A series of slow-moving thunderstorms and rainfall of up to 2.5 inches near the Hayman fire burn area have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a series of flash-flood warnings for an area southwest of Denver, including portions of Jefferson, Douglas and Park counties.
The Weather Service said that automated rain gauges and spotters report that 1 to 2.5 inches of rain have fallen in the Hayman burn area since 2:30 p.m.
The heaviest rainfall has been in the South Platte Canyon, from Deckers south to Cheesman Reservoir. Severe runoff is expected from the storms.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the closures of County Road 126 and Wigwam Road. There is debris from small creeks on roads in the area below Cheesman Reservoir, the Weather Service reported.
Residents of Deckers, Westcreek and the Cheesman Reservoir area should take immediate action and move to higher ground.
A second flash-flood warning has been issued for drainages of Fourmile Creek in Douglas County and Goose Creek in Jefferson County, forecasters said.
Automated rain gauges indicate that an inch and a quarter of rain has fallen from a storm in the Goose Creek drainage in 30 minutes.
A flash-flood warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. The Weather Service said those in the warning area should move to higher ground immediately.
Runoff from the storm will cause flash flooding of creeks and streams and also could trigger landslides.
The warning just south of Denver comes after Pueblo was pounded by a slow-moving thunderstorm this morning.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or Pankratz@denverpost.com.
