A lightning strike ignited a wildfire about 22 miles northwest of Blanding in the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
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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 22 miles northwest of Blanding in the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
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 Jul 26, 10:31 AM MST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1131 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Saturday) Issued at 350 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 Monsoonal moisture wrapped around the west/northwest periphery of the high pressure system, currently centered over western New Mexico, has supported a few lingering showers across southeast Utah and southwest Colorado this morning. These showers will taper off shortly after sunrise, before the next round of precipitation builds this afternoon. A trough off the PacNW coast will start to squish the ridge of high pressure to our south, forcing the center of the circulation to the south and west. A southwesterly track of the high will transition our CWA from southwest to westerly flow aloft, steering any storm that develops this afternoon on a northeasterly to easterly track. Showers and thunderstorms will develop around noon over higher terrain, before moving over valleys later in the evening. High PWAT values and slow moving storms are likely again this afternoon, keeping the threat of localized flash flooding until diminishing after sunset. The shortwave responsible for pushing the high to our SW will cross the CWA on Saturday. Moisture ahead of the shortwave will keep chances for afternoon showers and thunderstorms high, with dry air filtering in behind. Expect stronger northwest winds Saturday, as the pressure gradient tightens. Increased sheer aloft may allow for stronger storms to develop, mainly north of I-70. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 350 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 Upper level trough/shrtwv will be exiting the forecast area Saturday night with ridging rebuilding across the western Great Basin. This will bring drier, northwest flow across eastern Utah and western Colorado as we close out the weekend. Would expect any Saturday evening convection to be dissipating by midnight with dry and cooler weather for Sunday morning. The center of a somewhat broad and flat ridge will set-up west of the Four Corners on Monday with generally dry conditions anticipated through Tuesday. The exception may be an isolated storm or two across the San Juans. The ridge slides east Tuesday night and Wednesday, which opens the door once again for another push of monsoonal moisture from the south. Precipitable water values are forecast to rapidly improve from south to north rising from around 0.5" on Tuesday to near 1.3" by Wednesday afternoon. Another shortwave is also advertised by the GFS to cross eastern Utah and western Colorado sometime Wednesday. This will be enough to get at least high chance pops back into the forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. The GFS continues to pump moisture northward right on into the weekend. With most monsoonal plumes, will see focus of convection over the higher elevations during peak heating with nighttime convection favoring the valleys. Those detail will be worked out as the we move deeper into the event. Temperatures will be running near seasonal norms for much of the extended period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1127 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms will occur over the next 24 hours, with the peak period for shower and thunderstorms expected between 18Z this afternoon and 06Z this evening. Gusty outflow winds to 45kts, small hail and very heavy rainfall will accompany the strongest storms. CIGS may reach ILS breakpoints with VSBYS dipping to between 3-5 NM in heavy rainfall associated with the stronger storms. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through the period. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...ERW LONG TERM...JDC AVIATION...JVC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 425 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-271200- 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- 425 AM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected over the high country with the southern ranges favored. Lightning, heavy rain and gusty outflow winds up to 40 MPH are the main threats through late this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Thunderstorm coverage will peak on Saturday, before drier conditions move in Sunday through Tuesday. Heavy rainfall rates will remain a significant threat through Saturday. Thereafter, there will be a decreasing trend in thunderstorm activity from Sunday into early next week. Monsoonal moisture will surge back over eastern Utah and western Colorado by Wednesday, with showers and thunderstorms returning to much of the region. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected today or tonight, however spotters are encouraged to relay rainfall amounts or any observed flooding to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 203 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 COZ008-010-013-262030- Central Colorado River Basin CO-Flat Tops CO- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys CO- 203 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL GARFIELD COUNTY UNTIL 230 PM MDT... At 202 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking mutliple thunderstorms near Glenwood Springs, moving east at 5 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. In addition, significant hail accumulation on roadways is likely. Locations impacted include... Glenwood Springs and Shoshone. This includes the following highways... Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 109 and 131. Colorado 82 between mile markers 1 and 3. 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. 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 3950 10744 3963 10748 3974 10712 3953 10706 TIME...MOT...LOC 2002Z 253DEG 6KT 3958 10723 Stearns
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 214 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 COZ001>003-262045- Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Lower Yampa River Basin CO- Central Yampa River Basin CO- 214 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN RIO BLANCO COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM MDT... At 214 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles southeast of Rangely, or 58 miles southeast of Vernal, moving east at 5 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Rio Blanco County. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 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 3992 10866 4003 10869 4011 10844 3995 10837 TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 253DEG 6KT 4000 10860 Stearns
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
226 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019
COZ008-010-262100-
Central Colorado River Basin CO-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys CO-
226 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN EAGLE COUNTY UNTIL
300 PM MDT...
At 226 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Avon, or 45 miles east of Glenwood Springs, moving
east at 15 mph.
Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northeastern Eagle
County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
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 3970 10656 3980 10660 3986 10643 3981 10640
3980 10640 3979 10639 3977 10639 3975 10637
3976 10634 3974 10633 3972 10630
TIME...MOT...LOC 2026Z 255DEG 12KT 3975 10652
StearnsSpecial Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 245 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 COZ002-003-262115- Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Central Yampa River Basin CO- 245 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL RIO BLANCO COUNTY UNTIL 315 PM MDT... At 245 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 19 miles northwest of Parachute, or 46 miles northeast of Grand Junction, moving east at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of south central Rio Blanco County. 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. 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 3965 10826 3975 10829 3983 10806 3966 10798 TIME...MOT...LOC 2045Z 256DEG 8KT 3970 10822 Stearns
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 246 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 COZ019>021-UTZ028-262130- Southwest San Juan Mountains CO- Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River CO- Four Corners/Upper Dolores River CO-La Sal and Abajo Mountains UT- 246 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN DOLORES COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM MDT... At 246 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Dove Creek, or 23 miles east of Monticello, moving east at 10 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Dove Creek. This includes the following highways... U.S. Highway 491 in Colorado between mile markers 52 and 68. Colorado 141 between mile markers 1 and 4. 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 3763 10897 3779 10906 3794 10874 3769 10862 TIME...MOT...LOC 2046Z 248DEG 9KT 3774 10893 JVC
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 253 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 UTZ024-025-262130- Eastern Uinta Basin UT-Tavaputs Plateau UT- 253 PM MDT Fri Jul 26 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN UINTAH COUNTY UNTIL 330 PM MDT... At 252 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 40 miles southeast of Fort Duchesne, moving northeast at 15 mph. Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southeastern Uintah County. 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 3967 10958 3976 10963 3995 10936 3973 10923 TIME...MOT...LOC 2052Z 245DEG 12KT 3976 10952 Stearns
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The Poison Canyon Fire began at the end of July due to lightning about 22 miles northwest of Blanding and grew to 1,520 acres before it was contained in mid August.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, July 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: 843543.