Why is the Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin an Important Tool?
The state of Colorado is covered by four weather service offices, each providing forecasts for their designated warning areas. However, their forecasts cover all types of weather events and are specific to their particular region. The Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin uniquely services the entire state and solely forecasts based on heavy rainfall and associated threats.
The 2026 winter season was marked with a lack of snowpack, which impacted the typical streamflow throughout the spring. This translated to minimal riverine flooding, and we continue to monitor whether it will affect weather conditions. Beyond this, Colorado has experienced a rise in heavy rain, flooding, and catastrophic wildfires in recent years. This only increases the importance of staying informed and monitoring severe weather events.
In the 2025 season, we identified over 160 flood reports, highlighting the robustness of coverage. The bulletin reaches over 800 daily impressions on social media and over 250 website users per day on average during high impact threats. In addition, it has nearly 2,500 followers across its social media platforms, which shows the value these reports provide to the community.
What’s New for the Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin’s 2026 Operational Season?
The Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin is now operational for the 2026 season, and this year, there’s several notable updates:
- The burn areas included in the Fire Burn Forecast are now expanded to include the Lee-Elk Complex, South Rim, and Turner Gulch burn areas.
- Informational pages and pop-up windows have been updated with clarifying text to help users better understand each product.
For those who are local and interested in getting involved, the Report a Flood tool allows you to report any flooding you observe directly to us. This is helpful in validating our forecasts and improving verification accuracy, especially in rural areas.
Our firm is excited to continue our partnership with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, supporting preparedness and resilience in local communities.