Severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings...

have been posted again for Castle Valley, six days after an intense flash flood that inundated a wide swath of the valley with mudflows. Since then the Town has done absolutely nothing to excavate the sediment-filled ditches and restore their capacity so that they can efficiently convey storm runoff and protect private property.

Incoming thunderstorm cell from the west-northwest over Arches National Park.

Radar image of thunderstorm cell rolling over Castle Valley from Windy.

Runoff from 0.25 inches of rain in less than an hour quickly fills the ditches.

Placer Creek a short distance above its confluence with Castle Creek late this afternoon. The noise of chattering boulders impacting one another in the turbulent flow was quite loud. (Click on image to enbiggen.)