Tropical Storm Norbert off the coast of Baja Mexico pumped a lot of moisture into the Southwest, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood watch for all of Western Colorado on Monday.
The weather service canceled the watch on Tuesday evening after an afternoon downpour.
The storm had the potential to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to the Cortez area through Tuesday, according to NWS meteorologist Dennis Phillips. Initially, the flash flood watch extended till midnight Tuesday.
“After that, the Four Corners is expected to dry out,” Phillips said.
Norbert was classified as a Category 3 hurricane but was downgraded to a tropical storm over the weekend.
Phillips said the storm pumped a huge amount of water vapor into the atmosphere, known as precipital water, and sent it north toward the American Southwest.
“Normally the water vapor level is at 0.6 inches, but we are expecting double that due to Norbert,” he said. “That typically translates to significant rainfall rate.”
Cortez could use the rain, said local meteorologist Jim Andrus. As of Monday morning, total yearly precipitation was at 5.62 inches, below the normal 8.79 inches by this time of year.
“We’re looking good for catching up,” he said. “The tropical storm is drifting over the Southwest and has already dropped a record 2.96 inches of rain in the Phoenix area.”
Weather officials warned residents to avoid crossing moving water on roadways and be alert to flooding in canyons and arroyos that are normally dry.
“Our motto is turn around and don’t drown,” Phillips said.
