{"id":6278,"date":"2017-09-07T11:47:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T17:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coloradofloodthreat.com\/?p=6278"},"modified":"2017-09-11T10:58:09","modified_gmt":"2017-09-11T16:58:09","slug":"fto-09-07-2017-above-normal-moisture-hangs-around-supports-brief-elevated-flood-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/?p=6278","title":{"rendered":"FTO 09-07-2017: Above Normal Moisture Hangs Around, Supports Brief Elevated Flood Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: Thursday, September 7, 2017<br>\nIssue Time: 12PM MDT<br>\nValid Dates: 9\/8 &ndash; 9\/22<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/threat_timeline-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6280\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/threat_timeline-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"880\" height=\"127\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A high-amplitude <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;jet stream&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Relatively strong winds concentrated within a narrow stream in the atmosphere. General weather patterns are related closely to the position, strength and orientation of the jet stream.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>jet stream<\/span> is seen this morning across western North American with a large upper-level ridge over the Great Plains and 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 coastline. Within the <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> are two embedded disturbances, or shortwaves, that will be the main features controlling Colorado&rsquo;s weather over the next 7-10 days. Two precipitation events have been identified for the 15-day Outlook, corresponding to each <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;shortwave&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;A disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>shortwave<\/span>. The first event will be mainly light to moderate precipitation as low-level moisture remains marginal. The second event, while more uncertain because the <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;shortwave&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;A disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>shortwave<\/span> is expected to cut off from the main flow, has more potential to cause heavier rainfall due to a supply of higher moisture content available for it to draw from.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wv_markup-4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6281\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/wv_markup-4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"687\" height=\"398\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As shown in the forecasted <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> plumes, below, moisture content is expected to remain at or above seasonal normal through the majority of the next 10 day period. However, seasonal &ldquo;normal&rdquo; is entering a period of rapid decline. For example, at Denver, normal <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> decreases by about 5% every week during September and October. Thus, above normal does not have the same impact as it did during July and August. Nonetheless, note that during Event #2, there is a potential to approach <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> of 1 inch, which combined with other factors, can cause heavy rainfall east 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>. To the west, it is looking more likely that the Southwest <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> may be waning, at least for Colorado. <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> surges continue in Arizona, but moisture is not expected to make it far enough north to support heavy rainfall across the Western Slope, even over the climatologically favored San Juans.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/gefs_pw-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6279\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/gefs_pw-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"262\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Below we describe each of the two identified precipitation events in more detail.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Event #1: Friday (9\/8) through Sunday (9\/10)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>No Apparent Flood Threat <\/strong><\/span>but increase in PM showers and weak storms likely for San Juans<\/p>\n<p>A weak <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;shortwave&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;A disturbance in the mid or upper part of the atmosphere which induces upward motion ahead of it.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>shortwave<\/span> will approach Colorado from the west, causing a slight increase in rainfall coverage mainly across the San Juan mountains. Daily round of storms could produce up to 0.5 inches per hour of rainfall, locally, with up to 1 inch could fall over the entire period of the Event. However, flooding is not expected. Furthermore, storm coverage outside of the San Juans is expected to be rather limited.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/FTO_20170907_e1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6326\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/FTO_20170907_e1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"880\" height=\"499\"\/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Legend.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-230\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Legend.png\" alt=\"Legend\" width=\"94\" height=\"158\"\/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><strong>Event #2: Wednesday (9\/13) through Friday (9\/15)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Brief<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong> Elevated Flood Threat <\/strong><\/span>as <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;cut-off low&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;an upper-level low pressure system that has been &amp;quot;cut off&rdquo; from the prevailing winds that steer weather systems; cut-off lows typically become stationary or move very slowly, bringing prolonged periods of unsettled weather&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>cut-off low<\/span> finally moves east<\/p>\n<p>Despite a considerable amount of uncertainty remaining regarding timing, it does appear that the expected <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;cut-off low&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;an upper-level low pressure system that has been &amp;quot;cut off&rdquo; from the prevailing winds that steer weather systems; cut-off lows typically become stationary or move very slowly, bringing prolonged periods of unsettled weather&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>cut-off low<\/span> will move eastward out of the eastern Pacific early next week. The system will move slow enough to allow for moisture return across most of Colorado. An increase in afternoon and evening shower and storm activity is expected over the San Juans, Southeast Mountains, Raton Ridge and Palmer Ridge. Currently, it appears that Thursday could have a brief Elevated flood threat as the main disturbance moves overhead. With <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 as high as 1 &ndash; 1.1 inches east 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>, <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> heavy rainfall up to 1.7 inches per hour (east) and 1.2 inches per hour (west) could be possible. Fire scars in the Southeast Mountains will need to be watched since even 0.5 inches of rain per hour could cause excessive runoff.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/FTO_20170907_e2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-6327\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/FTO_20170907_e2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"880\" height=\"503\"\/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Legend.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-230\" src=\"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Legend.png\" alt=\"Legend\" width=\"94\" height=\"158\"\/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Issue Date: Thursday, September 7, 2017 Issue Time: 12PM MDT Valid Dates: 9\/8 &ndash; 9\/22 A high-amplitude <span class=\"glossaryLink\" aria-describedby=\"tt\" data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemTitle&gt;jet stream&lt;\/div&gt;&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Relatively strong winds concentrated within a narrow stream in the atmosphere. General weather patterns are related closely to the position, strength and orientation of the jet stream.&lt;\/div&gt;\" data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]'>jet stream<\/span> is seen this morning across western North American with a large upper-level ridge over the Great Plains and 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 coastline. Within the <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> are two embedded disturbances, or shortwaves, that will be the [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278"}],"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\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6278"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6329,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6278\/revisions\/6329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive-coftb.dewberryanalytics.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}