SPM 08-31-2018: Hot, Dry, and Blustery Across the State

Issue Date: Thursday, August 31st, 2018
Issue Time: 10:00 AM MDT

Summary:

August 30^th was another dry, windy day, with temperatures at or above average nearly everywhere across Colorado. As has been the pattern over the past few days, Thursday was even less smoky than it has been since last weekend. Ample sun mixed with an overhead shortwave lead to the development of large cumulus clouds that threatened, but rarely delivered, rainfall. Despite gusty winds throughout the day underneath thunderstorms across the Northwest Plains and across the eastern part of Colorado, there were no wind storm reports. No flooding was reported on Thursday.

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.