The second in a series of shortwave troughs lifted out of a broad trough anchored over the Pacific Northwest. The shortwave and associated surface cold front tracked over the Northern Rockies and caused the pressure gradient to tighten aloft.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
The second in a series of shortwave troughs lifted out of a broad trough anchored over the Pacific Northwest. The shortwave and associated surface cold front tracked over the Northern Rockies and caused the pressure gradient to tighten aloft. Gusty winds accompanied the system with widespread winds of 45 mph reported. There were several gusts of greater than 58 mph in the valleys and greater than 75 mph in the mountains which met high wind criteria across portions of western Colorado.
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 8, 5:22 PM MST, 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
622 PM MDT Sun May 8 2022
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Monday night)
Issued at 248 PM MDT Sun May 8 2022
Winds aloft continue to strengthen as another shortwave rolls
through the broad PacNW low. GJT's 12 sounding and BUFKIT analyses
suggest a deep boundary layer, mixing up to nearly 500mb which,
based on current Mesoscale Analysis, has winds ranging from 40 to
65 kts across the zone. Deep mixing is evident with frequent
surface observations pinging in from all corners of the CWA with
gusts of 40 to 55 mph over valleys and over 70 mph recorded atop
mountain sensors. As the evening progresses, the gradient aloft
tightens and drags another cold front across the region. Showers
and thunderstorms will favor northern terrain once again, with
outflow boundaries locally enhancing gusts. Snow levels do drop in
the wake of the cold front, though accumulation will light and
generally above 8000 feet. A 700 mb jet preceding the front is
projected to intensify late this evening, which could result in
some of the strongest gusts recorded thus far. Still anticipate
the surface to decouple, and reduce winds at valley floors
overnight; however, the 700 mb jet will remain stretched from the
Four Corners area up toward southeast Wyoming with winds ranging
from 45 to 60 kts. Thus, mountainous terrain poking through or
just below this pressure level won't see much relief tonight, and
will likely see strongest gusts between midnight and 600 AM MDT.
Tonight's cold front and low-level jet will shift east of the
Divide by Monday morning. However, despite this system's
departure, the next low diving south along the California coast
will tip winds aloft back from the southwest. The jet overhead
does lift north throughout the day, though, not quickly enough to
allow winds to subside at the surface. And thus, the breezy
pattern continues. Diurnal mixing brings enhanced upper level
winds down to valley floors by late morning, meanwhile, mountain
zones may not see any break from wind at all. Temperatures will
moderate on Monday due to the cold front passage. Northern zones
observe the larger temperature gradient between today and Monday's
high, while southern CO and UT may only fluctuate by a few
degrees.
.LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday)
Issued at 333 PM MDT Sun May 8 2022
The latest medium range models were in very good agreement for the
remainder of the week. All were consistent in depicting a strong,
more southerly flow Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of what feels like
a quasi-permanent mid-level longwave trough over the West. Very
little moisture entrained in this flow, while warm air advection
drives temperatures back to around 10 degrees above normal by
Wednesday afternoon. It's likely that this pattern will continue
to generate critical fire weather conditions once again Tuesday
and therefore a Fire Weather Watch has been hoisted with this
package. The potential for similar conditions exists Wednesday as
well.
The pattern finally shifts Wednesday night as the trough over the
West moves from the western Great Basin, then lifts northeast
across the forecast area Thursday. Expect wind to persist at least
through Wednesday morning before decreasing later in the day as
the negative tilt trough lifts north of the forecast area.
Moisture appears limited with this system so except for scattered
showers across the north, dry weather will continue for much of
the area. Isolated showers linger along the northern Continental
Divide Thursday night into Friday morning in the zonal flow in the
wake of the trough. Temperatures cool to a few degrees below
normal levels on Thursday with the passage of a cold front
associated with this system, then recover to near normal Friday.
Flow shifts to the northwest this weekend as a ridge of high
pressure develops over the West Coast. Except for some low
probability showers over the northern Colorado mountains Saturday,
models suggest dry and less windy conditions this weekend.
