Thunderstorm Wind in Routt County, Colorado

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Hayden area on the evening of the 21st, bringing multiple severe threats including strong to severe winds. The peak gust recorded at KHDN AWOS at Hayden-Yampa Valley Airport was only 48 mph, but there were multiple reports of damage in Hayden proper. This included downed trees and limbs. Reports from local Law Enforcement indicated a tree down, blocking Maple Street. Another downed tree was reported to have crushed a parked car.

Very deep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Alberto combined with monsoonal moisture was forced through eastern Utah and western Colorado due to a large high pressure ridge over the Central U.S. and a deep low pressure trough over the Great Basin. This deep moisture combined with strong instability and shear to produce widespread severe weather across eastern Utah and western Colorado with thunderstorms producing severe wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain which resulted in flash flooding and debris flows. One particular storm even produced a landspout tornado in southeast Utah. Frequent lightning also resulted in lightning damage in Montrose, Colorado.