May 3, 2023 |
Photo – Elkhead Reservoir near Craig, CO – Courtesy uncovercolorado.com
Much like here in southern Wyoming, river waters are rising in northern Colorado.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Elkhead Creek in Routt and Moffatt Counties.
The warning will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Friday, May 5, or until it is canceled. Flooding of low-lying and flood-prone locations is expected. The areas of concern in Moffat and Routt counties are along Elkhead Creek, mostly above Elkhead Reservoir to the confluence with the Yampa River.
Hydrologists with the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center are predicting the fourth-highest peak runoff of the Elk River in the 53 years of available U.S. Geological Survey stream gauge data. Overall for the Elk River, the forecast center predicts the end of May for the peak depending on weather conditions.
Two SNOTEL sites help predict Elk River runoff. The Elk River SNOTEL monitor located at 8,739 feet in elevation and situated northeast of Hahn’s Peak Lake currently shows a median of 188% of snow water equivalent compared to the 30-year average from 1991 to 2020.
The Lost Dog site at 9,327 feet located off Seedhouse Road on the north fork of the Elk River currently shows 154% of median.
Here in Carbon County, Wyoming, the North Platte River has been rising with this week’s warm temperatures. The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services show the North Platte at Saratoga hitting 7.1 feet sometime Thursday afternoon.
According to the National Weather Service, the river will crest just below Action Stage of 7.5 on both Thursday and Friday this week. Another chart shows the North Platte River reaching this year’s crest during the two-week period June 3 through June 17th.
As we reported, Saratoga Town officials are making sand bags available to residents concerned about possible flooding.