Temperatures will continue to moderate rising to about 5 degrees
above normal on average by Sunday afternoon.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Monday evening)
Issued at 549 PM MDT Sun May 8 2022
Unusually strong and gusty southwest winds continue across the
region this evening and will remain strong overnight with gusts
35 to 50 kts possible. Areas of blowing dust in southwestern
Colorado and southeastern Utah will see reduced visibility this
evening. Expect Low-Level Wind Sheer and turbulence in the
mountain areas overnight. Winds will decrease in the early morning
hours, but will remain gusty through the day Monday. High-based
rain showers across the northern areas will continue overnight
with light rain, gusty winds and possible isolated thunderstorms.
Showers will generally move north out of the area by 12Z.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 248 PM MDT Sun May 8 2022
Another cold front will drag across northern zones tonight,
increasing the spread of showers and thunderstorms. Snow levels
plummet across northern ranges tonight, though little accumulation
is expected below 8000 ft. Storms that develop along or south of
the I-70 corridor will only enhance surface winds due to outflow
boundaries, providing minimal (or zero) precip to the ground. The
southern half of the region will not see much in terms of
moisture, though, strong winds aloft will continue to gust through
sunset. A low level jet intensifies directly overhead this
evening and tonight, resulting in strong southwest winds to
persist over all mountain zones (with the exception of UT Fire
Zones 485 and 486). Any valleys that see relief from winds
overnight will ramp back up late Monday morning, resulting in
another critical fire weather day. Flow turns from the southwest
ahead of the next approaching system, which only invigorates
warm, dry and windy conditions through the beginning of the week.
Critical conditions are projected to last for several days, with
a Fire Weather Watch now in effect for Tuesday afternoon.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...Wind Advisory until 9 AM MDT Monday for COZ003-004-009-010-012-
013-017>019.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM MDT this evening for COZ006>008-011-
020>023.
Red Flag Warning until 10 PM MDT this evening for COZ207-290-292-
294-295.
Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 10 PM MDT Monday for COZ207-290-
292-294-295.
Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening
for COZ207-290-292-294-295.
UT...Wind Advisory until 9 AM MDT Monday for UTZ025-028.
Wind Advisory until 10 PM MDT this evening for UTZ022-027-029.
&&
SHORT TERM...ERW
LONG TERM...NL
AVIATION...TGJT
FIRE WEATHER...ERWHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 453 AM MDT Sun May 8 2022 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-091100- 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- 453 AM MDT Sun May 8 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph will be common across most of the area today. Critical fire weather conditions are expected in portions of southwest Colorado today. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph will be common across most of the area Monday. Gusty winds are forecasted to continue Tuesday and beyond. Critical fire weather conditions are expected Monday and will likely remain in place through at least Thursday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
308 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0253 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW OXFORD 37.15N 107.77W
05/08/2022 M45 MPH LA PLATA CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KDRO DURANGO LA PLATA CNTY
AIRPORT.
&&
NLPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
327 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0257 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 S SAWPIT 37.93N 108.01W
05/08/2022 M77 MPH SAN MIGUEL CO MESONET
MESONET STATION GW1216 SAWPIT.
0249 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 W DOUGLAS PASS 39.60N 108.82W
05/08/2022 M67 MPH GARFIELD CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CO098 139S034 DOUGLAS PASS.
0248 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NNE POWDERHORN 38.33N 107.09W
05/08/2022 M66 MPH GUNNISON CO MESONET
MESONET STATION HMEC2 HUNTSMN MESA, POWDRHRN
3N.
0230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E MONTICELLO 37.87N 109.31W
05/08/2022 M52 MPH SAN JUAN UT MESONET
MESONET STATION UTMPO US-491 AT MP 2
MONTICELLO POE.
0300 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW VERDURE 37.76N 109.40W
05/08/2022 M52 MPH SAN JUAN UT MESONET
MESONET STATION UTMCO 3.1 SW VERDURE (UTAH
DOT).
0230 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW NORWOOD 38.16N 108.34W
05/08/2022 M49 MPH MONTROSE CO MESONET
MESONET STATION FW7875 NORWOOD.
