A narrow line of showers lifted across the western portion of Mesa County late on the night of the 22nd and produced strong winds. These strong winds led to tree damage near Highline Lake State Park.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
A narrow line of showers lifted across the western portion of Mesa County late on the night of the 22nd and produced strong winds. These strong winds led to tree damage near Highline Lake State Park.
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 May 22, 4:45 PM MST, 4 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 545 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 325 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021 Even with slightly lower precipitable water values across the region this afternoon, shower and thunderstorm activity has been as prolific as yesterday. As a result of increased clouds and convection, humidities have remained above critical thresholds. Therefore, the Red Flag Warnings for southeast Utah were cancelled with this afternoon's package. Rain rates have generally been light with showers, though locally higher amounts have been estimated by radar on the stronger storms. Additionally, quick storm tracks have minimized the threat for any burn scar flooding with cells moving at speeds between 30 and 40 mph. Gusty outflow winds exceeding 45 mph have been occurring as well. Even without showers, breezy conditions have prevailed across the region thanks to the presence of a 90 to 100 knot jetstreak aloft. Therefore, the ongoing Wind Advisories will continue through this evening as planned. Warm road temperatures have minimized the threat for accumulating snow at the highest peaks of the San Juan Mountains this afternoon, and this trend is expected to continue into the overnight hours as shower coverage gradually diminishes down south. This downward trend of shower activity will occur from southwest to northeast as a dry slot settles over the region as the broad area of low pressure lifts northward. As this system continues its track to the northeast, the jet and aforementioned dry slot will spread across the Western Slope on Sunday. This will result in mostly dry and breezy conditions. An exception to the dry weather will be across the eastern Uintas and portions of northwest Colorado where isolated convection is expected. As the previous forecaster mentioned, critical fire weather conditions look to spread across a good portion of the lower elevations during the afternoon hours. However, conditions remain borderline and confidence in fuels status continues to decrease as a result of both yesterday's and today's precipitation. Therefore, have followed suit and opted to not issue any fire highlights at this time. Overnight lows will trend near to slightly below normal for the northern tier of the forecast area tonight, with more noticeable cooling projected across southeast Utah and southwest Colorado. High temperatures on Sunday will run 7 to 14 degrees cooler in the wake of the low with another round of below normal readings expected Sunday night. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 325 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021 This weekend's slow moving low finally lifts into Canada by Monday morning, relaxing the pressure gradient overhead. Temperatures will rebound on Monday, but hover near climo normals. The next Pacific Northwest trough starts to dig into the western CONUS by Tuesday, which will slowly turn upper level winds back to the southwest as the low progresses inland. As a result, expect temperatures to gradually rise each day next week, thanks to mild warm air advection. Cluster analyses indicate a more northerly track with this system, which will limit moisture from reaching much of the CWA. The low is expected to track across the Northern Rockies midweek, with a bulk of the precipitation falling over Montana and into the Northern Plains. The Uintas in northeast Utah and the Park/Elkheads in northwest Colorado have the best chance of receiving any precip from this clipper Wednesday evening. Elsewhere, expect dry weather with an uptick in winds with the passing system. Then, zonal flow and warming temps return for the entire region as we round out the work week. Unless the mid week trough takes a deeper track, the long term forecast is looking warm and dry. As a result, current trend returns the concern for widespread critical fire weather conditions across the Western Slope by mid week. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening) Issued at 545 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021 Showers and thunderstorms will continue to sweep northward at 25 to 30 kts this evening producing strong outflow winds to 45 kts. ILS breakpoints will continue to be met in showers. Strong south to southwest winds will impact all TAF sites through the evening. Expect sustained winds between 15 and 20 kts and gusts to 40 knots. Winds decrease late tonight, but aren't likely to completely diminish. Showers will taper off from southwest to northeast overnight with isolated activity likely over the Eastern Uintas and portions of northwest Colorado on Sunday. Otherwise, dry and breezy weather is expected. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...Wind Advisory until 11 PM MDT this evening for COZ021. UT...Wind Advisory until 11 PM MDT this evening for UTZ022-029. && SHORT TERM...MMS LONG TERM...ERW AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 530 AM MDT Sat May 22 2021 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-231130- 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- 530 AM MDT Sat May 22 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Gusty winds upwards of 40 mph will be common today. Critical fire weather conditions are expected across southeast Utah. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Critical fire weather conditions are possible tomorrow. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
502 PM MDT SAT MAY 22 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0500 PM HAIL 1 W GRAND JUNCTION 39.09N 108.58W
05/22/2021 M0.25 INCH MESA CO NWS EMPLOYEE
SOME SLIGHTLY LARGER STONES.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
529 PM MDT SAT MAY 22 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0457 PM HAIL 3 WNW GRAND JUNCTION 39.11N 108.59W
05/22/2021 E0.25 INCH MESA CO PUBLIC
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
609 PM MDT SAT MAY 22 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0544 PM TSTM WND GST 2 E RIFLE 39.53N 107.73W
05/22/2021 M58 MPH GARFIELD CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KRIL GARFIELD COUNTY RGNL AP.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
630 PM MDT SAT MAY 22 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0625 PM HEAVY RAIN SILVERTON 37.81N 107.66W
05/22/2021 M1.41 INCH SAN JUAN CO CO-OP OBSERVER
WITH 1.1 INCHES OF SNOW.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
636 PM MDT SAT MAY 22 2021
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0455 PM HAIL GRAND JUNCTION 39.09N 108.55W
05/22/2021 M0.25 INCH MESA CO PUBLIC
&&Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
909 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021
COZ019-023-230345-
Southwest San Juan Mountains CO-San Juan River Basin CO-
909 PM MDT Sat May 22 2021
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL ARCHULETA COUNTY UNTIL
945 PM MDT...
At 908 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a thunderstorm near Dulce,
moving northeast at 45 mph.
Wind gusts 45 to 55 mph will be possible with this fast moving
storm storm.
Locations impacted include...
Pagosa Springs and Chromo.
This includes the following highways...
U.S. Highway 84 in Colorado between mile markers 2 and 27.
U.S. Highway 160 in Colorado between mile markers 144 and 154.
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 3700 10713 3739 10695 3740 10671 3741 10668
3726 10668 3699 10680
TIME...MOT...LOC 0308Z 203DEG 43KT 3699 10701
15The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Strong winds estimated to be in the 45 to 50 mph range downed numerous tree limbs about a foot in diameter near Highline Lake State Park. The limbs fell on the house as well as the transformer, resulting in damage to the walls and interior.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2021
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: 950553.