{"id":2383,"date":"2016-05-16T10:27:04","date_gmt":"2016-05-16T16:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coloradofloodthreat.com\/?p=2383"},"modified":"2016-05-16T10:27:04","modified_gmt":"2016-05-16T16:27:04","slug":"ftb-05-16-2016-first-moderate-flood-threat-of-the-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/?p=2383","title":{"rendered":"FTB 05-16-2016: First Moderate Flood Threat of the Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Issue Date: 5\/16\/2016
\nIssue Time: 10:25 AM<\/p>\n

A MODERATE FLOOD THREAT IS FORECAST FOR PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS AND RATON RIDGE.<\/em><\/p>\n

A LOW FLOOD THREAT IS FORECAST FOR PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS, RATON RIDE, PALMER RIDGE, URBAN CORRIDOR, FRONT RANGE, SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS, CENTRAL MOUNTAINS, GRAND VALLEY, NORTHWEST SLOPE, AND SOUTHWEST SLOPE.<\/em><\/p>\n

An upper-level low will continue to work its way eastward across the western US today, spreading mid-\/upper-level support for scattered<\/span>-to-widespread<\/span> showers overhead. Plenty of moisture will continue to be pulled into Colorado at the same time, pushing precipitable water<\/span> (IPW) values well above average for this time of year (see IPW graph below). Instability will be a mitigating factor across most of Colorado due to the extensive cloud cover and cool temperatures in many places.<\/p>\n

The best moisture\/instability will be present across the far Southeast Plains\/Raton Ridge, bringing about the highest expected rain rates, thus the moderate threat for those locations. A few storms will become severe, with the main threats being large hail (1-1.5 inches\/diameter), damaging winds (up to 55-70 mph), and an isolated<\/span> tornado or two. Heavy rain will attend the strong\/severe thunderstorms<\/span>; rain rates will be mentioned in the zone-specific forecast discussions below.<\/p>\n

\"IPW_20160516\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Overall, showers will be widespread<\/span> across most of Colorado this afternoon\/evening, with thunderstorms more scattered<\/span> in nature. Thunderstorms will be capable of producing moderate-to-heavy rainfall, but storm motions and meager instability (in most locations) are limiting factors on the flood threat. Thunderstorm activity will peak during the afternoon and early evening hours, with scattered<\/span> showers\/weak thunderstorms lingering into the overnight hours. Please see the zone-specific forecast discussions below for more details.<\/p>\n

Today’s Flood Threat Map<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n