Issue Date: 9/8/2016
Issue Time: 9:25 AM
NO FLOOD THREAT IS FORECAST.
Dry, westerly flow across Colorado will result in dry and warm conditions for the vast majority of the state. Relative humidity values will fall below 30% for much of the state, even back into the 10-15% range for portions of the Western Slope and High Country. Persistent gusty winds will stay mainly north of the state, but a brief window of gusty winds mixing to the surface across the Northwest Slope and Northern Mountains will heighten fire weather concerns in those regions during the afternoon/early evening. Downslope winds along the Front Range and adjacent plains will push the remaining moisture from this morning to the east, leaving the region under mostly sunny and warm conditions today.
Near the CO/KS border, low-level easterly flow will fight to maintain some moisture in far eastern Colorado. This will result in the appearance of a dryline/surface convergence boundary laying across easternmost counties. Along and east of this boundary, an isolated thunderstorm or two cannot be ruled out this afternoon/evening. Dewpoints in the 50s will provide enough low-level moisture for brief periods of moderate-to-heavy rainfall, but total column moisture and upper-support will be lacking so no flood threat is forecast.
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, Palmer Ridge, and Raton Ridge:
Mostly sunny and dry conditions will prevail today as westerly flow dries out the region. Temperatures will bump a few degrees higher than yesterday, and it looks like a great night for Thursday Night Football between the Broncos and Panthers.
Northeast Plains and Southeast Plains:
Mostly sunny and dry will be the main weather story today, especially for the western half of the regions. Near the CO/KS border, along and east of a dryline, an isolated thunderstorm or two will be possible during the afternoon and evening hours. Maximum rain rates will be 0.8-1.2 inches/hour, with any heavy rainfall lasting only a brief period of time.
Timing: 2 PM – 10 PM
Front Range, Southeast Mountains, Northern Mountains, Northwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, Southwest Slope, San Luis Valley, Central Mountains, and Grand Valley:
Mostly sunny and dry will be the name of the game today, with a brief window of heightened fire danger across the Northwest Slope and Northern Mountains this afternoon as relative humidity values drop into the 10-15% range. Clear skies will remain overnight, allowing temperatures to drop to seasonably cool values.
