A thunderstorm produced heavy rainfall in Moab.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
A thunderstorm produced heavy rainfall in Moab.
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 May 25, 1:45 PM MST, 3 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
245 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
SEVERAL WEAK SHORTWAVES COMBINED WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE WILL ALLOW
ANOTHER ROUND OF STORMS TO FIRE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.
BEST SHEAR ABOVE 500 MB ALONG WITH PWS OF 0.80 HAVE ALLOWED
AREAS OF HEAVY SHOWERS TO DEVELOP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
MAIN FORECAST CONCERN REMAINS HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING...AS A
RESULT...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR MUCH OF THE FORECAST
AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING...BUT HAVE ADDED HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE OVER
THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. WITH WET BULB ZERO LEVELS AROUND 11KFT...
EXPECT A HIGHER PRODUCTION OF SMALL HAIL UP TO 1/2 IN DIAMETER...
WHICH MAY CREATE ACCUMULATION AND DAMMING OF THE HAIL IN THE
STRONGEST STORMS WHICH WOULD HAVE FLOOD IMPLICATIONS. STORMS
WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER THIS EVENING.
A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED ON
TUESDAY AS MOISTURE CONTINUES TO REMAIN ABUNDANT OVER THE FORECAST
AREA. MODELS ALSO SHOWING ANOTHER WEAK SHORTWAVE WHICH WILL PROVIDE
THE TRIGGER FOR STRONGER STORMS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TUESDAY NIGHT AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN US. MODELS CONTINUE TO KEEP GOOD MOISTURE
OVER THE FORECAST AREA...SO HAVE CONTINUED SLIGHT CHANCE/CHANCE POPS
ON WEDNESDAY.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...
DID NOT MAKE TOO MANY CHANGES FOR THIS PERIOD. HEIGHTS EXPECTED TO
RISE AFTER MIDWEEK AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE WEST. STILL
LOOKS LIKE SOME MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ALONG THE ROCKIES/CONTINENTAL
DIVIDE THU-FRI FOR SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. BEST CHANCE
SHOULD BE IN THE SAN JUAN MTNS AND ITS SRN FOOTHILLS. MODELS DEVELOP
A WEAK UPPER LOW OVER SRN CA AND BAJA BY THE WEEKEND...AND THEN
DRIFT IT INTO AZ BY NEXT MONDAY. THIS COULD ALLOW MOISTURE TO MOVE
BACK UNDERNEATH THE RIDGE. IN GENERAL...EXPECT SLIGHT CHANCE TO
CHANCE OF AFTERNOON/EVENING THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY. TEMPS EXPECTED
TO AVERAGE NEAR NORMAL.
&&
.AVIATION...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE SCATTERED OVER THE VALLEYS OF
EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO AND NUMEROUS OVER THE
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS OF WESTERN
COLORADO. MVFR CIGS AND VIS WILL BE COMMON WITH SHOWERS...POSSIBLY
IFR CONDITIONS WITH THE HEAVIEST SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. MANY
MOUNTAIN PASSES WILL BE PARTIALLY OBSCURED TODAY AND OVERNIGHT.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
BELOW SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES AND CONSIDERABLE CLOUDINESS
OVER THE MOUNTAINS WILL SLOW SNOWMELT RUNOFF. HOWEVER...
INCREASED RAINFALL WILL KEEP FLOWS STRONG ALONG RIVERS
AND STREAMS IN WESTERN COLORADO AND EASTERN UTAH.
MINOR FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AGRICULTURAL LAND CONTINUES ALONG THE
EAGLE RIVER UPSTREAM OF GYPSUM. REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE YAMPA RIVER
THROUGH STEAMBOAT SPRINGS IS STAYING IN ITS BANKS...AND FLOWS
SHOULD GRADUALLY DECREASE THERE THIS WEEK. ACCORDING TO REPORTS
THE ELK RIVER IN ROUTT COUNTY HAS EXCEEDED FLOOD STAGE AND THEREFORE
HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A FLOOD WARNING THROUGH THIS EVENING. FLOWS ON
THE ELK RIVER ARE EXPECTED TO DROP BELOW FLOOD STAGE LATER TODAY BUT
REMAIN ABOVE BANKFULL THROUGH THE WEEK.
CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED NEAR THE BANKS OF STREAMS AND RIVERS
EXPERIENCING HIGHER FLOWS. HIGH FLOWS CAN ERODE AND WEAKEN RIVER
BANKS MAKING THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO COLLAPSE.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.CO...FLOOD ADVISORY EAGLE RIVER AT GYPSUM THROUGH 6 PM SUNDAY
FLOOD WARNING ELK RIVER AT MILNER THROUGH 1200 AM TUESDAY
FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTHWESTERN COLORADO
FROM NOON THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR
COZ 001-002-003-006-007-009-011-017-020.
