Alert archive / Colorado / Flash Flood Warnings in 2024
Flash Flood Warning 3, NWS Grand Junction, CO
NWS Grand Junction, CO issued this flash flood warning at Jun 22, 2024, 1:20 PM MDT for Rio Blanco County, Colorado. It was in force for 115 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
- Jun 22, 2024, 1:20 PM MDT (19:20 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 22, 2024, 3:15 PM MDT
- In force
- 115 min
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Junction, CO
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Flood severity
- None
County Rio Blanco County, CO
The radar
The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 102 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:23 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, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 98 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 15 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -450 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1395 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 212 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 200 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jun 22, 11:35 AM MDT, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Shower and thunderstorm activity will be reduced today compared to Thursday and Friday, mainly impacting higher terrain. The potential for excessive rainfall or severe storms is low.
- Temperatures return to near normal levels today, climbing to between 5 and 10 degrees above normal from Sunday through the end of next week.
- Afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms are expected each day from Sunday to Friday with higher terrain favored. Coverage is expected to be isolated to scattered for all but Thursday when numerous storms are expected.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 22, 11:35 AM MDT, 1 hour 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1135 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - Shower and thunderstorm activity will be reduced today compared to Thursday and Friday, mainly impacting higher terrain. The potential for excessive rainfall or severe storms is low. - Temperatures return to near normal levels today, climbing to between 5 and 10 degrees above normal from Sunday through the end of next week. - Afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms are expected each day from Sunday to Friday with higher terrain favored. Coverage is expected to be isolated to scattered for all but Thursday when numerous storms are expected. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 444 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 Subsidence in the wake of a mid-level short wave trough which moved over the forecast area last evening brought clearing skies to the north. However, deep moisture to the south and weak jet divergence sustained isolated showers and a thunderstorm near the Four Corners early this morning. A more zonal flow aloft has shifted the subtropical moisture plume to just south of the CO/NM state line. For today, HREF guidance indicated ample moisture remains with precipitable water (PW) levels near an inch across the southern two-thirds of the forecast area. Early sunshine working on the deep residual moisture is forecast to yield SBCAPE values of 1000 to 1300 J/Kg today. HREF and model soundings indicated the highest CAPE will be realized between 16Z and 20Z before mixing transfers drier air aloft into the lower elevations. This suggests storms will fire early, becoming less vigorous during the latter part of the afternoon. Enough shear remains for multicellular storms early on, but not enough for supercells. As the day progresses, shear decreases and storms will become shorter lived as downdrafts increasingly interfere with storm updrafts. Given PW levels mentioned previously, heavy rain is possible with stronger cells, though the potential for flooding is low due to the low potential for long lived organized storms. Showers/thunderstorms are expected to diminish early this evening as diurnal cooling and a lack of upward forcing allow the atmosphere to stabilize. Fewer showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday as the region continues to dry under a shallow transitory ridge. Temperatures should return to near normal today as early sunshine and reduced storm coverage allows for better solar insolation. By Sunday, temperatures jump by close to 5 degrees as drying continues. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 444 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 With high pressure to the south and troughing to the north, eastern Utah and Western Colorado will stay under a dry zonal flow aloft through the coming week, but residual moisture remains trapped near the surface with dewpoints generally in the 40's across the region with light winds. This will lead to skies clearing out each night allowing diurnal heating the following day to charge the atmosphere the with cumulus build-ups in the late morning into the early afternoon turning into isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms over the higher terrain through the afternoon into the early evening before the clouds evaporate under subsidence overnight and the cycle repeats. Thew ensembles suggest the high building into a ridge up the Rocky Mountains through mid week with another deep trough descending into the Pacific Northwest late in the week. Some of the models and guidance are hinting that another band of tropical moisture that is just moving into northern Mexico off the Gulf of Mexico today will work its way around the high or sneak under it Wednesday into Thursday to bring another surge of moisture generating widely scattered showers and thunderstorms across the region Wednesday afternoon favoring the higher terrain that will linger overnight, spinning up into widespread showers and thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. Showers will linger overnight in the mountains becoming widely scattered showers and thunderstorms again Friday afternoon. Confidence is low due to the wide dispersion in the solutions on any specifics in the forecast beyond widely scattered showers and thunderstorms each afternoon favoring the higher terrain with some days seeing more activity and others less. Stay tuned for updates to the forecast as we see how the high pressure to the south develops. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1133 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 Showers and storms are expected to develop over the high terrain in the next several hours. The coverage is not high enough to include in the tafs. Brief MVFR conditions and gusty outflow winds are possible with these showers. They should dissipate around sunset or shortly after. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...NL LONG TERM...DB AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 22, 4:57 AM MDT, 8 hours 23 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 457 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-231100- 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- 457 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Colorado, southwest Colorado, west central Colorado, east central Utah, northeast Utah and southeast Utah. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low, though isolated heavy rain producing thunderstorms are possible from late morning through midafternoon. Showers and thunderstorms will be less widespread with the mountains favored. Thunderstorms are expected to dissipate by sunset. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Thunderstorms become more scattered in coverage with a significantly reduced threat for heavy rain or severe storms. Afternoon/evening thunderstorms, more isolated in coverage, can be expected Sunday through Tuesday. Storm coverage increases again for the latter part of next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jun 22, 8:57 AM MDT, 4 hours 23 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Jun 22, 11:45 AM MDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1145 AM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0950 AM Hail 4 SW La Sal 38.30N 109.23W
06/21/2024 M1.00 Inch San Juan UT CO-OP Observer
&&Special weather statement, Jun 22, 12:03 PM MDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1203 PM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
UTZ025-221830-
Tavaputs Plateau UT-
1203 PM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN UINTAH COUNTY
THROUGH 1230 PM MDT...
