Alert archive / Colorado / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2010

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Grand Junction, CO

October 7, 2010Moffat County, Colorado

NWS Grand Junction, CO issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 7, 2010, 8:09 PM MDT for Moffat County, Colorado. It was in force for 30 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Oct 7, 2010, 8:09 PM MDT (02:09 UTC)
Expired
Oct 7, 2010, 8:39 PM MDT
In force
30 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Junction, CO
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.88 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Moffat County, CO

The radar

The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 173 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Grand Junction, CO (KGJT), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 167 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2010-10-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 158 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Grand Junction, CO at 00:00Z on 2010-10-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 61 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
158 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-107 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2423 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
61 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Oct 7, 4:42 PM MDT, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 7, 4:42 PM MDT, 3 hours 27 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
442 PM MDT THU OCT 7 2010

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN UTAH AND THE
MAJORITY OF WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH 8 PM MDT TONIGHT...

ANOTHER ACTIVE PERIOD EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT AS UPPER CLOSED LOW
OVER NEVADA FINALLY OPENS UP AND EJECTS NE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN.
STRONG DIFLUENT SW FLOW PRESENT OVER THE AREA AHEAD OF THE
APPROACHING TROUGH WITH CONVECTION ALREADY BEGINNING OVER WESTERN CO.
A STRONG VORT CENTER CURRENTLY LOCATED NEAR LAS VEGAS AND VISIBLE ON
WATER VAPOR IMAGERY WILL WORK EASTWARD AS THE LOW PROGRESSES
INTO THE GREAT BASIN. STRONG PVA ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE
COMBINED WITH AN 80-90 KT JET STREAK NOSING INTO THE FOUR CORNERS
REGION TONIGHT WILL PROVIDE AMPLE LIFT TO SUPPORT WIDESPREAD
THUNDERSTORMS. MODERATE AMOUNTS OF INSTABILITY PRESENT IN THIS
MORNINGS SOUNDING ALONG WITH PLENTY OF DEEP LAYERED SPEED SHEAR AND
MOISTURE WILL SUPPORT STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS
EVENING. CLEARING NOTED ON VIS SATELLITE IMAGERY OVER EASTERN UT AND
WESTERN CO THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING HAS ACTED TO DESTABILIZE THE
ATMOSPHERE AND INCREASE CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL. STRONG 50-60 KT DEEP
LAYER SHEAR IS PROGGED OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING AND WILL
HELP TO DEVELOP MORE ORGANIZED CONVECTION. WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL
SHEAR...EXPECT THAT ANY SPLITTING STORMS WILL BE EQUALLY STRONG
AND CAPABLE OF BECOMING SEVERE. STORMS WILL BE MOVING VERY QUICKLY
WITH STORM MOTION FROM THE SOUTH AT ABOUT 40 MPH. WITH SUCH STRONG
STORM MOTION...EXPECT A HIGH DAMAGING WIND THREAT FROM ANY STORMS
WITH LESSER OF A FLASH FLOOD THREAT. HOWEVER...ANY STORMS WILL BE
CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND LOCALIZED FLOODING. LARGE
HAIL IS ALSO POSSIBLE WITH SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY AND FAVORABLE WET
BULB ZERO HEIGHTS. ALSO...CANT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN
ISOLATED TORNADO WITH LOW LEVEL SHEAR IN THE RANGE OF 15-25 KT
THROUGH THIS EVENING ALONG WITH ANY SHEAR INDUCED BY LOCAL TERRAIN.

COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROUGH PASSAGE WILL SWEEP THROUGH
THE AREA TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY FRI. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO
REMAIN BETWEEN 9000-1000 FT MSL WITH A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION
POSSIBLE ABOVE THIS LEVEL. BY 6AM FRI THE TROUGH AXIS WILL BE
POSITIONED OVER THE UT/CO BORDER AND PUSHES OVER THE CONTINENTAL
DIVIDE BY AROUND NOON. EXPECT DRIER AIR AND CLEARING TO WORK IN FROM
THE SW THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH INSTABILITY SHOWERS STILL LIKELY
ACROSS THE NORTH. CLEARING CONDITIONS CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING
WITH COLD LOW TEMPS EXPECTED FRI NIGHT. SOME OF THE LOWER VALLEYS
MAY SEE FIRST FREEZING TEMPS OF THE SEASON...BUT THIS WILL HAVE TO
BE WATCHED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO TO DETERMINE IF FREEZE WATCH IS
NEEDED.

MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS FOR SATURDAY AS COOL NW FLOW TAKES HOLD...BUT
AN ISOLATED SHOWER IS POSSIBLE OVER THE NORTHERN MTNS AS ANOTHER
VORT CENTER MOVES THROUGH.

HIGH TEMPS FRI WILL RUN 10-15 DEGREES COLDER THAN TODAY WITH COLD
OVERNIGHT LOWS FRI NIGHT. THE COOL WEATHER WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
WEEKEND.

