Issue date: Wednesday, June 26^th, 2019
Issue Time: 10:30 AM MDT

Summary:

Calm conditions and clear skies yesterday as an upper level ridge set in over the region.  A weak shortwave passed over central Colorado during the early afternoon and helped provide lift for brief midday showers over the northwest quadrant as well as the North, Central and San Juan Mountains.  Radar derived rainfall estimated less than 0.25 inches over most of these areas.  Pockets of short duration, isolated, rainfall of up to 0.3 inches in 1-hour occurred over the Urban Corridor, Palmer Ridge and the southernmost portion of the Northeast Plains. Once again, dry air below the high cloud base prompted gusty winds. Buckley Air Force Base reported a gust of 33 mph at 2 PM.

Other than the isolated showers, the day was full of sunny skies and seasonal temperatures.  High temperatures reached 95°F over the Southeast Plains, 90°F over the Grand Valley, and into the low 80°Fs in the valleys of the high country.  Rain cooled air and cloud cover prevented temperatures at DIA from reaching 90°F. Thus, the record for the latest day a high temperature to reach 90°F was broken (since 1995).

Waters retreated from Action stage along the North Platte River near Northgate and the Arkansas River near Avondale.  Gages remain in Action stage on the Rio Grande River near Alamosa and the Arkansas River at La Junta, but flows are decreasing.  No Flooding was reported yesterday.

For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see the State Precipitation Map below.

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Issue Date: Tuesday, June 25th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

High pressure and sunny skies dominated most of the state’s weather yesterday, providing a break from unseasonably cool temperatures and persistent rainfall. Isolated, weak showers began over the Northern Mountains early in the evening as a surface low to the north provided upslope flow. Radar derived estimates of rainfall up to 0.3 inches over Rocky Mountain National Park in Larimer County. Additional isolated showers were present over the Northeast Plains and Central Mountains, with similar 1-hour accumulations. Precipitation at the surface remained light, as dry air underneath the cloud base caused much of the rain to evaporate before reaching the surface. This is confirmed statewide, as surface reports from CoCoRaHS, SNOTEL, and ASOS stations often reported accumulations less than 50% of the radar estimates. Many wind gusts were reported by ASOS stations underneath the virga, with the Northern Colorado Regional Airport reporting gusts up to 38 mph.

Minor flood stage was recorded on the Arkansas River at Avondale during the day, but waters retreated to Action stage overnight. Gages remain at Action stage on the Arkansas at La Junta, the Rio Grande at Alamosa, and the North Platte near Northgate.

For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see the State Precipitation Map below.

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Issue Date: Monday, June 24th, 2019
Issue Time: 10:30 AM MDT

Summary:

The upper level trough that produced plentiful, statewide precipitation the last three days moved east of the state late last night, but not before producing some rainfall yesterday. Throughout the day yesterday, skies gradually cleared and brought sunshine to many areas. However, in the wake of the trough temperatures remained well below average throughout the state. Grand Junction measured a new record low temperature of 41°F, which is 5°F lower than the previous record low of 46°F. Denver was 1°F off from tying the previous record low of 43°F, but the measured high of 65°F was a 20°F departure from average.

As for precipitation, high elevation snow tapered off over the Front Range, Northern and Central Mountains, with CoCoRaHS stations measuring less than 0.5 inches. Rain was confined to the northern half of Colorado with dry air over the south. Precipitation over the high country was primarily in the morning, although there were some scattered showers in the afternoon and trailing into the night over the Front Range. Routt County had the highest high country accumulation of the day with 0.56 inches, while most of the mountains reported less than 0.3 inches. Precipitation over the northern Urban Corridor and eastern Palmer Ridge began around noon, with accumulations increasing to the east where dew points were a little higher. The Northeast Plains, as well as Weld County, had the most precipitation for the lower elevations with radar estimating totals between 0.5 and 1.0 inches. Phillips County recorded 1.09 inches at a CoCoRaHS site.

Flood Warnings remain in effect for Central Saguache County, Southeastern Conejos County, Southwestern Rio Grande County, and Mineral County this morning. Minor flood stage has been reached at AHPS gages along the North Platte River near Northgate in Jackson County, as well as the Arkansas River near Avondale. Several rural roads have been reported to be underwater due to heavy rainfall and snowmelt in Jackson County. Please visit the Flood Threat Bulletin or your local NWS office for more information on today’s flood threat. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see the State Precipitation Map below.

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Issue Date: Sunday, June 23rd, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

Yesterday was unsettled day across Colorado from start to finish, thanks to the combined effects of a seasonally strong upper-level low, plenty of moisture, and enough daytime heating. Showers and thunderstorms began to pick up steam just after Noon, eventually becoming widespread across much of Colorado during the late afternoon and evening hours. The heaviest rain fell east of the mountains, and resulted in some ponding issues on roadways and parking lots, but no flash flooding was experienced. Over the mountains, the strongest storms produced mainly pea-sized to dime-sized hail (accumulating in some locations), and periods of moderate rainfall. Snow fell above 9,000-10,000 feet, with a few locations receiving fairly substantial snowfall amounts over the past 48 hours or so, especially in the Northern Mountains region. A few storms did reach severe thresholds; here are the reports submitted to the National Weather Service:

2.00 inch hail: 5 miles NNW of Campo (Baca County), 10 miles SSE of Higbee (Las Animas County)
1.75 inch hail: Two Buttes (Baca County)
1.00 inch hail: 1 mile N of Campo (Baca County), Cimarron (Montrose County)
58 mph Thunderstorm Wind Gust: 9 miles S of Springfield (Baca County)
Tornado: 18 miles N of Pritchett

A few isolated pockets of rain showers and high elevation snow continued until after sunrise this morning. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see the State Precipitation Map below.

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