Denver easily broke a record for daily rainfall on Thursday. The city had 1.93 inches of rain as measured as of 5 p.m. at Denver International Airport, eclipsing the previous daily figure for May 11 of 1.55 inches set in 2011.
Since the stormy weather began Wednesday, Denver has received 2.65 inches of rain, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, measured at Denver International Airport. That’s 18.3% of Denver’s annual total of 14.48 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
“We’ve had a lot of rain,” said Bob Kleyla, a meteorologist with the Boulder Weather Service. And those numbers will only increase. We’re getting more rain” to end the day on Thursday.
The continuous, steady rain, sometimes heavy, in the metro area caused road damage in Cherry Creek State Park, and the banks of Cherry Creek flooded at Sixth Avenue and Speer Boulevard and along other additional spots. In a repeat of Wednesday’s blustery weather, a tornado warning was posted on the Eastern Plains for the town of Arapahoe, in Cheyenne County, on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, a tornado warning was also posted for the Holyoke area and a land pipe was spotted in Sedgwick County. Pea-sized hail was reported on the plains.
12:45 Radar 📡
Rain, rain & more rain (& mountain snow)! Widespread 2-4″ so far for southern metro/Palmer Divide (4.5″ storm total reported in Elizabeth).
We’re not nearly done yet – much more tomorrow, with possible flooding on the streets. Flood reports are appreciated! #COwx pic.twitter.com/5aB4pUacNZ
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) May 11, 2023
Several roads in Adams County are closed due to flooding and damage, including 26th Avenue between Yulle and Wolf Creek roads and 64th Avenue between Piggott and Wolf Creek roads. Arapahoe County also closed roads for safety reasons due to high water and flooding, including County Road 30 from County Road 137 to County Road 149 and County Road 145 from Colorado 36 to County Road 6.
A vast area of northeastern Colorado, including Denver, is on flood watch through Friday morning. Areas expected to experience flooding from low-lying areas, streams and creeks include Denver, southwestern Aurora, Centennial, eastern Littleton, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Sheridan, Cherry Hills Village, Foxfield and Cherry Creek Reservoir, according to a flood advice from the weather service.
The weather service said it would continue to rain in the metro area tonight, with occasional thunderstorms and downpours possible. It is likely to rain until Friday afternoon before it eases, but precipitation may continue in the form of showers.