Update 4:45 p.m.: Another flash flood warning is active for Fremont County as thunderstorms have dropped at least an inch of rain and may drop another in the next hour, weather officials said.
The flood warning includes Florence, Cañon City, Penrose and Royal Gorge.
Update 3:42 p.m.: Three flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of El Paso County.
The warnings from the National Weather Service alert residents in the Colorado Springs, Broadmoor, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Black Forest, Falcon and Pikeview areas to be prepared to move immediately to higher ground and to avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
The warning for the Colorado Springs area is in effect until 6:15 p.m. and the warning for the Black Forest and Falcon area is in effect until 6:30 p.m. The warning for Palmer Lake and Monument ends at 6 p.m.
There is also a flash flood warning for Saguache County, near the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, in effect until 6:15 p.m., and another for parts of the county near Crestone, in effect until 6 p.m.
Update 11:20 a.m.: Heavy rain may bring flooding and mudslides to parts of metro Denver and the Front Range on Wednesday, according to a flood threat bulletin issued by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Parts of Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Weld, El Paso, Elbert, Teller, Park, Lincoln, Fremont, Pueblo, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Washington counties are under a high flood threat because they may get over 2 inches of rain per hour, state officials said.
“High rainfall rates may cause debris slides and mud flows over the steep terrain as well as excessive runoff,” forecasters said in the bulletin. “Other threats include ponding in low-lying areas, road flooding and rises on local creeks and stream.”
Most of the flooding risk will occur before 10 p.m.
Other communities are facing a moderate flood risk, including Jefferson, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Custer, Huerfano and Las Animas counties. Folks in those counties could see over an inch of rain per hour.
Original story: Rain showers and thunderstorms across Colorado on Wednesday could cause flash flooding, especially south of Denver, according to the National Weather Service.
The storms will start in Colorado’s mountains in the morning and spread across the Front Range and Eastern Plains through the afternoon, forecasters said.
Flooding is possible along the Palmer Divide and across the Eastern Plains, according to a hazardous weather outlook from the weather service.
Parts of Douglas, Lincoln, Elbert, El Paso, Las Animas, Pueblo and Teller counties will be under a flood watch, forecasters said Wednesday morning.
That flood watch, which starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday and has no listed end time, also includes Pikes Peak and multiple mountain ranges.
“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” forecasters state in the alert. “Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.”
Severe storms threaten to bring large hail more than 1 inch in diameter and damaging wind gusts of at least 50 mph, forecasters said in the hazardous weather outlook.
Rain in Denver is most likely after 4 p.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service.
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