SPM 09-14-2019: Nearly Perfect Friday

September 14, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Saturday, September 14th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

Plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures were the main weather story yesterday, thanks to a ribbon of dry air that extended from southern California to Iowa. This dry air kept skies mainly cloud free, but as is typical for Colorado, Mother Nature had one curveball for everyone. A weak disturbance shifted across far southern Colorado during the afternoon/evening hours and kicked off an isolated, strong thunderstorm over the Raton Ridge. Lightning, small hail, gusty winds, and periods of moderate rainfall were the main impacts as the storm rumbled east along Highway 160 for a few hours, finally dissipating shortly after sunset. No severe storm reports were submitted to the National Weather Service from this storm.

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 ·

SPM 09-13-2019: Nearly Dry Statewide with Cooler Temperatures Behind the Cold Front

September 13, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Friday, September 13th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:15AM MDT

Summary:

Not much rainfall yesterday outside of some light rainfall over the eastern plains and northern mountains associated with the morning cloud cover. MetStorm is also showing a little precipitation over the highest elevations of the San Juan Mountains (0.05 inches), but that isn’t on the map because it’s below the 0.25 inch threshold. Temperatures were more seasonable yesterday afternoon as well with colder air in place behind the trough. A much drier air mass was in place, so even afternoon cloud cover was limited.
 
Released on Thursday, below is the newest drought map. This does not contain precipitation from the last system, which may or may not have affected the results. Not thinking there would be much change since the higher amounts were more isolated. The D1 (Moderate Drought) drought continued to increase in area over the Southwest Slope. With a weak monsoon for western Colorado (climatologically strongest in August) and the warmer temperatures without much precipitation, the drought is quickly worsening. It’s looking to stay much warmer in the 8-10 day outlook with equal to below rainfall chances for western Colorado. Therefore, don’t be surprised if the D1 area expands when the next drought map comes out.

 

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 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 09-12-2019: Widespread Rainfall and Thunderstorms as the Fall-like Trough Moved Across the State

September 12, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Thursday, September 12th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:42AM MDT

Summary:

The main axis of the trough slid through the state yesterday, which started showers and thunderstorms early over western Colorado. The most measurable rain was to the north where better moisture was located. Lower 1-hour rain rates were realized due to lack of instability, but persistent showers allowed for some higher totals over the Flat Tops and Northern Mountains. MetStorm indicates just over 0.5 inches fell over the area with some lighter rain over the entire Northwest Slope. This is very much needed with drought conditions quickly worsening. Observations were as high as 0.45 inches over central Routt County with a CoCoRaHS over Rangely, CO recording the same. A RAWS site between Oil Spring Mountain Wilderness Area and Rangely recorded 0.53 inches. Further south, totals dropped off a bit. North of Durango 0.14 inches were recorded near the 416 burn area at a RAWS station, and a CoCoRaHS recorded 0.25 inches for the same area. Stronger thunderstorms also produced some hail (1 inch near Silt) and gusty winds (shingles were blown off a roof near Silt). With the jet overhead, non-thunderstorm wind gusts were also reported in the 45-55 mph range.

Daytime heating allowed more instability to build as the trough and cold front approached eastern Colorado. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued for the northeast quadrant of the state during the late afternoon/early evening. Severe Thunderstorms produced some wild hail with the freezing level starting to drop. Hail up to 1.75 inches was reported over the far Northeast Plains with hail up to 1.5 inches in Greeley and 1.25 inches near Boulder. As forecast, storms also produced some strong winds with a gust of 61mph measured in Logan County near Crook. As far as rainfall totals, an ALERT station near Longmont recorded 0.25 inches. Up to 0.46 inches fell over the High Park burn area, but flooding was not report. A CoCoRaHS station outside of Greeley in Kersey had 0.63 inches for the 24-hour period. MetStorm indicates up to 1 inch fell in the storm cores with max 1-hour rain rates just under 0.75 inches. Weaker thunderstorms were also present over Kiowa and Cheyenne County that formed along the surface low’s convergence boundary. Hail (up to 1.5 inches) was reported with totals as high as 0.5 inches.

Flooding was not reported with the faster storm motions. 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 09-11-2019: Thunderstorms and Gusty Outflow Winds Returned to Western Colorado

September 11, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Wednesday, September 11th, 2019
Issue Time: 10AM MDT

Summary:

A shortwave out in front of the main trough worked its way over the state yesterday and help produce some widespread showers and weak thunderstorms over western Colorado. Storm movement to the northwest was fairly quick and with a bit drier air in place (limited moisture with the plume), totals were on the low to moderate end with some gusty outflow winds. Wind gusts between 45 and 55 mph were recorded over the northwest quadrant of the state during the afternoon. A stronger thunderstorm near Grand Junction had up to half inch hail and produced 0.65 inches of rainfall. With 43 mph winds also recorded at the airport, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued. Gages from various networks over the western high terrains had between 0.15 and 0.45 inches.

A storm also formed over the Front Range and moved into the Urban Corridor near Greeley. Totals up to 0.55 inches were observed (CoCoRaHS) with MetStorm estimating around the same. Large hail (1.75 inches; golf ball) was also reported with this thunderstorm at 6:30PM MDT. Lastly, weak thunderstorms moved in from New Mexico over the Southeast Plains (southeast corner) along a dryline. A couple rounds of storms ensued from mid-afternoon until about midnight. MetStorm estimates up to 1.25 inches fell in the cores of these storms.

Flooding was not reported yesterday, and to see estimated precipitation totals over your area of town 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 ·
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