Brief, intense storm floods city streets Saturday

It was a relief that Saturday’s heavy rain didn’t fall on the Waldo Canyon Fire burn scar, but it was enough to cause flash flooding in Colorado Springs’ streets and roads.

The worst flooding may have been on Tia Juana Street between Platte Avenue and Willamette Place. Police closed the street after the entire block was under several feet of water.

A storm sewer on the street was unable to keep up with the large amount of runoff. It’s possible that the drain was clogged by leaves, twigs and other debris from recent hail.

Jesse Rozell became stranded when he tried to drive his car through the high water and it stalled.

“My car started to fill with water,” he said. “By the time I got out, water was up to my waist.”

Rozell admitted that he knew experts’ advice to avoid driving into such water. He also said the street floods often in heavy rain. He called a tow truck to pull out his car.

The street was closed for an hour as a safety precaution after the storm moved through around 2 p.m. The receding water left behind a layer of mud, leaves and twigs.

Part of the parking lot of Fargo’s Pizza was flooded, as well.