A progressive upper level disturbance, paired with the support from a maximum jetstream wind flow, trekked across the Four Corners region and resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms. While these storms moved quickly they were still very efficient rainfall producers which led to localized heavy runoff and at least two flash floods where thunderstorms trained behind one another.
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 progressive upper level disturbance, paired with the support from a maximum jetstream wind flow, trekked across the Four Corners region and resulted in numerous showers and thunderstorms. While these storms moved quickly they were still very efficient rainfall producers which led to localized heavy runoff and at least two flash floods where thunderstorms trained behind one another.
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 14, 12:28 PM MST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service GRAND JUNCTION CO 128 PM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 125 PM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 Updated the grids and forecasts to increase areal coverage of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Storms are popping and holding together over much of SE Utah and areas of storms will continue moving through SW and west-central CO. UPDATE Issued at 1024 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 Should be a busy afternoon as the atmosphere continues to destabilize ahead of a well defined vorticity maxima moving across southern Nevada late this morning. Previous discussion summed this up well with large scale ascent ahead of the approaching system combining with the instability to help produce strong thunderstorms this afternoon and evening over much of the 4 Corners region. Looking at forecast soundings the right moving cell of splitting storms will be the one to watch for rotation and the threat of producing larger hail and stronger wind gusts. Due to moderately fast flow aloft storms will be moving at a good pace and enhance the outflow wind threat in a dry boundary layer environment. The flow also supports training cells which would enhance localized flash flooding especially in the southwest. Will continue to monitor the coverage of this threat but at this time confidence too low for any kind of hydro watch attm. && .SHORT TERM...(Today through Friday) Issued at 125 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 A closed low centered over southern California early this morning is expected to dictate weather conditions across the region over the next 24 hours. In fact, scattered light showers were already moving over southeast Utah and southwest Colorado early this morning beneath the broad difluent area ahead of the SoCal low. Models were consistent in lifting the low to a position over Las Vegas at midday, before it becomes an open wave over southwest Utah late this afternoon. Dynamic lift associated with this feature corresponds with peak heating which will result in numerous showers and thunderstorms over higher terrain with scattered coverage across the valleys. A 65 KT jet moving through the base of the low is expected to result in 0-6 km shear of 35 to 45 kts over the Four Corners region. Shear combined with deepening moisture and dynamic forcing may result in a few supercell storms this afternoon and evening. The primary threat from rotating storms will be large hail and damaging outflow winds. Outside of the Four Corners region, expect sub-severe multicellular storms, though some may approach severe limits for hail or high winds. Meanwhile, deepening moisture may also result in a few storms capable of producing heavy rainfall possibly resulting in excessive runoff leading to localized flooding and/or mudslides. Temperatures fall to near normal levels today in response to the influx of clouds and showers. The trough lifts northeastward across the forecast area tonight which will bring the best chances for rainfall this evening. Showers will decrease from southwest to northeast in the trough's wake after midnight. Colder air aloft and lows in the 30s above the timberline in the northern mountains are expected to cause rain to turn over to snow with light accumulations possible by sunrise Friday! A deeper secondary trough drops across the northern portion of the forecast area Friday. Showers and thunderstorms become likely as the cold front associated with this system sweeps across northeast Utah and northwest Colorado. Areas to the south will be less active as drier southwesterly flow persists ahead of the cold front. The cooling trend continues Friday, especially north of the cold front with more modest cooling across the south. