Active monsoonal thunderstorms with heavy rainfall produced flash flooding across portions of west central Colorado during the afternoon and early evening hours of September 9th.
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.
Active monsoonal thunderstorms with heavy rainfall produced flash flooding across portions of west central Colorado during the afternoon and early evening hours of September 9th.
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 Sep 9, 10:29 AM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 1129 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 330 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 MOISTURE HAS ARRIVED BUT IN THE FORM OF STRATIFORM RAIN WITH WEAK CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS. CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT AS RAIN IS MORE EFFICIENT THAN WHAT THIS REGION TYPICALLY OBSERVES. TOOK A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE AT A FLASH FLOOD WARNING BETWEEN NORWOOD AND TELLURIDE THAT INCLUDES DALLAS DIVIDE. MUDSLIDES AND ROCKSLIDES COMMON FOR THIS AREA AND RECENT RADAR SHOWS RAIN INCREASING ACROSS THIS AREAS. IN THE NEAR SHORT TERM...APPEARS THERE WILL BE A LULL BEFORE DAYBREAK BEFORE THE NEXT WAVE ARRIVES IN THE MORNING. THE CRITICAL PERIOD MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE MORNING HOURS FOR WEST CENTRAL COLORADO...THAT INCLUDES MESA...DELTA...MONTROSE...SAN MIGUEL AND OURAY COUNTIES. INCOMING JET DYNAMICS WILL INTERACT WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER AMOUNT THAT IS ABOVE 3 TIMES STANDARD DEVIATION OF NORMAL (ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT TODAYS ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IS RARE). BAROCLINIC LEAF CLOUD IS ENHANCING OVER WRN UTAH IN ADVANCE OF UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS CONTINUE TO FIRE OVER THE SWRN CORNER OF UTAH...EVENTUALLY THIS WORKS ITS WAY OVER EAST CENTRAL/SE UTAH INTO WEST CENTRAL COLORADO...COINCIDING WITH THE DEEPEST MOIST LAYER ACROSS OUR FORECAST AREA. HIGHER RESOLUTION MODELS SHOW ROBUST RAIN AMOUNTS FROM CONVECTIVE CELLS THAT TRACK ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE BULLSEYE APPEARS TO BE THE SW FACING ASPECT OF THE UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU...WHICH IS SLIGHTLY WEST OF THE MODERATE RISK AREA DEFINED FROM THE DAY ONE EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OUTLOOK (WHICH COULD BE AN ARTIFACT OF SMOOTHING OUT THE COMPLEX TERRAIN OF THE WESTERN SLOPE). THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THE DEEP MOISTURE PLUME WILL HAVE SHIFTED TO OVER THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THIS PLUME DEPARTS SW COLORADO THIS EVENING. HOWEVER THE INCOMING TROUGH WITH DYNAMICAL LIFT WILL BE ENTERING FROM THE WEST WITH ANOTHER AREA OF ENHANCED SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS NE UTAH INTO NW AND WEST CENTRAL COLORADO. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL WAVE TO IMPACT THE FORECAST AREA...BUT COULD BRING ADDITIONAL FLOODING CONCERNS IF THE GROUND IS SOAKED FROM EARLIER RAINFALL. THE TROUGH MOVES EAST OF THE DIVIDE LATE TONIGHT WITH DIMINISHING SHOWERS FROM THE WEST. WEDNESDAY...THE BEGINNING OF A DRY PERIOD WITH MUCH MORE SUN EXPECTED. SOME LIGHT OROGRAPHIC SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE WRN COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY...BUT VALLEY LOCATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE DRY. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 330 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 STRONG CANADIAN SYSTEM WILL BE DROPPING INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND DRIVEN QUICKLY ESE ACROSS WYOMING ON THE NOSE OF 100 KT JET STREAK. ASSOCIATED SFC FRONT GETS DRIVEN AS FAR SOUTH AS THE BOOKCLIFFS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70 WITH MUCH COOLER CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR CRAIG AND STEAMBOAT THURSDAY MORNING WITH 30S BACK IN THE FORECAST. OUTSIDE OF A FEW CLOUDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAIL END OF THE SHORTWAVE KICKING OUT INTO THE PLAINS...EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH FRIDAY FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. SOUTHERN RIDGE FLEXES BACK NORTH OVER THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL ALLOW A LITTLE MOISTURE TO SNEAK BACK UP INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION AND SAN JUANS...SO INTRODUCTION OF LOW POPS APPEARS REASONABLE FOR THE SOUTHERN ZONES...WITH DRY CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE. AFTER A COOL START TO THE PERIOD...TEMPS WILL SLOWLY MODERATE TO SEASONAL NORMS TO AS WE MOVE INTO THE WEEKEND. