SPM 05-05-2019: Warmer with Increased Clouds, A Few Showers and Thunderstorms

May 5, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Sunday, May 5th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

Temperatures continued their upward trend yesterday, with highs a few degrees above those of Friday. The day started with plentiful sunshine before high-based clouds developed during the late morning/early afternoon over/near the higher terrain as a ribbon of moisture traversed the region. This cloud cover mainly provided shade and the sight of virga, as most precipitation evaporated before reaching the ground. Brief periods of light precipitation likely reached the surface at the highest elevations, but nothing of note was observed.

Further east, a surface trough set up across the eastern plains, with easterly surface flow bringing enhanced moisture into far eastern Colorado. This moisture, combined with good instability, led to the development of scattered showers and thunderstorms across the easternmost counties of the state. The strongest storms rumbled over Baca and Prowers counties, producing brief periods of moderate rainfall and 1-inch hail 12 miles NE of Hartman (Prowers County) and 11 miles ESE of Campo (Baca County).

No flash flooding was reported yesterday. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see the State Precipitation Map below. Please note the 5 inches of rain in Larimer County is an error (along with the higher values around it). We are still working to fix this error.

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 05-04-2019: Plentiful Sunshine Statewide, Scattered Clouds during the Afternoon and Overnight Hours

May 4, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Saturday, May 4th, 2019
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

High pressure built over the state yesterday, leading to high temperatures near climatological normal and plenty of sunshine. Scattered clouds developed during the afternoon hours, mainly over and near the higher terrain, providing nothing but shade. There was one high-based thunderstorm early in the day, beginning around Noon and exiting the state around 2 PM, that rumbled in far eastern Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties. This was the tail-end result of a weak surface boundary forcing the development of a few thunderstorms across western Kansas; gusty winds a brief period of light rain was all it could muster.

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 05-03-2019: Thunderstorms for the Eastern Plains with Lighter Rainfall over the Mountains

May 3, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Issue Time: 09:10AM MDT

Summary:

Another day of unsettled weather, however, storms were more scattered in nature when compared to Wednesday. A final vorticity max moved through the state with the passing trough. This initiated some light rainfall and convection over the mountains early on (west), which moved east of the Divide by early afternoon. The far eastern plains had a bit more instability and moisture to work with, so storm intensity picked east of HWY 71. However, a brief, small storm in the Littleton area produced some pea sized hail. A lone Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued at 8PM for northeastern Crowley County, though there were no storm reports as of 9AM this morning. With high bases, rainfall totals were on the lower end of intensity with radar indicating 0.8 inches falling over Cheyenne and Kiowa Counties. Two CoCoRaHS stations reported just under 0.6 inches for the day out east as well.

Melting of the snowpack over the higher terrains continues. A handful of AHPS stations are creeping towards Action stage, so please stay tuned with the daily FTBs. The Flood Advisory continues for the Conejos and San Antonio Rivers just east of Antonito when emergency management is still reporting minor flooding. Expect this to continue over the next few weeks.

For precipitation totals over in 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 05-02-2019: Snow, Rain and Thunderstorms to Kick Off the FTB Season

May 2, 2019 by ·

Issue Date: Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
Issue Time: 9:00AM MDT

Summary:

A trough moving across the state on Wednesday produced a potpourri of weather. There were showers with snow at higher elevations to start the day over western Colorado. The highest rainfall accumulations were just under 0.2 inches. To the east, cloudiness, fog and light showers were present to start the day. As the shortwave trough moved eastward throughout the day, it helped produced widespread showers east of I-25 and just south of Denver. There was also some decent rainfall accumulation just west of Boulder with totals up to 0.2 inches. Over the southeast corner of the state, where some decent daytime heating was able to occur, a couple high-based, severe thunderstorms were able to form that produced 1 inch diameter hail and totals just over 0.5 inches.

Melting of the snowpack over the San Juan and Central Mountains, rainfall and possibly a little rain on snow has smaller creeks at the lower elevations creeping towards or at bankfull. With warmer temperatures the next couple of days, we will be watching this closely. A Flood Advisory was issued by NWS Pueblo for the Conejos and San Antonio Rivers just east of Antonito when emergency management reported minor flooding. While the flow is expected to remain elevated, major flooding is not expected today.

For precipitation estimates over your area on Wednesday, 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 ·
« Previous Page
Next Page »