Scattered showers and thunderstorms accompanied the passage of a cold front that trekked across western Colorado. Some storms became severe and produced large hail in Garfield County.
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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.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms accompanied the passage of a cold front that trekked across western Colorado. Some storms became severe and produced large hail in Garfield County.
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 11, 2:00 PM MST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 300 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Thursday night) Issued at 159 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 Radar and satellite imagery show showers and storms continuing this afternoon generally from about 30 miles south of Interstate 70 northward into Wyoming. Storms are moving from southwest to northeast as bands of precipitation move eastward. Convection is expected to diminish to near zero coverage this evening by around 10PM according to several Convection-Allowing Models. The big question right now is whether enough instability will build back into the region behind the this morning's convection. If clearing skies continue to warm the surface, we could see another round of decent strong storms late this afternoon/early evening as a cold front passes through the area. With drier air streaming into the region from the southwest, strong winds remain the biggest hazard along with the usual lightning and small hail. As the trough (currently to moving across western Wyoming) continues to move east, we'll see upper level flow turn northwest briefly on Thursday. This will keep high temperatures similar tomorrow vs what they are today. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 159 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 The flow then settles into a zonal pattern keeping winds westerly through Saturday. Sunday, winds aloft turn more southwesterly ahead of a low pressure system coming onshore over Washington state. Models agree that the low will dig south with the center of the upper level low skimming across northern portions of our forecast area. While the ECMWF and Canadian show this trough axis moving across mid-Wednesday, the GFS delays this trough to mid- Thursday. At any rate, gusty to strong winds will remain a possibility as this system moves through. The low is expected to drag moisture along with it increasing precipitation chances as we head into early next week. Temperatures warm under the westerly flow bringing some locations close to 5-10 degrees above normal for this time of year again by Sunday. As the trough passes by, we'll see temperatures drop a good 5-10 degrees to near, or just less than, normals. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon) Issued at 1144 AM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 As anticipated, plenty of gusty winds being reported across the forecast area this morning with some gusts reaching near 45kts. This trend will continue through the afternoon and early evening hours as a cold front approaches from the west. Some showers and storms are also possible across the area, more north of I70, with the main concern remaining gusty winds. Most TAF sites will remain VFR but a quick drop to MVFR under lower cigs and vis due to a stronger cell moving through can't be ruled out. Guidance suggesting the strongest winds peaking around 21Z and continuing through 00Z before dying down. Once the front moves through, expect a switch to northwesterly winds and those gusty winds to start subsiding. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...SS LONG TERM...SS AVIATION...TGR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 405 AM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-121015- 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- 405 AM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A cold front approaching the area will lead to increased southerly winds today with localized gusts up to 40 mph with the passage of the front. Thunderstorms forming ahead and along the front could produce stronger wind gust along with some small hail and frequent lightning over portions of northern Utah and Colorado through the mid evening hours. Colder air behind the front will allow snow levels to drop to near 9500 feet. Any accumulating snowfall however is expected above 12000 feet over the northern Utah and Colorado mountains. Travel over the passes is not expected to be impacted by snowfall at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed across portions of northern Utah and Colorado today as thunderstorms with strong wind gusts are expected.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
307 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
COZ002-003-013-112145-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Flat Tops CO-
Central Yampa River Basin CO-
307 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL RIO BLANCO COUNTY
UNTIL 345 PM MDT...
At 307 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles northwest of Meeker to 33 miles
northwest of Rifle to 27 miles north of Parachute. Movement was
northeast at 35 mph.
Half inch hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Locations impacted include...
Meeker, Axial and Loyd.
This includes the following highways...
Colorado 13 between mile markers 28 and 60.
Colorado 64 between mile markers 65 and 73.
LAT...LON 4035 10751 4014 10756 3992 10771 3981 10820
3997 10812 4014 10808
TIME...MOT...LOC 2107Z 243DEG 32KT 4015 10798 3998 10803 3984 10814
CharnickPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
329 PM MDT WED SEP 11 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0320 PM NON-TSTM WND GST GRAND JCT. REGIONAL AP 39.12N 108.52W
09/11/2019 M53 MPH MESA CO ASOS
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
348 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
COZ002-004-005-013-112230-
Flat Tops CO-Upper Yampa River Basin CO-
Elkhead and Park Mountains CO-Central Yampa River Basin CO-
348 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN GARFIELD AND
NORTHEASTERN RIO BLANCO COUNTIES UNTIL 430 PM MDT...
At 348 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14
miles east of Meeker, or 33 miles south of Craig, moving east at 45
mph.
Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Buford.
This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
LAT...LON 3997 10767 4006 10771 4027 10711 4018 10701
4005 10699
TIME...MOT...LOC 2148Z 251DEG 39KT 4003 10761
CharnickPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
359 PM MDT WED SEP 11 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0302 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW MONTROSE 38.50N 107.90W
09/11/2019 M46 MPH MONTROSE CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KMTJ MONTROSE RGNL AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
406 PM MDT WED SEP 11 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0740 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NNW FRUITA 39.17N 108.73W
09/10/2019 MESA CO TRAINED SPOTTER
SMALL BRANCHES BLOWN DOWN IN FRUITA. DELAYED
REPORT.
&&
KJSSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
428 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
COZ003-007-009-010-013-112300-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Flat Tops CO-
Grand and Battlement Mesas CO-Debeque to Silt Corridor CO-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys CO-
428 PM MDT Wed Sep 11 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY
UNTIL 500 PM MDT...
At 428 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southwest of Rifle, or 30 miles west of Glenwood Springs,
moving northeast at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Rifle, New Castle and Silt.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 82 and 103.
Colorado 13 between mile markers 1 and 6.
LAT...LON 3936 10799 3954 10793 3969 10758 3956 10754
3943 10756
TIME...MOT...LOC 2228Z 244DEG 19KT 3944 10789
CharnickThe Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:52 UTC.
1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm produced large hail the size of quarters east of Silt.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, September 2019
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: 843938.