Devastating flash floods caused by heavy rain in Colorado have left at least three people dead, while hundreds have been forced to move to higher elevations on Thursday.
One of Colorado's biggest metropolitan locations was hit by torrential downpours along the eastern ridge of the Rockies, from Fort Collins through Denver and Colorado Springs, Reuters reported.
Meteorologist with Boulder's National Weather Service Kari Bowen reported seeing more than six inches of rain in the most populated city of Colorado. In the foothills west of the city, there were up to eight inches of water flooding the roads.
"These constant rainstorms we don't typically see," in the eastern Colorado region, Bowen told Reuters.
Conditions were described as "extremely dangerous," by a Boulder County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson, who added that more than four inches of rain would come to the region on Thursday.
Two people died when a home collapsed from massive floods in Boulder County. Officials reported that a third had died in Colorado Springs, after foot patrol police found the body.
"There is water everywhere," spokesperson for Boulder County Andrew Barth told Reuters. "We've had several structural collapses. There's mud and much and debris everywhere. Cars are stranded all over the place."
Flash flood warnings have been given for central Boulder County and Boulder Creek. Another warning was issued for the southeastern region of Colorado that night.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has evacuated over 400 students living on campus at ground-level, spokesperson for campus police Ryan Huff said. City officials' offices have been closed until further notice.
In small town Broomfield, located just northwest of Denver, rescue crews saved three people from an upturned car that was washed along the roadway from the flooding.
