Consecutive thunderstorms batter Denver

The Denver Metro area experienced an unprecedented onslaught of monsoonal thunderstorms this summer for 10 consecutive days. Though the threat of the violent storms, which occurred from July 6 to July 16, may be over, their residual effects may pose future hazards.

While the rains reduced the risk of fires this summer, pre-existing conditions in Boulder's Four Mile Canyon from last year's forest fire mean heightened danger of floods. Jon Van de Grift, an atmospheric science professor at Metro, said, "You have a lot of dead vegetation, exposed soil, and all of those raindrops that hit the soil unabated without the leaves. We've already seen over a dozen flash flood warnings for the Four Mile burn area since the rains started."

Dr. Keah Schuenemann, also an atmospheric science professor at Metro, believes Denver may have dodged a bullet during the storms because the region is already highly susceptible to flooding.

"Due to the intensity of the rain, the slow movement of the storms, and the large amount of non-porous surfaces in the city, the water can easily become part of a dangerous flash flood since the water cannot drain off quickly enough. I think we can all be thankful that it wasn't worse than it was," she said.

Some residents were less than grateful. Sandi Moffat, an Arvada resident, is currently displaced after one storm on July 9 destroyed her family's home.

"It only lasted five minutes, and when we came out [from the crawlspace], there was about two inches of hail and rain all over the house," Moffat said. The high winds uprooted a tree from the Moffats' backyard, which punctured the roof in three places.

Generally, storms during Denver's wet season are the result of moisture circulated from the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific. Schuenemann said this summer had an unusual combination of moisture from both areas to create the particularly intense, continuous thunderstorms.

"Basically, we had an atmospheric setup that allowed for a great summer monsoon where an anticyclone southeast of us brought moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, and a monsoon low located southwest of us brought moisture from the Pacific," she said.

Van de Grift said he believes the storms were still beneficial to the Denver area at large. "It's good for our water tables, which is good for our exploding population," he said.

Nevertheless, residents should pay heed to severe weather in light of the flooding threats by following weather conditions and staying where higher ground is accessible.

"Meteorologists like to say, ‘Turn around, don't drown,' but in Colorado we also like to tell people to climb to safety during a flash flood," Schuenemann said.

Moffat says she already plans to take extra precautions including keeping emergency "to-go" packs with essential supplies if she and her family need to flee another natural disaster.

"In hindsight, I would do things differently. We had a safe place to go, but if shit hits the fan, how safe is that place really?" Moffat said.