{"id":5607,"date":"2017-07-25T10:19:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T16:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coloradofloodthreat.com\/?p=5607"},"modified":"2017-07-26T08:21:41","modified_gmt":"2017-07-26T14:21:41","slug":"ftb-07-25-2017-continuing-heavy-rain-with-moisture-surge-for-the-western-slope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/?p=5607","title":{"rendered":"FTB 07-25-2017: Continuing Heavy Rain with Moisture Surge for the Western Slope"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2017<br>\nIssue Time: 10:20AM MDT<\/p>\n<p><em>&nbsp;<\/em><em>&mdash;<strong>LOW\/MODERATE<\/strong> flood threat for portions of the Northwest Slope, Northern Mountains, Grand Valley, Central Mountains, Southwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, Front Range, Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The surge of <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;monsoon&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;a seasonal wind that brings moisture and rain to the region into which it blows; there is also a dry phase to monsoons, but popular usage refers only to the wet phase; these winds occur in many places around the world, and where they occur they are responsible for a majority of that location&rsquo;s annual precipitation&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>monsoon<\/span> moisture yesterday brought nearly continuous thunderstorms and showers to the western portion of the state yesterday. After sundown, showers continued over the Southwest Slope and moved northward throughout the morning hours. Light precipitation is still occurring under some of the deeper plumes. Cloud cover from this complex of storms can be seen in the visible satellite image below. This satellite image reflects how much moisture has returned with this surge and will play a role in the heavy rainfall 24-hour totals today. <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> (<span class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;PW&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;(Stands for: Precipitable Water) 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\"}]'>PW<\/span>) was measured at 1.31 inches in Grand Junction this morning, which is near record levels! In Denver, <span class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;PW&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;(Stands for: Precipitable Water) 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\"}]'>PW<\/span> was at 0.69 inches but is forecasted to rise throughout the day to over 1 inch.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vis-7-25-2017-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5618\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/vis-7-25-2017-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"269\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A High pressure center is currently positioned over the Texas Panhandle, with a <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> off the coast of northern California. These features, along with the weak upper-level ridge to our southeast, is helping transport the <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;monsoon&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;a seasonal wind that brings moisture and rain to the region into which it blows; there is also a dry phase to monsoons, but popular usage refers only to the wet phase; these winds occur in many places around the world, and where they occur they are responsible for a majority of that location&rsquo;s annual precipitation&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>monsoon<\/span> moisture northward. <span class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;PW&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;(Stands for: Precipitable Water) 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\"}]'>PW<\/span> is forecasted to rise over 1 inch nearly statewide by early this afternoon, with the western slope still slightly increasing. This moisture has and will continue to reach the higher terrain 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>. With steering flow aloft being 10-15 knots, heavy and <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> rainfall is expected. Current storms will continue to move north\/northwest with the vorticity maximum and the next set of storms will begin to fire over the higher terrain just after noon. Although 1-hour rain rates will won&rsquo;t likely be higher than 1-inch per hour, 3-hr totals up to 1.8 inches are possible and 24-hour totals up to 2 inches. This additional precipitation will be enough to trigger mud flows, land slides, small stream and road flooding especially over burn scars and locations that have accumulated a lot of rainfall the last few days.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/wv-7-25-2017.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5609\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/wv-7-25-2017.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"220\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Further east, cloud cover should begin to burn off in the late morning hours. Where the sun is able to shine through, more instability will be able to build during the early afternoon. The more easterly movement of the storms will allow them to drift into the adjacent plains in the late afternoon. Higher terrain areas along the Palmer <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;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\"}]'>Divide<\/span> in the southern Urban Corridor will be favored for the heavier rain-producing thunderstorms initially. Rain rates up to 1.1 inches per hour are conceivable with 3-hr rates up to 1.8 inches. Over the Northeast Plains, there is a possibility for some severe storms as long as cloud cover doesn&rsquo;t become an issue and <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;outflow boundaries&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;A surface boundary formed by the horizontal spreading of thunderstorm-cooled air. Outflow boundaries may intersect with each other or with other features (fronts, dry line, low-level jet) and initiate new convection. Brief strong winds are possible with outflow boundaries, and they can also persist for more than 24 hours.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>outflow boundaries<\/span> help trigger surface convergence. With higher <span class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;PW&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;(Stands for: Precipitable Water) 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\"}]'>PW<\/span>, thunderstorms could produce heavy rainfall. Rain rates up to 1.75 inches per hour are possible with 3-hr rates up to 2 inches. Gusty winds, 1-inch hail, field ponding and road flooding are possible with the more <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;severe thunderstorms&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Thunderstorms that produce a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 kts) and\/or hail at least 1&amp;quot; in diameter.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>severe thunderstorms<\/span>.<\/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, scroll below the map.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/FTP-20170725-old.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5624\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/FTP-20170725-old.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"880\" height=\"499\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-135\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/floodthreat_legend2.png\" alt=\"Flood Threat Legend\" width=\"275\" height=\"71\"\/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Zone-Specific Forecasts:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Northwest Slope, Grand Valley, Southwest Slope, Northern Mountains, Central Mountains, San Juan Mountains, San Luis Valley:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cloudy this morning with some lingering showers moving to the north. Max 1-hour rain rates up to 1 inch are possible with 24-hour totals up to 2.3 inches. Debris slide, mud flows and <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> <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;flash flooding&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 flooding<\/span> will be possible. A Moderate threat has been issued for western portions of the region with a Low covering all areas that have had lots of rain the last few days. Storm activity should start to subside after sundown, but some storms may linger until midnight.<\/p>\n<p>Primetime: 11AM to 12AM<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Front Range, Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains, Southeast Mountains, Southeast Plains, Raton Ridge, Palmer Ridge:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Partly cloudy becoming sunny with cooler temperatures where cloud cover persists. Over the high terrain, more <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> showers over the Southeast Mountains and more <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> up north. Max 1-hour rain rates up to 0.8 inches will be possible. Over the adjacent plains, max 1-hr rain rates up 1.1 inches possible with 3-hr totals near 1.8 inches. Gusty winds and small hail will likely accompany the bigger storms that form. There is a Low flood threat.<\/p>\n<p>Primetime: 12PM to 12AM<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 Issue Time: 10:20AM MDT &nbsp;&mdash;LOW\/MODERATE flood threat for portions of the Northwest Slope, Northern Mountains, Grand Valley, Central Mountains, Southwest Slope, San Juan Mountains, Front Range, Urban Corridor, Northeast Plains The surge of <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;monsoon&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;a seasonal wind that brings moisture and rain to the region into which it blows; there is also a dry phase to monsoons, but popular usage refers only to the wet phase; these winds occur in many places around the world, and where they occur they are responsible for a majority of that location&rsquo;s annual precipitation&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>monsoon<\/span> moisture yesterday brought nearly continuous thunderstorms and showers to the western portion of the state [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"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\/5607"}],"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\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5607"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5607\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5625,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5607\/revisions\/5625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}