The storm was not biblical. It was not a 1,000 year flood – but it might have ranked in the top ten Colorado floods since 1876.
“As is typical of Colorado storms, some parts of the state were hard hit and others were untouched. Still, this storm is ranking in the top ten extreme flooding events since Colorado statehood,” said Nolan Doesken, State Climatologist at CSU. “It isn’t yet as extreme or widespread as the June 1965 floods or as dramatic as the 1935 floods but it ranks right up there among some of the worst.”
Among the worst, according to Climate Center data, occurred in May 1904, October 1911, June 1921, May 1935, September 1938, May 1955, June 1965, May 1969, October 1970, July 1976, July 1981, and, of course, the Spring Creek Flood of July 1997 that ravaged Fort Collins and the CSU campus. “Every flood event in Colorado has its own unique characteristics,” said Doesken. “But the topography of the Colorado Front Range makes this area particularly vulnerable when the necessary meteorological conditions come together as they did this week.”
Colorado Climate Center compiling final data on the Great September Storm of 2013 – News & Information – Colorado State University
Looks like it was a 15 year event, not a 1,000 year event. Alarmists were only off by a factor of 60 or so.
“…only off by a factor of 60 or so.”
That’s darn close for them.
The alarmists about Colorado still have a ways to go if they want to have a chance at the World’s Exaggeration Record. I still shake my head remembering the Moscow heat wave of a couple years ago. Such heat waves happen every few decades, but the Chicken Littles proclaimed it (IIRC) to be a “once in 15,000 year event!”
🙂
“once in 15,000 year event!” is what I’d call “beyond delusional” statement
or, even better, “unprecedented delusional” statement!! 🙂
He better be careful, or Bloomberg will launch a money bomb at him.
Any argument will count to cut our energy use, reduce our numbers and screw up our futures.
He better be careful. He’s beginning to sound like a “denier.” In Washington State the Governor fired the State Climatologist when he wanted to see real scientific evidence before supporting her left wing “global warming” nonsense.
Someone wrote something intelligent and truthful? No slimy, self serving scare tactics? Unprecedented!
Re-posted on DTT dot com.
Ruidoso, nm had a 50 year flood event, which was a real duesy, a few years ago (2008), followed by a major forest fire (no numericals) the next year, along with mudslides which ‘killed’ Bonito lake (too new for numerical) – feds/state still dredging it. I believe one or two died in the 08 flood, and at the campground we stay in 4-5 miles downstream of the lake a friend of ours saved the life of the campground’s former owner’s brother who leaned over the edge of a bridge and was almost pulled under by the strong flood current. Our friend was put in prison back east for some unrelated warrant. No good deed goes unpunished.
http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/hydrology/state_fd/nmwater1.html
I can’t wait to see what Anthony Artusa comes up with for this week’s drought monitor. Pull out that pipe, Anthony, and stoke up the crystal.
I taught a geology field camp in the Canon City area for a number of years. Nearly every afternoon we were prepared for and got a hellish afternoon thunderstorm. Standard stuff in the Rockies in the summer. We camped at a working ranch and on more than one occasion the dirt road into the ranch was washed out and impassable. One year a student from another university was high on a rock outcrop and was hit by lightning and killed. Given the prevalence of heavy rains and thunderstorms every summer in Colorado you’d think the people would have sense enough not to build their fancy houses on a floodplain or in canyons and gullies were flash floods had occurred many times before. Live and/or learn.
Good to see that a state employee has the balls to state the truth. Well Said Sir.
If these alarmists actually looked at the Rockies and the state of erosion that has been carried out they would realise that a lot of rain would be needed.