Strong thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall in some areas within Mesa County.
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.
Strong thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall in some areas within Mesa County.
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 Aug 8, 9:50 AM MST, 2 hours 40 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1050 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 .UPDATE... Issued at 720 AM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016 Showers and thunderstorms continue to develop this morning across east-central Utah and west central Colorado with coverage shifting southeastward through the morning hours with a storm occurring over southwest Colorado as well. This seems to all be due to jet induced dynamics interacting with the deep moisture still in place. The 12z GJT sounding still indicates about an inch of Precipitable Water (PW) with dry air at the mid levels and saturated layer between 600 and 550 mb, with sufficient instability in the atmosphere. Increased the chances and coverage of pops and clouds this morning through the rest of today to better reflect current trends. Expecting more storms than the current forecast models are indicating as the models are not handling this very well keeping us drier than we are. Forecast CAPE is 1249 J/kg so still plenty of instability to keep storms firing. Storms are indicating good motion towards the northeast as our CWA remains in the right entrance region of an upper level jet. This jet will progress across the area through the early afternoon hours, with storms continuing to redevelop through this evening, not necessarily limited to the higher terrain. Gusty outflow winds to 40 mph could also be a factor with storms today in addition to brief heavy rain and frequent lightning. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 348 AM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016 Nocturnal thunderstorms driven by large mid level delta T...jet entrance dynamics and a moisture gradient should continue to track over NW Colorado past sunrise. Additional storms have also popped over the 4 Corners into the central mountains...again driven by steep lapse rates and large scale ascent forced by the cyclonically curved jet digging westward. QG forcing suggests lift continuing through the morning in our eastern zones with some subsidence moving into the west as the jet slowly shifts eastward and become more zonal. PWAT will lower some across the all but the 4 Corners region but still available for storms this afternoon. Models fairly consistent the best coverage will be closer to the gradient moisture over our southern CWA with orographic and broad upper forcing driving storm formation. With less storm coverage and drier air moving in did raise temperatures up in the West. Should see storms quickly end this evening without forcing for ascent seen during the overnight hours. A fairly tight mid level gradient and dry adiabatic mid level lapse rate should bring some gusty winds down across eastern Utah and northwest Colorado during peak heating on Tuesday. This mixing of drier air downward will push humidity levels down to critical levels and pockets of critical fire weather conditions are likely to develop. Temperatures stay near to above normal for Tuesday. The models are mainly keying on convection forming over the highest terrain in our eastern CWA Tuesday afternoon. However out west very steep lapse rates and any wiggle in the flow may be able to overcome the mid level cap and pop an isolated storm. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 348 AM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016 On Wednesday a deep moisture surge, along with an embedded disturbance will move up from the south on the monsoonal flow. Therefore we can expect to see an increase in showers and thunderstorms across the area, favoring the south. Runoff may again become problematic, especially if soils in some areas have not had a chance to dry out. The flow will become west then northwest Thu through Thu night as a low pressure disturbance over the Pacific northwest tracks eastward. This drags along its associated western trough. As this brushes the area on Wed night into Thu, expect that showers and thunderstorms will remain plentiful. Once this system passes to the east, high pressure will build along the west coast. This large scale pattern with the high to our west, typically shuts the door to the southerly monsoonal flow and associated moisture. Therefore we can expect drier conditions for the end of the work week and weekend. However the flow will remain on the light side with no mechanism for scouring out all the lingering moisture. So expect some comparatively low- grade terrain based convection each afternoon and evening. After cooler conditions on Wed and Thu, high temps should trend towards normal numbers through the end of the period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1050 AM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016 Isolated to scattered storms are continuing to develop this morning east of Green River, Utah and tracking to the east- northeast. Expect coverage to become more scattered over the valleys to numerous over the mountains this afternoon and evening. VCTS will be likely at all TAF sites as exact location for storms is hard to pinpoint due to the forecast models not handling this moist and unstable atmosphere very well. KASE and KTEX have the highest probability of being impacted by storms. Expect brief MVFR/IFR conditions with lowered cigs/vsby in heavier showers with ILS breakpoints being reached where stronger storms occur. Frequent lightning, brief heavy rain and erratic gusty outflow winds to 40 mph are possible with storms today. Mostly clear skies will prevail after 06z with perhaps some isolated storms continuing overnight but not quite the coverage as seen last night into this morning. VFR conditions will prevail except where storms occur. && .GJT Watches/Warnings/Advisories... CO...None. UT...None. && UPDATE...MDA SHORT TERM...15 LONG TERM...EH AVIATION...MDA
