Drought, Animas River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Animas River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought in Colorado, August 1 to 31, 2003
Extreme drought continued across western Colorado through the month. An area of exceptional drought expanded into southwest Colorado even though monsoon moisture produced scattered rainfall on a number of days across western Colorado.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 21
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
Extreme drought continued across western Colorado through the month. An area of exceptional drought expanded into southwest Colorado even though monsoon moisture produced scattered rainfall on a number of days across western Colorado. See the September 2003 Storm Data publication for a continuation on this drought situation.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 31, 1:12 PM MST, 10 hours 48 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 1:12 PM MST, 10 hours 48 minutes before
WESTERN COLORADO & EASTERN UTAH AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 212 PM MDT THU JUL 31 2003 ...HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS OVER SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS AND FOUR CORNERS WITH FLOODING POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EVENING... SHORT TERM DISCUSSION (TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)... THOUGH MODEL DYNAMIC SUPPORT AND MIDLVL MOISTURE WAS STRONGER OVER TAVAPUTS AND CENTRAL CO MTNS...ABUNDANT SUNSHINE THIS MORNING AND AVAILABLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ALLOWED HEAVY RAINING THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM OVER SAN JUAN EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF THE EVENING...THEN PCPN WILL GRADUALLY TAPOR OFF OVERNIGHT. EXCEPT ANOTHER ACTIVE DAY FRIDAY AS ABUNDANT MONSOONAL MOISTURE REMAINS AVAILABLE WITH CAPE OVER 1000 PROGGED FOR MANY AREAS. WITH MONSOONAL NATURE OF CONVECTION WOULD EXPECT NOCTURAL PRECIPITATION FRIDAY NIGHT AS WELL. HAVE KNOCKED DOWN FORECAST HIGH TEMPS FRIDAY AND BUMPED UP HUMIDITY...AS WELL AS INCREASING POPS THRU FRI NGT. CUOCO SATURDAY-TUESDAY... MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD OVER ENTIRE AREA BY SAT AS BETTER SUMMER MONSOONAL PATTERN SETS UP. PRESENT FORECAST HANDLES THIS WELL WITH CHANCE POPS COVERING WESTERN CO/EASTERN UT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HARD TO TIME WAVES WILL INCREASE CHANCES AT TIMES WITH ONE WAVE SCHEDULED FOR SAT NIGHT. THIS WILL KEEP ACTIVITY GOING THROUGH THE NIGHT. HEAVY RAIN WILL BE A CONCERN THROUGH THE WEEKEND AT LEAST...DUE TO EMBEDDED WAVES AND DIURNAL HELP. GFS INDICATES PATTERN RELAXES A BIT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY...HOWEVER EC KEEPS STRONG HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WELL ENTRENCHED. PRESENT FORECAST DROPS POPS A TAD AND WILL NOT MAKE CHANGES AT THIS TIME. TEMPS NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. HEFFERNAN WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY... GFS INDICATES SLIGHT CHANGE IN PATTERN TOWARD THE MID TO LATTER PART OF THE WEEK. EASTERN PACIFIC TROF FORECAST TO DRIFT INLAND POSSIBLY CUTTING OFF MONSOONAL SURGE. HOWEVER...DESPITE INFILTRATION OF DRIER AIR FROM THE WEST...EXPECT ENOUGH RESIDUAL MOISTURE TO FUEL LOW CHANCE POPS OVER HIGHER TERRAIN WITH SLIGHT CHANCES OVER THE LOWER AREAS OF THE CWFA. NL .GJT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 04Z/10 PM MDT FOR COLORADO SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS AND PORTIONS OF FOUR CORNERS...CO ZONES 18/19/22/23.
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 31, 4:45 AM MST, 19 hours 15 minutes before
COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-011145- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 545 AM MDT THU JUL 31 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN COLORADO AND FOR EASTERN UTAH .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL OCCUR. STORMS WILL BE MOST NUMEROUS ACROSS SOUTHEAST UTAH AND SOUTHWEST COLORADO...THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL CAUSE SUDDEN WATER RISES IN DRY CREEKS AND SMALL STREAMS IN MOUNTAINOUS AND STEEP TERRAIN. MINOR STREET FLOODING...ALONG WITH MUD FLOWS AND ROCK SLIDES...ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNED BY WILDFIRES. IN ADDITION...GUSTY WINDS TO NEAR 35 MPH...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND HAIL UP TO 1/2 INCH DIAMETER WILL ACCOMPANY THE STRONGEST STORMS. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO TODAY...WITH AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 90 TO 103 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE HEAVY RAIN...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT. HOWEVER...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PHONE IN REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS...HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
21 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Drought, Central Colorado River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Central Colorado River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.737, -107.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Central Yampa River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Central Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 40.361, -107.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Debeque to Silt Corridor
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Debeque to Silt Corridor forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Flattop Mountains
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Grand and Battlement Mesas
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Grand Valley
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Grand Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Lower Yampa River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Lower Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 40.066, -108.109 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Northwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.294, -108.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, San Juan River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- San Juan River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Upper Gunnison River Valley
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Gunnison River Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, Upper Yampa River Basin
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Drought, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- August 1, 12:00 AM MST to August 31, 11:59 PM MST
- Where
- West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- GOVT OFFICIAL
- Coordinates
- 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Drought
- A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2003
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Oklahoma, August 1, 2003
- Drought in Iowa, August 1 to 31, 2003
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, August 1, 2003
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Michigan, August 1, 2003
- Damaging Winds in Arkansas, August 1, 2003
- Hail and Lightning Strike in Illinois, August 1, 2003
- Flash Flood and Hail in Illinois, August 1, 2003
- Hail in Iowa, August 1, 2003
- Tornado and Hail in Indiana, August 1, 2003
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 1, 2003
- Hail in Illinois, August 1, 2003
More
Every storm in Colorado in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, August 2003
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5374692, 5374693, 5374694, 5374695, 5374761, 5374762, 5374763, 5374764, 5375050, 5375051, 5375052, 5375053, 5375054, 5375055, 5375056, 5375057, 5375058, 5375059, 5375060, 5375061, 5375062.