If there can be a good side to flash floods and heavy rains, it might be that the threat of forest fires has been reduced.
Boulder, and Larimer counties have removed their fire restrictions banning open flames. Grand County is considering doing so.
Fire conditions in those three counties are now considered to be “moderate,” with the likelihood that they will not rise above average in the near future.
And although the long-term outlook is dryer, more wet weather was forecast for Tuesday afternoon and evening.
On Tuesday afternoon, a flash-flood warning had been issued for the Arkansas River Valley, extending from Colorado Springs south to the New Mexico state line and from Buena Vista east to a line about 25 miles east of Interstate 25.
There also were thunderstorm and flash-flood warnings for north-central and northeast Colorado, from Wyoming to Denver and from Steamboat Springs to Kansas.
More heavy rains
The National Weather Service said afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms could produce heavy rains, possibly with some flooding in areas that have received heavy rains during the past week.
Washington, Lincoln and Elbert counties seemed particularly vulnerable to flooding if the heavy rains materialize.
The Sangre de Cristo and Wet mountains in the south-central part of the state were expected to receive heavy rain and small hail, along with lightning strikes and wind gusts up to 40 mph.
Beginning today, the chances of evening thundershowers in the Denver metro area will fall to less than 10 percent and will remain there for the rest of the week. Temperatures in the metro area will rise into the mid- to high 90s through the weekend.
On Monday, Julesburg received 1.44 inches of rain, the heaviest in the state.
Limon and Parker received half an inch of rain.
On Tuesday, Springfield was the hottest spot in the state, with a high temperature of 95 degrees, while Crested Butte had the lowest at 38 degrees early this morning.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a misinformation from a source, it indicated that Grand County had lifted its ban on open fires. The county’s fire ban is still in effect.
