Quite a bit happening this Friday with the upper level trough<\/span> moving NNE throughout the day. It is currently over northern Utah and is forecast to be over the WY\/MT border by this evening. This will put western Colorado under the influence of a jet streak<\/span> (purple oval below). Thus, strong SW\/SSW surface winds are forecast this afternoon (15 to 25 mph) with gusts between 35 and 40 mph anticipated. On top of that, a dry air mass begins to move over the area located at the base of the trough<\/span>. This will cause elevated and critical fire weather<\/span> over western Colorado and portions of the mountains. A Red Flag<\/span> Warning<\/span> has been issued by the Pueblo NWS<\/span> WFO<\/span> (Weather Forecast Office) from noon today until 9PM tonight for the Southwest Slope and Grand Valley. Additionally, very cold overnight temperatures are anticipated for the lower elevations of the Northwest Slope with northwest winds behind the trough<\/span>, so a Freeze Watch<\/span> is in place. Not thinking there will be much storm development over the mountains this afternoon with the drier air and strong winds aloft (shear<\/span> the tops of the storms), but a couple isolated<\/span> showers may be possible favoring the eastern San Juan Mountains and Central Mountains near and along the Continental Divide<\/span>. Storms may produce some strong outflow<\/span> gusts due to the temperature\/dew point<\/span> spread.<\/p>\n Over eastern Colorado, a surface low develops this afternoon associated with the upper trough<\/span>. This will help set up a dryline<\/span> over the eastern plains by noon with higher dew points<\/span> on the east side of this line (green dashed line below). This will help produce lift for isolated<\/span> storms, some which may become severe, over the eastern plains favoring the eastern Colorado border once again. With fast storm movement to the NNE, not thinking flooding will be an issue, but large hail (up to 1.75 inches) and strong outflow<\/span> winds (35-40 mph) are anticipated with the severe storms that do develop. Additionally, the tightening pressure gradient will produce some strong southwest (west) and south (east) surface winds and gusts up to 35 mph, which will create elevated fire danger. This is especially true for the immediate adjacent plains over eastern Colorado where dew points<\/span> are forecast to be lower. A stronger cold front drops through from the north again this evening in the wake of the trough<\/span>, so overnight lows will drop into the low 50°Fs behind it with temperatures in the 70°Fs for the lower elevations tomorrow (minus the far southeast corner). Flooding is not forecast.<\/p>\n
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