Severe Thunderstorm Warning In Colorado, Us: Travel Alert For Visitors To Montrose And Mesa Counties

Published on September 14, 2025

A severe thunderstorm warning is now successful effect for west-central Montrose and southern Mesa counties successful Colorado. The Grand Junction office of nan National Weather Service (NWS) issued nan alert astatine 1:58 PM MDT connected September 13, 2025, informing that nan large wind is projected to past until 2:30 PM MDT. Travelers and visitors heading to nan area’s celebrated sites, specified arsenic nan Uncompahgre National Forest, Black Canyon of nan Gunnison National Park, and nan charming towns of Montrose and Nucla, should return nan informing seriously.

Tourists and locals successful these areas are urged to return contiguous precautions owed to nan vulnerable upwind conditions. At 1:58 PM, nan large wind was reported to beryllium 13 miles northwest of Nucla, moving northeast astatine 15 mph. The NWS reports radar-indicated upwind gusts reaching 60 mph and quarter-size hail, which poses important risks to property, vehicles, and individual safety. Hail harm to vehicles is expected, while upwind harm whitethorn impact roofs, siding, and trees.

Impact connected Tourists and Local Areas

The large wind is expected to stay complete agrarian areas of west-central Montrose and confederate Mesa Counties. However, visitors to nan region should beryllium alert that these agrarian areas, peculiarly successful nan vicinity of nan nationalist parks and towns for illustration Montrose and Nucla, are besides astatine risk. These areas are celebrated pinch visitors for hiking, sightseeing, and outdoor activities, but successful nan arena of a terrible storm, it is important to travel information protocols.

The hail and damaging winds are important hazards, pinch nan imaginable for important harm to vehicles, particularly on nan highways that visitors often usage to research nan region. The NWS urges visitors to debar driving during nan storm, arsenic roadways could go hazardous owed to falling debris, flooding, and debased visibility. Additionally, nan large wind poses a superior consequence for flash flooding, particularly successful low-lying areas adjacent creeks and rivers, which are celebrated spots for visitors seeking outdoor adventures.

Key Tourist Destinations Under Threat

1. Uncompahgre National Forest: A celebrated destination for hiking, camping, and scenic drives.
2. Black Canyon of nan Gunnison National Park: Known for its steep cliffs and breathtaking views, it is simply a premier spot for tourists.
3. Montrose: A gateway to nan region’s outdoor adventures, known for its humanities charm.
4. Nucla: A mini agrarian municipality often utilized arsenic a guidelines for visitors visiting surrounding earthy attractions.
5. Cimarron River Valley: A scenic area that could look flash floods and beardown winds.

Safety Protocols for Tourists and Locals

As this terrible thunderstorm develops, some visitors and locals must enactment vigilant and travel information protocols to guarantee their safety. The NWS has issued nan pursuing guidelines:

1. Seek Shelter Immediately: Tourists should return screen successful a sturdy building aliases building. Avoid staying successful tents, vehicles, aliases impermanent shelters.
2. Stay Indoors: Once indoors, enactment distant from windows and exterior doors. Move to a small, interior room connected nan lowest level if possible.
3. Avoid Driving: Flash flooding tin hap rapidly. If you’re connected nan road, do not effort to thrust done flooded areas. Wait for nan large wind to subside earlier resuming travel.
4. Stay Alert for Tornadoes: The NWS advises remaining alert for nan anticipation of tornadoes processing from nan storm. If a tornado is spotted, instantly return shelter successful a basement aliases cardinal room.
5. Monitor Weather Updates: Tourists should enactment informed by checking section upwind reports aliases utilizing upwind apps for real-time updates.

Storm Risks and Weather Conditions

Large hail, beardown winds, and continuous lightning are apt to persist pinch this storm. The NWS has warned that if you tin perceive thunder, you are wrong striking region of lightning, and it is advisable to activity shelter indoors. Flash flooding is different awesome concern, peculiarly successful areas pinch mediocre drainage aliases adjacent streams and rivers. The large wind could besides impact nan visibility for visitors on celebrated scenic routes, making it difficult to safely bask nan outdoors.

What Next?

This terrible thunderstorm poses superior risks to some locals and visitors successful West Central Montrose and Southern Mesa Counties, Colorado. Visitors are encouraged to return contiguous precautions and enactment indoors during nan storm. By pursuing nan information guidelines issued by nan National Weather Service, nan effect of this terrible upwind tin beryllium minimised. Remember, information comes first, whether you’re hiking done nan Black Canyon of nan Gunnison aliases driving nan scenic routes adjacent Montrose.

Once nan large wind passes, regular life will slow click backmost into place, but nan alert level doesn’t extremity pinch nan past raindrop. Right now, staying watchful is nan champion point you tin do. Keep your power on, cheque your telephone app, and travel immoderate tips nan National Weather Service shares. Your information and that of your loved ones is worthy nan other minute.