SPM 05-31-2019: Finally, Some Spring Temperatures mixed with Afternoon Storms

Issue Date: Friday, May 31st, 2019
Issue Time: 9:05AM MDT

Summary:

With the ridge building to the northwest, high temperatures yesterday were 5-10F warmer than Wednesday. While still a little below normal, these temperatures were very much appreciated after a cold May. Isolated showers popped up over the high terrain during the afternoon hours favoring the Front Range, San Juan and Southeast Mountains near the Divide. Just over a half inch fell in San Miguel County. Storms were able to survive along the Palmer Ridge as they moved into the adjacent plains, but storms quickly dissipated east of I-25. Radar indicates up to 0.25 inches fell (isolated) with a CoCoRaHS near Fountain reporting 0.08 inches this morning. A passing shortwave over the southern border helped spark more storm activity over the Raton Ridge and Southeast Plains. Radar estimates totals up to 1 inch with max 1-hr rain rates of 0.5 inches.

To see estimated precipitation totals over your area yesterday, scroll down to the 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 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour total precipitation contain bias corrections that are not disaggregated into the hourly estimates, so there will likely be some differences. The accumulation ending time is 7AM of the date shown in the bottom right corner. Also shown optionally are vulnerable fire burn areas (post 2012), which are updated throughout the season to include new, vulnerable burn areas. The home button in the top left corner resets the map to the original zoom.