SPM 05-05-2018: High Pressure Dominated the State with Warm and Mainly Dry Conditions

Issue Date: Saturday, May 5th, 2018
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

As upper-level ridging built across the state, moisture exited, and Colorado was left with a near-perfect end to the work week. Residual moisture remaining from the recent rains helped to generate isolated weak showers over, and immediately adjacent to, the higher terrain, resulting in nothing more than a few sprinkles and some gusty winds. If you didn’t get the chance to go outside yesterday, you should take a look at today’s FTB and get outside today.

Flash flooding was not reported yesterday. For a look at precipitation estimates in your area, please see 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.