Wind Advisory 3, NWS Grand Junction, CO

484 
WWUS75 KGJT 010401
NPWGJT

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1001 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017


COZ001-UTZ024-010515-
/O.EXP.KGJT.WI.Y.0003.000000T0000Z-170401T0400Z/
Lower Yampa River Basin-Eastern Uinta Basin-
1001 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

...WIND ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 10 PM MDT THIS EVENING...

Gusty northeast winds will continue to decrease over the Uinta
Basin and far northwest Colorado this evening. Hazardous winds are
no longer currently expected. 

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1114 AM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

.SHORT TERM...(Today through Saturday night)
Issued at 438 AM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

The current satellite water vapor image is showing a storm system
centered over northwest Arizona, pumping warm moist air into the
forecast area. This warm moist air is maintaining snow levels at
around 10,000 feet. The atmosphere is also very dry below roughly
10,000 feet, so although precipitation is falling from the clouds
associated with the storm system precipitation is not yet
reaching the ground at lower elevations. However, preciptation has
been observed at many mountain locations.

Forecast model soundings are suggesting that the atmosphere will
be slow to moisten up enough to allow precipitation to reach the
ground at lower elevations. Best guess for rain reaching the
ground in Grand Junction and areas of similar elevation would be
late morning/early afternoon. However, snow should begin to
accumulate in the mountains above 10,000 feet shortly and snow
levels should gradually lower through the day today as the storm
system travels east across the four corners. Therefore, numerous
Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings remain in
effect through Saturday morning.

According to the 0600Z NAM12 and GFS20, both of which have
initialized well, the storm system will slowly slide across the
Four Corners today, pumping moisture into the area. The models
continue to depict a TROWAL like feature which will gently lift
this warm moist air supporting precipitation and periods of
moderate to heavy snowfall over the mountains through late tonight
into Saturday morning. Afternoon thundestorms will also be a
possibility in this moderately unstable environment. The main low
is now forecast to move southeast into New Mexico Saturday
evening, bringing an end to the threat of precipitation for our
forecast area.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 438 AM MDT Fri
Mar 31 2017

A progressive weather pattern remains in place behind the
departing storm system with mostly dry weather anticipated for the
first half of Sunday before the next wave of precipitation arrives
Sunday afternoon/evening. This open wave will support
precipitation over the forecast area through Tuesday. High
pressure quickly builds in on Wednesday maintaining dry weather
for midweek.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon)
Issued at 1108 AM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

VFR to MVFR conditions will continue through the afternoon across
most terminals. Storm system moving through the region will bring
scattered light to moderate rainfall in the valleys with some snow
in higher elevation terminals such as TEX, ASE and EGE. These
locations will see the highest impacts with CIG heights and VIS dropping
below MVFR thresholds during heavier precipitation, more likely
later this afternoon. Northeasterly winds could become gusty over
northeastern UT/northwestern CO, impacting VEL later this
afternoon. Overnight, expect light precipitation to continue
across the region with CIG heights slowly rising through the
morning.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MDT Saturday for COZ003-009-
     010-012-013-017.

     Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM MDT Saturday for COZ012-018-019.

UT...Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MDT Saturday for UTZ025-028.

     Winter Storm Warning until 9 AM MDT Saturday for UTZ023.

&&

SHORT TERM...Larry
LONG TERM...Larry
AVIATION...MAC

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
341 AM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-010945-
Lower Yampa River Basin-Central Yampa River Basin-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus-Elkhead and Park Mountains-
Upper Yampa River Basin-Grand Valley-Debeque to Silt Corridor-
Central Colorado River Basin-Grand and Battlement Mesas-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin-
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains-Flat Tops-
Upper Gunnison River Valley-Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide-
Northwest San Juan Mountains-Southwest San Juan Mountains-
Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River-
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River-Animas River Basin-
San Juan River Basin-Southeast Utah-Eastern Uinta Mountains-
Eastern Uinta Basin-Tavaputs Plateau-Arches/Grand Flat-
La Sal and Abajo Mountains-Canyonlands/Natural Bridges-
341 AM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest
Colorado, southwest Colorado, west central Colorado, east central
Utah, northeast Utah, and southeast Utah.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A late season winter storm began impacting the area this morning
and will continue through today. Mountain snow will be on the
increase as snow levels begin to fall with the arrival of colder
air. Snow will be confined to mainly above 8,000 feet. Heaviest
precip is expected late morning through early afternoon, as the
main lobe of energy moves over the area. Snow totals will range
from 8 to 12 inches across the San Juans, to as much as 18 inches
in the Northern Uinta Mountains. Travel will be difficult with
periods of moderate to heavy snow. Use caution if traveling.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Snow will continue through early morning Saturday before tapering
off saturday evening. A few snow showers will be possible across
the central Mountains Sunday. Temperatures will remain cool but
are expected to warm slightly as another system begins to move in
to the area late Sunday and early Monday. High elevation snow will
again be possible, with the heaviest precipitation expected early
morning Tuesday. Terrain driven snow showers are expected to
linger through early morning Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be required but spotters are
encouraged to report snow and precipitation amounts to the
National Weather Service In Grand Junction.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1001 AM MDT FRI MAR 31 2017

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

1000 AM     SNOW             DOVE CREEK              37.77N 108.91W
03/31/2017  M2.4 INCH        DOLORES            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING. ROADS WET TO SLUSHY.

&&

JRP

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1129 AM MDT FRI MAR 31 2017

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

1128 AM     SNOW             1 SSW BLANDING          37.61N 109.48W
03/31/2017  M0.5 INCH        SAN JUAN           UT   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW BEGAN FALLING AROUND 1000 MST AND IT IS
            STILL LIGHTLY SNOWING NOW.

&&

MMS