek. The earthen dam break was 200 feet wide and 45 feet high.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
The Carl Smith Dam at Patterson Reservoir #3 failed, sending a wall of water down Leroux Creek. The earthen dam break was 200 feet wide and 45 feet high. The wall of water was up to 10 feet high and averaged 100 feet in width. Many bridges and irrigation structures were damaged or washed out. One house was flooded. Many farm and ranch buildings were destroyed or washed away. 92 lambs drowned.
The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 1998
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5650192.