Staff Report
UPDATE: As of 4 p.m. Thursday, Jeffco Sheriff's Department has issued a voluntary evacuation announcement for 35 residents in Leyden, due to flooding.
An evacuation center for residents has been established at Ralston Valley High School, 13355 W. 80th Avenue in Arvada.
The Denver metro area, and surrounding Front Range region experienced unseasonably heavy rain showers and flash flooding, beginning Tuesday, Sept 11.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning until 8:30 p.m. Thursday for most of Jefferson County including Lakewood, Golden, Arvada and Westminster. Moderate to heavy rain was expected to continue throughout the day, accumulation of rainfall from Wednesday night and Thursday morning ranges from two to nine inches.
By Thursday morning there were two reports of fatalities due to the flooding in Boulder County, and one more in Colorado Springs.
Three vehicles were swept into the water in Broomfield after a bridge near Dillon Road according to other news outlets. All the occupants were reported as rescued with only minor injuries.
Standing water, and mud slides affected several area roads, portions of Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 6 in the metro area. Wednesday, Jeffco Sheriff's Department reported that a portion of Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon, between Plainview Road and Twin Spruce Road. The road was closed to traffic, and canyon residents instructed to stay indoors until further notice.
In Golden, Clear Creek set a high-flow mark of 433 cubic feet per second on Thursday, nearly four times higher than the 38-year average of 117 cubic feet for this time of year.
South Golden Road between Mt. Vernon Road and Noble Street will be closed until Friday, due to a utility truck being swept out of a parking lot and into a nearby creek drainage by floodwaters.
Emergency service officials are advising everyone to stay home, as many roads are flooded or washed out. As a precaution, avoid driving a vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway as flood waters are usually deeper than they appear. One foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.
Parts of Thornton have experienced the worst flooding, resulting in road closures and lane closures. The city of Thornton is advising drivers to steer clear of the flooded areas.
Below is a list of full road closures and temporary lane closures/lane flooding:
Full road closures;
1) York Street from E470 to 156th Avenue
2) 128th Avenue from Valentia Street to Riverdale Road at Branter Gulch
3) 144th Avenue from Washington Street to York Street
Temporary lane closures/lane flooding:
1) Northbound Colorado Boulevard: 140th Avenue to 144th Avenue and the 144th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard intersection
2) Holly Street: 111th Avenue to 114th Avenue with several manholes blown off from surcharge.
3) Southbound Colorado Boulevard south of 120th Avenue
4) Thornton Parkway: Welby Road to Colorado Boulevard
5) Southbound Colorado Boulevard south of Thornton Parkway
6) Eastbound 120th Avenue: Fairfax Street to Holly Street
7) Thornton Parkway east of Riverdale Road
Check back for updates on road conditions and storm damage.
