{"id":1482,"date":"2015-08-02T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2015-08-02T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coloradofloodthreat.com\/?p=1482"},"modified":"2015-08-03T10:32:43","modified_gmt":"2015-08-03T16:32:43","slug":"ftb-08-02-2015-moderate-to-high-flood-threat-issued-as-disturbance-invades-western-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/?p=1482","title":{"rendered":"FTB 08-02-2015: Moderate-to-High Flood Threat Issued as Disturbance Invades Western Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: 8\/2\/2015<br>\nIssue Time: 9:50 AM<\/p>\n<p><em>A HIGH FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE WEST FORK COMPLEX AND LITTLE SAND BURN SCARS AND ADJACENT AREAS.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>A MODERATE FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWEST SLOPE, GRAND VALLEY, AND NORTHWEST SLOPE REGIONS.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>A LOW FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE SAN LUIS VALLEY, GRAND VALLEY, NORTHWEST SLOPE, NORTHERN MOUNTAINS, CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, FRONT RANGE, URBAN CORRIDOR, SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS, RATON RIDGE, PALMER RIDGE, SOUTHEAST PLAINS, AND NORTHEAST PLAINS.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Current observations show the elongated upper-level ridge stretching from the Pacific NW into the south-central US, with a circulation center over southeast NM\/western TX. The position of the circulation continues to stream subtropical moisture into Colorado, and <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;precipitable water&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;The total atmospheric water vapor contained in a vertical column of the atmosphere. It is typically measured in inches, and anomalously (deviation from normal) high values of precipitable water generally correlate to heavy rainfall potential.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>precipitable water<\/span> values continue to run above above average for most locations across the state. The best moisture resides west of the <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Continental Divide&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph {&amp;quot;textColor&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;white&amp;quot;} --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p class=&amp;quot;has-white-color has-text-color&amp;quot;&amp;gt;the dividing line that separates the watersheds of the western and eastern United States; rivers west of the divide empty into the Pacific Ocean, while rivers east of the divide empty into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Continental Divide<\/span>, brought in bulk by the mid-\/upper-level disturbance rotating across Utah and western CO at this time (circled in black on water vapor image below). <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;widespread&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;greater than 60% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Widespread<\/span> showers are currently ongoing across southwest Colorado, in association with the mid-\/upper-level disturbance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/08022015_WV.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"  wp-image-1483 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/08022015_WV.png\" alt=\"08022015_WV\" width=\"497\" height=\"370\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The disturbance will provide the dynamics necessary for <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>scattered<\/span>-to-<span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;widespread&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;greater than 60% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>widespread<\/span> showers and thunderstorms across the mountains, with the best coverage across the San Juan Mountains, Southwest Slope, and Grand Valley mountain locations. Locally heavy rainfall will be present with the stronger thunderstorms, and persistent heavy showers with slow storm motions, has heightened <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;flash flood&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph {&amp;quot;textColor&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;white&amp;quot;} --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p class=&amp;quot;has-white-color has-text-color&amp;quot;&amp;gt;flash flooding can refer to usually dry areas becoming rapidly inundated with water, or rapid water level rises on streams, creeks, or rivers beyond flood stage; typically caused by heavy rainfall, but can also be caused by meltwater&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>flash flood<\/span> concerns. The burn scars of the West Fork Complex and Little Sand should be watched closely today.<\/p>\n<p>For eastern Colorado, <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;isolated&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;less than 10% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>isolated<\/span>-to-<span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>scattered<\/span> thunderstorms are expected for areas near the interface with the mountains and along the Raton Ridge. Comparable to yesterday, a surface <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;trough&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure; the opposite of a ridge.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>trough<\/span> is oriented northeast-to-southwest across the Northeast Plains and Palmer Ridge; <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;isolated&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;less than 10% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>isolated<\/span> thunderstorms are expected to develop along this <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;trough&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure; the opposite of a ridge.