A flash flood watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for El Paso, Teller, Pueblo and several other counties in southern Colorado, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo.

'Everyone was scrambling': Manitou Springs preps for more floods after Wednesday evacuations

The flood watch includes Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, which saw flooding and evacuations after storms hit the area Wednesday.

“The recent rainfall has already saturated the ground, increasing the risk of runoff and localized flooding,” the Weather Service said in its social media post on X at around 1:45 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m., the weather service said the area impacted by the flash flood warning has received as many as 2.5 inches of rainfall.

“Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are possible throughout the day. Local drainages such as Fountain Creek may rise quickly, especially in steep or low-lying areas. Flooding may affect trail systems, underpasses, and areas near creeks or storm drains.”

Numbers from the Weather Service showed Manitou Springs saw 1.89 inches of rain in less than two hours Wednesday, and Fountain saw 2.5 inches of rain in less than an hour. The rapid rise of Fountain Creek in Manitou prompted officials to evacuate portions of the city, including its city hall and 55 guests from Pikes Peak RV Park.

Click or tap here for updates from the Weather Service.

Thursday’s forecast

After a rainy afternoon Wednesday, storms and showers are expected to return to the Pikes Peak Region Thursday with a chance for more flooding, small hail and strong wind gusts.

The continued moisture across the region will bring “active weather,” according to Gazette news partner KOAA. Patchy light fog and low cloud coverage from the morning will impact afternoon storm potential depending on when the clouds break apart.

If they break apart around 9-10 a.m., KOAA Meteorologist Casey Dorn said that will be a “goldilocks zone” and will generate a “ton” of afternoon fuel for thunderstorms due to a wet lower atmosphere and powerful sunshine that will heat the ground.

“If the clouds leave too early, the atmosphere can become too ‘mixed up’ and dry out a bit, which can lower storm potential,” Dorn said. “I expect clouds to hang tough through the morning commute due to upslope flow. They’ll break up in the late morning.”

The locally dense fog has limited visibility up to 500 feet in places, according to the National Weather Service in Pueblo. The agency asks drivers to use extra caution on their way to work this morning.

After 1 p.m., Dorn said it will be a “hit-or-miss” for storms across the area, but those that do will likely have a heavy storm with flooding possible, quarter to half-dollar sized hail and potential wind gusts of 55-65 mph.

“The strongest severe potential today is south and east of Highway 50, but I do expect some part of El Paso County to again be tracking impactful afternoon storms,” Dorn said.

There’s also a small chance for a brief tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will be lower than usual following yesterday’s cold front, only climbing to the upper 70s, Dorn said.   

Seasonal weather will return Friday as temperatures across southern Colorado rise. Colorado Springs will be in the upper 80s, but Dorn said chances for more isolated storms remain with July being the wettest month of the year. There should also be less haze in the sky as wind directions shift and smoke from western fires move out of the area, Dorn said.

“All in all, tomorrow is a better outdoor plans day, but remember, it does take trails time to dry out and (for) streams and rivers to drop after significant rain,” Dorn said.

Here’s the forecast for the rest of the week from the National Weather Service:

Saturday: Morning will be mostly sunny then become cloudy later on with a high near 88 degrees and calm winds throughout the afternoon. Showers are likely with a chance for thunderstorms after noon. Night will be partly cloudy with a low around 59 degrees and a 30% chance for showers and storms before midnight.

Sunday: The day will be mostly sunny with a high near 89 degrees and a 40% chance for showers and storms after noon. A smaller chance for showers and storms will persist into the night as skies become partly cloudy and temperatures drop to a low around 59 degrees. Light winds will remain throughout the day. 

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