SPM 06-30-2019: Hot with Scattered Showers and Thunderstorms

June 30, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Sunday, June 30th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

The strong upper-level ridge over the central United States kept plenty of sunshine around yesterday, allowing high temperatures to climb back well above average. This intense heating, coupled with mid-level moisture, forced the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon hours and continuing into the evening. Most activity tapered off around sunset, except for an area of showers/thunderstorms near the Cheyenne Ridge. This area of showers/storms lingered until about 11 PM, and then quietly dissipated. Rainfall was hard to come by from any activity, as plenty of dry air below the clouds evaporated much of the precipitation before it could reach the surface. Gusty winds and light rainfall was all the best storms could muster.

Overnight, the next bout of moisture began to arrive from the southwest, which generated nocturnal showers and weak thunderstorms west of the Continental Divide. A few showers continue this morning over the Northwest Slope, Grand Valley, and San Juan Mountains regions. Light rain and gusty winds have been the main impacts with this activity, as well.

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 06-29-2019: Summertime in Full Swing

June 29, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Saturday, June 29th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

Hot temperatures were the main weather story across Colorado yesterday, as strong, high pressure aloft built over the center of the United States. Widespread upper-90s and a few lower-100s were draped across the lower elevations of eastern Colorado, 80s and 90s in lower mountain valleys, and 50s and 60s in the higher elevations. There was enough residual moisture for intense daytime heating and orographic effects to produce isolated, late-day thunderstorms, mainly over/near the higher terrain. A few thunderstorms moved over the Urban Corridor after 7 PM. The main impacts of all shower/thunderstorm activity were periods of light rainfall and gusty winds at 40-50 mph. A few stronger gusts were recorded:

58 MPH: 3 miles WSW of Longmont (Boulder County)
57 MPH: 5 miles N of Elizabeth (Elbert County)
52 MPH: Denver International Airport (Denver County)

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 06-28-2019: The Hot Temperature Streak Continues with Weak, Afternoon Thunderstorms across Southeast Colorado

June 28, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Friday, June 28th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:05AM MDT

Summary:

We’ve really jumped right into summer over the last couple of days with the hot temperatures and minimal afternoon rain showers. The 100°F line was reached yesterday in multiple places over the Southeast Plains with Pueblo also recording the century mark. Dry weather and windy conditions over the western border continued the Red Flag Warning. Gusts reached up to 35 mph and sustained winds were in the 10 to 20 mph range. At Douglas Pass in Garfield County, the ASOS recorded a 45 mph wind gust.

A little bit of moisture was advected into the southern portion of the state associated with a shortwave rotating around the high over New Mexico. This paired with diurnal flow kicked off high-based thunderstorms around noon over the eastern mountains and near the Continental Divide. The bulk of the storm action yesterday afternoon was over the Southeast Mountains and Raton Ridge. The USGS gage in Delhi, CO recorded 0.15 inches. As storms spread east into the Southeast Plains, higher rainfall totals accumulated near the CO/KS border. A CoCoRaHS station in Baca County reported 0.44 inches. Radar estimates rainfall totals just over 0.5 inches fell over this area. This storm also had a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, but there were no storm reports as of this morning. Additional storms kicked off over the southern Front Range and Palmer Ridge intersect around 6:30 PM. Less available low level moisture over the north meant lower rainfall totals. Radar estimates and ground observations were between 0.15 and 0.50 inches over this area. Storm activity ended a couple of hours after sundown as instability decreased.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your neighborhood on Thursday, 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 06-27-2019: Light Showers in the Northeast & Summer Temperatures Statewide

June 27, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Thursday, June 27th, 2019
Issue Time: 10:50 AM MDT

Summary:

It finally felt like a normal late June day yesterday as temperatures increased again statewide. Highs reached into the 90°Fs over the plains, and into the 70°Fs throughout much of the high country (see map below). A weak midlevel disturbance came over the mountains from the southwest yesterday, enhancing surface convergence, and helping to produce showers over the Northeast Plains, Front Range, Palmer Ridge and Urban Corridor. Surface reports from CoCoRaHS measured only a trace in these areas, with a statewide max of 0.05 inches in Morgan County. Radar estimated rainfall was 0.25 inches in Morgan and Douglas County, but dry air underneath the cloud base reduced accumulations significantly. Winds were gusty underneath the virga, with Fort Morgan Municipal Airport reporting gusts of 23 mph around 6PM.

No flooding was reported yesterday and waters all along the Arkansas River have retreated below Action stage.  The Rio Grande River near Alamosa remains at Action stage but flows are forecast to remain steady throughout today.

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 ·
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