SPM 07-22-2018: Scattered Showers and Thunderstorms Dotted the State

July 22, 2018 by ·

Issue Date: Sunday, July 22nd, 2018
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

The hot, July sun was in abundance yesterday, heating up the surface and kicking off scattered showers/thunderstorms across Colorado. Monsoonal moisture backed off a bit as compared to Friday, resulting in storms west of the Divide producing more wind than rain, and keeping the flash flood threat at bay. As day turned to nighttime, monsoonal moisture crept back into western Colorado, keeping scattered showers/weak thunderstorms going over the higher terrain into the morning hours. In fact, a few showers are ongoing at this time north of I-70.

East of the divide, scattered showers/thunderstorms were fueled by an influx of low-level moisture from the Great Plains. Early on in the period, storms produced more wind than rain, as they had to overcome still low values of relative humidity near the surface. As the day wore on, however, storms were able to saturate the lower levels themselves, allowing them to more efficiently get rainfall to the surface. Periods of moderate-to-heavy rain attended the stronger thunderstorms, as well as strong winds (40-65 mph gusts). One hail report was submitted yesterday from 4 miles NNE of Keota (Weld County), where 1.5 inch diameter hail fell around 5:40 PM last night.

No flash flooding was reported yesterday. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see our 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 6AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 07-21-2018: Monsoonal Moisture Began Its Return

July 21, 2018 by ·

Issue Date: Saturday, July 21st, 2018
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

The upper-level high that was centered near the 4-corners region shifted to the southeast yesterday, beginning the stream of subtropical moisture over the state that is expected to continue over the next couple of days. This led to an afternoon/evening filled with scattered showers and thunderstorms over the High Country, Southeast Plains, and Raton Ridge, where moisture was best (relatively speaking). Shower/thunderstorm coverage and intensity peaked during the late afternoon/evening hours, with lingering showers and a few weak thunderstorms into the early morning hours. In addition to these regions, one lonely, high-based shower managed to kick up over the Northeast Plains, thanks to the efforts of the Cheyenne Ridge, but produced little, if any, rainfall.

Due to a relative lack of good, low-level moisture, storms were unable to produce the heavy rainfall necessary for flash flooding. Most shower/thunderstorm activity produced less than 0.1 inches of total rainfall, with stronger storms over the Southeast Plains generally resulting in 0.2-0.6 inches of total rainfall with locally higher amounts. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see our 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 6AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 07-20-2018: Dog Days of Summer Continue

July 20, 2018 by ·

Issue Date: Friday, July 20th, 2018
Issue Time: 08:55 AM MDT

Summary:

Quiet day for Colorado weather yesterday as the high pressure kept dry air over the state. Enough moisture remained over the southern high terrains for some afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The bulk of this activity was over the San Juan Mountains. A CoCoRaHS station south of Pagosa Springs recorded 0.41 inches for the day, which was quite impressive for the lack of low level moisture. Over the Southeast Mountains, totals were closer to 0.25 inches. The main story of the day was the heat. The Southeast Plains hit 106F with Grand Junction reaching 102F on the mercury reader. Other lower elevation cities were in the upper 90Fs or just at 100F. ASOS stations over the mountains reached up to 80F, so not much relief if you tried to seek higher ground. This is all to be expected under a strong ridge during the dog days of summer.

To see how much precipitation fell in your area over the last 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 6AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.
Filed Under: State Precipitation Map ·

SPM 07-19-2018: High Pressure Ridging Built Overhead

July 19, 2018 by ·

Issue Date: Thursday, July 19th, 2018
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

Yesterday was marked by the return of hot temperatures and mainly dry conditions, thanks to an upper-level high pressure that settled over southern Utah. This allowed drier air to invade Colorado from the west/northwest, while the high pressure aloft acted to suppress most shower/thunderstorm development. A few scattered storms were still able to fight through the relatively unfavorable conditions over the higher terrain thanks to residual moisture hanging out under the ridge from the previous few days of rainfall. This activity was confined to the mountains of the Grand Valley, Southwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, and southern Central Mountains regions. The best moisture hung on along the CO/NM border, and one single observation of heavy rain was reported from 7 miles E of Chromo (Archuleta County), where 0.7 inches of rain fell in 30 minutes.

No flash flooding was reported yesterday. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see our 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 6AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new 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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