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PM UpdateThursday PM update: Nice and warm to end the week, storms return for the weekend, turning colder by Sunday
By Brendan Heberton
Thu, May 06, 2021
We head into yet another weekend watching the forecast for a turn toward colder and wetter weather by late in the weekend and early next week. Friday will feature highs in the low 80s across the area, with about a 20% chance of afternoon storms. Saturday we see the storm chances increase, and temperatures drop some 5 to 10 degrees as well, with highs expected in the low to mid 70s for Denver. Storm chances Saturday will be in the 50% range, with better potential for some of those to become s
Climate
The 1991 to 2020 climate normals just released
By Matt Makens
Tue, May 04, 2021
The newest U.S. climate normals dataset released Tuesday May 4th, 2021 shows some interesting differences from the previous dataset from a decade ago. Becky Bolinger posted a long while ago about how the new climate normals will compare to the 1981-2010 version. How might the new NOAA climate temperature normals change for your county?We’re almost one month into 2020, and this is an exciting time for climatologists. Upon the completion of thi
Weather5280 Insider
Status of the MJO and potential impacts on our weather
By Brian Bledsoe
Mon, May 03, 2021
Just as a refresher, the MJO or Madden-Julian Oscillation is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds, and pressure that traverses the planet in the tropics and returns to its initial starting point in 30 to 60 days, on average. There can be multiple MJO events within a season. So, the MJO is best described as intraseasonal tropical climate variability (i.e. varies on a week-to-week basis). It is different from El Niño or La Niña, because those phenomena remain stationary with
Climate
Snowfall Totals
March 2021 will end as Denver's second snowiest on record, with 34.0" of snow recorded at DIA
By Brendan Heberton
Tue, Mar 30, 2021
Drought
Did the March 2021 snowstorm improve drought conditions across Colorado?
By Becky Bolinger
Thu, Mar 18, 2021
Previous Posts
Colorado WeatherHere comes the rain! (And snow, and wind, and hail)
By Brendan Heberton
Sun, May 02, 2021
We continue to track our next round of wet weather, due to arrive in the form of potentially strong storms this afternoon and continuing off and on as rain and snow overnight into Monday for many, especially those along and west of I-25. The hourly timer for the Denver area shows the chance of showers and storms will increase quickly by early afternoon (perhaps even a bit sooner for some) and will continue through the overnight hours and through a chilly and damp Monday. If we watch the prog
Drought
Where drought conditions have changed for the better across Colorado and the Denver area
By Matt Makens
Fri, Apr 30, 2021
Drought remains firmly in place across the vast majority of Colorado and Thursday's update shows an increase of two percent in the exceptional drought category but all is not lost, look at Larimer and Boulder Counties. The drought increase this past week came mostly in Rio Blanco County. The National drought showed an increase in total drought which now the abnormally dry to drought areas cover more than two-thirds of the Lower 48. Drought update & the outlook: Thursday, April 29th, 2021The c
Insider Pro Update
Drought update & the outlook: Thursday, April 29th, 2021
By Matt Makens
Thu, Apr 29, 2021
The coverage area of drought increased during the past week and as of this update abnormally dry and drought conditions cover more than two-thirds of the Lower 48. > Several upper-level troughs and closed lows moved in the westerly jet stream flow across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) during this U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) week. They dragged surface fronts and low pressure systems along with them. The weather systems moved across the West then generally followed two storm tracks after crossing th
Weather5280 Insider
Another soaking rain on the way? Recent rains exceed 3" in spots as we look ahead to the weekend, next week
By Brendan Heberton
Thu, Apr 29, 2021
This week's rain was plentiful for much of Northeast Colorado, with some locations across the northeast plains picking up more than 3" of rain Tuesday and Tuesday night. Elsewhere across the state folks were not as fortunate. As we look at precipitation totals over the last 3 days we see a bullseye of that heavy rain over NECO, as well as some impressive totals from severe storms across Texas and Oklahoma Wedn
Denver Forecast
Wet weather ahead for Denver and Front Range
By Matt Makens
Tue, Apr 27, 2021
Through Tuesday morning data continue to show a very wet setup for later today through Wednesday morning. Total precipitation totals may exceed one inch in many locations, and snowfall totals remain subject to elevation but also may be impressive for some. The system gains strength as it passes over the mountains and heads east today with impacts to range from severe thunderstorms to significant snow. Upslope trouble tonight and early Wednesday?Model images below are from the EURO Model Upslo
Weather5280 Insider
Upslope trouble tonight and early Wednesday?
