A few isolated storms possible today under very warm skies. A cold front associated with an upper level trough moving across the northern Rockies will sweep into northern CO tonight. A few isolated thunderstorms will be possible along this front as it moves through CO tonight, but mostly over the eastern Plains. Northeast upslope flow will usher in behind the front and bring some low clouds and possible drizzle to the Urban Corridor and Foothills below about 8000-9000 ft Saturday morning. This may cause some low visibilities along 285 late Friday night into early Saturday morning. Low clouds should clear by mid to late morning leaving cooler temps and mostlty sunny skies for the remainder of Saturday. there is a chance for afternoon thunderstorms across the foothills south of I-70 as well as the Palmer Divide and South Park Saturday.
Sunday will bring a return of warmer temps and a chance for isolated afternoon thunderstorms, but mostly south of I-70 and over the higher terrain.
For next week, upper ridge that has been parked over western TX will slowly move westward into NM and then into the 4 Corners region next week. This will keep temps very warm across CO next week, and limit precip to the more isolated thunderstorm variety, as we lose our good southerly monsoon flow in lieu of a drier northwesterly flow aloft. Some mid level moisture trapped under the ridge will be enough to fire isolated afternoon storms, but these will be more likely over the higher terrain near the Divide, although some storms could still drift over the foothills. In general, any precip amounts will be much less next week than the past week. The first 2 days of August provided 0.50 inches of precip on Conifer Mountain after 3.65 inches in July.
Long range models have been fairly consistent in keeping the upper ridge over the Great Basin or Rockies in the extended time range, which would limit any monsoon moisture into CO for the next 5-10 days. The only caviet is a tropical system is forecast to move into the eastern Gulf of Mexico late next week, which could influence the moisture picture.
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"Climatology is what you expect, Weather is what you get".
"It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong".
Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!
