What was the biggest flood in Colorado?
What was the biggest flood in Colorado?
Big Thompson Canyon flood
On July 31, 1976, 144 people lost their lives when torrential downpours caused the Big Thompson River to flood. LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — 45 years later, people living in the Big Thompson Canyon and across the country still remember the Big Thompson Canyon flood, and the lives lost from it.
Did Estes Park flood?
The flood entered the town of Estes Park and caused severe damage to 177 downtown businesses (75 percent of Estes Park’s commercial activity). Olympus Dam, part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, there withstood the deluge and the flood was halted.
What was the Lawn Lake dam disaster?
On July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake dam failed catastrophically. The release of water was heard by campers along the Roaring River. One man below the dam was swept to his death in the churning water. The wall of water forced large boulders down 2,500 vertical feet to Horseshoe Park acting as battering rams.
Where was the Big Thompson flood in Colorado?
In 1976, Colorado saw the most powerful flood that the state had seen in 1,000s of years. The flooding occurred when a massive amount of rain fell in the Loveland area, most of which came down during a window of one to two hours.
How big was the Big Thompson flood?
The average depth of Big Thompson River was typically around 18 inches at the time. According to the 2006 book Natural Hazards and Disasters , this massive wall of water moved at an approximate 14 mph, destroying 418 homes, 52 businesses, and 400 cars – many of which contained people trying to escape.
Who is the Big Thompson River named after?
explorer David Thompson
The Thompson was named by Fraser River explorer, Simon Fraser, in honour of his friend, Columbia Basin explorer David Thompson….
| Thompson River | |
|---|---|
| • coordinates | 50°14′07″N 121°35′00″WCoordinates: 50°14′07″N 121°35′00″W |
| • elevation | 195 m (640 ft) |
| Length | 489 km (304 mi) |
| Basin size | 56,000 km2 (22,000 sq mi) |
When was the flood in Estes Park?
July 31, 1976
Canyon Flood The Big Thompson Canyon located east of the town of Estes Park has steep walls of bedrock and easily eroded soil. The night of July 31, 1976, a large storm system caused torrential rains over the upper section of the river.
How damaged is Rocky Mountain National Park?
Damage to the park was substantial, though. Nearly 29,000 acres burned. Some 54 miles of its 350 miles of trails were affected by the East Troublesome fire, including 33 miles on the west side and 16 miles on the east side. In addition, the Cameron Peak fire did substantial damage on the north side of the park.
What caused the alluvial fan in RMNP?
The Alluvial Fan is a fan-shaped area of disturbance in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was created on July 15, 1982, when the earthen Lawn Lake Dam above the area gave way, flooding the Park and nearby town of Estes Park with more than 200 million gallons of water.
What caused the Colorado storm?
Starting on September 11, 2013, a slow-moving cold front stalled over Colorado, clashing with warm humid monsoonal air from the south. This resulted in heavy rain and catastrophic flooding along Colorado’s Front Range from Colorado Springs north to Fort Collins. The situation intensified on September 11 and 12.
What caused 2013 flood?
Heavy rainfall on the melting snowpack in the Rocky Mountains combined with steep, rocky terrain caused rapid and intense flooding in southern-Alberta watersheds. About 80,000 people were evacuated over the course of the flood.
