Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak cold front and low pressure trough that tracked across northeast Utah and northwest Colorado. Given the dry air at the lower levels, thunderstorms were high based with gusty outflow winds being the primary threat from storms.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a weak cold front and low pressure trough that tracked across northeast Utah and northwest Colorado. Given the dry air at the lower levels, thunderstorms were high based with gusty outflow winds being the primary threat from storms. The stronger storms produced gusty winds in excess of 58 mph across Eagle County along Interstate 70. Eagle Street was closed for 40 minutes from 2nd St to Lost Lane in Gypsum due to a fallen tree likely due to the strong thunderstorm outflow winds.
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 25, 10:56 AM MST, 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1156 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 .KEY MESSAGES... - The potential for showers and storms increases today before dissipating later this evening. Gusty winds will be possible with these showers and storms. - Mountain snow is possible generally above 9 kft with the impacts to the roads occurring tonight. Highest chances for upwards of several inches of snow will be in the northern and central mountains. - Temperatures will run below normal through the weekend then increase next week. Precipitation chances remain low through mid week. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Issued at 137 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 A trough is approaching from the west and is due to track overhead this afternoon. Ahead of the system, moisture has resulted in high- based showers near the Wyoming state line. Rainfall is having trouble reaching the ground under these showers due to low-level dry air. This band of showers will lift north of the area later this morning, but still hold in place over the Uintas. Showers and storms are expected to develop ahead of the trough and weak cold front during peak heating over the high terrain. The trough enters northeast Utah in the early afternoon and is expected to progress southeastward through the evening. The main focus for lift appears to be along this front. The instability may support storms capable of producing small hail mainly north of I-70, which is where the highest cape is expected. Also, in general winds this afternoon increase across most locations. Any showers and storms that form today could produce 40-50 mph winds. By late evening the trough axis crosses the Divide and showers should begin to dissipate. Some residual moisture and westerly flow may keep orographic precip going into the night along the Divide. Snow levels will range 8-10 kft and it appears accumulation will be possible above these elevations. The highest QPF is across the northern third of the forecast area with the highest values in the Park Range. Several inches of snow is expected, but impacts on the roads should be minimal. The cold front that rolls through keeps high temperatures very similar to today with maybe a slight increase by a few degrees. This is due to a ridge that begins to build over the Great Basin allowing for warm advection. Models are trying to develop isolated showers over the northern mountains tomorrow afternoon. Not much is expected from these potential showers. Elsewhere should be partly cloudy to mostly sunny. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... Issued at 137 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 Ridging continues to build in over the region Sunday night and will begin a period of sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Despite the ridging, some instability will occur over the mountains along the Continental Divide each afternoon so a chance does exist for some convection there. These chances range from 20 to 40% so it's safer to say that there's a higher chance that convection won't form. Potato, Potaato. By Tuesday, the ridging will have shifted east as a wave moves over the CWA. With minimal moisture or dynamical support, any rain hitting the ground still looks iffy. Friday, models are suggesting the tail end of a cold front dropping down into northern portions of the CWA, bringing increasing chances for some rain and a few storms. This far out, confidence remains low but we'll keep an eye on how this will develop. One thing that will happen, and has been consistent in all model runs for the last few days, is increasing daytime highs. The warmup begins Monday and continues through Friday. Wednesday looks to be the warmest day as the northern valleys see temps reach the upper 70s/low 80s. The Grand Valley will likely hit 90F while Moab and the rest of SE Utah hits the mid 90s. You folks down in Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs will see temps in the mid to high 80s. Along with the higher temps, the usual afternoon breezes of 20 to 25 mph will be common as well. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/... Issued at 1156 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 Expect scattered showers this afternoon into the early evening with coverage expanding into lower valleys later in the day. VCTS is possible at most terminals with brief MVFR conditions. Winds will increase aloft leading to areas of LLWS and mountain wave turbulence. Winds will remain breezy this afternoon with gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range, potential above 40 mph near or in any shower/storm activity. Showers should dissipate late this evening, with clearing skies overnight into Sunday morning. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...KJS LONG TERM...TGR AVIATION...MDA
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 229 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-261430- 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- 229 AM MDT Sat May 25 2024 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight The potential for showers and storms increases today before dissipating later this evening. Gusty winds will be possible with these showers and storms. Mountain snow is possible generally above 9 kft with the impacts to the roads occurring tonight. Highest chances for upwards of several inches of snow will be in the northern and central mountains. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Temperatures will run below normal through the weekend then increase next week. Precipitation chances remain low through mid week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
1212 PM MDT Sat May 25 2024
COZ002-003-013-251845-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Flat Tops CO-
Central Yampa River Basin CO-
1212 PM MDT Sat May 25 2024
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL GARFIELD AND EAST
CENTRAL RIO BLANCO COUNTIES THROUGH 1245 PM MDT...
At 1212 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles south of Meeker, or 34 miles northwest of Glenwood Springs,
moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Buford.
This includes Colorado 13 between mile markers 27 and 34.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
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 3974 10791 3995 10800 4009 10758 3975 10740
TIME...MOT...LOC 1812Z 256DEG 30KT 3985 10785
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH
MDAThe Grand Junction radar (KGJX), 127 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:39 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A peak wind gust of 68 MPH was measured by the automated weather station at the Eagle County Regional Airport. A tree was knocked down in Gypsum around the same time that these thunderstorm wind gusts occurred.
A peak wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by the automated weather station at Dowd Junction, 1 mile north of Dowd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2024
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: 1180583, 1180589.