The Elk River crested its banks near its confluence with the Yampa River in western Routt County early Monday morning. That the river reached flood stage isn’t unusual, but Monday’s flooding of nearby ranchland and some buildings is the first incident in what forecasters predict could be a prolonged period of high runoff and potential flooding throughout the area.
Temperatures this week are expected to reach the upper 70s by Wednesday, above the seasonal average. The overnight lows are expected to remain above freezing for much of the week.
Routt County Office of Emergency Management Dir ector Bob Struble said warm weather and abundant snowpack doesn’t necessarily mean the Yampa and Elk rivers and the creeks and streams that dissect Steamboat will flood. Rather, they could just result in a longer runoff period.
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