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1129 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 WIDESPREAD AREA OF -SHRA WILL IMPACT MOST WESTERN CO TAF SITES THROUGH 20Z. VIS WILL BE 3SM IN +SHRA/+TSRA AT TIMES CIGS AOB BKN030 TODAY. AREAS OF MVFR/IFR VIS/CIGS WILL OCCUR WITH THE HEAVIEST SHOWERS...AND MOUNTAIN TOPS WILL BE FREQUENTLY OBSCURED DUE TO LOW CIGS. THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BETWEEN 18Z AND 00Z BEHIND THE CURRENT AREA OF PRECIPITATION...BUT THEN DIMINISH FROM THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR COZ001>014-017>023. UT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR UTZ022>025-027>029. && SHORT TERM...PF LONG TERM...JDC AVIATION...TGJT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 615 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-101215- 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-FLATTOPS- 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- 615 AM MDT TUE SEP 9 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH THIS EVENING. FREQUENT SHOWERS WITH A FEW THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED TODAY AND THIS EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD CAUSE LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING OR MUD DEBRIS FLOWS. AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN WILL BE PRONE TO MUD OR ROCK SLIDES AND FALLING ROCKS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...LIGHT SHOWERS OVER THE WESTERN COLORADO HIGH COUNTRY CAN BE EXPECTED. SATURDAY...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS EXISTS FOR THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY OR THIS EVENING. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OR ANY OBSERVED FLOODING TO THE GRAND JUNCTION FORECAST OFFICE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
857 AM MDT TUE SEP 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 AM FLASH FLOOD ARCHES NP 38.62N 109.62W
09/09/2014 GRAND UT PARK/FOREST SRVC
WOLF RANCH RD AND DELICATE ARCH RD ARE CLOSED DUE TO
FLASH FLOODING WHICH BEGAN OVERNIGHT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1401419
JMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1043 AM MDT TUE SEP 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1042 AM HEAVY RAIN NATURAL BRIDGES 37.61N 109.98W
09/09/2014 M1.20 INCH SAN JUAN UT PARK/FOREST SRVC
RAINFALL TOTAL FROM YESTERDAY EVENING AND TODAY SO FAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1401420
JMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1227 PM MDT TUE SEP 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1212 PM DEBRIS FLOW 8 N RIFLE 39.66N 107.78W
09/09/2014 GARFIELD CO DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
CO 325 CLOSED DUE TO MUD AND DEBRIS ON ROADWAY
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1401421
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1231 PM MDT TUE SEP 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1225 PM HEAVY RAIN LEWIS 37.50N 108.67W
09/09/2014 M0.90 INCH MONTEZUMA CO TRAINED SPOTTER
IN LAST 43 MINUTES
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1401422
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1232 PM MDT TUE SEP 09 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1211 PM HEAVY RAIN ARRIOLA 37.43N 108.65W
09/09/2014 M0.83 INCH MONTEZUMA CO PUBLIC
SINCE 6 PM
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1401423
TBThe Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:10 UTC.
3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A section of Colorado Highway 325 was closed due flash flooding which deposited a significant amount of mud and debris onto the roadway.
Flash flooding was observed along the washes in western Mesa County including Salt Wash.
Heavy rainfall filled a reservoir and resulted in the overtopping of a privately owned dam which resulted in flash flood waters up to 5 feet deep below the dam. The top two to three feet of the dam was eroded by the water flow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, September 2014
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: 550767, 550766, 558725.