A lightning strike most likely ignited a wildfire near Moonwater and Hill Creeks in northeast Utah.
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The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
A lightning strike most likely ignited a wildfire near Moonwater and Hill Creeks in northeast Utah.
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 Aug 10, 4:24 AM MST, 3 hours 51 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 524 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Wednesday night) Issued at 145 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 Midlevel cloud cover as well as a few light returns on radar have prevailed overnight in response to the departing midlevel trough trekking into the Northern Plains. Smoke has once again settled across the region with visibility restrictions of 5 to 6 statute miles being reported by automated sensors, particularly north and along I-70. The gradient aloft will decrease this afternoon as the aforementioned trough exits to the northeast, though locally breezy conditions will redevelop with gusts of 25 to 30 mph possible. Similar to yesterday, areas of localized red flag criteria can be expected as humidities will drop into the single digits to low teens. However, coverage is not widespread enough to warrant any highlights. CAM guidance continues to hint at the development of isolated convection over the higher terrain this afternoon but little to no precipitation is expected with gusty outflow winds being the primary threat given the dry low levels. Temperatures will run slightly cooler up north in the wake of yesterday's shortwave with persistent smoke continuing to moderate readings elsewhere. Unfortunately, the latest HRRR smoke model does not show any improvement in air quality for our region. Please continue to follow the health recommendations in the ongoing Air Quality Alerts for your area. Wednesday will see high pressure begin to rebuild over the Great Basin, allowing temperatures to slowly climb across the area. As discussed previously, monsoon moisture will slowly work its way northward into the long term period with PWATs gradually approaching 0.40 to 0.50 inches by Wednesday afternoon near the Four Corners. As a result, expect isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms, focused along the higher terrain of the San Juan Mountains. Since the atmosphere has not been primed for an extended period of time, gusty outflow winds will remain the primary concern with any convection. Given the lack of dynamic support, the potential for nocturnal shower and thunderstorm activity is low for Wednesday night. .LONG TERM...(Thursday through Monday) Issued at 145 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 PWATs will continue their gradual trend upwards both Thursday and Friday with values exceeding half an inch over the Four Corners region by week's end. However, with the high's center settled just to our west, the best push of monsoon moisture will once again be focused over the San Juans. Regardless, diurnally driven convection can be expected each day with the column gradually becoming more saturated...therefore increasing the potential for moderate rain in addition to gusty winds with storms. The better potential for more direct monsoonal moisture appears to be late this weekend into early next week as a low pressure trough pushes into the Pacific Northwest and helps drive the high pressure ridge east of the Rockies, opening the door to southwest flow with PWAT values rising towards an inch or a bit higher. If this solution pans out, this should finally be enough forcing to help push the trapped smoke from the California wildfires out of here this weekend, helped by the change in upper level winds to southerly versus westerly or nearly stationary under the high. Still a ways out, so will be keeping an eye on the latest model trends to see if this comes to fruition or not, but it does look promising. As far as temperatures go, after the above normal readings to end the week, values will cool to near to slightly below normal towards the end of the long term period given potential increase in moisture and resultant clouds and storms. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Wednesday morning) Issued at 525 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 Smoke remains a concern for TAF sites across eastern Utah and western Colorado through the next 24 hours with periods of visibility restriction to MVFR. Otherwise, VFR will prevail through the period with dry weather expected, though an isolated shower or two is possible over the San Juans this afternoon. Breezy conditions will redevelop after 18Z with gusts to 25 kts possible. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...MMS LONG TERM...MMS/MDA AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 153 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-111300- 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- 153 AM MDT Tue Aug 10 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Poor air quality and reduced visibility due to smoke from wildfires in northern California and the Pacific Northwest continue. Localized areas of critical fire weather conditions will be possible this afternoon, generally up north. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Wildfire smoke will continue to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility at times through at least the end of the week. Precipitation chances remain low, however increasing moisture late in the week and beyond will likely lead to the development of more widespread showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the higher elevations. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.
The East Desolation Fire most likely started due to lightning in mid August near Moonwater and Hill Creeks on tribal land in northeast Utah. The fire grew to 211 acres before being contained a couple of weeks later.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, August 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: 970672.