Strong May cold front

Tomer’s Take:

  • A strong cold front remains on track for MT, WY, and CO between 5/19-5/20.
  • Forecast atmospheric pressure anomalies run 2-3 standard deviations below the 30-year average.
  • The bulk of snow falls in SW MT and on CO’s Continental Divide-East.
  • Yellowstone could see 1″ of accumulation. Big Sky and Cooke City could see several inches of accumulation.
  • Air temps in parts of Colorado drop 30-40 degrees.
  • Snow levels could drop to the valley floor.
  • Strong winds precede this cold front.

Infrared satellite shows the storm track and two large storm systems lined-up. The first storm system delivers the strong cold front while the 2nd storm system amplifies the high pressure ridge and jet stream.

Infrared satellite 5/17/2022 8am.

Pressure Pattern

An abnormally large trough rotates through the Intermountain West 5/19-5/20. Again, forecast atmospheric pressure anomalies run 2-3 standard deviations below the 30-year average.

Forecast atmospheric pressure anomalies valid 5/19-5/20, GFS interpretation.

Snow Forecast

5/17-5/26:

Inches of total snow 5/17-5/26.

12 thoughts on “Strong May cold front

  1. JEFF

    Chris, looks like the isobar lines are far apart for us in NE NM, hopefully that means we won’t have these winds that are fanning this monster fire? Thanks, I still keep up with you even after being a New Mexican for a year now! Keep up the work, It helps.
    jeff ( formally Jeff Wilson – Arvada )

    1. christomer Post author

      Hi Jeff – it does look like consistent 50mph gusts are likely on Thursday and Friday over the higher peaks. Some precipitation is also possible between Friday night and Saturday morning. Chris

  2. Clay

    This is great….water! Pretty moist here in Frisco….but we’ll take it.
    Hopefully hammer time at the Basin!!!

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