0229 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW DOVE CREEK 37.81N 109.02W
05/08/2022 M49 MPH DOLORES CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CO133 491S068 DOVE CREEK.
0235 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E BLANDING MUNI ARPT 37.58N 109.47W
05/08/2022 M47 MPH SAN JUAN UT AWOS
AWOS STATION KBDG BLANDING.
0255 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N DELTA 38.78N 108.07W
05/08/2022 M47 MPH DELTA CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KAJZ BLAKE FIELD AIRPORT,
DELTA.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
438 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0353 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW MONTROSE 38.50N 107.90W
05/08/2022 M54 MPH MONTROSE CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KMTJ MONTROSE RGNL AIRPORT.
0355 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 E BLANDING MUNI ARPT 37.58N 109.47W
05/08/2022 M54 MPH SAN JUAN UT AWOS
AWOS STATION KBDG BLANDING.
0410 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E MONTICELLO 37.87N 109.31W
05/08/2022 M53 MPH SAN JUAN UT MESONET
MESONET STATION UTMPO US-491 AT MP 2
MONTICELLO POE.
0341 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 WNW DOVE CREEK 37.81N 109.02W
05/08/2022 M51 MPH DOLORES CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CO133 491S068 DOVE CREEK.
0347 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SW CORTEZ 37.30N 108.63W
05/08/2022 M51 MPH MONTEZUMA CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KCEZ CORTEZ MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
0415 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N DELTA 38.78N 108.07W
05/08/2022 M46 MPH DELTA CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KAJZ BLAKE FIELD AIRPORT,
DELTA.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
441 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0333 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW OXFORD 37.15N 107.77W
05/08/2022 M53 MPH LA PLATA CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KDRO DURANGO LA PLATA CNTY
AIRPORT.
0318 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ESE GYPSUM 39.63N 106.92W
05/08/2022 M49 MPH EAGLE CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KEGE EAGLE COUNTY RGNL AIRPORT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
605 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0417 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW MONTROSE 38.50N 107.90W
05/08/2022 M55 MPH MONTROSE CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KMTJ MONTROSE RGNL AIRPORT.
0435 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 W TELLURIDE 37.95N 107.90W
05/08/2022 M53 MPH SAN MIGUEL CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KTEX TELLURIDE REGIONAL ARPT.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
609 PM MDT SUN MAY 8 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0512 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 W DOUGLAS PASS 39.60N 108.82W
05/08/2022 M78 MPH GARFIELD CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CO098 139S034 DOUGLAS PASS.
0503 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 ESE GYPSUM 39.63N 106.92W
05/08/2022 M61 MPH EAGLE CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KEGE EAGLE COUNTY RGNL AIRPORT.
0510 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 16 NW MOAB 38.75N 109.75W
05/08/2022 M54 MPH GRAND UT ASOS
ASOS STATION KCNY 16 NW MOAB.
0546 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW FRUITVALE 39.12N 108.52W
05/08/2022 M54 MPH MESA CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KGJT GRAND JUNCTION RGNL AP.
0534 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 NNW CAMEO 39.24N 108.38W
05/08/2022 M53 MPH MESA CO MESONET
MESONET STATION PNRC2 PINE RIDGE, CAMEO 6NW.
0535 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N DELTA 38.78N 108.07W
05/08/2022 M52 MPH DELTA CO AWOS
AWOS STATION KAJZ BLAKE FIELD AIRPORT,
DELTA.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A peak wind gust of 75 MPH was measured by an automated weather station.
A peak wind gust of 63 MPH was measured by the automated weather station at the Rifle Garfield County Airport.
A peak wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by the Hangman Tunnel RAWS automated weather station.
A peak wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by the Jay RAWS automated weather station.
A peak wind gust of 91 MPH was measured by the automated weather station at Crested Butte Mountain.
A peak wind gust of 81MPH was measured by the Crown RAWS automated weather station.
A peak wind gust of 83 MPH was measured by the automated weather station at Putney.
A peak wind gust of 76 MPH was measured by the Storm King RAWS automated weather station.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2022
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: 1014899, 1014906, 1014907, 1014897, 1014901, 1014900, 1014905, 1014903.