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KCOL SPECIAL REPORT Between 7:00 and 10:30 P.M., Saturday, July 31, 1976, floqdwaters of almost 500 year magnitude roared down the Big Thompson Canyon east of Estes Park, Colo- rado, claiming 139 lives. However, at 12:30 P.M. on Friday, July 30, almost 31 hours before the flood, John Henz, a media meteorologist of the GRID Weather Center, was alerting KCOL listeners that "unstable air in the high country could lead to flash flooding and plenty of cloud.to-ground lightning, so be on the alert." The prediction was updated. intensi- fied and repeated throughout Friday and Saturday on regularly scheduled weather programs, newscasts and by staff announcers. Using the strongest terms possible (only the National Weather Service is authorized to issue Official Warnings), Vince Scheetz, also of the GRID Weather Center, broad- cast the following on KCOL at 5:30 P.M. Saturday: "Those of you in the high country should stay clear of washes, creeks and other low lying areas if you are in the vicinity of current thunderstorms. The slow movement of these isolated cells makes them potentially dangerous due to heavy rains being confined to a small area. The po- tential for flash flooding, even along small washes and dry creek beds could be considerable." On Sunday, John and Vince predicted a let-up in the rain, at least until evening hours - information that helped ease the tremen. dous tension that existed in the aftermath of the disaster. Geophysical RiD Corporation is a local meteorological consulting service specializing in weather research, consulting and prediction. KCOL has been served by the GRID Weather Center since February 1973. John and Vince, along with Verne Leverson and Dave McGuirk, produce four weather shows daily on KCOL, at 6:25 A.M., 7:25 A.M., 12:30 P.M., and 5:25 P.M.. Updates at any time. Messrs. Henz and Scheetz have recently been awarded the" American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval for Radio Weathercasting." As of August, 1975. only 56 such "Seals" had been granted radio forecasters in the entire country. GRID Weather Center is the only staff with two seal holders in Colorado. .