Heavy rain wallops Pueblo

The cleanup continued Thursday after heavy rains and flash flooding walloped parts of Pueblo County on Wednesday.

The central and southern parts of the city, and Pueblo West were hit especially hard.

Northbound I-25 was closed at Mile Marker 97 and Highway 50 was closed at 62nd Lane because of the flash flooding. Both roads have since reopened.

In eastern Pueblo County, the Highline and Oxford canals overflowed near Highway 50 and Nepesta Hills Road.

The Rock Canyon Day-Use Area swim beach at Lake Pueblo State Park will be closed through the weekend because of flood damage. The beach could reopen on Monday, depending on how long the repairs take.

The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo and Coyote Grill Restaurant were also closed Thursday because of flood damage.

The amphitheater at Pueblo Community College was flooded by the storm. A college spokesman says it took two hours to pump the water out of the amphitheater. The water also got into the hallway of the Davis Academic Building and the Hoag Theater. The damage is still being assessed.

Chief Meteorologist Matt Meister says that between one and two inches of rain fell as the storms passed through the city, overwhelming the city’s drainage systems.

Gusty winds also accompanied Wednesday’s storm. At least one viewer submitted photo showed a large tree was uprooted by the storm.