DENVER — Thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall causing flash flooding across parts of the Denver metro and the Front Range Sunday. As a result, a traffic nightmare unfolded on I-70 stranding drivers for hours. The Denver Fire Department also reported multiple rescues. The following blog recorded the flash flooding as it happened.
MORE: Today's forecast | Interactive radars | Live conditions
Monday, Aug. 8
2:54 p.m. | PUMPS DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY START | Contractor says pumps did not automatically start during Sunday's I-70 flooding
The contractor for the Central 70 Project said Monday it appears the drainage pumps on I-70 did not turn on automatically and had to be manually engaged as several vehicles got stuck in floodwaters on the interstate in Denver Sunday evening.
Matt Sanman, a spokesperson for Kiewit, the lead contractor on the project, said an error is believed to have caused the pumps not to turn on automatically. Once a superintendent noticed the flooding near I-70 and York Street, they turned the pumps on manually, which started draining the water.
“Kiewit regrets that many motorists became stranded in flood water around the Central 70 Project,” Sanman said. “We are grateful to the Denver Fire Department for their quick and effective response and that no injuries were reported.”
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12:11 p.m. | TOO MUCH WATER AT WATER WORLD | Several attractions are closed at Water World in Federal Heights after Sunday's heavy rainfall.
Water World said the "extensive rainfall" and "storm damage" have led them to close the following attractions:
- Thunder Bay
- Lost River of the Pharoah’s
- Warp Speed
- Zoomerang
The Lazy River and Revolution attractions are currently on a delayed opening but may remain closed for Monday.
10:25 a.m. | UPDATE ON DENVER FIRE DEPT. RESCUES | The Denver Fire Department reported on Monday morning that it received 78 calls for service between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Of those nine were for static water rescues, DFD said.
Fire crews ended up rescuing 11 people, including three children, from vehicles stuck in water at I-70 and York.
In addition, they rescued eight people, including multiple children and an infant, from an incapacitated minivan at 38th and Blake.
Crews helped three people at 47th and Washington. A person was able to self-extricate at 23rd and Colorado after they were helped by firefighters. Six people were assisted by crews at 14th and Krameria.
In total, the DFD said it rescued 29 people. No injuries were reported.
10 a.m. | RAIN TOTALS | How much rain fell around the Front Range on Sunday afternoon and evening? We've collected the recent data from the National Weather Service. Click here for current totals from the NWS.
6:52 a.m. | CDOT EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED ON I-70 | The flooding on I-70 that happened Sunday evening occurred in a new construction area. Stacia Sellers, the Central 70 communications manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation, explains what CDOT is doing to move forward.
6:35 a.m. | SOME FLOODING STILL OCCURRING | While many areas have dried out, some flooding remains. AirTracker7 captured drivers near York Street and Brighton Boulevard driving through some deep water.
Sunday, Aug. 7
10:14 p.m. | CDOT RESPONSE TO FLOODING | When Denver7 inquired about Sunday evening's flooding, especially around I-70, CDOT responded with the following explanation:
Yes, flooding occurred in the Central 70 Project area. The Central 70 Project is still an active construction project. Our drainage network is not yet complete, though it is nearing completion. Once our drainage system is fully complete, the lowered section of I-70 where flooding happened this evening is expected to withstand a 100-year storm event. Every construction project runs the risk of flooding while it's in an interim phase. To help offset flooding from a system that is not yet complete, our contractor, Kiewit, is able to mobilize to help pump water out. The Central 70 Project is going to conduct a thorough investigation to determine what exactly caused the flooding this evening. Fortunately, as an active construction project, if there are any system failures we are able to go in and remediate any issues that occurred during this event. However, without conducting the investigation, we do not know if there was a system failure. We do know that 46th South Avenue is currently being constructed as a part of our Project between Brighton Boulevard and York Street above I-70, directly above where the flooding in the lowered section occurred. This section is not yet paved creating exceptionally muddy conditions that may have contributed to flooding. This is one area that we are going to be looking at during our investigation.
Safety is always CDOT's number one priority, we will do what it takes to help prevent something like this from happening again in the future.
10:02 p.m. | ROAD REOPEN | I-70 has reopened in both directions between York and Steele after it closed due to flooding.
9:51 p.m. | ROAD CLOSURE | Westbound lanes of US 6 are closed between CO 265 and CO 2 due to flooding.
9:40 p.m. | VIDEO SHOWS RESCUE OF CHILDREN | Eyewitness video sent to Denver7 showed children being rescued during Denver flooding on Sunday evening at 38th and Blake.
9:19 p.m. | DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUES | The Denver Fire Department said authorities have rescued the most people Sunday evening at I-70 and York. In total, 11 people were rescued from the vehicles, said Lt. JD Chism, public information officer with the DFD. Currently, crews are diverting cars away from that area.
In addition, DFD rescued eight people from 38th and Blake.
As of now, nobody has been significantly injured in the flooding, Chism said.
9:17 p.m. | ROAD CLOSURE | The Colorado Department of Transportation said two left lanes of eastbound I-70 are closed at Washington Street (exit 275A) due to flooding. (UPDATE, 9:57 p.m. — This roadway has reopened.)
9:17 p.m. | DRIVERS EXPLAIN I-70 FLOODING | A man named Christian said he was driving along I-70 when water suddenly went over his car near York Street.
"What the hell, you know? Like, what happened? I had no idea this had happened," he said.
He wasn't able to open his car door, so he escaped the flooding through the windows.
"But I'm OK right now," he said.
9:08 p.m. | UPDATE: FLASH FLOOD WARNING | The flash flood warning for Denver, Aurora and Commerce City has been extended until 10:15 p.m.
8:43 p.m. | UPDATE ON I-70 FLOODING | Water appears to be receding near the Brighton Boulevard exit off Interstate 70. Some drivers have been able to drive though the water as it starts to go down.
Incredible video of rescuers helping stranded travelers on I-70 near Brighton via @sofiadaley3 pic.twitter.com/MgOOc2si9z
— Jaclyn Allen (@jaclynreporting) August 8, 2022
8:20 p.m. | FLOODING ON I-70 | The Brighton Boulevard exit off Interstate 70 has flooded and multiple cars are disabled in the standing water. Traffic is at a standstill. A driver told Denver7 it was raining so hard, he couldn't see the flooding until it was too late.
8:01 p.m. | FLASH FLOOD ADVISORY | The southeastern portion of the Cameron Peak burn area is under a flood advisory until 10 p.m. Minor flooding is possible.
7:24 p.m. | FLASH FLOOD WARNING | Southwestern Adams, northwestern Arapahoe and central Denver counties are under a flash flood warning until 9:15 p.m.
7:01 p.m. | FLOOD ADVISORY | Adams and Denver Counties are under a flood advisory until 8:15 p.m. Heavy rain is falling in north denver, western Aurora, Thornton, Westminister. Check the advisory from NWS Boulder.
4:45 p.m. | DIA IMPACTS | There has been a total of 380 delays and 85 cancelations at Denver International Airport as of the time of this posting.
4:42 p.m. | NWS UPDATE | Thunderstorms with heavy rain are becoming more numerous across the northern Front Range. Flash flood threat expected to increase over the next few hours. Flood Watch remains in effect for the foothills, I-25 Corridor, and adjacent plains until Midnight.
4:02 p.m. | WEATHER WARNING | A flash flood warning was issued for east central Larimer County, including the Cameron Peak burn area, until 6:30 p.m. after thunderstorms producing heavy rain appeared on Doppler radar. Rainfall amounts of up to one inch per hour are possible in the warned area.