Severe thunderstorms rumbled across the Front Range late Monday afternoon causing flash floods, mudslides and local flooding.
U.S. 24 was shut down in both directions between Crystola and the Cave of the Winds, according to the Teller County Sheriff’s Office.
This is an extremely dangerous situation with the flooding. Please stay home do not drive into any rushing water. This one almost took us
— Lieutenant Bunting, PIO (@TCSOPIO)
The flooding was described as extremely dangerous and residents of the area are advised to stay off the roads. People in low-lying areas of Manitou Springs were warned to seek higher ground for safety. Hail also swept through the area, hitting hard the Manitou Springs Arcade.
Eastbound lanes of U.S. 24 opened at about 8 p.m. and crews continued working to open the westbound lanes.
In Teller County, a woman was rescued from a flooded ditch late in the afternoon. Emergency responders used a grader with a blade as part of the effort on County Road 21 near Crystola.
Teller county road crew rescues a woman from a flooded ditch. During an emergency like this you have to use the tools that are available. County Road 21 near Crystola
— Lieutenant Bunting, PIO (@TCSOPIO)
Colorado Springs was also hard hit by severe weather. Fountain Creek, running through Cascade west of U.S. 24, turned into a raging a river, moving fast and over-flowing its banks.
Fountain Creek is crazy right now at 31st St.
— Ryan Hannigan (@ryanhannigan)
In Denver, the Green Valley Ranch area and Aurora Sports Park were pounded by torrential rain. Nearly 1.5 inches of rain fell in about 15 minutes around 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. There were reports of street flooding in the area.
In Littleton, firefighters assisted people out of two cars stranded in a low-lying intersection that was flooded with rain runoff. Standing water in the intersection of Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway was above the car tires, according to rescuers.
Littleton Firefighters just assisted 2 people from their stranded vehicles at Broadway and Highlands Ranch Parkway after rain water rose above their tires. No injuries and water is quickly receding, expect some traffic delays in the area.
— Inactive Account Please Follow @SouthMetroPIO (@Littleton_Fire)
No injuries were reported and the water began receding after the rescue. Traffic was delayed in the area.
In the mountains, a tornado touched down near the town of Hartsel, the weather service confirmed. The Park County twister touched down at about 3:47 p.m. in a remote area. There were no reports of injuries or property damage.
At Denver International Airport a severe thunderstorm on Monday afternoon interrupted flight operations for more than an hour. All arriving and departing flights were temporarily halted for safety concerns.
The reported in Hartsel today, photo by Judy Cavagnetto from Ranch of the Rockies, taken at 3:47pm looking West towards Buffalo Peaks. Additional photos: @USWeatherWatch
— MyMountainTown (@MyMountainTown)
