Estes Park, CO Flooded

Sorry ... hard days

The levels here in Loveland yesterday were higher than during the Big Thompson flood. They say this is a 100 year flood.
I live right above the Big Thompson and will try to take some pictures when it get light. You can hear the roar from the water all night. I am about 40 feet above it on a ridge.

would like to see some pictures. My mom & stepdad live in Estes Park.

Uppercrust wrote:
would like to see some pictures. My mom & stepdad live in Estes Park.

Does not look good.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/estes-park-flooded-rocky-mountain-national-park-impacted

Google Estes Park Flooding

Nothing real latest but gives an idea.

I just heard that the entire town of Lyons - downstream - has been evacuated. It is on Hwy 36 that leads up to Estes Park from Boulder.

And I heard they are considering opening the gates on the dam of Lake Estes which will dump more water down the Big Thompson River into Big Thompson Canyon. I cannot verify that, however. And it is already in serious trouble (Hwy 34) and closed at Loveland. I think it has washed out again.

I do not know about Hwy 7 (Peak to Peak) but presume that is closed as well as they say the only way to access Estes currently is Trail Ridge Road.

Much of downtown Estes is under water.

Have been unable to contact friends who live along both the Fall River and the Big Thompson River feeding into Lake Estes. I fear their places are in serious trouble.

Very sad.

Hwy 7 is closed as well. For Boulder/Lyons/Estes this is more likely a 500 year rainfall.

I have heard that if this storm hit in December there would be well over 10' of snow.

I-25 now closed.

http://www.reporterherald.com/news/colorado/ci_24087174/interstate-25-is-closed-loveland-and-fort-collins

Terrible!

I visited Estes every year since 2005 for a summer training conference. It's a beautiful area and sad to hear of the devastation. A lot of friends in the area (Boulder, Lyons, Longmont, etc.) have never seen anything like this. Unfortunately until the rain stops all you can do is find higher, dry ground and wait it out.

Stay safe folks.

Here are some shots from the ridge I live on above the Big Thompson River in Loveland,Co. You really can determine where the river is because it is out of its banks and the flooded area was a dry gravel pit area.

Estes got 6" more rain overnight from a news report there.