National Weather ServiceColoradoFlood WatchArchive to October 1, 2026
Flood Watches in Colorado
The National Weather Service issued 25 flood watches for Colorado in 2025 and 9 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 23rd most of any state. 2026 through September: 26, 212% above the average of 8 for those months in 2008-2025. Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below 7400 Ft was covered most often (27 times since 2008).
How many flood watches does Colorado get?
Every flood watch that covered part of Colorado. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 26 |
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2008 | 8 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year does Colorado get them?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Where in Colorado?
| County or forecast zone | Since 2008 | Since 2023 | Last issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below 7400 Ft | 27 | 22 | September 28, 2026 |
| Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet | 24 | 16 | September 28, 2026 |
| North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County | 24 | 21 | September 30, 2026 |
| Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft | 23 | 19 | September 28, 2026 |
| Kit Carson County | 23 | 15 | September 30, 2026 |
| Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet | 22 | 18 | September 30, 2026 |
| Yuma County | 21 | 15 | September 30, 2026 |
| La Junta Vicinity/Otero County | 21 | 17 | September 28, 2026 |
| Southwest San Juan Mountains | 20 | 14 | September 28, 2026 |
| Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County | 20 | 17 | September 30, 2026 |
| Cheyenne County | 20 | 11 | September 30, 2026 |
| Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River | 19 | 14 | September 28, 2026 |
The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest flood watches for Colorado in AreaZine's record
NWS GoodlandWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Yuma County, Kit Carson County, Cheyenne County and 16 more, CO and KS
In force until 6:00 p.m. MDT, October 1, 2026
NWS PuebloWatchOctober 1, 2026
Flood Watch: Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Ft, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 11000 Ft, Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft and 17 mor
In force until 12:00 p.m. MDT, October 1, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
What is a flood watch?
A flood watch means conditions may lead to flooding in the coming day or days; it is not yet happening. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The national record · Every warning type in Colorado.