Before you head out the door, here are the five things you need to know to start your day.
Strong storms will move in this afternoon
Heavy rain and thunderstorm activity is expected this afternoon into the evening hours. Storms will start over the mountains and spread east to the I-25 corridor and plains as the day and night progress on. Heavy rain is the primary threat today, greatly increasing flooding concerns over the mountains and burn scars, but also any areas that see heavy rain in the plains for an extended amount of time. Highs will be right around average in the region. We'll see rain dry out towards midnight and start Friday with a dry day.
Flash Flood Watch in La Veta and Spring Burn Scar
People in La Veta are bracing for possible flash flooding this afternoon and evening. Communities around the Spring Burn Scar have prepared for the past year for this possibility. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect until midnight Friday. Praparation in La Veta has included putting sandbags around homes and businesses, setting up a buddy system, and having an alert system with sirens and code red messages sent to people's phones when there's a flash flood warning.
Artillery training at Fort Carson
Those living in the communities surrounding Fort Carson should expect more noise and dust from artillery training through Friday. The exercises will feature "large caliber training with live munitions" at different training sites on post.
The Army said in June that artillery training will be happening throughout the summer on the Mountain Post, causing some neighbors to complain about the noise to News5 earlier this year. Noise complaints can be submitted to the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at (719) 526-9849.
Firefighters and bystanders attacked
A man is facing menacing and arson charges after allegedly trying to set people, including firefighters, on fire using an accelerant. The incident happened around 4:40 p.m. Wednesday at Monument Valley Park. Police say a friend of the suspect assaulted a firefighter and a bystander after they tackled the man to try to stop him. The suspect's friend is also facing charges.
Opposition to the National Popular Vote compact
The cities of Fountain and Monument passed resolutions opposing a law that could give all of Colorado's presidential electoral college votes to the winner of the national popular vote. In march, Governor Polis signed a bill joining more than a dozen other states in a move that pledge the state's electoral college votes to the candidate who wins the majority of the national vote. In order for the opposing resolution to make it on the 2020 ballot, organizers must gather 125,00 verified signatures by August 1, 2019.
