Issue Date: Monday, July 10, 2017
Issue Time: 10:40AM MDT

Summary:

Storms began to fire off in the high country around noon. Westward movement of the ridge allowed moisture to return to the western side of the Continental Divide. Over the northern portion of the state, extra lift was provided by a speed maximum in the zonal flow, which helped the formation of widespread showers. While the showers and thunderstorms were widespread in the high country, precipitation was limited. The largest recorded storm total in the mountains was a 0.9 inches, but radar estimates were a bit higher with 1 inch in the storm cores. As storms began to move east over the Urban Corridor in the late afternoon, they quickly weakened due to lack of moisture and lift. Some storms over Palmer Divide were able to maintain their vertical motion and they dropped about 1.2 inches of rain over Douglas and rural Elbert County. Another storm over rural Weld County had a storm total estimated at 1.75 inches. Grand Junction finally broke its 34 day streak of no rainfall. It recorded a trace of rain and stayed under 100+F ending the 5 day extreme heat streak.

There were no storm reports yesterday and flooding was not reported on Monday. For rainfall estimates where you live, scroll down to the State Precipitation Map.

Issue Date: Monday, July 10, 2017
Issue Time: 10:30AM MDT

Summary:

The drier atmosphere and increased subsidence yesterday limited both rainfall coverage and storm totals. The strongest storm that formed was over rural Weld County and radar estimates were 1.6 inches at the storm center. The nearest CoCoRaHS station recorded 0.30 inches of rainfall. Both the northern high country and southern high country were the focal point for thunderstorm formation. In the northern high country, CoCoRaHS highest rainfall total was 0.65 inches. The highest southern high country rainfall was 0.7 inches in Alamosa County. There were no storm reports yesterday.

Flooding was not reported on Sunday. For rainfall estimates in your area, check out the State Precipitation Map below.

Issue Date: Sunday, July 9, 2017
Issue Time: 10:20AM MDT

Summary:

A weak disturbance rounded the periphery of the Great Basin ridge, causing another day of scattered afternoon and evening showers and storms across mainly eastern Colorado. With weak shear, pulse type storms were the common type, especially during the early afternoon hours – with a quick 0.5 inches of rain falling in 30 minutes or less. Later in the afternoon, as outflow boundaries merged, a few stronger storms emerged with up to 1.5 inches per hour falling in parts of the Front Range, Urban Corridor, Palmer Ridge and Southeast Plains. Another Flood Advisory was issued for the Junkins fire burn area during the late afternoon.

West of the Continental Divide, heat was once again the theme with Grand Junction notching another rain-free day (#33 to be exact) and a high temperature reaching 100F. Farther south along the NM border, high-based isolated storms were able to deliver precipitation all the way to the ground with up to 0.6 inches falling in La Plata County.

Flooding was not reported on Saturday. For rainfall estimates in your area, check out the State Precipitation Map below.

Issue Date: Saturday, July 8, 2017
Issue Time: 9:45AM MDT

Summary:

A cool front moved into eastern Colorado from the northeast on Friday afternoon, provide a focal point for scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Highest coverage was over the mountains as well as the Palmer Ridge, Northeast Plains and Southeast Plains. Initial storms were of the garden variety with short term heavy rainfall up to 0.75 inches. However, as storms produced outflow boundaries that moved eastward, they gained access to higher moisture and intensified. The most impressive cell of the day was likely over rural El Paso County where over 2 inches of rain fell in 1 hour. Numerous other storms produced over 1 inch per hour of rain. Three flood advisories were issued during the afternoon and evening, though flooding was fortunately not reported as of this morning. In addition, large hail up to 1.75 inches was reported for far eastern storms that had access to stronger wind shear.

West of the Continental Divide, storm activity continued to increase compared to previous days, but a dry sub-cloud atmosphere strongly limited rainfall to below 0.25 inches. Heat was instead the big headline with Grand Junction topping 100F once again, combined with a dry streak of 31 days (of no rainfall at all – not even a trace).

For rainfall estimates in your area, check out the State Precipitation Map below.