.UT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR EAST-CENTRAL UTAH FROM NOON THROUGH THIS
EVENING FOR UTZ 025-027-028-029.
SHORT TERM.....MPM
LONG TERM......JAD
AVIATION.......TGJT
HYDROLOGY......MPMHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 548 AM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-261200- 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- 548 AM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL UTAH AND WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST COLORADO FROM NOON THROUGH THIS EVENING... .DAY ONE...REST OF TONIGHT... EXPECT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO VALLEYS WITH NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MOUNTAINS. STORMS WILL EB ABLE TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME OVER ALREADY SATURATED SOILS CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING. RIVERS AND STREAMS ACROSS WESTERN COLORADO AND EASTERN UTAH WILL CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH FROM THE RECENT WARM TEMPERATURES...INCLUDING MANY SMALL CREEKS. CAUTION IS URGED WHEN WALKING OR RECREATING NEAR RIVERBANKS AND WATERWAYS. FOR MORE INFORMATION...PLEASE VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/GJT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... SCATTERED AFTERNOON AND EVENING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE EACH DAY...ESPECIALLY MOUNTAIN AREAS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TODAY FOR HEAVY RAIN AND MONITORING FLASH FLOODING.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 249 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 COZ003-006-007-009-252115- DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-GRAND VALLEY-ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS- 249 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MESA AND SOUTHERN GARFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT... AT 243 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR PALISADE...OR 12 MILES EAST OF GRAND JUNCTION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. SCATTERED PEA-SIZED HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THE HAIL COULD COVER THE GROUND OR ROADWAYS IN PLACES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN MESA AND SOUTHERN GARFIELD COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF PALISADE...AS WELL AS THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR THROUGH DEBEQUE CANYON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT THE THE INTERSTATE 70 EAST TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS. JAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 253 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 CORRECTED TYPO COZ003-006-007-009-252115- DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-GRAND VALLEY-ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS- 253 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MESA AND SOUTHERN GARFIELD COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT... AT 243 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR PALISADE...OR 12 MILES EAST OF GRAND JUNCTION...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. PEA-SIZED HAIL IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THE HAIL COULD COVER THE GROUND OR ROADWAYS IN PLACES. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN MESA AND SOUTHERN GARFIELD COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF PALISADE...AS WELL AS THE INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR THROUGH DEBEQUE CANYON. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO AFFECT THE THE INTERSTATE 70 EAST TO GLENWOOD SPRINGS. JAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 324 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 COZ006-007-009-252145- DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-GRAND VALLEY- 324 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MESA COUNTY UNTIL 345 PM MDT... AT 320 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS FROM WHITEWATER TO CAMEO TO SKYWAY. THE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE EAST. SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. HAIL MAY COVER THE GROUND IN SOME AREAS. PONDING OF WATER IS POSSIBLE ON ROADWAYS AND IN LOW SPOTS. JAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 441 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 UTZ027-252315- ARCHES/GRAND FLAT- 441 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN GRAND COUNTY UNTIL 515 PM MDT... AT 438 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 19 MILES NORTHWEST OF MOAB...MOVING SOUTH AT 25 MPH. SMALL HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT HIGHWAY 191 FROM CANYONLANDS AIRPORT SOUTH...ARCHES NATIONAL MONUMENT...AND WILL BE NEAR MOAB BY 515 PM MDT JAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 519 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 UTZ027>029-252345- ARCHES/GRAND FLAT-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS- 519 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN SAN JUAN AND SOUTHERN GRAND COUNTIES UNTIL 545 PM MDT... AT 515 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR MOAB...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH ALONG HIGHWAY 191...AND WILL BE NEAR THE GRAND COUNTY AIRPORT BY 545 PM. ANOTHER STORM WAS NEAR CASTLE VALLEY...ALSO MOVING SOUTHEAST. SMALL HAIL AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. THE HAIL MAY COVER THE GROUND IN PLACES. HEAVY RAIN MAY RESULT IN SOME PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND IN LOW SPOTS. JAD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 534 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 UTZ028-029-260000- CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS- 534 PM MDT MON MAY 25 2009 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN SAN JUAN AND SOUTHERN GRAND COUNTIES UNTIL 600 PM MDT... AT 530 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GRAND COUNTY AIRPORT...OR 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MOAB...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. SMALL HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER ACCUMULATING UP TO 2 INCHES DEEP...AND WINDS AROUND 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL AFFECT MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN SAN JUAN AND SOUTHERN GRAND COUNTIES...INCLUDING THE TOWN OF LA SAL JUNCTION. JDC
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall produced street flooding along 400 North in Moab. A nearby spotter measured 0.75 of an inch of rain in less than 30 minutes.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, May 2009
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: 187236.