A lightning strike ignited a wildfire about 5 miles northwest of Massadona.
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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 lightning strike ignited a wildfire about 5 miles northwest of Massadona.
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 13, 1:55 PM MST, 1 hour 5 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 255 PM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Tuesday night) Issued at 255 PM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 Clockwise rotation associated with high pressure overhead is quite evident on both radar and satellite this afternoon. Storms firing along the Continental Divide are drifting from north to south while activity in northeast Utah and far northwest Colorado are progressing from west to east. While convection was slow to develop today, it is now well underway, acting on Precipitable Water (PWAT) values at or around three quarters of an inch. Gusty outflow winds, small hail, brief heavy rain, and cloud-to-ground lightning can be expected with stronger thunderstorms. Activity will continue this evening with some storms lingering across the north through the early morning hours as a weak shortwave brushes by. The ridge of high pressure will remain in place on Tuesday, centered in the Four Corners area. Ample moisture will be trapped under the ridge, above 0.75 inches, and be recycled Tuesday afternoon for another round of scattered showers and storms. Given the upper level synoptic pattern, the Continental Divide will be favored for storms. Elsewhere, expect variable cloudiness and for temperatures to remain 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Additionally, flow aloft will keep plenty of smoke in the area for at least the next several days, though areas that receive a nice shower or two could get some relief. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 255 PM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 A rinse-and-repeat weather forecast is in store for eastern Utah and western Colorado for most of the work week as high pressure remains in control. Daytime heating each afternoon will work on residual moisture to fuel scattered convection each day as PWATs continue to run between 0.75 and 1.00 inches. As has been the trend over the past few model runs, various ripples in the flow will enhance precipitation at times, though it's still hard to pinpoint the ETA with each. There won't be much variation with temperatures with just a degree or two fluctuation each day. By daybreak Friday an upper level shortwave will push into the western CONUS, flattening the ridge as it approaches eastern Utah and western Colorado. Friday evening onwards, extended forecast models differ in regards to the depth and track of the trough. The Euro favors a deeper wave with a more southern track while the GFS is shallower and stays well to the north of our CWA. Needless to say, given the significant difference in the projected synoptic pattern, confidence in the forecast from Saturday and beyond is low. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1119 AM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 Another day of showers and thunderstorms expected with some brief, heavy rain possible along with some gusty outflow winds. Convection will start very shortly and continue through 03Z though a stray shower may continue after that. KEGE and KTEX have the best chances to see a passing storm so VCTS is included in their TAFs. KGUC and KASE may also see a storm but confidence not high enough to include in TAF. Even with convection, VFR will be the rule. Plenty of smoke remains in the atmosphere but shouldn't drop visibilities below 7SM. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...MMS LONG TERM...MMS AVIATION...TGR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 459 AM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-141200- 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- 459 AM MDT Mon Aug 13 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening will bring a chance for wind gusts to 40 mph, mainly south of I-70 along with small hail and brief heavy rainfall. Storms will develop over the higher terrain and produce outflow winds which may reach nearby valleys. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a chance of afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms each day. Lightning, gusty winds and small hail will be the main threat with storms. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 222 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018 COZ022-132100- Animas River Basin CO- 222 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL LA PLATA COUNTY UNTIL 300 PM MDT... At 221 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12 miles south of Durango, moving south at 10 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Bondad. This includes U.S. Highway 550 in Colorado between mile markers 1 and 12. 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 3718 10806 3718 10784 3700 10780 3700 10809 TIME...MOT...LOC 2021Z 358DEG 10KT 3712 10795 MDA
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
247 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018
COZ019-022-023-132130-
Animas River Basin CO-Southwest San Juan Mountains CO-
San Juan River Basin CO-
247 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WEST CENTRAL ARCHULETA AND
SOUTHEASTERN LA PLATA COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM MDT...
At 246 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Bayfield, or 14 miles east of Durango, moving southeast at 10 mph.
Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Bayfield, Ignacio and Tiffany.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 160 in Colorado between mile markers 95 and 109.
Colorado 151 between mile markers 1 and 11, and between mile markers
22 and 26.
Colorado 172 between mile markers 1 and 17.
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 3722 10775 3733 10756 3713 10732 3700 10757
3700 10761
TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 325DEG 9KT 3723 10761
MDAPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
323 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0248 PM HAIL 1 NNE BAYFIELD 37.24N 107.59W
08/13/2018 E0.25 INCH LA PLATA CO COCORAHS
LARGEST HAIL 0.38 INCHES DIAMETER.
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 332 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018 COZ019-022-023-132215- Animas River Basin CO-Southwest San Juan Mountains CO- San Juan River Basin CO- 332 PM MDT MON AUG 13 2018 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN ARCHULETA COUNTY UNTIL 415 PM MDT... At 332 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles southeast of Ignacio, or 17 miles northeast of Navajo Dam, moving south at 5 mph. Frequent cloud to ground lightning, dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Allison, Tiffany and Arboles. This includes Colorado 151 between mile markers 8 and 19. 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 3706 10757 3709 10742 3700 10737 3700 10756 TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 346DEG 6KT 3702 10747 MDA
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Three Springs Fire began due to lightning ignition 5 miles northwest of Massadona and grew to a total of 550 acres before it was contained.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, August 2018
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: 766495.