Issue Date: Friday, June 25, 2021
Issue Time: 10:00 AM MDT
Summary:
Thursday was even cooler across Colorado compared to Wednesday, and especially welcome after the recent heatwave. Thursday was also very active in terms of precipitation across the state. A surge of monsoonal moisture brought precipitation to the Northwest and Southwest Slopes, as well as the Grand Valley, and east of the divide a weak trough allowed for thunderstorm development, some severe, on the Palmer Ridge and Eastern Plains. Widespread 0.25-0.50 inches of rain can be seen in the State Precipitation Map across much of the central portion of the state, with pockets of even heavier rainfall embedded.
In fact, heavy rain and flood reports were made on both the Western Slope and Eastern Plains. 3.50 inches of rain was reported in Burlington (Kit Carson County) via social media after the evening storms. In addition to heavy rain, high winds and large hail were reported with the severe-warned thunderstorms, including an 80-mph wind gust, also in Burlington. On the Palmer Ridge, 60mph winds were reported at Peterson AFB, and 0.88-inch hail in nearby Falcon. Thunderstorm outflow caused an RV to be blown over and reduced visibility to near zero in Sheridan Lake (Kiowa County), according to storm chaser reports.
Total storm magnitudes were less on the Western Slope, but still impressive. Meeker reported 0.66 inches of rain in 6-hours, and Olathe reported 1.60 inches in 3 hours. The 200-year 3-hour precipitation frequency estimate from NOAA Atlas 14 for Olathe is 1.58 inches, so Olathe saw just over a 200-year storm, or an event with 0.5% chance of occurrence in any given year.
A couple flood advisories were issued for the Cameron Peak burn scar in Larimer County, Central Delta and Northeastern Montrose Counties, and Central Rio Blanco and Northwestern Garfield Counties. No flooding was reported on the Cameron Peak burn scar, but flooding was reported near Olathe, including the following two remarks indicating road and field flooding.
The Muddy Slide fire burning in the Northern Mountains benefited from about 0.2 inches of rain, helping to briefly reduce fire behavior, and the Sylvan Fire burning in the Central Mountains also benefited from 0.1-0.5 inches of rain over the fire area.
For rainfall estimates in your area, check out the State Precipitation Map below!
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