Debris Flow in Colorado

Events

303

Deaths

7

Injuries

14

Damage

$161 million

• Debris Flow in Colorado, May 25, 20143 deaths · $25,000 · 1 eventDuring the peak of snowmelt on the Grand Mesa was a period of heavy rainfall which may have combined to precipitate a massive landslide on the north side of the Grand Mesa.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, January 13, 20031 death · 6 injured · $75,000 · 1 eventA large rock slide crashed into seven vehicles and covered the west bound lanes of Interstate 70 near the South Canyon exit, about five miles west of Glenwood Springs.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, September 16, 20061 death · $100,000 · 1 eventA massive landslide consisting of 500 cubic yards of boulders and dirt fell onto Interstate 70 near mile marker 58. The landslide occurred the day after heavy rain fell in the area. The driver of a semi was killed and the tractor-trailer she was driving was destroyed.
• Debris Flows and Hail in Colorado, July 29, 2021$126 million · 1.5 in hail · 3 eventsSubstantial monsoon moisture remained over the area as high pressure drifted east over the Plains. Additionally, strong instability was in place as a midlevel shortwave trough moved overhead.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Colorado, July 31, 2021$25 million · 6 eventsHigh pressure retrograted in response to a deepening mid-level trough over the center of the nation and parked over western Colorado.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, July 30, 20061 death · $10,000 · 1 eventA rockslide fell onto Camp Bird Road just south of Ouray and killed the driver of a Jeep when a boulder crashed through the roof of the vehicle. A passenger received minor injuries.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, June 30, 20111 death · 1 eventA thunderstorm and accompanying heavy rain causes a small landslide that killed a hiker near the summit of Mt. Princeton.
• Debris Flows in Colorado, July 22, 2021$3.3 million · 3 eventsEven with high pressure centered over the region, deep monsoonal moisture continued to advect into western Colorado.
• Debris Flows and Flood in Colorado, May 1 to 3, 2023$2.1 million · 4 eventsVery warm spring temperatures and an above normal snowpack resulted in excessive runoff leading to mud and debris flows across portions of west-central Colorado, as well as damage due to flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Colorado, July 24, 2018$2.0 million · 4 eventsAs high pressure spun southeast of the Four Corners region, subtropical moisture moved northward along the western periphery of the high. This increase in moisture produced some thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in La Plata County.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, November 25, 2004$1.4 million · 1 eventA massive rockslide punched van-size holes in the decking of Interstate 70 near the Hanging Lake exit ramp, about 8 miles east of Glenwood Springs.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Colorado, October 6 to 7, 2006$1.0 million · 7 eventsMoist southerly flow ahead of a low pressure system over the southwestern states brought copius amounts of rainfall to much of western Colorado. The Four Corners area and west central Colorado received the brunt of the heavy precipitation.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, March 8, 2010$1.0 million · 1 eventA combination of precipitation and a recent freeze-thaw cycle loosened rocks and boulders in Glenwood Canyon.
• Debris Flows in Colorado, July 20, 2021$800,000 · 5 eventsMonsoonal moisture pushed northward across western Colorado as the ridge of high pressure tilted eastward. As a result, precipitable water values exceeded an inch over the southern and central zones.
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Colorado, June 20 to 21, 2024$515,000 · 1.25 in hail · 10 eventsVery deep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto combined with monsoonal moisture was forced through eastern Utah and western Colorado due to a large high pressure ridge over the Central U.S. and a deep low pressure trough over the Great Basin.
• Debris Flows and Hail in Colorado, June 6, 2020$300,000 · 1 in hail · 20 eventsA negatively tilted trough moved through western Colorado on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, June 6th, causing a widespread severe weather event that would become the first derecho to impact the Western Slope in well over a decade.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, July 8, 2018$500,000 · 1 eventSubtropical moisture trapped underneath a ridge of high pressure produced some thunderstorms with heavy rainfall in Ouray County.
• Debris Flows and Hail in Colorado, July 24, 2021$205,000 · 1 in hail · 9 eventsAbundant monsoon moisture remained in place across the Western Slope. As a result, another round of widespread showers and thunderstorms developed across the area with many storms producing heavy rain.
• Debris Flows in Colorado, June 26 to 27, 2021$250,000 · 2 eventsAmple moisture remained situated over western Colorado for several days as the backside of an upper level trough extended along the Continental Divide.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Colorado, July 26, 2019$203,000 · 5 eventsStrong instability and adequate subtropical moisture from the North American Monsoon led to training thunderstorms which developed across western Colorado.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Colorado, July 18, 2013$153,000 · 0.75 in hail · 9 eventsThe active monsoon pattern continued to bring heavy rainfall to portions of western Colorado.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, January 11, 20056 injured · $20,000 · 1 eventAn Amtrak train derailed west of Grand Junction in Ruby Canyon after it hit a 12 foot by 12 foot boulder. Three engines and five cars went off the tracks. An Amtrak spokesman said the accident injured four crew and two passengers "in the category of bumps and bruises."
• Flash Flood and Debris Flows in Colorado, August 3, 2021$115,000 · 3 eventsHigh pressure began to reposition over the Great Basin, cutting off the stream of deep monsoonal moisture over the region. Even so, enough moisture lingered over the area which resulted in another round of diurnal showers and thunderstorms.
• Flash Flooding and Debris Flows in Colorado, September 11 to 13, 2025$56,000 · 1 in hail · 16 eventsThe period between the 11th and 13th of September had a relatively unique meteorological setup for western Colorado and eastern Utah.
• Debris Flow in Colorado, May 11, 2009$100,000 · 1 eventA mudslide occurred on the lower slopes of Buttermilk Ski Area.

Debris Flow everywhereEvery kind of event in Colorado

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.