Event narrative (NOAA)
A landslide consisting of about 30 million cubic meters of rock and soil broke loose from the side of the Grand Mesa near the 10,000 foot level and traveled nearly 3 miles down the West Salt Creek drainage. Three ranchers were apparently buried by the landslide which deposited debris over 100 feet deep along the slide path. This was one of the largest landslides ever documented in the United States. This landslide occurred during the period of peak snowmelt and just after heavy rainfall occurred in the area. Radar estimates and nearby rain gauge measurements for the 36 hour period prior to the landslide were around one inch.
Other notable debris flow events in Colorado
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.