Forest Service officials are working to predict and prevent flash floods in the state's burn areas after last year's devastating wildfires.

The recent rainfall in Colorado comes with pros and cons. Though it's great for our lawns and gardens, it comes with the risk of flash flooding, especially in burn areas.

The Forest Service is now constantly monitoring the weather conditions in places like the Hayman Fire burn area. They're using weather stations called RAWs, or Remote Automated Weather Stations. The devices constantly monitor wind speed, humidity, temperature, and precipiation in the area.

These types of weather stations have been used a lot in recent years, but now there are many more of them after last year's wildfires, because of the increased risk of flash flooding. Weather experts also used the weather stations to monitor the condition during the Hayman fire, to help firefighters fight it.

Steve Sagin, with the Forest Service says new vegetation now growing in the Hayman burn area is still not enough to prevent floods. He says at least 20 new RAW stations were added in and around the Hayman burn area.

All the data collected by the RAW is automatically transmitted to a central information center, where it's then monitored and reported.

Sagin says there haven't been any flash floods in the burn area so far this year, but, they have put a plan in place in case that happens.
The Forest Service is working with the local counties to help notify residents of the potential for flooding.