High Wind — Grand Valley, Colorado

2024-05-05 to 2024-05-07 · Grand Valley, Colorado

Event narrative

Wind gusts across the zone ranged from 45 mph to 60 mph, with a peak gust of 61 mph recorded at the KGJT ASOS at the Grand Junction Regional Airport on the afternoon of the 5th. Peak gusts occurred mainly on the 5ht, although some gusts occurred with the cold frontal passage on the 7th. A total of 3 recorded gusts were at or above 58 mph.

Wider weather episode

As an unseasonably strong Pacific trough moved inland in the days leading up to this wind event, the pressure gradient ahead of it began to tighten. An accompanying deep layer jet streak brought an additional boost to winds ahead of this trough. Although the winds began early on the morning of the 5th, they lasted through the cold front passage on the 7th, particularly at higher elevations. Multiple wind highlights, with a combination of High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories, were in effect for this event.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1181484. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.