Alert archive / Colorado / High Wind Warnings in 2011

High Wind Warning 2, NWS Grand Junction, CO

December 31, 201111 counties in Colorado

NWS Grand Junction, CO issued this high wind warning at Dec 31, 2011, 9:30 AM MST for 11 counties in Colorado. It was in force for 5 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Dec 31, 2011, 9:30 AM MST (16:30 UTC)
Expired
Dec 31, 2011, 2:00 PM MST
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Junction, CO

Counties Archuleta County, CO, Delta County, CO, Dolores County, CO, Gunnison County, CO, Hinsdale County, CO, La Plata County, CO, Montezuma County, CO, Montrose County, CO, Ouray County, CO, San Juan County, CO, San Miguel County, CO

The radar

The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 130 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:34 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 12:00Z, 4.5 hours before the alert went out and 145 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 12:00Z on 2011-12-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Grand Junction, CO at 12:00Z on 2011-12-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 362 square meters per square second.1939587897117136Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1596 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
99 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
362 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
587 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

588 
WWUS75 KGJT 311630
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
930 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...STRONG WINDS ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH THIS
MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON...

.A FAST MOVING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE MOVING ACROSS WYOMING AND
NORTHERN COLORADO WILL PRODUCE STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS ACROSS MUCH
OF THE AREA. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE MOVING SOUTH
AND REACH THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BEFORE NOON. SOUTHWEST WINDS
AHEAD OF THIS COLD FRONT HAVE INCREASED ACROSS THE AREA. WINDS
WILL BECOME WEST BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH
EARLY AFTERNOON. THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL ALSO BRING SNOW SHOWERS
TO THE THE PARK... GORE AND ELKHEAD MOUNTAINS...WITH A FEW SHOWERS
OVER THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. ANY SNOWFALL WILL COMBINE WITH THE
STRONG WIND FOR REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW.

COZ012-018-019-312100-
/O.NEW.KGJT.HW.W.0002.111231T1630Z-111231T2100Z/
WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...MARBLE...
OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
930 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A HIGH
WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON. 

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 35 TO 45 WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH...
  OCCASIONAL GUSTS GREATER THAN 75 MPH EXPECTED IN EXPOSED AREAS
  AND HIGHER PASSES...ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF MONARCH PASS.

* VISIBILITY...BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 
  ONE HALF MILE. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVELING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO STRONG CROSS
  WINDS...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE. 

&&

$$

COZ013-311900-
/O.EXA.KGJT.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-111231T1900Z/
FLATTOPS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BUFORD...TRAPPERS LAKE
930 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TODAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TODAY. 

* TIMING...STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOON TODAY.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH... 
  BECOMING WEST BY MID MORNING. 

* VISIBILITY...BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN ONE
  HALF MILE.

* IMPACTS...TRAVELING WILL BE DIFFICULT DUE TO STRONG CROSSWINDS
  ...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.


&&

$$

COZ001-002-005-311900-
/O.CON.KGJT.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-111231T1900Z/
LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN-
UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RANGELY...DINOSAUR...CRAIG...HAYDEN...
MEEKER...STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AND VICINITY
930 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TODAY...

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL NOON TODAY.

* WINDS...WEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS...TRAVELING WILL BE DIFFICULT DUE TO STRONG CROSSWINDS
  ...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.

&&

$$

COZ004-311900-
/O.CON.KGJT.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-111231T1900Z/
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLUMBINE...TOPONAS
930 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TODAY...

* TIMING...UNTIL NOON TODAY.

* WINDS...WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 25 TO 35 WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

* VISIBILITY...BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 
  ONE HALF MILE. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVELING WILL BE DIFFICULT DUE TO STRONG CROSSWINDS
  ...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT A SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT. USE
EXTRA CAUTION.

&&

$$

CUOCO
2 follow-up statements
627 
WWUS75 KGJT 311851
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1151 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WINDS DECREASED OVER THE NORTH BUT WILL CONTINUE WITH STRONG
GUSTS OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON...

.A FAST MOVING UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM AND SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL
CONTINUE MOVING SOUTH THROUGH SOUTHWEST COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON. 
SURFACE WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTS HAVE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL COLORADO...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG
OVER THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO MOUNTAINS THROUGH MID-AFTERNOON...
INCLUDING THE WEST ELK AND WESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.

ANY SNOWFALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS WILL COMBINE WITH THE STRONG
WINDS...REDUCING THE VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW. ALSO...AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO AND SOUTHEAST UT...THE GUSTY
WINDS WILL CAUSE VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS IN BLOWING DUST. 

COZ001-002-005-312000-
/O.EXP.KGJT.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-111231T1900Z/
LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN-
UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...RANGELY...DINOSAUR...CRAIG...HAYDEN...
MEEKER...STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AND VICINITY
1151 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT NOON MST TODAY...

WIND SPEEDS AND GUST HAVE DECREASED BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA...AND
WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH THE REST OF TODAY.

$$

COZ004-013-312000-
/O.EXP.KGJT.WI.Y.0012.000000T0000Z-111231T1900Z/
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-FLATTOPS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...COLUMBINE...TOPONAS...BUFORD...
TRAPPERS LAKE
1151 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT NOON MST TODAY...

WIND SPEEDS AND GUST HAVE DECREASED BELOW ADVISORY CRITERIA...AND
WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH THE REST OF TODAY.

$$

COZ012-018-019-312100-
/O.CON.KGJT.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-111231T2100Z/
WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...MARBLE...
OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
1151 AM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 2 PM MST THIS 
  AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...WEST AT 35 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH...
  OCCASIONAL GUSTS GREATER THAN 75 MPH ARE EXPECTED IN EXPOSED
  AREAS AND HIGHER PASSES...ESPECIALLY IN THE VICINITY OF MONARCH
  PASS.

* VISIBILITY...BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 
  ONE HALF MILE. 

* IMPACTS...TRAVELING WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO STRONG CROSS 
  WINDS...ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS
OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

&&

$$

CUOCO
365 
WWUS75 KGJT 312043
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
143 PM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

COZ012-018-019-312145-
/O.EXP.KGJT.HW.W.0002.000000T0000Z-111231T2100Z/
WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CRESTED BUTTE...TAYLOR PARK...MARBLE...
OURAY...TELLURIDE...LAKE CITY...SILVERTON...RICO...HESPERUS
143 PM MST SAT DEC 31 2011

...HIGH WIND WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 2 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON...

SUSTAINED WINDS AND WIND GUSTS HAVE DECREASED WELL BELOW WARNING
CRITERIA AND WILL NO LONGER PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD TO
TRAVELERS THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO MOUNTAINS.

$$

CUOCO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 31, 3:44 AM MSTWind AdvisoryGJTEagle, Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt8 hr

Nearby

High Wind Warnings in Colorado, 2011Every high wind warning in 2011

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.