Utah, 2026

Winter Weather in Utah, May 17 to 18, 2026

May 17 to 18, 2026 · NWS GJT · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A low pressure system and potent cold front moved through eastern Utah before lifting northeast across northwest Colorado, bringing widespread valley rain and mountain snow. Light to moderate snow accumulations favored the Eastern Uinta Mountains and La Sal Mountains in eastern Utah as well as the Park Range Mountains in northwest Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.

A low pressure system and potent cold front moved through eastern Utah before lifting northeast across northwest Colorado, bringing widespread valley rain and mountain snow. Light to moderate snow accumulations favored the Eastern Uinta Mountains and La Sal Mountains in eastern Utah as well as the Park Range Mountains in northwest Colorado. Winds were strongest in eastern Utah with gusts above 45 mph.

What forecasters said that day

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 17, 4:37 PM MST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Showers and thunderstorms are expected today, with isolated severe storms possible through the evening.
  • Mountain snow returns tonight through tomorrow morning. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the eastern Uinta, Elkhead, and Park Mountains.
  • Freezing temperatures are expected to impact portions of the region Monday night into Tuesday and again Tuesday night into Wednesday. A Freeze Watch has been issued for the Central and Lower Yampa River Basin for Monday night.
Area forecast discussion, May 17, 4:37 PM MST, 1 hour 23 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
537 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers and thunderstorms are expected today, with isolated
  severe storms possible through the evening.

- Mountain snow returns tonight through tomorrow morning. A
  Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the eastern Uinta,
  Elkhead, and Park Mountains.

- Freezing temperatures are expected to impact portions of the
  region Monday night into Tuesday and again Tuesday night into
  Wednesday. A Freeze Watch has been issued for the Central and
  Lower Yampa River Basin for Monday night.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1243 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS TODAY:

Another round of showers and thunderstorms are expected through the
evening today while increased instability exists across the region.
The 18Z sounding from GJT shows an increase in low level moisture,
and an increase in PWATs, which should support more rain
actually reaching the ground when compared to yesterday
afternoon. Strong outflow winds, brief periods of heavy rain,
and small hail are the biggest concerns with today's storms.

WET THROUGH MONDAY:

A low pressure system moves across the CWA tonight, bringing a
transition from afternoon convection to more stratiform like
precipitation. This includes widespread rain and high elevation
snow. The center of the low, and greatest forcing, moves across
Utah late tonight, so precipitation rates are forecast to be the
greatest between midnight and noon tomorrow. Snow totals favor
the eastern Uinta mountains, where a Winter Weather Advisory is
in place above 8500 feet from 6 PM this evening through 6 PM
tomorrow. A Winter Weather Advisory is also in place for the
Elkhead and Park Mountains above 9500 feet from midnight tonight
to 9 PM tomorrow. By tomorrow afternoon the system will be east
of our area, however, lingering moisture could allow for some
light snowfall in the higher terrain though the day.

FREEZE POTENTIAL:

Cold air advection associated with the low pressure system moving
through the area tonight will significantly drop temperatures.
Tomorrow's high temperatures will be around 15 to 25 degrees
below normal. Tomorrow night's low temperatures will also be
well below normal for this time of the year. Freeze Watches are
in effect for late tomorrow night through Tuesday morning for
the Central and Lower Yampa River Basin. Temperatures will
gradually warm back to above normal by the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 532 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

Showers continue at this hour with a few storms also noted. Main
concerns will be gusty winds of 25 to 35 kts, especially near
the stronger storms for the remainder of today. This convective
activity will stratiform out later this evening. Widespread
showers and a few storms will occur tomorrow as the low pressure
system moves across the area. Many PROB30 groups remain in TAFs
for all sites to account for this. Some gusty winds of 25 to
35kts are also expected as the system drifts through. MVFR
conditions will be possible under the heavier showers though
VFR should remain predominant.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

CO...Freeze Watch from late Monday night through Tuesday morning
     for COZ001-002.

     Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 PM MDT
     Monday for COZ004.

UT...Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT Monday for UTZ023.

