Colorado, 2019

Dense Fog in Colorado, February 14 to 15, 2019

February 14 to 15, 2019 · NWS GJT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Rapid clearing and very wet low levels in the wake of an atmospheric river event led to areas of dense fog in many of the lower valleys.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Rapid clearing and very wet low levels in the wake of an atmospheric river event led to areas of dense fog in many of the lower valleys.

What forecasters said that day

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 14, 4:17 PM MST, 5 hours 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 14, 4:17 PM MST, 5 hours 13 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 14, 4:23 AM MST, 17 hours 7 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
423 AM MST Thu Feb 14 2019

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-151300-
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-
423 AM MST Thu Feb 14 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A Pacific storm system will bring widespread rain and snow to
eastern Utah and western Colorado this afternoon and tonight.
Heavy snowfall is expected across the mountains with snowfall
accumulations from 6 to 12 inches expected by early Friday
morning. The valleys will see a wintry mix with an inch or two of
wet snow possible, expect near Gunnison and Pagosa Springs where
snowfall accumulations may approach 6 inches.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Cool and unsettled weather will remain in the region through
early next week with temperatures dropping below normal over the
weekend.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected today or tonight, however
spotters are encouraged to report snowfall amounts to the
National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 14, 6:44 PM MST, 2 hours 46 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 14, 6:50 PM MST, 2 hours 40 minutes before
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Local storm report, Feb 14, 8:01 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
801 PM MST THU FEB 14 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0759 PM     SNOW             2 ENE HESPERUS          37.30N 107.99W
02/14/2019  E11.0 INCH       LA PLATA           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STARTED SNOWING AT 10:15AM AND IS STILL
            SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE REPORT 8PM.

&&

KJS
Local storm report, Feb 14, 8:31 PM MST, 59 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Debeque to Silt Corridor

When
February 14, 9:30 PM MST to February 15, 1:00 AM MST
Where
Debeque to Silt Corridor forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense fog was observed at the Rifle Garfield County Airport with visibility at or below a quarter mile for several hours.

Dense Fog, Grand Valley

When
February 15, 12:00 AM MST to 5:00 AM MST
Where
Grand Valley forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense fog was observed at the Grand Junction Regional Airport with visibility at or below a quarter mile.

Dense Fog, Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin

When
February 15, 12:30 AM MST to 1:00 AM MST
Where
Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense fog was observed at an automated Colorado Department of Transportation sensor as visibility dropped down to 0.3 miles.

Dense Fog, Lower Yampa River Basin

When
February 15, 6:00 AM MST to 12:00 PM MST
Where
Lower Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
40.066, -108.109 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense fog was observed at the Rangley Airport with visibility at or below a quarter mile for several hours.

What these are

Dense Fog
Fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, filed where it caused accidents or disruption.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2019

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: 798347, 798346, 798348, 798345.