Conditions ran warmer than normal in the month of June, but enough moisture made it into eastern Utah and western Colorado to at least prevent a significant worsening of the drought. However, there was very little improvement in terms of the extent of Extreme (D3) Drought, with all the zones that began the month with Extreme (D3) Drought conditions also finishing the month with them.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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.
Conditions ran warmer than normal in the month of June, but enough moisture made it into eastern Utah and western Colorado to at least prevent a significant worsening of the drought. However, there was very little improvement in terms of the extent of Extreme (D3) Drought, with all the zones that began the month with Extreme (D3) Drought conditions also finishing the month with them.
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 31, 10:26 PM MST, 1 hour 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 1126 PM MDT Sat May 31 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Temperatures continue well above normal today and tomorrow, before cooling going into the work week. - Isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms continue on the terrain mostly along the Divide today and tomorrow, with some producing gusty winds and occasional lightning. - A surge of deep subtropical moisture is expected to arrive Monday producing widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms. Localized flash flooding is still a concern. && .SHORT TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... Issued at 121 PM MDT Sat May 31 2025 A ridge of high pressure currently extends from the Great Basin to the Northern Plains. This ridge is supporting well above normal temperatures with a several desert valleys hitting the 90s and mountain towns reaching the 80s. There is still sufficient mositure for showers and storms on the high terrain this afternoon. Like yesterday subsidence from the ridge looks to limit the coverage once again. Gusty outflow winds from virga and a stray lightning strike are the primary threats from these storms, which dissipate this evening. Tomorrow the ridge begins to break down as one shortwave moves down the West Coast and another wave lifts northeastward over the Desert Southwest. We will see an increase in southwest flow, perhaps a slight uptick in moisture and less subsidence. This should result in a minor increase in coverage of afternoon showers and storms. Although coverage stays isolated to scattered at best. Similar to today gusty winds will be the primary threat. Midlevel temperatures will still be warm in fact we may be a degree or two warmer than today. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Issued at 121 PM MDT Sat May 31 2025 A closed low passing to our south Monday morning will lift a frontal boundary into the CWA Monday. As discussed here recently, this low is bringing along a generous supply of extratropical moisture. PWATs in excess of 250 percent of climatology are expected for southeast Utah and southwest Colorado. Precipitation will lift across the CWA throughout the day Monday. A few outputs suggest 24 hour rainfall totals in excess of 1 inch. This remains a tricky forecast with timing and precipitation intensity. Given the excess of moisture and the potential for heavy rain, pretty much the entire CWA will remain in WPC's Marginal Risk status for excessive rainfall. The biggest threat to flash flooding will lie in convective initiation. A steady stratiform rain event Monday morning could squash afternoon instability pretty easily. However, this would come with its own uncertainty. For now, it would be best to assume a few convective showers/thunderstorms will bring local drainages, arroyos, slot canyons, etc. a risk of flooding. Some of the heaviest moisture will lift across the northern mountains Monday evening. Things will dry out west of the UT line by then too thanks to a weak bit of subsidence building back in overnight. Showers will likely hang on along the Continental Divide into Tuesday. Another upper level disturbance moves across the Southwest Tuesday. While this one packs less moisture, PWATS remain nearly 200 percent of normal around the Four Corners. Saturated soils could create some additional high water concerns Tuesday too. Models hold onto broad cyclonic flow across the west Wednesday and beyond. This should keep unsettled afternoon conditions alive next week. Recycled moisture will get a lift from orographics each afternoon, keeping showers and thunderstorms in the forecast each day. A digging upper trough will push flow more southwesterly by week's end and drive temperatures back upward. Temperatures, next week, will trend near to below normal with the cloud cover and frequent shower activity. Critical fire weather remains absent as well, thanks to the surging RH values and light winds. && .AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1110 PM MDT Sat May 31 2025 Expect VFR conditions across the region through the TAF period with light winds overnight becoming generally breeze southwest winds after 18Z. Look for isolated showers and thunderstorms developing on the terrain mostly along Colorado Divide from the I-70 corridor south. Included PROB30 in KEGE, KASE, KGUC, KMTJ, KTEX and KDRO through the afternoon. Gusty outflow winds from virga and a stray lightning strike are the primary threats from these storms. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...KJS LONG TERM...LTB AVIATION...DB
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 349 AM MDT Sat May 31 2025 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-011000- 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- 349 AM MDT Sat May 31 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Colorado, southwest Colorado, west central Colorado, east central Utah, northeast Utah and southeast Utah. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms will develop over the higher terrain today, mostly along the Divide. The primary threats from these storms will be lightning, and gusty outflow winds 40 to 50 mph. Showers quickly diminish early this evening with quiet conditions returning overnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms continue Sunday over the higher terrain along the Divide. Gusty winds, lightning, and small hail can be expected with these storms. Remnants of Tropical Storm Alvin moves up into the region Monday through midweek bringing widespread showers, scattered thunderstorms and a possible threat of localized flash flooding in areas prone to heavy runoff. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The month started with Extreme (D3) Drought conditions covering around half of the zone. Some minor improvement occurred around the 10th of the month, where the extent of Extreme (D3) Drought rescinded to cover only about a quarter of the zone.
Only a small portion of the far western end of the zone is analyzed as having Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. This area remained unchanged throughout the month of June.
Drought conditions remained unchanged through the month of June, with Extreme (D3) Drought conditions covering most of the zone.
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions only exist along the far western portions of this zone. However, that area of Extreme (D3) Drought remained largely unchanged throughout the month of June.
The majority of the zone has been analyzed as having Extreme (D3) Drought conditions, and this situation did not change appreciably during the month of June.
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions have only been analyzed along the far northwestern portion of the zone. However, that area remained largely unchanged during the month of June.
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions have only been analyzed along the far northwestern corner of the zone. However, these conditions remained largely unchanged during the month of June.
Extreme (D3) Drought has been analyzed as covering the middle half of the zone. This coverage remained largely unchanged through the month of June.
The sliver of Extreme (D3) Drought that has persisted along the very southern Divide in the San Juans has remained unchanged through the month of June.
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions has been analyzed across more than half of the zone, and this area remained largely unchanged through the month of June.
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions have been analyzed across the far northern portion of this zone. This area of Extreme (D3) Drought remained largely unchanged through the month of June.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, June 2025
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: 1270386, 1270388, 1270390, 1270392, 1270393, 1270397, 1270398, 1270399, 1270401, 1270402, 1270404.