Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Summer weather returns after wild last day of Spring

Call it what you will, but snow falling anywhere in the state on June 20th does not happen every year. While many locations along the front range picked up well over an inch of rain, and experienced temperatures some 20 degrees below average for the day - the mountains put the monster snow-melt on pause for a moment to experienced freezing temperatures and accumulating snow. How much snow? Enough to close Trail Ridge Road, and force summer campers scrambling from upwards of 6 inches of fresh snow.

The system has now moved on, and the clear skies and soaring temperatures can attest to that. It appears things will only get warmer as the week goes on, sending highs into this low 90s by Thursday. The snow melt can resume, prompting new flood warnings and extending some old. The tremendous rains along the front range will only exacerbate these issues. A slight chance of showers will return to the forecast towards the end of the week, but these will generally be isolated and light.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Cooler temps to offer some reprieve from the heat

To most, the last week came as quite a shock after the abnormally cool and wet May we just experienced. The average temperature in May was 53.0 degrees (just short of the top 10 coolest Mays, but well below average) but has since spiked to 67.9 in the first week of June. Denver has already recorded three 90 degree days this month (NWS). This heat wave, however, is expected to be moving out over the 12 hours or so, allowing for cooler temperatures to settle in. Several disturbance will make this possible, with even a chance for scattered showers accompanying the cooler weather Wednesday evening through Friday. Highs on Thursday and Friday are expected to stay in the lower 70s.

Temps should warm back to the low 80s as we head into the weekend and early next week, but it looks like the 90s will take there time returning.