SPM 05-06-2018: Warmer and Drier, Only a Couple High-Based Sprinkles

Issue Date: Sunday, May 6th, 2018
Issue Time: 9:30 AM MDT

Summary:

High pressure remained in charge of Colorado weather yesterday, allowing temperatures to climb higher than the previous day. The vast majority of the state remained dry and underneath mostly sunny skies. However, during the late afternoon and early evening hours, cumulus clouds bubbled and a few high-based showers developed over the High Country, producing plenty of virga and a few brief bouts with sprinkles. A couple of these high-based showers drifted over adjacent low elevations, producing nothing more than gusty winds and virga. After sunset, the loss of daytime heating effectively shut off any activity, and it was a quiet night across Colorado.

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.