Jun 5, 2008 5:02 am US/Mountain
Flooding Reported In Yuma County
YUMA, Colo. (AP) ―
Authorities say a funnel cloud has been reported in southeast Colorado and has the potential to become a tornado.
The National Weather Service said Thursday the storm was near Punkin Center about 50 miles east of Colorado Springs and 90 miles southeast of Denver.
Forecasters say the storm could also bring large hail.
About 6 inches of hail and about 3.5 inches of rain fell in and around Yuma, flooding basements in town and damaging wheat and corn crops on Wednesday.
Yuma County Emergency Director Roger Brown provided the estimates and said the hail was so deep at one point Wednesday afternoon that he had trouble navigating the streets in his SUV. Yuma is on the eastern plains, about 120 miles northeast of Denver.
Brown said they have put sandbags around at least two houses and were hoping to fill up to 2,000 sandbags.
Jeremy Martin of the National Weather Service in Goodland, Kan., said official totals were not immediately available. A rain gauge 19 miles northeast of Wray recorded 2 inches in 15 minutes. At least two tornadoes were reported in Yuma County, one 14 miles southwest of Yuma, and another 10 miles northeast of Wray.
Martin said both were short lived and didn't cause any damage. Wind damaged some agricultural equipment, including grain bins and a center pivot irrigation system.
Tornado warnings had been issued for all or parts of several counties, including Yuma Washington, Morgan and Adams.
The weather service also said some county roads were reported flooded in Morgan County.
Parts of western Colorado, meanwhile, are expected to get another taste of winter. The National Weather Service said there will be snow Wednesday night above 8,500 feet with accumulations up to 5 inches.
A snow advisory is in effect for areas including Vail, Aspen, Telluride and Ouray.
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