Colorado officials have raised the death toll from this week's flooding to four after a woman's body was found in Boulder. There are 80 people in Boulder still unaccounted for, thousands of evacuations and multiple homes destroyed or damaged.
Rain continued to fall Friday, and forecasters predicted that local downpours and flooding would persist through the weekend. There was a 30% chance of showers along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains Friday night and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The chance of rain increases to 60% Sunday.
The National Weather Service had a flood warning for Boulder County through Friday morning. Flood warnings were also issued for the city of Loveland and Big Thompson Canyon, site of the July 1976 flood that killed 143 people. The Big Thompson River was reported over four feet above its flood stage.
Colorado Flooding Emergency (PHOTOS)
In Boulder, officials issued emergency alerts to 8,000 residents along normally tranquil Boulder Creek, urging them to seek shelter elsewhere or move to higher ground. About 4,000 residents along Boulder Canyon faced mandatory evacuation. Officials fear mud and rocks accumulating in Boulder Canyon will clog and cause a sudden surge in water downstream.
Boulder Sheriff Pelle called the scale of the disaster "unprecedented" and expressed concern about remote areas without sewer services, water, or electricity.
Numerous roads throughout the state were closed, including Interstate 25 from Denver to Fort Collins, which was shut down due to flooding of major rivers coming out of the mountains.
Colorado National Guard Humvees are transporting about 2,500 stranded people out of Lyons. Family members looking for loved ones can call 303-776-2927.
