Happy July! As we start the new month, our office is busy preparing to commemorate one of Colorado’s most impactful weather events: the 1976 Big Thompson Flood.

Nearly 50 years ago, on July 31, 1976, a stationary thunderstorm over the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon unleashed over half a foot of rain in about an hour, triggering a major flash flood along the Big Thompson River. Tragically, 144 people lost their lives that day, and numerous homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.

As we approach the 50-year anniversary of that tragic day, our office is hosting a symposium to reflect on the science and impacts of the flood. We invite you to join us on Friday, July 31st at the Estes Valley Community Center, starting around 9am. A suite of invited experts will look back on the history, meteorology, hydrology, and warning systems that day, and we’ll also discuss progress that has been made in the decades since. Immediately following the half-day symposium, there will be an optional field trip and lunch at Viestenz-Smith Park. You can RSVP for our free event here.

We hope you’ll consider joining us as we reflect on the science and impacts of the 1976 Big Thompson Flood. And if you can’t make our event or are interested in learning more, consider attending other Big Thompson flood-related events on the afternoon of the 31st that are being hosted by Larimer County, the Loveland Museum, and the Big Thompson Canyon Flood Memorial, Inc.

If you have questions about our symposium, please feel free to email me: Allie.Mazurek@colostate.edu