Weather
Temperatures set to drop 20+ degrees below normal in Colorado on Sunday. Source: maps.weatherbell.com
Forecast Summary
Forecast written on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 9 p.m. MST
- A low pressure system sitting over Southern California is set to move eastward over Arizona and eventually SE Colorado this weekend
- Very moist air from the Gulf of Mexico gets sucked in to Eastern Colorado as the low pressure system arrives
- A cold front moves over Colorado on Saturday, dropping temperatures as much as 25 degrees
- The cold front provides enough instability to generate widespread rain/snow, which should come down heavy as it runs into the Front Range
Source: maps.weatherbell.com
A potent low pressure system is currently sitting just off the coast of Southern California, but is set to begin advancing eastward across the SW on Friday and Saturday.
As it approaches the four-corners area, moisture from the Gulf of Mexico gets sucked in towards the low, drawing it into Colorado. In the graphic below, note how moisture seems to wrap counter-clockwise around the low as it moves in.
Source: maps.weatherbell.com
The front edge of the low acts as a cold front, which moves west-east across the state on Saturday. Abnormally warm temperatures suddenly turn abnormally cold, dropping as much as 25 degrees in some areas.
This cold front provides enough lift for rain/snow to develop along the Front Range by Saturday afternoon.
Snow levels quickly drop down to ~9,000ft by Saturday evening as cold air rushes in. Snow levels then gradually drop down to ~7,000ft by early Sunday morning, as rain/snow is expected to be ongoing throughout the night.
Source: maps.weatherbell.com
The result is several inches of snow falling across much of the Front Range, with upwards of 1 foot of snow possible in spots, while much of the Front Range sees at least 1″.
Extended Forecast
This snow is not expected to stick around long, as much warmer temperatures are expected to move back in by late next week. Parts of the country may even see temperatures 20+ degrees above normal next weekend.
Source: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/814day/