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
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 1052 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 COZ014-017>019-081730- UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY CO-NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS CO- SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS CO-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU/DALLAS DIVIDE CO- 1052 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GUNNISON... NORTHEASTERN SAN JUAN...NORTHWESTERN HINSDALE...SOUTHEASTERN OURAY AND EAST CENTRAL SAN MIGUEL COUNTIES UNTIL 1130 AM MDT... AT 1051 AM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER OURAY...OR 32 MILES SOUTH OF MONTROSE...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... TELLURIDE...MOUNTAIN VILLAGE...OURAY...RIDGWAY... LAKE CITY AND CAMP BIRD. THIS INCLUDES U.S. HIGHWAY 550 NEAR MILE MARKERS 78...79...80...81...82... 83...84...85...86...87...88...89...90...91...92...93...94...95...96.. .97...98...99... 100...101...102...AND 103. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3793 10789 3820 10775 3826 10727 3787 10735 TIME...MOT...LOC 1651Z 252DEG 34KT 3805 10766 MS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 1135 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 COZ017-020-UTZ027-028-081815- PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER CO- UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU/DALLAS DIVIDE CO-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS UT- ARCHES/GRAND FLAT UT- 1135 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MESA COUNTY UNTIL 1215 PM MDT... AT 1133 AM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 18 MILES EAST OF CASTLE VALLEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GATEWAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3859 10913 3880 10912 3892 10874 3855 10870 TIME...MOT...LOC 1733Z 246DEG 18KT 3868 10906 MS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 1221 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 COZ003-006-017-081900- GRAND VALLEY CO-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU/DALLAS DIVIDE CO- ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS CO- 1221 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL MESA COUNTY UNTIL 100 PM MDT... AT 1220 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 7 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND JUNCTION...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. HALF INCH HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GRAND JUNCTION...PALISADE...WHITEWATER...ORCHARD MESA...FRUITVALE... CLIFTON AND REDLANDS. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS... INTERSTATE 70 NEAR MILE MARKERS 36...37...38...39...AND 42. U.S. HIGHWAY 6 NEAR MILE MARKERS 39...42...AND 44. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3893 10866 3906 10865 3919 10837 3888 10828 TIME...MOT...LOC 1820Z 248DEG 18KT 3899 10860 MS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
106 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1255 PM HAIL 4 SSE WHITEWATER 38.92N 108.40W
08/08/2016 E0.25 INCH MESA CO PUBLIC
SPOTTER CALLED TO REPORT PEA SIZED HAIL
FALLING AT CURRENT LOCATION.
&&
ADLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
118 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0117 PM HAIL 9 ESE WHITEWATER 38.95N 108.26W
08/08/2016 E0.50 INCH MESA CO TRAINED SPOTTER
PEA TO MARBLE SIZED HAIL FALLING. .
&&
ADLSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 120 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 COZ006-009-011-082000- GRAND VALLEY CO-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS CO- CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN CO- 120 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL MESA AND WEST CENTRAL DELTA COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM MDT... AT 119 PM MDT...TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PALISADE...OR 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND JUNCTION...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF CENTRAL MESA AND WEST CENTRAL DELTA COUNTIES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. && LAT...LON 3887 10841 3901 10835 3901 10803 3885 10802 TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 267DEG 23KT 3894 10821 MS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rainfall resulted in reduced visibilities along Highway 50 near Whitewater where a fatal car accident occurred.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, August 2016
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: 683127.