The month of January showed some improvement in drought conditions over southwest Colorado.
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.
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.
The month of January showed some improvement in drought conditions over southwest Colorado.
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 Dec 31, 8:05 PM MST, 4 hours 55 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
805 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
.UPDATE...VERNAL AIRPORT OBS INDICATE FOG VISIBILITY HAS LOWERED TO
A QUARTER OF A MILE. A CALL TO THE DISPATCH INDICATED THE FOG IS
PATCHY BUT INCLUDES VERNAL DOWNTOWN. ARGUABLY CONDITIONS MAY
IMPROVE AS CLOUD COVER FROM THE WEST SPREADS ACROSS UTAH. BUT WARM
ADVECTION ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH UPSTREAM WAVES WILL ONLY INTENSIFY
THE INVERSION. NO SOURCE OF MIXING IN THE SHORT TERM SO DO NOT
THINK THAT CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE ANYTIME TONIGHT...SO HAVE ISSUED
A DENSE FOG ADVISORY LASTING THROUGH NOON NEW YEARS DAY.
&&
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...
STILL DEALING WITH LOCAL PATCHY FOG SPLY IN THE UINTA BASIN AND
CANYONLANDS/MOAB AREA WHERE LOCAL VISIBILITIES 1/4-1/2 MILE.
ELSEWHERE SKIES SHOW CLEARING TREND ALBEIT SHORT LIVED. CLOUDS
WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE AND THICKEN TONIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT SHRT WV
MOVING THROUGH THE GRT BASIN. EXPECT SCT WAA OVERRUNNING PCPN TO
DEVELOP AFTER MIDNIGHT OVER THE NRN MTNS...BUT AMOUNTS WILL BE
LIGHT. LOWER LEVELS MOISTEN FRIDAY WITH WEAK EMBEDDED WAVES PASSING
JUST TO OUR NORTH THROUGH WYOMING. LAPSE RATES BOTH TONIGHT AND
FRIDAY NOT VERY RESPONSIVE AND HELP TO OFFSET OROGRAPHIC RESPONSE.
MAIN CONCERN THIS SHORT TERM IS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY. FORCING
RATHER WEAK AND JET SUPPORT ALMOST NONEXISTENT. BUT COMBINATION OF
INCREASING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND GOOD OROGRAPHICS YIELD RATHER
IMPRESSIVE SNOW AMOUNTS IN THE RHEA-THALER SNOW MODEL. LAPSE RATES
ALSO STEEPEN CONSIDERABLY ON SATURDAY YIELDING GOOD RESPONSE AS
COLDER AIR FILTERS INTO THE REGION AND DENDRITIC CRYSTAL GROWTH
REGION LOWERS TO NEAR MTN TOP LEVEL. AS SUCH HAVE DECIDED TO ISSUE A
WATCH FOR THE NRN MTNS. THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT HOWEVER IS THE
LACK OF CONTINUITY IN THE SHORT RANGE MDLS. THE NAM QPF IS RATHER
ANEMIC AND BEGINS ALMOST 24 HRS AFTER THE THE GFS. SO BELIEVE A
WATCH IS THE WAY TO GO. SOME QUESTION ALSO AS TO ZNS 5 AND 10. FOR
NOW BELIEVE THEY WILL BE SUB-ADVISORY BUT WILL LET THE NEXT SHIFT
REEVALUATE.
GUIDANCE TEMPS FOR VALLEY LOCATIONS STILL REMAIN PROBLEMATIC AND
HAND EDITING TOWARD PERSISTENCE LOOKS TO BE THE BEST CHOICE AS
INVERSIONS HANG TOUGH IN THE VALLEYS. OVERNIGHT LOWS HOWEVER WILL
BE MODIFIED BY THE THICKENING CLOUD COVER. DESPITE INCREASE IN
CLOUDS EXPECT PATCHY FOR TO REFORM IN THE WESTERN VALLEYS.
.LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...
MOIST NW FLOW CONTINUES SAT NIGHT AND SUNDAY...THOUGH MTN TOP WINDS
WEAKEN BY SUN FOR A DECREASE IN OROGRAPHIC LIFT. 12Z GFS INDICATES
PERIOD OF ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE ON THE 295K SURFACE ACROSS NW CO SAT
NIGHT AHEAD OF ANOTHER DISTURBANCE DROPPING ACROSS CO ON SUN. 12Z NAM
DOES NOT SHOW MUCH UPGLIDE BUT IS STILL MOIST AND DOES INDICATE THE
SUNDAY DISTURBANCE. THIS SHOULD KEEP SOME SNOW AROUND FOR AT LEAST
THE NRN MTNS...THUS THE REASON FOR CONTINUING THE WINTER STORM WATCH
FOR THE ELKHEAD/PARK/GORE RANGES AND FLATTOPS THROUGH SUN AFTERNOON.
LONGWAVE PATTERN SLOWLY AMPLIFIES NEXT WEEK WITH AN UPPER RIDGE
DEVELOPING OVER THE FAR WEST. THIS WILL KEEP NW FLOW OVER OUR AREA.
WAVE DROPS DOWN ABOUT TUE...WITH ANOTHER AFTER MIDWEEK AS A COLD
CANADIAN AIR DROPS INTO THE CENTRAL STATES. WILL KEEP SOME MENTION
OF SNOW FOR MAINLY THE CO MTNS THROUGH THURSDAY. THE COLD CANADIAN
AIR SHOULD STAY EAST OF THE DIVIDE LATER IN THE WEEK...BUT THE
PERSISTENT VALLEY INVERSIONS WILL KEEP VALLEY TEMPS BELOW GUIDANCE.
