Issue Date: Sunday, May 29th, 2016
Issue Time: 9:05AM MDT

As expected, rainfall coverage continued to decrease on Saturday compared to previous days. True to Colorado standards, sunshine was widespread in the morning, but quickly led to scattered cumulus clouds by noon. Showers and weak thunderstorms popped up across many locations, especially east of the Continental Divide. However, with limited instability in place, most storms were much more impressive looking than what their rain totals would suggest. Highest observed 24-hour amounts ending this morning were about 0.5 inches across eastern Colorado. Between the observation sites, radar estimates up to 0.75 inches are shown for parts of the Northeast Plains.

With the warmer temperatures, snowmelt continued though in a very lethargic fashion. An overall cool May (especially when it comes to afternoon high temperature) has put snowmelt at many high-elevation locations about 5-10 days behind schedule. For example, shown below is the Columbus Basin SNOTEL site in the San Juan Mountains (source: NRCS) reading just under 15 inches of snow water equivalent. The site’s median for today is only about 2 inches, and this location is about 9 days behind its average melt schedule. Some great June river rafting seems to be in store across the state!

No flooding reports were received yesterday.

For specific rainfall estimates in your area, please check our STP map below.

Issue Date: Saturday, May 28th, 2016
Issue Time: 9:05AM MDT

Compared to Thursday, Friday saw a downtick in rainfall intensity. However, rainfall coverage remained high with many areas both east and west of the Divide experiencing a shower or two. Farther east, where easterly upslope winds remained (associated with a weakening Kansas low), stronger storms were found. In particular, a sequence of strong storms passed through Kiowa and Cheyenne counties resulting in over 2 inches of rainfall across a wide area, hail up to 1 inch and several tornado reports near Towner. Aside from this region, many other locations statewide picked up anywhere between 0.25 and 0.6 inches of beneficial rain.

Of course, not be outdone, the higher terrain received measurable snow for a second straight day. Up to 3 inches was the norm for scattered locations above 9,000 feet. For many locations above 10,000 feet, over 12 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) is still on the ground. This time of year, 1 inch of SWE is roughly equal to about 3-5 inches of actual snowdepth. For all you skiers, this morning’s snow update from Arapahoe Basin showed an impressive snowpack of just under 5 feet! It looks like June skiing will once again be had.

No official flooding reports were received yesterday, though it is likely that field flooding occurred in Kiowa County in association with the repeated strong thunderstorms moving through.

For specific rainfall estimates in your area, please check our STP map below.

Issue Date: Friday, May 27th, 2016
Issue Time: 9:10 AM MDT

Summary:

It did not take long before a variety of active weather developed across Colorado on Thursday. Most of the focus was east of the Continental Divide, where upslope flow, adequate moisture and impressive dynamics combined to produce several waves of thunderstorms. Heavy rainfall, hail, wind, tornadoes, and yes, even snow (up to several inches in terrain above 9,000 feet) was observed across a wide swath of the state.

The highest rainfall totals of the 2016 warm season were tallied yesterday. Fortunately, short-term rainfall rates were fairly limited, ranging from about 0.5 inches per 30 minutes in the Front Range area to perhaps 0.7 inches in 30 minutes farther south and east. However, many locations experienced several hours of rainfall. Thus, in the 24-hour period ending early this morning, many locations in Washington, Arapahoe, Douglas, Adams, Elbert and El Paso counties received over 2 inches of rainfall.

Many strong thunderstorms were also observed mainly across the Southeast Plains, Palmer Ridge and Northeast Plains. A half dozen tornado reports were received from Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties. Meanwhile, a whole slew of hail reports were also noted. Fortunately, most of the hail was about 1 inch or less in diameter, hopefully limiting the damage that it may have caused. Flooding-wise, no official reports were received but 3 areal flood advisories were issued by area NWS offices, suggesting at least some minor field flooding was present. The map below, from Iowa State University, summarizes all of the warnings and advisories issued yesterday (yellow = thunderstorm, red = tornado, green = flood).

For specific rainfall estimates in your area, please check our STP map below.

Issue Date: Thursday, May 26th, 2016
Issue Time: 9:00 AM MDT

Summary:

A shortwave ridge suppressed the atmosphere yesterday, keeping Colorado mainly dry with plenty of sunshine. A few isolated showers dotted the higher terrain of western Colorado; showers were most numerous overnight with the approach of the upper-level low. Further to the east, isolated thunderstorms rumbled across the Northeast Plains and northern sections of the Front Range and Urban Corridor. A couple isolated thunderstorms sparked overnight as a cool front moved in from the north and deeper moisture was reintroduced. The stage is set for an unsettled day today.

No flash flooding occurred yesterday. For a look at 24-hour precipitation, please see the STP map below.