The Wall Street Journal | By: Dan Frosch | Updated July 30, 2017:

Areas that were scorched by fires are particularly prone to flooding amid heavy rains.

As wildfires have quieted in some parts of the U.S., Western states have turned their focus toward another problem this summer: floods.

While heavy rainfall in recent weeks was a welcome respite for the typically parched Southwest, it has also caused deadly and in some cases historic flooding in Arizona and Utah, while portions of New Mexico have been under a flash flood watch.

As pockets of rain are expected to continue, state emergency officials say they are keeping a close eye on areas that were scorched by fires in summers past, now barren of vegetation and particularly prone to flooding. The wildfires increase the dangers of flash floods due to the now exposed, unfettered land that speeds runoff and water flow.

In large portions of southern Colorado, the National Weather Service put out a flash flood watch for Sunday afternoon and evening, due to the threat of heavy rainfall. As with other parts of the West, the weather service said that burn scars in the area from prior wildfires were especially vulnerable to potential floods.

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