Time: 1026 AM Sat July 20, 2024 Forecaster: Justin Brooks

Heavy Precipitation Outlook
Flash Flood Prediction Program

Slightly cooler, multiple rounds of scattered showers and thunderstorms possible
Flow aloft continues its northerly shift today as the southwestern US summertime ridge shifts slightly northwest, creating a setup for cooler Canadian air and Pacific moisture to make its way into the Rockies. The arrival of this cooler, relatively moist airmass (dewpoints around 50 and precipitable water (PWAT) values between 0.85-1") will spark convective initiation over the high country outside the district between Noon-1pm this afternoon, with an initial round of scattered storms possible for the District between 1-4pm. Storms today will move from N/NW to S/SE at 10-20mph, and be capable of producing up to 1.5" of rainfall in 60 minutes, hail, and gusty outflow winds.

Forecast model guidance from the convection-allowing models suggest that another round of storms is possible this evening, with potentially higher rain impacts. At this time, a certain degree of uncertainty exists as to this second round's timing and impacts, as outflow boundary driven initiation appears likely in and around the District later today.
STORM RAINFALL POTENTIAL AND DURATION: Typical showers thunderstorms today will produce 0.25"-0.50” in 10-30 minutes. Stronger/slower moving storms will produce up to 1.00" in 10-30 minutes.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: A strong/stationary thunderstorm, or training of thunderstorms, may be capable of producing up to 2.00” or more in 30 minutes or less.

A LOOK AHEAD: Low level moisture continues to increase tomorrow under the current upper-level setup, supporting another day with moderate/high potential for message issuance. Showers and thunderstorms are possible before noon, persisting through the afternoon and likely clearing around sunset. More scattered storms are possible Monday, though moisture decreases leading to lower heavy rainfall chances.

Location Prime Time 30-Minute Rainfall
and % Probability
Message
Potential
Plains      
Adams 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Arapahoe 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Boulder 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Broomfield 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Denver 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Douglas 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Jefferson 200 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (75%) to 0.5" (50%) to 1" (25%) MOD
Foothills above 6500ft      
Boulder 100 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (80%) to 0.5" (60%) to 1" (40%) HIGH
Douglas 100 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (80%) to 0.5" (60%) to 1" (40%) HIGH
Jefferson 100 PM TO 1000 PM
0.25" (80%) to 0.5" (60%) to 1" (40%) HIGH
MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENTS.
https://f2p2.udfcd.org/generator/