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Wednesday) Issued at 125 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 Significant changes mark the long term period as a cold front moves through the area. The parent low will be over central Idaho and the cold front will be just about entering the CWA by Friday evening. While there will be a 60kt jet supporting this cold front, available moisture will be minimal at best. Also, the best forcing will be over Wyoming and Montana where the models do put the most precipitation. The last few model runs have favored our northern valleys for precipitation and the latest run is no different; areas north of I-70 still have the best chance for any precipitation. That's not to say some rain won't fall south, some likely will, but highest amounts will remain north. What about those freezing temperatures? Both the GFS and EC have backed off with H7 temperatures now bottoming out around 2C or so. It now looks like areas above 12K feet will see a quick dusting as the front moves through. By Saturday morning, a few lingering showers will persist over the northern mountains but that will be about it. Morning lows will be noticeably cooler than we've seen recently and highs will likely top out 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal values. Most of eastern Utah and western Colorado will see plenty of sunshine and if the day didn't start out sunny, it will likely end that way. Sunday through Wednesday look to be dry as a deep area of low pressure slowly drops down from the northwest and high pressure sets up over the Gulf of Mexico. Some major differences show up past Wednesday with respect to model solutions which will hopefully get resolved over the next few model runs. The long and short of it is unsettled weather starting today and continuing through Saturday morning with a welcome relief to the hot temperatures we've seen lately. By Sunday, high temperatures will rebound 5 to 7 degrees bringing us to right where we should be for this time of year. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 1142 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 A Pacific storm will impact the region through early Friday. Ongoing scattered showers and thunderstorms will become numerous late this afternoon and evening as the storm passes overhead. All TAF sites are likely to experience light to moderate rainfall with localized heavy rain possible. Heavier showers may result in MVFR visibility, though CIGS are likely to remain in the VFR range. However, CIGS below ILS breakpoints from KRIL, KEGE and KASE are probable. In addition, outflow winds to 45 MPH are possible with stronger cells. Conditions improve from north to south after midnight with nocturnal showers lingering north of I-70 through early Friday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will redevelop after 15Z Friday as a cold front approaches the region with areas north of I-70 once again favored for activity. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && UPDATE...CC SHORT TERM...NL LONG TERM...TGR AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service GRAND JUNCTION CO 443 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-151045- 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-Flat Tops- 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- 443 AM MDT Thu Sep 14 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the region from late this morning through this evening. There is a slight chance for supercell thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and large hail over southeast Utah and southwest Colorado. In addition, locally heavy rain is likely which may result in excessive runoff leading to mudslides and localized flooding. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Friday through Saturday morning: Showers and thunderstorms will continue, mainly north of the I-70 corridor through Saturday morning as a cold front rolls through the region. Sunday through Tuesday: Isolated thunderstorms are possible each day over the higher terrain. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be necessary this afternoon and evening over San Juan County in southeast Utah and across Montezuma, La Plata and Dolores Counties in southwest Colorado.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
111 PM MDT THU SEP 14 2017
UTZ027-029-142000-
Arches/Grand Flat UT-Canyonlands/Natural Bridges UT-
111 PM MDT THU SEP 14 2017
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GRAND COUNTY UNTIL
200 PM MDT...
At 110 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Canyonlands National Park, or 20 miles west of Moab, moving northeast
at 35 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this
storm.
Locations impacted include...
Moab, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park and Dead Horse
Point State Park.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 191 in Utah between mile markers 121 and 142.
Utah 128 between mile markers 0 and 6, and between mile markers 8
and 10.
Utah 279 where it intersects wiht Utah 313.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 3852 11003 3851 11002 3853 11001 3852 11000
3855 11000 3856 10999 3884 10960 3854 10942
3838 10991 3848 11001 3848 11000 3851 11004
TIME...MOT...LOC 1910Z 233DEG 24KT 3850 10991
15The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 119 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After a bout of heavy rain, the normally dry Salt Wash near the Delicate Arch parking lot in Arches National Park ran at least two feet deep and stranded several people.
Heavy rainfall resulted in flash flood waters at least a foot deep which ran down several drainages from the east side of the valley and across Highway 191 into a southern section of Moab. A flood control dam in one of the drainages was destroyed by the flash flooding after it was overtopped. Power House Dam Road was closed due to flood damage and some houses on Holyoak Lane and a couple of businesses incurred some flood damage. The flash flooding deposited a large amount of debris on roads. Rainfall measurements in the southeast area of Moab were up to 0.96 of an inch within about a half hour.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, September 2017
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: 714317, 714318.