Temperatures were above normal and precipitation was below normal across much of Colorado during the month of July. As a result, drought conditions in southwest and west-central Colorado either persisted or worsened.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
Temperatures were above normal and precipitation was below normal across much of Colorado during the month of July. As a result, drought conditions in southwest and west-central Colorado either persisted or worsened.
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 Jun 30, 9:56 PM MST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1056 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Wednesday night) Issued at 236 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2360 After a cold start this morning, partly to mostly sunny skies and seasonably cool conditions dominate the weather today. The complex trough centered over northwestern Montana continues to rotate and will move slowly north during the short-term period. A weak wave will rotate around the low and affect northern portions of the forecast area later this afternoon and early evening with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. With good mixing and low relative humidity values, critical fire weather concerns continue across the southern valley of western Colorado today. Overnight, seasonably cold temperatures are expected across the region. Drier and warmer air will move across the forecast area on Wednesday with afternoon high temperatures expected to be near normal. Some gusty winds will develop as afternoon mixing occurs, especially across the north, which will lead to critical fire weather concerns for northwest Colorado, as detailed in the Fire Weather discussion. Clear skies and seasonable temperatures are expected Wednesday night. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Tuesday) Issued at 236 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2360 The upper level closed low over the Pacific Northwest will retreat into Canada allowing a broad 500 mb ridge of high pressure to spread westward across the forecast area Friday. The ridge will remain in place for the remainder of the extended period and will be the dominant feature affecting the area. This will lead to temperatures at or slightly above normal and weaker winds than we have seen in the last few days. With the weaker winds, critical fire weather conditions are not likely, however dry fuels and low humidity will persist. Models suggest positioning of the ridge will allow a plume of moisture to make its way northward into the area late this week, over the weekend and into early next week. Timing of the onset is somewhat uncertain, however shower coverage will become increasingly widespread from Friday into Sunday, though the focus will be mainly on the higher terrain along the Continental Divide. Given the unsettled nature of the weather for the 4th of July weekend, be sure to monitor the forecast in the days leading up to the holiday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night) Issued at 1052 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2020 Another round of gusty afternoon winds are forecast for northwest Colorado including KHDN. There is only low probability of these gusts elsewhere but not zero. Otherwise VFR conditions will hold over the next 24 hours. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 236 PM MDT Tue Jun 30 2360 Critical fire weather conditions diminish tonight as temperatures and winds fall off. However, the trough will persist over the northwest so gusty winds will redevelop Wednesday, especially across the north. As temperatures recover, critical fire weather conditions are expected to impact northwest Colorado Wednesday afternoon and possibly Thursday as well. Showers and thunderstorms return to the mountains, mainly along the Continental Divide from Friday through Monday while winds finally weaken. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM MDT Wednesday for COZ200-202. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...MPM LONG TERM...NL/BGB AVIATION...TGJT FIRE WEATHER...NL
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 416 AM MDT Tue Jun 30 2020 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- 416 AM MDT Tue Jun 30 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few showers and thunderstorms are possible for the northern valleys this afternoon and evening as a weak disturbance just clips that area. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The next chance for significant precipitation looks to be Friday and into the weekend as moisture starts moving in from the south. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the entirety of the forecast zone through the end of July.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the eastern and central portions of the zone and expanded to include much of the western portion of the zone by mid July. However, monsoonal moisture arrived at the end of the month which allowed the extreme conditions to improve to the severe (D2) category across the western portion of the zone.
Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted across the western half of the zone through the end of July.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the entirety of the forecast zone through the end of July.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the eastern portion of the zone through mid July. However, monsoonal moisture arrived at the end of the month which allowed the extreme conditions to improve to the severe (D2) category across all but the far southeast portion of the zone.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the majority of the forecast zone through the end of July.
The extreme (D3) drought continued across the eastern portion of the zone through the end of July. By mid month, the extreme category expanded further westward to include the central portion of the zone.
The extreme (D3) drought continued across the far southern portion of the zone through the end of July. By mid month, the extreme category expanded further northward to include the majority of the zone.
The extreme (D3) drought continued across the far eastern portion of the zone through mid July. By mid month, the extreme category expanded westward to include the central portion of the zone.
The extreme (D3) drought persisted across the far western portion of the zone through the end of July.
Severe (D2) drought conditions worsened to the extreme (D3) category in mid July across the far eastern portion of the zone.
Severe (D2) drought conditions worsened to the extreme (D3) category in mid July across the far southern portion of the zone.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, July 2020
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: 899790, 899793, 899794, 899795, 899796, 899797, 899800, 899801, 899802, 899804, 899805, 899806.