Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Time Pressure; Workload; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Weather; Procedure
During our descent into COS the storm cell had moved off the field but ATC informed us that there was a micro-burst alert and they assigned us to hold at the VOR. We discussed our plans if we were not able to get into COS. We settled on DEN as a good plan B. As we held it became apparent that we may not get into COS. I told ATC we'd like to divert to DEN. They informed us there was now a ground stop into DEN. Since we were holding over the PUB airport that became the clear alternative. We checked with dispatch and we could have landed there but there was no fuel available. Our only option then became to [advise ATC of our fuel situation] so that we could get into DEN. Just as we made the turn to DEN ATC informed us that the winds appeared to be dying down in COS. We had just enough fuel to get in so we gave it a try and were able to land without incident. We continued into COS with the priority because if we had gone missed we would have had to go direct to DEN given our fuel situation. While everything worked ok alright as we held and burned fuel our options especially in the inter-mountain west became fewer and fewer until we had no choices left except to [advise ATC of the situation] and head to DEN.
An EMB-145's filed destination closed because of weather and a microburst alert so the crew planned a diversion but were advised of a ground stop. As the crew prepared for a diversion; their destination airport opened and the crew continued on.