High Wind — Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

2024-05-05 to 2024-05-07 · Grand Flat and Arches, Utah

Event narrative

Wind gusts across the zone ranged from 45 mph to near 70 mph during this event. The peak gusts of 67 mph were both recorded on the evening of the 7th at KCNY ASOS at the Canyonlands Airport north of Moab. These peak gusts actually occurred in the post-frontal regime, but gusts of 50 mph were common from the evening of the 5th on through the cold frontal passage on the 7th.

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 1181608. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.