After a seemingly calm period of weather across Colorado, a potent system will bring the threat of flash flooding back to previously hard-hit areas.
Who’s ready to cool off? After a stretch of days in the 90s with smoke filling the air again, I think it’s safe to say that an upcoming change in the weather pattern will be well received. A rather strong area of low pressure will swing down the spine of the Rockies from Idaho and will bring Colorado, especially Western Colorado, the threat of heavy rains for Wednesday and Thursday.
Southwest winds will begin to bring in tropical moisture to Western Colorado on Wednesday. Showers and storms are expected to develop and increase in coverage throughout the day and linger into the evening and overnight hours.
At times, the rain may be very heavy and a few storms may even turn severe with damaging winds and large hail a concern along the Colorado/Utah border. Heavy rains associated with these storms may have impacts on Glenwood Canyon again as clean up continues after the major floods a few weeks ago.
Other burn scar areas of Western Colorado will have to be watched closely as flooding and mudslides will be possible anywhere across the Western Slope.
For the Urban Corridor, Wednesday will be another hot and mostly dry day as this weather system approaches from the west.
Smoke will be decreasing as winds push most of the smoke to the north. A cold front will roll through the area Thursday morning and that will trigger showers and storms that should impact almost everyone at some point in the day. In the Foothills, the threat of burn scar flooding is elevated mainly on Wednesday as monsoon moisture blows in.
Some severe weather is not out of the question along the Front Range and in northeast Colorado. Damaging winds and hail being the main threats. Overall, the amount of rain we see east of the Divide will be less than what they see out west but nonetheless, some beneficial rains are expected.
Temperatures will fall to 5-10 – degrees below normal by Thursday and will stay on the cool side through the weekend. Friday to Sunday look to be generally dry with only isolated mountain showers.
Less than a half inch of rain is forecast for Denver and the I-25 corridor through Friday although some areas could pick up more under training thunderstorms. The Western Slope may see a half inch to an inch and a half of rain between Wednesday and Thursday which is great news for drought relief but bad news for travellers as I-70 may be shut down ahead of the incoming flood threat.
~Andy
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