Snow is falling in Colorado along with soaking rain

Tomer’s Take: Snow is falling above 10,000ft in Colorado while Denver gets soaking rain through 5/12. Large, widespread hail nailed Denver and the Front Range last night. That risk has now passed as the storm system has “cooled”.

I’m also watching a Monsoon-esque flow 5/14-5/15 as atmospheric wind turns southerly pulling up Gulf Moisture into NM and parts of CO.

View on top of the Divide at 12,700ft from Loveland Ski Area:

Forecast Freezing Level

Colorado’s Central Mountain Zone, Daily Max/Min:

5/11: 11100’/10000′

5/12: 12300’/10100′

5/13: 10800’/9800′

5/14: 11800’/10800′

5/15: 13800’/12000′

Forecast Wind Gusts

Quandary Peak, CO:

5/11: 40mph

5/12: 40mph

5/13: 20mph

5/14: 30mph

5/15: 20mph

Mount Superior, UT:

5/11: 20mph

5/12: 20mph

5/13: 25mph

5/14: 30mph

5/15: 15mph

Forecast Pattern

Forecast jet stream valid 5/14. Notice the large overall ridge with Northern Branch running through Canada. Weak southern branch from cut-off low turns wind southerly. This opens the door for Monsoon-esque flow Sunday 5/14-5/15. Rain moves into the NM and parts of CO.

Forecast jet stream valid 5/19. Mostly high pressure ridging with weak wind across the Intermountain West.

Monsoon-esque Flow 5/14-5/16

Forecast Timing

Forecast radar/satellite valid 5/11-5/16.

Heavy Rain

Flash flooding possible across Denver, Front Range, and Eastern Plains on 5/11 and early 5/12.

Forecast Totals

5/11-5/18.

A-Basin, CO Snow Timeline:

5/11: 4″

5/12: AM 2″

5/13: PM 3″

5/14: 1″