SPM 09-29-2020: Cool Temperatures, Clear Skies & Gusting Winds

Issue Date: Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
Issue Time: 9:50AM MDT

Summary:

Another night with some very cold temperatures as the clear skies increased radiational cooling. Below are NWS ASOS stations overnight lows (deg F). Freeze Warnings were in effect for portions of the Northwest and Southwest Slopes as well as over the higher elevations in the Northern Mountains. With the jet over the state yesterday, it remained breezy during the afternoon. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like there was much (if any) change in ongoing wildfire behavior. Generally, winds were in the 8 to 15 mph range (from the northwest) over the northern and central mountains. Slightly higher winds were recorded over the highest elevations. Gusts reached between 15 and 25 mph with a couple 30+ mph gusts recorded over the mountains. Near surface smoke was highest north, near the Cameron Peak/Mullen fires, but most of this smoke was aloft along the Front Range and Urban Corridor. Much cooler temperatures were recorded yesterday behind the front, and the dry air mass/subsidence kept rainfall out of the forecast. Light showers over the Southeast Mountains during the morning hours cleared out as dry air filled in from the north. Other than some cirrus over the Northwest Slope, it was a clear, fall day.

Large ongoing Colorado wildfires update (as of 9:40AM from InciWeb):
Cameron Peak in the Medicine Bow Mountains: 124,026 acres; 21% contained
Middle Fork Fire in Routt County: 7,897 acres; 0% containment
Williams Fork in the Arapaho National Forest: 12,889 acres; 14% contained

To see precipitation estimates over your neighborhood the last 24 to 48-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 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.