By Brian Bledsoe
Tue, Apr 27, 2021
Model images below are from the EURO Model Upslope Potential The storm that is set to move through the area looks to produce some good rain and snow for some of us. While amounts are both in question, one of the main ingredients that models are focusing on is some pretty solid upslope. The animation below shows wind speed and direction at roughly 5000 to 7000 feet above the ground, from this morning through early Wednesday evening: As low pressure moves through E/NE Colorado, the wind turns fr
PM Update
Monday PM update: Rain and snow return tomorrow to Northern Colorado
By Brendan Heberton
Mon, Apr 26, 2021
We continue to track changes in our weather due to arrive early Tuesday, bringing another round of cooler and wetter weather to much of the state through Wednesday. For now, warm temperatures and wind! Even as a Winter Storm Watch has been posted for the north central mountains of Colorado, Red Flag Warnings remain in effect through this evening for much of the rest of the state (pink, below!). Temperatures are expected to remain mild through the night, but then won't warm all the much Tuesd
State of the Atmosphere
The State of the Atmosphere: Sunday, April 25th, 2021
By Brendan Heberton
Sun, Apr 25, 2021
The official high today so far is 80°F out at DIA, but intra-hour reading had us at 81°F, so it could be that ends up being the official high today when records are set. In either event, a warm, warm day along the Front Range and much deserved! Today was the warmest it's been in the Mile High City since April 5th, and will either tie or nearly tie the warmest temperatures of 2021 for the city as well. Outside of the warm first week or so of the month, it's been a chilly one! In fact, yesterday
Weekend Outlook
Weekend outlook, and a look ahead to next week
By Brendan Heberton
Fri, Apr 23, 2021
With Wednesday's narrowly scoped snow band that set up over portions of the Denver metro area, the city's seasonal snowfall total eclipsed the 80" mark for the first time since 1983! Season to date DIA has now recorded 80.2" of snow, an impressive feat, especially given the backdrop of La Niña conditions this winter, and his pushed this season into the number 9 spot of snowiest seasons on record for the city. Again, this is for DIA where official records are kept for Denver, but many metro locat
Snowfall Totals
Snowfall totals from most recent storm as we look ahead to the remainder of the week
By Brendan Heberton
Tue, Apr 20, 2021
Another 'good' snow across the region, and some remarkably cold weather to boot. Denver's low this morning dropped to 15°, two degrees shy of the record low for the date which is 13° dating back to 1966. For snowfall, the most impressive totals came from the Boulder area Monday night, with 8.9" at the National Weather Service office. For Denver, the official total is 3.1", nicely without in our 2 - 4" forecast range. Downtown did a bit better, with most totals in the 4 - 5" range, and tota
Forecast Update
Monday AM update: Cold front pushes through NE Colorado, snow to follow
By Brendan Heberton
Mon, Apr 19, 2021
As is almost always the case, the cold front has arrived ahead of schedule this morning. Winds are out of the northeast now, with temperatures in the 20s and 30s across the plains and urban corridor. Denver International Airport warmed to 42°F briefly ahead of the front this morning, and will now remain in the low 30s through the remainder of the morning, with temperatures gradually falling into the 20s this afternoon and evening. We still expect bitter cold temperatures by Tuesday morning beh
State of the Atmosphere
The State of the Atmosphere: Sunday, April 18th, 2021
By Brendan Heberton
Sun, Apr 18, 2021
With plenty of sunshine and temperatures breaking the 50-degree mark across the metro area this afternoon, today's feeling very nice after a chilly and wet week. The mild weather will be short-lived, however, as another rather potent cold front will swing through northern Colorado on Monday, and bring with it another round of rain and snow to much of the state. Tomorrow's highs will depend largely on the timing of the front, but it looks to push into northern Colorado pretty early in the day
Snow
Next snowfall for Denver and Front Range arrives early next week
By Weather5280 ANDMatt Makens
Sat, Apr 17, 2021
As we gradually clear from the last snow event, the next is on the way set to arrive Monday into Tuesday for Denver and the metro areas. While today remains chilly, with even some flurries around, Sunday should be much milder across the region with more sun as well before our next system swings through Monday and Monday night. Heres's a look at the 500mb pattern for Monday night as the next trough swings through the region: This system will be a weaker trough that swings through, but will
Snowfall Totals
As heavy snow exits, chilly and unsettled weather persists; another round of measurable snow possible early next week
By Brendan Heberton
Fri, Apr 16, 2021
Given the high uncertainty with regard to our most recent snow Thursday and overnight, we wake up this morning quite happy with how the forecast worked out overall. The biggest bust (or boom, if you will) came in the foothills to Denver's west/southwest. Here we saw several 9- 12" reports. Our forecast range was 4 - 8" for this area. While some spotty locations across the metro pushed the 7" mark, for the most part locales ended up in the 2 - 6" range, even if at the upper end of that range
Snowfall Forecast
Latest snowfall forecast and discussion for Denver, Northeast Colorado
By Brendan Heberton
Thu, Apr 15, 2021
We're now day of, and models continue to differ on how the next 24 hours or so will pan out across Northeast Colorado. Details around snow totals aside, expect rain and snow showers to increase through the afternoon across northeast Colorado, with locally heavy rain and snow possible through the evening. The HRRR model, which has done quite well with snow events in recent weeks, has trended snowier this morning after keeping the heaviest snow well north of the Denver area in overnight runs. It
Snowfall Forecast
Accumulating snow remains on the table for Denver, Northeast Colorado to end week
By Brendan Heberton
Wed, Apr 14, 2021
So far the more bullish models for snow through midweek have come up way short. Last night's snow didn't deliver all that much outside of a few isolated areas along the Front Range mountains, with only a Trace to 1/2" for most areas along the urban corridor – if that. Below is a look at snowfall totals over the last three days through Wednesday morning. A Trace to 1" in spots along the urban corridor, and spotty 6"+ totals for the higher terrain to our west, but not widespread: If we compare
Forecast Discussion
Tuesday PM update: A look at snow chances this afternoon and overnight, update on late-week snow potential for Northeast Colorado
By Brendan Heberton
Tue, Apr 13, 2021
This morning's snow, mainly focused north and northwest of Denver and south of Fort Collins has come to an end. We now turn our attention to the next round of snow shower activity set to increase later this afternoon and overnight. Snow (and perhaps a bit of rain mixed in) chances increase from here through about midnight before gradually decreasing into Wednesday morning. Here's the latest hourly timeline for Denver: We don't see much change to the numbers we put out yesterday as you'll see