SPM 08-28-2017: Isolated Storms East, Heat Cranks Out West

Issue Date: Monday, August 28, 2017
Issue Time: 10:50AM MDT

Summary:

An upper-level ridge was established to the west of Colorado on Sunday, causing very warm temperatures west of the Continental Divide. Out east, plenty of sunshine made up for the marginal boundary layer moisture, supporting isolated thunderstorms across the climatologically favored parts of the western Palmer Ridge, Southeast Mountains, San Juans and San Luis Valley. The winners for highest rainfall amounts were (according to CoCoRaHS) Teller and Fremont counties with 0.78 and 0.54 inches, respectively. Other isolated locations received up to 0.5 inches. Even the normally dry San Luis Valley received some rainfall. A Flood Advisory was posted for the sensitive Hayden Pass burn scar during the afternoon. The Hayden Pass SNOTEL site received 0.2 inches as of this morning. Fortunately, no flooding was reported in the area, as of today.

Out west, high temperatures soared well into the 90s F for lower elevation locations below 5,000 feet. For example, Grand Junction got up to 97F, which is well above normal for this time of year.

For rainfall estimates in your area, check out our 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 accumulation ending time is 6AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are fire burn areas since 2012. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.

Note: We have identified a possible underestimation in QPE over the southwest part of the state. We are working to on this issue, and will provide an update as soon as possible.