NWS Grand Junction COFF.W 0120September 16, 2026
Flash Flood Warning: Rio Blanco, CO
The National Weather Service office in Grand Junction issued a flash flood warning for Rio Blanco in Colorado, which was in force until 4:00 p.m. local time on September 16. It was the 120th flash flood warning the NWS office in Grand Junction issued in 2026. Colorado had 31 flash flood warnings in September 2026, against 8 in an average September of 2008-2025 (Colorado's flash flood warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 2.9 hours; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Grand Junction CO
- Area
- Rio Blanco
- State
- Colorado
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 1:05 p.m. MDT, September 16, 2026
- Expires
- 4:00 p.m. MDT, September 16, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KGJT FF.W 0120
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado since 2008Every warning type in Colorado
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
FFWGJT The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... The Lee Fire burn scar in... South Central Rio Blanco County in northwestern Colorado... * Until 400 PM MDT. * At 105 PM MDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the Lee Fire Burn Scar. Between 0.2 and 0.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Excessive rainfall over the burn scar will result in debris flow. The debris flow can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding in and around the Lee Fire Burn Scar. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of areas in and around the Lee Fire Burn Scar. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Mainly rural areas of South Central Rio Blanco County.
What the agency told people to do
This is a life threatening situation. Heavy rainfall will cause extensive and severe flash flooding of creeks...streams...and ditches in the Lee Fire Burn Scar. Severe debris flows can also be anticipated across roads. Roads and driveways may be washed away in places. If you encounter flood waters...climb to safety.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The record around this notice
- Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado since 2008116 a year
- Every warning type in Colorado
- Flash Flood Warning: what it means, and the states that get the most3,924 a year
- NWS notices, September 20262,824 in the month
- The latest from the National Weather Service
- Warning, watch or advisory: the three NWS levels