SPM 09-18-2019: Gusty Winds with the Jet Overhead and Light Accumulations for the Western High Terrains

September 18, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Wednesday, September 18th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10AM MDT

Summary:

Strong surface winds were experienced yesterday with the jet over western Colorado and high-based thunderstorms in the area. Over northwest Colorado, wind gusts (associated with thunderstorms) between 45 and 60 mph were recorded from Meeker to Rifle. Below are the max 1-hour wind gusts from about 4PM MDT on Tuesday at various RAWS sites (source: MesoWest). A new fire was started about 10 miles northwest of Craig. The approximate size is estimated at 30 acres. The McNey and Decker Fire also continue to burn, along with the Hunt and Middle Mamm fires.


As far as rainfall totals, light accumulations (under 0.25 inches) were widespread over the western high terrains with a couple areas receiving just under 0.5 inches. The USGS site at the Animas River in Silverton recorded 0.4 inches. With slightly less moisture to the north, the Craig NWS ASOS site recorded 0.13 inches. Isolated, light showers were also present over the far eastern plains, but totals were under 0.25 inches, so they are not shown below.

Flooding was not reported on Tuesday. 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 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 ·

SPM 09-17-2019: More Rain for Western Colorado

September 17, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Tuesday, September 17th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:55AM MDT

Summary:

More rain for western Colorado yesterday with a little rain for eastern mountains and adjacent plains as well. Rain was rather gradual, so flooding issues weren’t a huge worry. Overall, rain totals were generally less than 0.25 inches, so there isn’t a lot shown on the map below. The 416 burn area avoided rainfall all together (according to gages in the area), although some higher totals were just to the south. The Durango area got another 0.56 inches with Delta, CO also recording 0.5 inches and small hail. The most impressive total was again over Archuleta County where a spotter in Pagosa Springs recorded 1.9 inches for the 24-hour period. Based on other stations in the area, thinking this may be a 2-day total and a little high. A CoCoRaHS station at the Southern Ute Reservation also recorded a half inch. Back to the west, a storm over Yuma County recorded up to 0.25 inches. A couple light showers also occurred over the southern Urban Corridor/Palmer Ridge area, but totals were 0.1 inches or lower.

There’s been quite a bit of rain over the southwest corner of the state the last couple of days, which is helpful for the drought conditions. MRMS indicates between 0.25 and 0.5 inches for the high elevations in that area, and totals under 0.1 inches for the lower elevations. Using the Mountain Mapper correction, west-central Archuleta County recorded just under 1 inch.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your area 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 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 ·

SPM 09-16-2019: Much Needed Wetting Rains for the Southwest Corner of the State

September 16, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Monday, September 16th, 2019
Issue Time: 10AM MDT

Summary:

A subtropical shortwave trough moved northeastward from Arizona and New Mexico yesterday, which helped produce widespread showers to the southwest corner of the state with PW values increasing. Showers were still ongoing as of this morning, which lead to some impressive accumulations. A few CoCoRaHS stations in Archuleta County (east of Pagosa Springs) recorded around 1.3 inches for the 24-hour period. Near the 416 burn area, 0.3 inches of rain fell, and Oxford, CO (just southeast of Durango) received 0.57 inches for the day. Even Alamosa got in on the action and recorded around a quarter of an inch for the 24-hour period. Along the valley edges, the Great Sand Dunes received between 0.4 and 0.5 inches due to storms favoring the southwest facing slopes with southeasterly flow driving the storm’s direction. Several SNOTEL stations in the area recorded 0.4 inches for Sunday. Fortunately, rainfall was gradual enough and soils were dry enough that no flooding was reported as of this morning.

As a reminder, it has been very dry and hot over the state the last couple of weeks, which has helped dry out vegetation. This has increased fire danger despite relatively quiet surface winds (no Red Flag Warnings have been issued). There has been a large increase in fires reported over the last couple of weeks (relative to the quiet season), so please use caution with any activities that can spark a flame. As of this morning, there have been 7 new fires started in the last 30 hours with 54 ongoing fires over the last 10 days. To keep yourself in the loop about ongoing fires you can visit the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center  or InciWeb.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your neighborhood on Sunday, 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 ·

SPM 09-15-2019: Beautiful Saturday Across Colorado

September 15, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Sunday, September 15th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:00 AM MDT

Summary:

The upward trend of afternoon high temperatures persisted yesterday thanks to abundant September sunshine. There wasn’t much in the way of clouds of which to speak, either, as the ribbon of dry air continued to stream over the state. A couple isolated thunderstorms rumbled just on the other side of the state line in northeast New Mexico, but there wasn’t enough support in southeast Colorado for them to develop inside our borders. Skies were mostly clear overnight, with just a few high clouds streaming in from the west/southwest ahead of the next push of mid-level moisture arriving later today.

No flash flooding was reported yesterday. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see 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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