An embedded disturbance within a southerly flow of subtropical moisture across the region produced areas of heavy rainfall in portions of southeast Utah.
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.
An embedded disturbance within a southerly flow of subtropical moisture across the region produced areas of heavy rainfall in portions of southeast Utah.
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 18, 2:08 PM MST, 4 hours 52 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 308 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY... ATMOSPHERE REMAINS QUITE MOIST WITH GOOD INSTABILITY UNDER AFTERNOON HEATING. STORM MOTION IS SLOWER THAN FORECASTED THIS MORNING...TO THE N-NE AT AROUND 10-15 MPH. THIS RAISES FLASH FLOOD CONCERNS. ONE AREA OF CONCERN IS THE SW SIDE OF THE UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU WHERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE FORMED AND REFORMED SINCE LATE MORNING. THESE HEAVIER SHOWERS ARE FLOWING INTO THE SAN MIGUEL RIVER. STORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN CWA ARE MOVING FASTER AND THUS HAVE LESS CHANCE OF RUNOFF PROBLEMS. AS WE SAW IN NUCLA YESTERDAY...LOCALIZED STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THESE WILL BE SHORT- LIVED AND VERY LOCALIZED AND THEREFORE VERY HARD TO CAPTURE WITH RADAR. WITH WBZ AT 15.6KFT...PEA-SIZE HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHEST ELEVATIONS...BUT DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BIAS THE RADAR PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS TOO MUCH. MOST STORMS WILL END BY MIDNIGHT BUT A FEW STORMS COULD GO INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS...ESPECIALLY SOUTH WHERE THE MOISTURE IS DEEPEST. TUESDAY...A DISTURBANCE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SOUTHERN AZ-NM WILL WORK INTO THE FOUR-CORNERS AREA IN THE MORNING. THIS WILL PROVIDE UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS. THE LATEST MODELS PRODUCES A LARGE AREA OF UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE FROM CORTEZ NORTH TO ABOUT RANGELY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. TUESDAY NIGHT...UNUSUALLY STRONG WEST COAST TROUGH PASSES TO OUR NORTH. THIS WILL USHER IN A DRIER AIRMASS ACROSS THE NORTHERN FORECAST AREA. WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY...WEST COAST TROUGH REMAINS ACTIVE AND PRODUCES A DRIER SW FLOW OVER OUR NORTHERN CWA. DEEPER MOISTURE REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE S AND SE PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. DIURNAL TEMPERATURE SPREAD WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY... WESTERN TROF/EASTERN RIDGE WILL BE THE UPPER AIR PATTERN BY LATE IN THE WEEK WITH THE NORTHWEST CONUS COOLER THAN NORMAL AND THE SOUTHEAST STATES UNDER EXTREME HEAT THAT WILL BE SHIFTING OUT OF THE PLAINS. THIS WILL LEAVE A STRONGER SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE GREAT BASIN AND DRIER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS THE MOISTURE PLUME IS SHIFTED MOSTLY EAST OF THE ROCKIES AND THINNED OUT BY THE WEEKEND. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ALMOST DROP IN HALF FOR FRIDAY...WHICH HAS BEEN A CONSTANT TREND IN MODELS THE PAST FEW RUNS...LINGERING SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE SOUTHERN CWA AND THE CURRENT TREND OF SCATTERED CONVECTION IN THE SAN JUANS AND ISOLATED DIVIDE THUNDERSTORMS LOOKS ON TRACK. WITH DRIER AIRMASS MOVING IN FROM THE CENTRAL GREAT BASIN TEMPERATURES SHOULD RESPOND BY WARMING TO OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL. OVER THE WEEKEND THE LAST BIT OF ENERGY IN THE TROF OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LIFT/S NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL CANADA AND ALLOWS THE SUB-TROPICAL RIDGE TO WEDGE IT/S WAY BACK TO THE WEST COAST...CENTERING NEAR THE 4 CORNERS REGION BY EARLY MONDAY. THE HOT NATURE OF THIS RIDGE SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES AT ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. AS FOR MOISTURE THIS RIDGE SHOULD AGAIN ABSORB MONSOONAL MOISTURE AND CONTINUE TO RECYCLE IT FOR AN INCREASE IN AFTERNOON CONVECTION...BUT THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A CLEAR SIGNAL WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN LOOKING AT PRECIPITABLE WATER AND MOISTURE FIELDS FROM LONGER RANGE MODELS. FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE THE TREND OF DIURNAL THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE DIVIDE...BUT MORE FAVORED IN THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS...CLOSER TO THE MOISTURE PLUME. && .AVIATION... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. MVFR CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR THESE STORMS WITH ISOLATED IFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER CELLS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DECREASE IN BOTH STRENGTH AND COVERAGE AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH ONLY LOCALIZED MVFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE. ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL BEGIN LATE TUESDAY MORNING BECOMING WIDESPREAD IN THE AFTERNOON. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...NONE. UT...NONE. && SHORT TERM......JOE LONG TERM.......DP AVIATION........TGJT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 602 AM MDT MON JUL 18 2011 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-191202- 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- 602 AM MDT MON JUL 18 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT... MONSOONAL MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. EXPECT SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO INCREASE DURING THE DAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... A MONSOONAL SURGE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING INCREASED MOISTURE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE WITH SOME OF THESE STORMS. A DRIER SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL DEVELOP BY THURSDAY FOR A DOWNTURN IN CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
542 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
COZ004-005-190030-
ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS CO-UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN CO-
542 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN ROUTT COUNTY UNTIL 630
PM MDT...
AT 539 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES EAST OF OAK CREEK...OR 43 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF CRAIG...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
OAK CREEK AROUND 550 PM MDT.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
LAT...LON 4011 10666 4010 10701 4047 10707 4048 10665
4046 10664 4035 10665 4034 10663
PFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
659 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0654 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 W BASALT 39.37N 107.10W
07/18/2011 M1.48 INCH EAGLE CO OTHER FEDERAL
1 HOUR TOTAL AT RAWS SITE THE CROWN
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1100503
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
704 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM DEBRIS FLOW TELLURIDE 37.94N 107.81W
07/18/2011 SAN MIGUEL CO DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
MUDSLIDE ON CO 145 NEAR TELLURIDE... CLOSED BETWEEN MM
71-75
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1100504
TBSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
742 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
UTZ027-190230-
ARCHES/GRAND FLAT UT-
742 PM MDT MON JUL 18 2011
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL GRAND COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM
MDT...
AT 738 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 16 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF GREEN RIVER TO 12 MILES NORTHWEST OF CASTLE VALLEY...AND MOVING
NORTH AT 10 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH FROM THE SOUTH MAY PRODUCE DANGEROUS
CROSSWINDS ALONG INTERSTATE 70. HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
GREEN RIVER AND INTERSTATE 70 BETWEEN GREEN RIVER AND THOMPSON
SPRINGS...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
HEAVY RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.
LAT...LON 3893 11015 3903 11015 3898 10944 3866 10946
3870 11010 3872 11012 3876 11010 3878 11013
3881 11012 3884 11016 3886 11015 3887 11017
3889 11017 3891 11018
PFThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain fell across portions of Grand County in a short period of time, resulting in minor urban and small stream flooding. Water up to 3 inches deep ran across Highway 191 about 15 miles northwest of Moab where Courthouse Wash runs under the road. A rainfall total of 0.63 of an inch fell within 30 minutes in Moab.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, July 2011
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: 331362.