SPM 09-22-2019: Overnight Rain for the Northeast Plains with the Passage of a Cold Front

September 22, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Sunday, September 22nd, 2019
Issue Time: 8:55AM MDT

Summary:

Evening and overnight rainfall for the northeast corner of the state as a cold front dipped south behind a trough. Storms began to fire just after 5PM with mostly light to moderate rainfall, which included the Front Range. A couple thunderstorms were able to form over Kit Carson, Yuma and Lincoln Counties around 9PM. With higher moisture, a little instability and extra dynamics along the front, these storms produced the most rainfall. A RAWS station between Burlington and Wray, Colorado recorded 0.64 inches. MetStorm estimates up to 1 inch of rainfall. Further to the north and west, a NWS ASOS recorded 0.35 inches in Grover. Rainfall mostly ended early this morning with some light sprinkles reported over the Northeast Plains through 7AM MDT. Elsewhere was dry minus a few possible sprinkles over the highest elevations of the San Juan Mountains (Hinsdale County). As you may have guessed, flooding was not reported.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your area the last 48 to 72-hours, scroll down to the State Precipitation Map below.

Click Here For Map Overview

The map below shows radar-estimated, rainfall gage-adjusted Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) across Colorado. The map is updated daily during the operational season (May 1 – Sep 30) by 11AM. The following six layers are currently available: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation, as well as maximum 1-hour, 2-hour and 6-hour precipitation over the past 24 hour period (to estimate where flash flooding may have occurred). The accumulation ending time is 7AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are vulnerable fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new, vulnerable burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Note: The 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation do not contain bias corrections today due to errors in the CoCoRaHS data. This means there may be underestimations in QPE over the southwest and southeast corners of the state.

Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 09-21-2019: Critical & Elevated Fire Weather

September 21, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2019
Issue Time: 9:20AM MDT

Summary:

Critical and elevated fire danger across the state yesterday as the jet moved overhead with a passing trough. Not much moisture over the state, but some weak showers and cloud cover were able to form along the Continental Divide. The heaviest rainfall was over the over northern Larimer County where MetStrom indicates up to 0.5 inches fell. SNOTEL in the area had up to 0.1 inches. Storms did not fully materialize over the eastern plains along the dryline, although there were some weak showers over the far northeast corner and in Kiowa County.

Below is a plot of relative humidity (RH) values from 11AM to 1PM with the lowest RH values for the 24-hour period below that. Just wanted to show how quickly the low levels dried out with the dry air mass that was advected into the state. Paired with gusts 45 to 65 mph range over western Colorado, quite a high fire risk situation. A fire was started in Clear Creek Canyon around 3PM and was 25 acres as of last night. Currently, no structures are being threatened, although residents received notices to prepare for possible evacuation.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your area the last 48 to 72-hours, scroll down to the State Precipitation Map below.

Click Here For Map Overview

The map below shows radar-estimated, rainfall gage-adjusted Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) across Colorado. The map is updated daily during the operational season (May 1 – Sep 30) by 11AM. The following six layers are currently available: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation, as well as maximum 1-hour, 2-hour and 6-hour precipitation over the past 24 hour period (to estimate where flash flooding may have occurred). The accumulation ending time is 7AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are vulnerable fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new, vulnerable burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Note: The 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation do not contain bias corrections today due to errors in the CoCoRaHS data. This means there may be underestimations in QPE over the southwest and southeast corners of the state.

Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 09-20-2019: Isolated Severe Thunderstorm for Prowers County

September 20, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Friday, September 20th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:45AM MDT

Summary:

Quiet rainfall day yesterday with a drier air mass in place and southwest/south flow over the state aloft. Over the mountains, the most measurable rainfall was over the San Juan Mountains during the evening and overnight. A shortwave moved through the flow and helped initiate the late night showers. Not much instability, so showers were more gradual in nature. Quick storm movement with the approaching trough also helped keep totals lower. Strong surface winds and impressive gusts cause elevated fire danger yesterday over most of western Colorado and some pockets over the higher terrains. Gusts just above 40 mph were recorded over the Northwest Slope.

As far as rainfall totals, a USGS gage near Durango at the Animas River recorded 0.11 inches for the 24-hour period. Storms also produced up to quarter sized hail. Totals were slightly higher over the San Juan National Forest, but under 0.25 inches. The San Luis Valley also got some light rainfall with another passing shortwave. A CoCoRaHS station near Fort Garland recorded 0.06 inches. Additional storms formed along a convergence boundary over the far Southeast Plains. The strongest storm of the day was over Prowers County where MetStorm estimates up to 1.25 inches fell. A CoCoRaHS station 15 miles NNE of Holly recorded 0.78 inches with this storm. Large hail (1.5 inch in diameter) and damaging winds also accompanied this storm with several branches down in Holly.
To see estimated precipitation totals over your neighborhood yesterday, scroll down to the State Precipitation Map below.

Click Here For Map Overview

The map below shows radar-estimated, rainfall gage-adjusted Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) across Colorado. The map is updated daily during the operational season (May 1 – Sep 30) by 11AM. The following six layers are currently available: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation, as well as maximum 1-hour, 2-hour and 6-hour precipitation over the past 24 hour period (to estimate where flash flooding may have occurred). The accumulation ending time is 7AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are vulnerable fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new, vulnerable burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Note: The 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation do not contain bias corrections today due to errors in the CoCoRaHS data. This means there may be underestimations in QPE over the southwest and southeast corners of the state.

Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 09-19-2019: Weak Showers for the Front Range and Northeast Plains

September 19, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:25AM MDT

Summary:

Not much rainfall yesterday with a dry air mass in place over the state. A couple weak afternoon showers were able to form over the Front Range and push into the adjacent plains with the residual moisture in the atmosphere. Totals up to 0.15 inches were realized along and over the Continental Divide. A CoCoRaHS site in northwest Douglas County recorded 0.25 inches. Additional light rainfall occurred over the far Northeast Plains. Isolated totals just under 0.25 inches were estimated by MetStorm with more widespread values under 0.05 inches. Gusty winds over western Colorado with mostly clear conditions during the afternoon and evening. Two non-thunderstorm related gusts around 50mph were recorded at Douglas Pass and Montrose due to the tightening surface gradient. Flooding was not reported.

Below is the latest drought map released this morning, which is valid through Sept 17 (created by Eric Luebehusen, Dept. of Agriculture). With the last couple of systems providing rainfall to western Colorado, there has been no change to the map since last week.


To see estimated precipitation totals over your neighborhood the last 72-hours, scroll down to the State Precipitation Map below.

Click Here For Map Overview

The map below shows radar-estimated, rainfall gage-adjusted Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) across Colorado. The map is updated daily during the operational season (May 1 – Sep 30) by 11AM. The following six layers are currently available: 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation, as well as maximum 1-hour, 2-hour and 6-hour precipitation over the past 24 hour period (to estimate where flash flooding may have occurred). The 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation contain bias corrections that are not disaggregated into the hourly estimates, so there will likely be some differences. The accumulation ending time is 7AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are vulnerable fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new, vulnerable burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.
Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·
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