DENVER—An area burned by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire west of Boulder appears to have escaped major flooding problems following a storm that brought rain, snow and hail to Colorado.
The National Weather Service expected the storm Wednesday to bring the first significant rainfall over the area burned by the wildfire, which destroyed 169 homes in September. Lack of vegetation on burned hillsides allows water to run off faster than those with trees, shrubs and grasses. The rushing water can lead to erosion and flooding.
Meteorologist Kyle Fredin says much of the moisture that fell Wednesday in the area arrived as snow, which results in a slower release of water.
However the long-term flood danger is expected to continue for the next three years, until enough vegetation can take hold.
