Issue Date: 6/3/2018
Issue Time: 10:15 AM
NO FLOOD THREAT IS FORECAST TODAY.
Following several days of largely dry and hot weather across Colorado, a compact and fast-moving but potent upper-level low is currently approaching the state from the southwest. The low has begun to draw plentiful moisture northward into the southern half of the state, as evidenced by this morning’s GOES-16 water vapor imagery (see figure below). As the low moves rapidly east-northeastward, this envelope of moisture will expand, allowing for widespread showers and some thunderstorms across most of the southern half of the state. In addition, the moisture may creep far enough northward to produce some scattered thunderstorms across northeastern portions of the state. At this time, chances of receiving notable precipitation outside the mountains appear remote.
With the abundance of moisture expected, there is some risk of brief heavy rainfall across portions of the state, particularly across the southwest. However, with the dry conditions and very low snowpack that have prevailed there of late, excessive runoff is not anticipated to be an issue. Instead, the moisture will provide welcome relief for many. As the low continues to track off to the east-northeast, the precipitation threat will diminish from southwest to northeast. Precipitation will come to an end before sunset across the southwest corner, whereas rain in the central portion of the state may linger for several more hours. There is no flood threat today.
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
Grand Valley, Southwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, Central Mountains, Southeast Mountains, Northern Mountains, Front Range:
Mostly cloudy conditions with a few showers along the state’s southern border are already present this morning, with both clouds and precipitation expected to increase in coverage through early- to mid-afternoon. Generally, precipitation intensities should be in the 0.05” to 0.20” per hour range, but isolated spots may briefly approach 0.5” per hour. The highest rainfall totals may reach around 1.0-1.5” and will be over elevated terrain on the west/southwest facing slopes.
Primetime: 10AM to 9PM
Northwest Slope, San Luis Valley:
Just isolated light rain is expected for the state’s two high arid regions, with precipitation largely confined to the higher terrain on the fringes of these regions. Rain that occurs will be light, with rainfall rates less than 0.1” per hour and daily rainfall totals of less than 0.25”. Cloud cover will likely be present for much of the day, keeping temperatures down.
Primetime: now through 9PM
Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains, Palmer Ridge, Southeast Plains, Raton Ridge:
Widely scattered thunderstorms are possible but unlikely today for most of the area east of the mountains, with locations nearest the mountains (i.e., farther west) the most likely to experience any measurable precipitation. Rainfall rates will be light, as dry surface air will evaporate much of what falls. Nonetheless, 1-hour rain rates up to 0.25” per hour are possible.
Primetime: 3PM to 9PM
