

000 

WGUS75 KPUB 230551

FFSPUB



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO

1151 PM MDT FRI AUG 22 2008



COC055-071-230815-

/O.CON.KPUB.FF.W.0008.000000T0000Z-080823T0815Z/

/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

HUERFANO CO-LAS ANIMAS CO-

1151 PM MDT FRI AUG 22 2008



...A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 215 AM MDT FOR WEST

CENTRAL LAS ANIMAS AND SOUTH CENTRAL HUERFANO COUNTIES...



AT 1142 PM MDT...A TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTER REPORTED RAINFALL OF 2.75 

INCHES SINCE 950 PM MDT.  THE SPOTTER ALSO REPORTED THAT THE 

CUCHARAS RIVER WAS RUNNING FULL AND FAST IN THE WARNED AREA.



LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SPANISH

PEAKS...LA VETA AND CUCHARA.



DOPPLER RADAR ESTIMATES THAT RAIN TOTALS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES HAVE 

OCCURRED OVER THE UPPER CUCHARAS...UPPER APISHAPA...AND UPPER 

PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.  ADDITIONAL RAINFALL UP TO A HALF INCH

IS POSSIBLE.



HIGH WATER IS MOVING DOWN THE CUCHARAS RIVER FROM CUCHARAS TO LA 

VETA.  HIGH WATER MAY ALSO BE FLOWING DOWN THE UPPER APISHAPA AND 

UPPER PURGATOIRE RIVER BASINS.



IF YOU ARE IN OR CLOSE TO THE WARNED AREA GO TO HIGHER GROUND

IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ALONG CREEKS AND DRAINAGE AREAS SHOULD TAKE

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO

CROSS SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER OR STILL WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH ON FOOT

OR BY VEHICLE. AS LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE

CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY

MOST VEHICLES...INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD

FATALITIES ARE VEHICLE RELATED. BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN

IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF YOU DRIVE INTO

WATER THAT IS TOO DEEP...BACK UP. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A ROAD BARRIER IN

FRONT OF WATER ON THE ROAD...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.



LAT...LON 3738 10514 3754 10500 3747 10475 3730 10477

      3712 10485 3720 10513



$$

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