Colorado Flood Photos: 100-Year Storm

Obvious flood path

flood waters near Greeley, CO

(Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory image by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon)

Flood waters have been receding along the South Platte River near Greeley, Colo., after the 100-year flooding event in the area in mid-September 2013, but the muddy brown waters could still be seen beyond the normal banks of the waterway when the the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 satellite snapped an image of the region on Sept. 17. "The image shows that the flood has washed away roads, including sections of U.S. Highway 34," according to NASA's Earth Observatory.

Piles of debris

debris clogs a pedestrian underpass in Colorado

(Image credit: Bonnie Sizer)

Mud and debris clog a pedestrian underpass near Boulder Creek in Colorado on Sept. 14, 2013, as photographed by local resident Bonnie Sizer.

No biking here

Flooded bike path along Bear Creek, South Boulder, CO

(Image credit: Bob Henson, UCAR.)

A bike/pedestrian path along Bear Creek in south Boulder — normally a placid thoroughfare — is engulfed by flood waters on Thursday afternoon, September 12.

Lots 'o rain

Rainfall amounts for the week ending Sept 13.

(Image credit: NOAA/NWS.)

Rainfall amounts for the seven days ending at noon MDT on Friday, September 13, ranged from 5 to 10-plus inches across large swaths of the Colorado Front Range, with similar amounts eastward into northwest Kansas.

Not a day for bench sitting

A flooded park in Boulder, CO

(Image credit: Bob Henson, UCAR.)

Not the day for bench-sitting: a scene along swollen Boulder Creek on September 12.

Measuring the damages

Matt Kelsch measures rainfall amounts on Sept 12

(Image credit: Bob Henson, UCAR.)

Matt Kelsch, a hydrometeorologist in UCAR’s Community Programs who volunteers with NOAA’s cooperative weather observing program, measures the historic daily total of 9.08 inches at Boulder’s official station on September 12.

Flood warnings for Colorado

flash flood warnings and watches for Northeast and Central Colorado

(Image credit: NOAA.)

This image from the Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS sensor from the evening of September 11, 2013, shows the storm system that has devastated towns in the foothills of the Rockies in central Colorado.

Major flooding

weather, flooding, rainfall

(Image credit: Payton H. Peterson.)

An aerial picture taken flying over Mt. View in Longmont, Colo., after torrential rains caused major flooding in the area.

More flooding in Colorado

weather, flooding, rainfall

(Image credit: Payton H. Peterson.)

Another aerial photo taken over Longmont, Colo., which shows the area between 9th and Mt. View.

Flooding areas

weather, flooding, rainfall

(Image credit: Payton H. Peterson.)

A flooded picnic area in Longmont, CO.

Rising waters

weather, flooding, rainfall

(Image credit: Payton H. Peterson.)

The water was rising higher by the minute.

Live Science Staff
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