At 1202 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 43
miles northwest of Fruita, or 52 miles northwest of Grand Junction,
moving east at 5 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern Uintah
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 3949 10953 3963 10944 3962 10913 3938 10921
TIME...MOT...LOC 1802Z 279DEG 6KT 3955 10937
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
KJSLocal storm report, Jun 22, 12:30 PM MDT, 50 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1230 PM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 PM Flash Flood 4 ENE Mexican Hat 37.16N 109.86W
06/21/2024 San Juan UT CO-OP Observer
Cottonwood wash had major flood, surrounding
house and filling flood plain. 20,000 cfs on
San Juan River at Mexican Hat increased
river level 10 feet, and loosened rafts with
gear floating downstream.
&&Local storm report, Jun 22, 12:50 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1250 PM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0659 PM Flash Flood 7 NE Mexican Hat 37.21N 109.84W
06/21/2024 San Juan UT CO-OP Observer
Fast moving flood waters covered the road
for a distance of approximately 540 meters,
and 1 meter deep.
&&Local storm report, Jun 22, 12:56 PM MDT, 24 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1256 PM MDT Sat Jun 22 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0659 PM Flash Flood 6 NE Mexican Hat 37.18N 109.84W
06/21/2024 San Juan UT CO-OP Observer
28 people were stranded on San Juan River
where Lime Creek enters, and eventually
rescued. Boats and most gear were lost to
floodwaters. 9000+ cfs at this point at
Mexican Hat.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Grand Junction, CO issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 21, 6:04 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | San Miguel | 26 min |
| Jun 21, 6:14 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Mesa, Montrose | 16 min |
| Jun 21, 6:27 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Mesa, Montrose | 33 min |
| Jun 21, 6:28 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Mesa | 32 min |
| Jun 21, 6:45 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Garfield | 30 min |
| Jun 21, 6:50 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Routt | 25 min |
| Jun 21, 6:57 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Montrose | 33 min |
| Jun 21, 10:48 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | La Plata | 27 min |
| Jun 22, 12:03 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | 27 min | |
| Jun 22, 1:22 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Rio Blanco | 23 min |
| Jun 22, 1:42 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Rio Blanco | 33 min |
| Jun 22, 2:02 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Rio Blanco | 28 min |
| Jun 22, 2:05 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Routt | 25 min |
| Jun 22, 2:31 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Montrose | 29 min |
| Jun 22, 3:03 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Mesa, Montrose | 27 min |
| Jun 22, 3:33 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | GJT | Archuleta | 27 min |
| Jun 22, 4:56 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | GJT | Montrose | 2 hr |
| Jun 22, 5:16 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | GJT | Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin | 34 min |
| Jun 21, 7:21 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GJT | Grand | 10 min |
| Jun 21, 7:31 PM MDT | Flash Flood Warning | GJT | Grand | 2 hr |
| Jun 22, 12:20 PM MDT | Areal Flood Advisory | GJT | Uintah | 55 min |
| Jun 22, 2:41 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Grand | 34 min |
| Jun 22, 3:13 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | GJT | Grand | 8 min |
Nearby
Flash Flood Warnings in Colorado, 2024Every flash flood warning in 2024
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.