A flood watch has been issued for Western Colorado and Eastern Utah through midnight on Monday, August 31, due to thunderstorms capable of causing flash flooding. According to a August 30 report, these storms may produce heavy rain, particularly near creeks, streams, rivers, canyons, and burn scars.
Some thunderstorms may produce rainfall rates exceeding one inch per hour. While much of the activity is expected to wrap up around midnight, another round of showers and thunderstorms is forecasted for Monday, August 31, with coverage varying by area. Rainfall through Monday night is projected to reach up to a quarter of an inch in valleys and up to a half inch in higher elevations, though locally higher amounts are possible.
Weather conditions for Monday, August 31, include partly cloudy skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Morning lows are expected to be approximately 62 degrees in Moab, 60 degrees in Grand Junction, 58 degrees in Delta, 55 degrees in Montrose, and 52 degrees in Cortez. Afternoon highs are forecasted to reach 75 degrees in Moab, 78 degrees in Montrose, 81 degrees in Delta, 78 degrees in Cortez, and 80 degrees in Grand Junction. Areas receiving rain may see temperatures drop by 10 to 15 degrees.
Conditions are expected to remain dry for the rest of the week before rain may return over the weekend. Officials advise being weather aware and having a method to receive weather alerts, noting that drivers should not attempt to drive through flood waters.
