Colorado Moderate Special Weather Statement | Effective 09/15/2026 00:32

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued September 15 at 1:32AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
September 15, 2026 - 12:32am
Expires: 
September 15, 2026 - 1:00am
Description: 
At 131 AM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14 miles southwest of Cortez, or 32 miles north of Shiprock, moving northeast at 20 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation and outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Cortez, Arriola, and Towaoc. This includes the following highways... U.S. Highway 491 in Colorado between mile markers 27 and 36. U.S. Highway 160 in Colorado between mile markers 28 and 41. Colorado 145 near mile marker 1.
Instruction: 
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
Area Description: 
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River
Forcast Office: 
NWS Grand Junction CO
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov