Issue Date: 6/7/2016
Issue Time: 10:14 AM
A LOW FLOOD THREAT IS FORECAST FOR PORTIONS OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS, FRONT RANGE, URBAN CORRIDOR, SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS, RATON RIDGE, PALMER RIDGE, NORTHEAST PLAINS, AND SOUTHEAST PLAINS.
A LOW FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE LOS PINOS RIVER IN LA PLATA COUNTY AND GORE CREEK/BLACK GORE CREEK IN EAGLE COUNTY.
The overall atmospheric setup is similar to yesterday, minus a few subtle differences. The weak wave that undercut the upper-level ridge has slid slowly to the east, leaving much of Colorado under weakly diffluent flow aloft. This will help promote upward motion, supporting isolated-to-scattered showers and thunderstorms again during this period. Adequate moisture and instability will push a few storms into the strong-to-severe category, mainly along the Front Range/Southeast Mountains and eastward across the plains and Palmer/Raton Ridge regions. The primary threats from these storms will be hail, gusty winds, and periods of heavy rain.
For points to the west, shower/thunderstorm coverage will be more isolated, favoring the higher terrain. Gusty outflow winds and lightning will the primary concerns from this activity, with only brief light-to-moderate rainfall expected. For southwest Colorado, including much of the San Juan, Southwest Slope, and San Luis Valley regions, drier air working in from the west-southwest will suppress thunderstorm activity.
For more details regarding timing, rain rates, and impacts, please see the zone-specific discussions below.
Today’s Flood Threat Map
For more information on today’s flood threat, see the map below (hover over threat areas for more details). For Zone-Specific forecasts, jump below the map.
Zone-Specific Forecasts
Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains, Palmer Ridge, Southeast Plains, and Raton Ridge:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon/evening. A few will become strong-to-severe. Today’s storms should move to the east at a decent clip which will mitigate the flood threat somewhat. Even so, storms will be capable of heavy rain, with maximum rain rates in the 1.8-2.5 inches/hour range. For this reason, the low flood threat has been issued. Other hazards include hail, gusty winds, and lightning.
Timing: 1 PM – 11 PM, ending from west to east
Front Range and Southeast Mountains:
Scattered showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening. A couple will be strong, producing periods of heavy rain, small hail, and gusty winds. The maximum rain rates will be 1.6-2.3 inches/hour for the Front Range, and 0.8-1.4 inches/hour for the Southeast Mountains.
Timing: Noon – 9 PM
Northern Mountains, Central Mountains, Northwest Slope, and Grand Valley:
Isolated showers/thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, mainly over the higher terrain. A few will move over adjacent valleys. The primary threats from these storms will be gusty winds and lightning, with periods of light-to-moderate rainfall. The best chance at brief heavy rain will occur over eastern portions of the Northern Mountains. Maximum rain rates are as follows:
Northern Mountains: 0.8-1.4 inches/hour
Central Mountains: 0.6-0.8 inches/hour
Northwest Slope and Grand Valley: 0.3-0.6 inches/hour
Timing: Noon – 9 PM
Southwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, and San Luis Valley:
Mostly sunny and warm, with high temperatures above average for the date. A few clouds will develop over the higher terrain of the San Juan Mountains region this afternoon, but nothing more than brief light-to-moderate rain (0.4-0.8 inches/hour) is expected.
Timing: Noon – 6 PM
