Thunderstorm Wind — Grand, Colorado

2020-06-06 · near (c96)winter Park, Grand, Colorado

Wider weather episode

A combination of an upper level trough moving northwest across the state, coupled with a strong surface pressure gradient, led to numerous reports of high wind gusts across the region. Most of the wind damage occurred with the passage of a rare derecho; a large fast-moving complex of thunderstorms with powerful straight-line winds. In addition, strong wind gusts from 59 to 71 mph not associated with the derecho, occurred prior to and following the passage of this system over the urban corridor and plains of northeast Colorado.

By midday the derecho, which originated over the Great Basin, moved over the northern and central mountains, and then rapidly northeast across the I-25 corridor by mid afternoon. These storms then tracked across the plains from late afternoon into the early evening hours. Wind gusts from 60 to 80 mph were common with a few gusts exceeding 90 mph. The highest gust observed was 110 mph, at the Winter Park Ski area, around 12000 feet. Xcel Energy said in a press release that more than 208,000 customers lost power because of the storm statewide. The intense wind toppled a billboard that crashed onto Denver bakery. Two delivery trucks parked nearby were heavily damaged. Two injuries occurred in Denver, one seriously. A man and his nine-year-old daughter were injured by a fallen tree. They were standing in front of a family member's house when the incident occurred. The tree impaled the father through his back and he required several surgeries. His daughter sustained cuts and bruises that required stitches.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (39.8600, -105.7700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 890308. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.