&&

DISCUSSION...TGJT
AVIATION...TGJT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 17, 1:25 PM MST, 4 hours 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
225 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

COZ001>003-172100-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Lower Yampa River Basin CO-
Central Yampa River Basin CO-
225 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RIO BLANCO COUNTY
THROUGH 300 PM MDT...

At 225 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Rangely, or 49 miles southeast of Vernal, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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...
Rangely and Massadona.

This includes the following highways...
 U.S. Highway 40 in Colorado near mile marker 26.
 Colorado 64 between mile markers 17 and 52.
 Colorado 139 between mile markers 67 and 72.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4001 10879 4013 10885 4034 10840 4008 10827
TIME...MOT...LOC 2025Z 244DEG 39KT 4006 10876

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

BW
Local storm report, May 17, 1:58 PM MST, 4 hours 2 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
258 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0237 PM     Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 3 NW Aspen              39.23N 106.87W
05/17/2026  M49 MPH          Pitkin             CO   ASOS

&&
Special weather statement, May 17, 1:59 PM MST, 4 hours 1 minute before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
259 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

COZ004-005-172130-
Upper Yampa River Basin CO-Elkhead and Park Mountains CO-
259 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN ROUTT COUNTY THROUGH
330 PM MDT...

At 257 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms over
mostly rural areas of Routt County. Movement was northeast at 45
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and pea size 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...
Steamboat Springs, Mt Zirkel, and Clark.

This includes the following highways...
 U.S. Highway 40 in Colorado between mile markers 123 and 139.
 Colorado 131 between mile markers 66 and 68.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4083 10666 4082 10664 4079 10664 4076 10667
      4070 10667 4068 10669 4065 10668 4061 10670
      4056 10669 4051 10665 4047 10667 4045 10665
      4039 10665 4038 10690 4049 10701 4069 10707
      4085 10666
TIME...MOT...LOC 2057Z 245DEG 40KT 4067 10703 4052 10698 4039 10690

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

BW
Local storm report, May 17, 2:21 PM MST, 3 hours 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
321 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0230 PM     Hail             Hayden                  40.49N 107.26W
05/17/2026  M1.25 Inch       Routt              CO   Cocorahs

&&
Special weather statement, May 17, 2:33 PM MST, 3 hours 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
333 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

COZ003-006-007-172200-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus CO-Debeque to Silt Corridor CO-
Grand Valley CO-
333 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MESA AND SOUTH CENTRAL
GARFIELD COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM MDT...

At 332 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles northeast of Fruita, or 13 miles north of Grand Junction,
moving east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 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.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northern Mesa and
south central Garfield Counties.

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 3924 10859 3937 10857 3947 10825 3926 10828
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 257DEG 28KT 3929 10854

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

BW
Special weather statement, May 17, 4:21 PM MST, 1 hour 39 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
521 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

COZ008-010-013-172345-
Central Colorado River Basin CO-Flat Tops CO-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys CO-
521 PM MDT Sun May 17 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN EAGLE COUNTY
THROUGH 545 PM MDT...

At 521 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles northwest of Gypsum, or 17 miles northeast of Glenwood Springs,
moving east at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects.

Locations impacted include...
Eagle, Gypsum, Edwards, Dotsero, Wolcott, Bond, and Sweetwater.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 127 and 157.
 Colorado 131 between mile markers 1 and 9, and between mile markers
15 and 16.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3960 10717 3978 10710 3988 10667 3964 10666
TIME...MOT...LOC 2321Z 257DEG 38KT 3970 10706

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

BW

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Eastern Uinta Mountains

When
May 17, 6:00 PM MST to May 18, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern Uinta Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.506, -109.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 9 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 15 inches at Hickerson Park. Wind gusts were in the 45 to 55 mph range towards the latter half of the event during the morning of May 18, with a peak wind gust of 59 mph at Windy Point RAWS.

Winter Weather, La Sal & Abajo Mountains

When
May 18, 1:00 AM MST to 8:00 AM MST
Where
La Sal & Abajo Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
38.304, -109.687 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 5 to 11 inches of snow fell across the La Sal Mountains with a trace to an inch at the Abajo Mountains. Wind gusts were in the 35 to 45 mph range with a peak wind gust of 46 mph at Abajo Peak.

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Utah in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, May 2026

Sources

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: 1336570, 1336571.