Colorado Floodwaters Roll On

In an earlier post I described how the runoff from the heavy rain that caused the devastating flooding in Colorado was moving down the Platte River causing dramatic rises in water levels in eastern Colorado and western Nebraska.  Several locations along the Platte River are near still near or above flood stage in central Nebraska, but water levels are falling and should continue to do so.

River gauge status in lower Missouri River basin as of 8:15 p.m. CDT September 30.

Hydrograph for the Platte River near Grand Island, NE as of 8:15 p.m. CDT September 30

The "flood pulse" continues to move downstream and is starting to enter the Missouri River.   Here are the hydrographs for the Missouri River at Nebraska City, NE and for the Missouri River St. Joseph, MO.  The predicted rises in river level are modest and nowhere near flood stage. It may difficult to track the floodwaters beyond central Missouri as the wide extent of the Missouri and the interaction of other tributaries dampen the effects of the additional water.

If you are interested in following the analysis of the Colorado flooding and its aftermath, the Colorado Climate Center has put together a special web site on the flood. It includes a timeline of events, the meteorology behind the heavy rain and subsequent flooding, and climatological perspective. As updated information and analyses become available they will be posted on this site. Here is the link:

Colorado Flood 2013 web site