Although some moist weather systems moved through the region during the month of March, these systems typically favored the higher terrain. As a result, precipitation remained below normal for many areas, especially in the southeastern Utah valleys.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
Although some moist weather systems moved through the region during the month of March, these systems typically favored the higher terrain. As a result, precipitation remained below normal for many areas, especially in the southeastern Utah valleys.
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 Feb 28, 10:40 PM MST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service GRAND JUNCTION CO 1040 PM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Thursday night) Issued at 330 PM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 A low over the Gulf of Alaska will drop southward toward the Pac NW on Thursday as transitory ridging builds into Utah and Colorado. A weak disturbance will initiate isolated showers across NE Utah and NW Colorado Thursday afternoon, likely only across the higher terrain. Southwesterly winds will increase late Thursday as a large amplitude trough develops across the western US. This will bring high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal for the end of the work week. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 330 PM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 The cold front associated with the large trough heading toward eastern UT and western CO will be getting caught up over the Wasatch Range in Utah Friday through Saturday. The warmest days of the week across eastern UT and western CO will be Friday and Saturday as strong southwest flow pumps above normal air into the region ahead of this front. The forecasted upper level jet moving in on Saturday is now looking weaker at only 100 kts at H3, but still significant and supporting gusty prefrontal conditions. The trough finally ejects eastward on Sunday, still on track to bring snow showers across much of the region, both valleys and mountains alike. There is good forecast model consensus on the areas impacted by this weather system, but the GFS and CMC are about 6 hours earlier than the EC on bringing precipitation into the Uinta Mountains late Saturday. The FROPA is progged to occur midday Sunday which may keep larger accumulations from occurring below 6000 feet. That being said, if this system shifts at all in its timing toward Sunday night, snow accumulations could be larger at lower elevations. Generally, this weather system looks like it will produce advisory amounts with a quick transition on Sunday from southwesterly flow to northwesterly flow. A secondary 110 kt jet streak rolls into the Four Corners Sunday night and strong jet support sustains in zonal flow through the remainder of the week. Monday onward, high pressure redevelops to produce a dry first half of the week. There are differing solutions on whether or not another weather system will impact the area late next week, but am feeling confident that jet support with mostly sunny skies will produce breezy conditions next week during the daytime hours. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Thursday night) Issued at 1040 PM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 VFR conditions will prevail over the next 24 hours. Clouds will increase from the west late Thursday morning into the afternoon hours as a disturbance moves through. Breezy conditions will occur as well during the afternoon. Little to no precipitation is expected at TAF sites with a low chance of showers over the northern higher terrain from this passing disturbance. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...JAM LONG TERM...JAM AVIATION...MDA
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service GRAND JUNCTION CO 528 AM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-011300- 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- 528 AM MST Wed Feb 28 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A weak disturbance will bring some light snowfall to the mountains today but only 1 or 2 inches of new is expected. Outside of the mountains, variable cloudiness and seasonal temperatures are expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday The next chance for any significant precipitation looks to be Sunday as a cold front pushes through the area. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.
Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the end of the month.
Extreme (D3) drought conditions spread into the eastern portion of this zone and persisted throughout March. Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across the western portion of the zone through the end of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, March 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: 738263, 738264, 738265.