Learning From Past Flooding Tragedies (credit: Glen Barber at The Denver Post)

DISCUSSION: As the age-old phrase goes, it is always critical to take the time to learn from the past, so we are not doomed to make the exact same mistakes in the future. In looking just beyond 2 days and 32 years ago today, a prolific and somewhat isolated stationary thunderstorm event generated more than ten inches of rain which funneled into the narrow Thompson River Canyon which is located out in northeastern Colorado. As a result of this heavy rainfall event, there were documented reports of a wall of water measuring up to or possibly over six to eight feet high moving through various cities across portions of northeastern Colorado. This major flooding event unleashed an absolutely horrific twenty-five-mile path of destruction from Estes Park to Loveland which ultimately ended up taking the lives of 144 civilians. As part of this tragic flooding event, the flash flood caught campers and caused extensive structural and highway damage.

The results of this tragic flooding (and perhaps flash flooding) event is a truly crucial reason to always live out the words of wisdom which goes by "turn around, don't down" and "always respect the natural power of Mother Nature."  When you are under the gun of an ongoing flooding and/or flash flooding event or situated in a location wherein there is a viable short-term threat for a heavy rainfall event, it is imperative to respect the natural power of quickly rushing rainfall run-off and not attempting to "simply pass by" or "just gun through it."  Hence, never underestimate the natural power of running water and always treat heavy rainfall events with tremendous respect.

To learn more about this particular historic Colorado flooding event, click on the following link: https://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/31/big-thompson-river-flood-1976-photos/.

​To learn more about other past historic weather events, be sure to click here!

© 2018 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz