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000 

WGUS75 KPUB 052244

FFSPUB

COC071-060015-



FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO

444 PM MDT THU AUG 5 2004



...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWEST LAS 

ANIMAS COUNTY UNTIL 615 PM MDT THURSDAY EVENING...



...VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES OVER PARTS OF WESTERN LAS ANIMAS 

COUNTY...



AT 440 PM...VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF SEGUNDO IN 

WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY. RADAR INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF 4 TO 6 

INCH RAIN FALL AMOUNTS HAVE OCCURRED...MAINLY FALLING BETWEEN 

HIGHWAY 12 AND THE COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO BORDER. THIS RAIN WILL 

CONTINUE TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING IN SMALLER CREEKS FEEDING INTO THE 

PURGATOIRE RIVER...ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH FORK OF THE PURGATOIRE 

RIVER...AND CREEKS FLOWING IN BOTH...LORENCITO CANYON...AND THE LONG 

CANYON. RISES IN THE MAIN PURGATOIRE CHANNEL ARE EXPECTED. 



PEOPLE ALONG AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE PURGATOIRE RIVER WEST OF 

TRINIDAD SHOULD BE ON HIGH ALERT FOR FLASH FLOODING.



MOTORISTS ON HIGHWAY 12 SHOULD USE EXTREME CAUTION AND SHOULD BE 

PREPARED TO QUICKLY GO TO HIGH GROUND IF FLASH FLOODING IS 

ENCOUNTERED.



BE ALERT FOR FAST RISING WATER AND BE READY TO TAKE QUICK ACTION IF

NECESSARY. DO NOT DRIVE OR WALK INTO WATER OF UNKNOWN DEPTH. AS

LITTLE AS 6 INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR

VEHICLE...AND 2 FEET OF RUSHING WATER CAN CARRY AWAY MOST VEHICLES...

INCLUDING SUVS AND PICKUPS. NEARLY HALF OF ALL FLOOD FATALITIES ARE

VEHICLE RELATED. KEEP CHILDREN AND OTHERS AWAY FROM FAST FLOWING

WATER. FLOODING WILL OCCUR ALONG CREEKS...IN DRAINAGE AREAS...OVER

RURAL ROADS...IN NORMALLY DRY WASHES AND ARROYOS...AND OVER LOW LYING

LAND ALONG CREEK BANKS.



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