Winter Weather Mischief Afoot

Good Morning!

Big changes are on the way for the Denver Metro, and Front Range from Colorado Springs all the way north to the state line and into Wyoming.

A robust winter storm is loaded up and heading this way, and we can expect conditions to start deteriorating quickly starting late afternoon.

FRWcurconds112519.png

WHAT’S CAUSING ALL THIS?: Quite simply, a strong surface low entering the region via the Four Corners. Any time you have a strong low tracking east-northeast from over the Four Corners/Durango part of the world, you have to be on your toes. We also have good moisture and cold air available from Canada, so all the ingredients are in place.

Take a look at the low right there on the Four Corners. Here’s the Hi-Res Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model FutureCast at 5 PM this afternoon. You see the blue over the northern part of the Front Range Urban Corridor – just in time to make PM drive a hot (or cold) mess. If we look further into the future, with a FutureCast from the European model at 5 AM tomorrow, we see this:

Plan to work from home if possible, or allow PLENTY of extra time to head into work if you must be out. Here you see the snow has spread all the way down past the Springs and toward Pueblo.

BOTTOM LINE: Prepare for a SIGNIFICANT winter weather event starting in the next 5 to 8 hours in the area. I’ll be watching it for you here, and we’ll keep you advised.

– Forecaster Mike Estwick, Front Range Weather

One For The Books!

Goodness! You talk about bipolar weather! Mother Nature definite showed a Gemini twist with the weather the last 24-36 hours! We went from summery conditions to winter, with snow included, in the space of less than a day!

The front started to make it’s presence known around 5 PM, just in time for the PM rush. Skies around the Metro clouded up with dust, thanks to the strong winds pushing out ahead of the frontal boundary. For awhile it looked like a wildfire was burning close by and the smoke pall was carried into town, or the start of an Arizona dust/sandstorm (called a haboob).

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It’s chilly in the area now, here’s the latest observations as of 6:00 AM MDT:

Boulder: 21°, Longmont: 21°, Erie: 18°, Broomfield: 18°, DIA: 12°, Buckley AFB: 16°, Centennial Airport: 14°

We’ll see highs in Denver today topping out in the mid 40’s. The weekend will be much more seasonable, readings will rebound back into the 60’s!

Whew – what a roller coaster! Have a good one!

TORNADO WATCH – NORTHEASTERN COLORADO

Good Afternoon. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch for all of northeastern Colorado until 10 PM MDT.

Coloradotorwatch

Here is the text of the watch – have a good source of warning information available and a plan of where to go and what to do in case of a warning.

  URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
   Tornado Watch Number 485
   NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
   300 PM MDT Thu Jul 4 2019

   The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

   * Tornado Watch for portions of 
     Northeast and east-central Colorado

   * Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 300 PM until
     1000 PM MDT.

   * Primary threats include...
     A couple tornadoes possible
     Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
       inches in diameter possible
     Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING BROOMFIELD, ADAMS

The National Weather Service In Denver Colorado Has Issued A
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For…
Southwestern Weld County In Northeastern Colorado…
Eastern Broomfield County In Northeastern Colorado…
Northwestern Adams County In Northeastern Colorado…
* Until 730 Pm Mdt.
* At 646 Pm Mdt, A Severe Thunderstorm Was Located Over Northwestern Thornton, Or 15 Miles North Of Denver, Moving Northeast At 20 Mph.
Hazard…Quarter Size Hail.
Source…Radar Indicated.
Impact…Damage To Vehicles Is Expected.
* Locations Impacted Include…
Thornton, Northeastern Westminster, Northeastern Broomfield,
Northeastern Commerce City, Northglenn, Brighton, Erie, Frederick,
Fort Lupton, Lochbuie, Dacono, Barr Lake And Todd Creek.
Hail…1.00in Wind…<50mph

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WELD

The National Weather Service In Denver Colorado Has Issued A
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For…
Southwestern Weld County In Northeastern Colorado…
Eastern Broomfield County In Northeastern Colorado…
Northwestern Adams County In Northeastern Colorado…
* Until 730 Pm Mdt.
* At 646 Pm Mdt, A Severe Thunderstorm Was Located Over Northwestern Thornton, Or 15 Miles North Of Denver, Moving Northeast At 20 Mph.
Hazard…Quarter Size Hail.
Source…Radar Indicated.
Impact…Damage To Vehicles Is Expected.
* Locations Impacted Include…
Thornton, Northeastern Westminster, Northeastern Broomfield,
Northeastern Commerce City, Northglenn, Brighton, Erie, Frederick,
Fort Lupton, Lochbuie, Dacono, Barr Lake And Todd Creek.
Hail…1.00in Wind…<50mph

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING ELBERT

The National Weather Service In Denver Colorado Has Issued A
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning For…
East Central Elbert County In East Central Colorado…
Central Lincoln County In East Central Colorado…
* Until 715 Pm Mdt.
* At 627 Pm Mdt, A Severe Thunderstorm Was Located 6 Miles South Of Limon, Moving East At 20 Mph.
Hazard…Ping Pong Ball Size Hail And 60 Mph Wind Gusts.
Source…Radar Indicated.
Impact…Expect Damage To Roofs, Siding, And Trees. People And Animals Outdoors Will Be Injured. Expect Hail Damage To Roofs, Siding, Windows, And Vehicles.
* This Severe Thunderstorm Will Remain Over Mainly Rural Areas Of East Central Elbert And Central Lincoln Counties.
Hail…1.50in Wind…60mph

Developing Thunderstorm, Colorado Springs

Good Afternoon, as we await the changeover to snow from rain, look at this guy! He decided to organize over the Springs and start heading NE about 30 MPH. Hail from pea size to dime size is possible with this storm, as well as a quick downpour. Be aware of this if you’re traveling in the area of the Springs up towards Calhan and and perhaps Kiowa if it holds together.