&&
.AVIATION...
CLEARING HAS OCCURRED AT THE MID AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS WHILE AREAS OF
LOW CLOUDS AND FOG WILL PERSIST OVER THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN
UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. EXPECT GENERALLY VFR CONDITIONS THIS
EVENING WITH LOCAL POCKETS OF MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS TO LINGER THROUGH
06Z. CLOUDS WILL INCREASE AND LOWER AFTER 06Z WITH LOCAL SNOW
SHOWERS RETURNING TO THE CAG...EEO...SBS LOCATIONS WHERE MVFR
CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED. LITTLE CHANGE IS SEEN FRIDAY.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...WINTER STORM WATCH 6 PM MST FRIDAY UNTIL 6 PM MST SUNDAY FOR
COZ004 AND COZ013.
UT...DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THE EASTERN UINTA BASIN (ZONE 24)
THROUGH NOON NEW YEARS DAY..
UPDATE.......PF
SHORT TERM...MC
LONG TERM....JAD
AVIATION.....MCHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 550 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-011300- 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- 550 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. ...A WINTER STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS FROM 6 PM MST FRIDAY UNTIL 6 PM MST SUNDAY... .DAY ONE...TONIGHT PATCHY DENSE FOG WILL OCCUR ACROSS RIVER VALLEYS AND BASINS... PARTICULARLY THE UINTA BASIN AND ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. VISIBILITY WILL DROP BELOW 1 MILES AT TIMES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...NEW YEARS DAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY THE NEXT PACIFIC STORM WILL BRING A GOOD CHANCE OF SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...MAINLY ALONG AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE-70. ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 14 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. SNOWFALL CHANCES RETURN TO THE REGION FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AS PACIFIC MOISTURE AGAIN SWEEPS OVER THE REGION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE WINTER STORM PRODUCT OR ON THE WEB AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GJT .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT. TGJT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
848 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM SNOW RED MTN 37.90N 107.70W
12/31/2009 M13.0 INCH OURAY CO AVALANCHE FCSTR
STORM TOTAL - 1.30 WATER EQUIVALENT
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT0900313
BKLENKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
855 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM SNOW 4 SSE OURAY 37.97N 107.64W
12/31/2009 M13.5 INCH OURAY CO AVALANCHE FCSTR
STORM TOTAL - MONUMENT AREA OF RED MOUNTAIN PASS -
WATER EQUIVALENT 0.90
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT0900314
BKLENKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
857 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM SNOW MOLAS PASS 37.73N 107.70W
12/31/2009 M4.5 INCH SAN JUAN CO AVALANCHE FCSTR
STORM TOTAL - WATER EQUIVALENT 0.40
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT0900315
BKLENKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
858 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0210 PM SNOW COAL BANK PASS 37.70N 107.78W
12/31/2009 M9.0 INCH SAN JUAN CO AVALANCHE FCSTR
STORM TOTAL - WATER EQUIVALENT 0.80
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT0900316
BKLENKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
901 PM MST THU DEC 31 2009
..TIME.. ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE.. ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION.. ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0229 PM SNOW 11 NE RICO 37.80N 107.89W
12/31/2009 M10.0 INCH SAN MIGUEL CO AVALANCHE FCSTR
STORM TOTAL - LIZARD HEAD PASS - WATER EQUIVALENT 0.60
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT0900317
BKLENKThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Abnormally dry conditions spread northward to cover much of the area during the month.
Abnormally dry conditions spread northward to cover much of the area during the month.
The area remained unchanged with abnormally dry conditions present throughout the month.
Abnormally dry conditions spread to cover the southern and central portions of the area.
Abnormally dry conditions spread to cover the entire area.
The area remained unchanged with abnormally dry conditions throughout the month.
The area remained unchanged with abnormally dry conditions throughout the month.
The area remained unchanged with abnormally dry conditions throughout the month.
Abnormally dry conditions spread eastward covering the whole area.
Abnormally dry conditions persisted across the northern portion of the area, while the drought situation improved across southern portions of the area to normal conditions by the end of the month.
Abnormally dry conditions prevailed throughout the month.
Drought conditions improved to near normal across most of the area.
Abnormally dry conditions spread northward covering the entire area by the end of the month.
Drought conditions improved to near normal across much of the area.
Drought conditions remained unchanged with abnormally dry conditions present throughout the month.
Due to significant snowfall, moderate drought conditions across the western portion of the area were alleviated to abnormally dry conditions by the end of the month, while abnormally dry conditions across the eastern portion of the area improved to normal by the end of the month.
A series of winter storms brought heavy precipitation to the southern San Juan mountains, which improved drought conditions to near normal by the end of the month.
A series of winter storms brought much needed precipitation to southwest Colorado, which improved drought conditions from moderate to abnormally dry across the area.
A series of winter storms brought much needed precipitation to southwest Colorado, which improved drought conditions from moderate to abnormally dry across the area. However, a small portion of extreme southwest Montezume county remained under moderate drought conditions throughout the month.
A series of winter storms brought much needed precipitation to southwest Colorado, which improved the drought situation from moderate to abnormally dry conditions by the end of the month.
A series of winter storms brought much needed precipitation to southwest Colorado, which improved the drought conditions from abnormally dry across western portions of the area to near normal over the entire area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2010
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: 220309, 220310, 220311, 220312, 220313, 220314, 220315, 220316, 220317, 220318, 220319, 220320, 220321, 220322, 220323, 220324, 220325, 220326, 220327, 220328, 220329.