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>trough<\/span>, and will be capable of producing strong winds (gusting to 60-65 mph), large hail (&gt; 1 inch), and locally heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Today&rsquo;s Flood Threat Map<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>For more information on today&rsquo;s flood threat, see the map below (hover over threat areas for more details). For Zone-Specific forecasts, jump below the map.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/STP_snapshot_201508021.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-1487\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/STP_snapshot_201508021.png\" alt=\"STP_snapshot_20150802\" width=\"849\" height=\"543\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Zone-Specific Forecasts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4><strong>Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains, Raton Ridge, Palmer Ridge, and Southeast Plains:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;isolated&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;less than 10% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Isolated<\/span>-to-<span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>scattered<\/span> showers and thunderstorms are expected across the areas highlighted by the low flood threat, with a couple of <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;isolated&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;less than 10% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>isolated<\/span> storms expected elsewhere along the Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains near the Cheyenne Ridge, and western portions of the Southeast Plains (namely eastern Pueblo and Las Animas counties). Maximum rain rates are as follows:<\/p>\n<p>Urban Corridor, Palmer Ridge, Northeast Plains and Southeast Plains: 0.8-1.2 inches\/hour.<br>\nRaton Ridge: 1.0-1.4 inches\/hour<\/p>\n<p>Timing: Noon &ndash; 10 PM, with a lingering shower\/weak thunderstorm possible until the early morning.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Northern Mountains, Front Range, and Central Mountains:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;isolated&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;less than 10% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Isolated<\/span>-to-<span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>scattered<\/span> showers and thunderstorms, with coverage increasing from north to south. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, and this is accounted for in the low flood threat areas. Maximum rain rates will be 0.8-1.2 inches\/hour. Slow-moving storms will be a concern.<\/p>\n<p>Timing: 11 AM &ndash; 10 PM, with a few lingering showers over the higher terrain into the early morning hours.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Southeast Mountains, San Luis Valley, San Juan Mountains, Grand Valley, Northwest Slope, and Southwest Slope:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Scattered<\/span>-to-<span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;widespread&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;greater than 60% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>widespread<\/span> showers and thunderstorms are expected, with the best coverage across the San Juan Mountains, Southwest Slope, and Grand Valley regions. Fairly slow-moving storms, abundant low-level moisture, and the presence of mid-\/upper-level disturbance has heightened <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;flash flood&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph {&amp;quot;textColor&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;white&amp;quot;} --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p class=&amp;quot;has-white-color has-text-color&amp;quot;&amp;gt;flash flooding can refer to usually dry areas becoming rapidly inundated with water, or rapid water level rises on streams, creeks, or rivers beyond flood stage; typically caused by heavy rainfall, but can also be caused by meltwater&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>flash flood<\/span> concerns today for locations west of the <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;Continental Divide&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph {&amp;quot;textColor&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;white&amp;quot;} --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p class=&amp;quot;has-white-color has-text-color&amp;quot;&amp;gt;the dividing line that separates the watersheds of the western and eastern United States; rivers west of the divide empty into the Pacific Ocean, while rivers east of the divide empty into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>Continental Divide<\/span>. Maximum rain rates are as follows:<\/p>\n<p>Southeast Mountains: 0.8-1.2 inches\/hour<br>\nSan Luis Valley, Southwest Slope, Grand Valley, and San Juan Mountains: 1.2-2.0 inches\/hour<br>\nNorthwest Slope: 0.8-1.2 inches\/hour<\/p>\n<p>Timing: Current &ndash; 10 PM will be primetime, with <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;scattered&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;25-40% areal coverage&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>scattered<\/span> showers and thunderstorms continuing into tomorrow morning. The heavy rain threat will continue into the overnight hours with the presence of the disturbance.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: 8\/2\/2015 Issue Time: 9:50 AM A HIGH FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE WEST FORK COMPLEX AND LITTLE SAND BURN SCARS AND ADJACENT AREAS. A MODERATE FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, SOUTHWEST SLOPE, GRAND VALLEY, AND NORTHWEST SLOPE REGIONS. A LOW FLOOD THREAT HAS BEEN [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1495,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions\/1495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}