Colorado, 2018

Hail and Damaging Winds in Colorado, October 4, 2018

October 4, 2018 · NWS GJT · 7 events in 3 counties and zones

A potent disturbance embedded in a southwest flow aloft produced strong thunderstorms which moved across portions of west-central and northwest Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.

A potent disturbance embedded in a southwest flow aloft produced strong thunderstorms which moved across portions of west-central and northwest Colorado.

The radar

The Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 14 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 09:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Mesa

When
October 4, 2:30 AM MST to 2:35 AM MST
Where
Mesa County, 0.87 mi NW of Palisade
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
39.110, -108.360

Quarter-sized hail fell in Palisade.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mesa

When
October 4, 8:25 AM MST to 8:35 AM MST
Where
Mesa County, 0.87 mi NW of Fruita
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$500
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
39.160, -108.740

An estimated peak wind gust of 65 MPH brought down some tree limbs. A window was broken after it was hit by a 1-inch diameter, 3 foot long tree branch.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
October 4, 9:39 AM MST to 10:05 AM MST
Where
Garfield County, (1v1)rifle Arpt
Measured
71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.530, -107.720

A line of strong thunderstorms produced damaging winds in the Rifle area, including the Rifle Garfield County Airport where the strongest winds were measured. A single engine Cessna aircraft incurred damage as it was tipped sideways onto a wing and also tipped onto its nose.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
October 4, 9:50 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
Where
Garfield County, 1.07 mi E of Silt
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.550, -107.650

A trained weather spotter's anemometer recorded a peak wind gust of 61 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
October 4, 9:50 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
Where
Garfield County, 0.69 mi S of Silt
Measured
58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.540, -107.670

An automated weather station 1 mile west-southwest of Silt recorded a peak wind gust of 67 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Delta

When
October 4, 9:50 AM MST to 10:00 AM MST
Where
Delta County, 3.62 mi NNW of Hotchkiss
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.850, -107.740

An automated weather station three miles north-northwest of Hotchkiss recorded a peak wind gust of 70 MPH.

Thunderstorm Wind, Garfield

When
October 4, 10:00 AM MST to 10:20 AM MST
Where
Garfield County, 1.38 mi S of Cattle Creek
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
39.430, -107.250

An estimated peak wind gust of around 65 MPH blew down five trees, two of which were Cottonwoods about two-feet in diameter.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, October 2018

Sources

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 778445, 778446, 778085, 778447, 778448, 778449, 778450.