Thunderstorm Wind — La Plata, Colorado

2024-09-16 · near (dro)durango/laplata, La Plata, Colorado

Event narrative

A severe thunderstorm moved through 8 miles west of Ignacio and tracked to the northeast at 30 mph. Path and time was estimated based on the Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued. Thunderstorm wind damage occurred with downed trees, a bent electric pole and a twisted power pole. Property damage occurred in which an RV camper was smashed in half from the downed trees. Uncertain if this was tornado or straight line wind/downburst damage but leaning downburst winds.

Wider weather episode

Deep moisture from the remnants of post-tropical storm Ileana surged into the Four Corners region and through western Colorado ahead of a strong low pressure trough over northern California. This trough lifted through the area overnight into the afternoon of the 17th with strong to severe storms across southwest Colorado spreading north by the morning of the 17th. A few storms generated wind gusts of 58 mph or greater with storm damage across La Plata county as well as debris flows across Montezuma county.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (37.1167, -107.7796)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1209258. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.