.LONG-TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...

NORTHERLY FLOW PREVAILS SAT NIGHT INTO MONDAY AS THE LOW MOVES INTO
THE CENTRAL USA AND A RIDGE DEVELOPS OVER THE GREAT BASIN. N-NW
OROGRAPHICS FAVORABLE FOR THE NRN MOUNTAINS...BUT THE ATMOSPHERE
SHOULD BE PRETTY STABLE AND AM NOT EXPECTING MUCH IF ANY MEASURABLE
PRECIPITATION SAT NIGHT OR SUNDAY. SUNDAY MORNING COULD BE ANOTHER
CHILLY ONE ESPECIALLY WHERE SKIES CLEAR.

THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH MOVES INLAND ACROSS WA/OR SUNDAY NIGHT AND
ACROSS THE NRN ROCKIES MONDAY BEFORE DROPPING SOUTHEAST INTO THE
PLAINS TUE. TRAILING COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE
AREA MONDAY NIGHT/TUE WITH SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GFS
AND ECWMF. BUMPED UP THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MTNS TO THE CHANCE
CATEGORY FOR PRECIP MON NIGHT/TUE. SHOULD BE A PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM
WITH AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDING BACK IN BY WED AFTERNOON/EVENING WITH
DRY AND WARMER WEATHER THU UNDERNEATH THE UPPER HIGH.

&&

.AVIATION...

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING. SOME STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING OUTFLOW WIND
GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 45 KTS AND LARGE HAIL. HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO
POSSIBLE. PERIODS OF IFR CIGS AND VISIBILITY NEAR STORMS. STRONG
SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL ALSO CREATE EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL
TURBULENCE OVER RIDGETOPS.

SNOW LEVELS DROP TONIGHT TO NEAR 10000 FEET MSL AFTER 06Z AS COLDER
AIR MOVES OVER THE REGION FROM THE WEST. ANOTHER ROUND OF SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR ON FRIDAY IN COOL AND UNSTABLE
WESTERLY FLOW.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...NONE.
UT...NONE.

SHORT TERM.....MCS
LONG TERM......JAD
AVIATION.......JAD
Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 7, 5:45 AM MDT, 14 hours 24 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
545 AM MDT THU OCT 7 2010

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-081145-
ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES-
CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN-
CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN-
CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN-DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-
EASTERN UINTA BASIN-EASTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-FLAT TOPS-
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-
GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-
GRAND VALLEY-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER-
ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH-
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-TAVAPUTS PLATEAU-
UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY-
UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-
545 AM MDT THU OCT 7 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN
COLORADO.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS EASTERN UTAH
AND WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH TONIGHT. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE
THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING WITH LARGE HAIL AND WIND
GUSTS TO OVER 60 MPH POSSIBLE.

COLDER AIR ARRIVES OVERNIGHT AND WILL DRIVE SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO
AROUND 10000 FEET BY FRIDAY MORNING. THIS WILL RESULT IN LIGHT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OVER THE THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF
WESTERN COLORADO WITH AMOUNTS FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH FROM
THE SOUTHWEST ON FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING AS THE TROUGH MOVES TO
THE EAST. A FEW MOUNTAIN RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO
BE POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...MAINLY NORTH OF
INTERSTATE 70. THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL
INCREASE SLIGHTLY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE
NORTH...AS A WEAK DISTURBANCE PASSES OVER THE AREA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY TODAY AND INTO THIS EVENING.

JDC

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Oct 7, 5:41 PM MDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
541 PM MDT THU OCT 7 2010

COZ006-009-011-017-080030-
CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN CO-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT
MESAS CO-GRAND VALLEY CO-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU/DALLAS DIVIDE CO-
541 PM MDT THU OCT 7 2010

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN DELTA...CENTRAL MESA AND
CENTRAL MONTROSE COUNTIES UNTIL 630 PM MDT...

AT 535 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 18 MILES NORTHEAST OF NUCLA...OR 25 MILES WEST OF
MONTROSE...MOVING NORTH AT 40 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW
LYING AREAS AND NORMALLY DRY WASHES.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  ESCALANTE FORKS...

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

MCS
Local storm report, Oct 7, 5:50 PM MDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
550 PM MDT THU OCT 07 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0547 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S MEEKER              40.04N 107.89W
10/07/2010  M58 MPH          RIO BLANCO         CO   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1000696

EH
Local storm report, Oct 7, 5:50 PM MDT, 2 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
550 PM MDT THU OCT 07 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0336 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 S MEEKER              40.04N 107.89W
10/07/2010  M58 MPH          RIO BLANCO         CO   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1000696

EH
Special weather statement, Oct 7, 6:23 PM MDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 7, 6:30 PM MDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Oct 7, 7:55 PM MDT, 14 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Junction, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Oct 7, 7:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGJTMoffat40 min
Oct 7, 6:29 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningGJTDaggett, Uintah61 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Colorado, 2010Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2010

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.