Time: 905 AM Mon July 31, 2023
Forecaster: Brad Simmons
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Heavy Precipitation Outlook
Flash Flood Prediction Program
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WIDESPREAD LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY
RAINFALL/MESSAGE 2'S WILL BE ISSUED BY 4:00 PM
Much of the District missed out on the thunderstorm activity
yesterday despite elevated moisture levels but that will not be the
case today as widespread thunderstorms are expected as upper level
steering winds become more southwesterly pushing foothill storms
eastward. Moisture is also on the increase at the surface and aloft
with dew points currently in the 60’s resulting in thunderstorms
that develop being very capable of producing heavy rainfall that may
lead to excessive runoff and possibly flash flooding. The high risk of
heavy rainfall has resulted in the NWS issuing a Flood/Flash Flood
Watch for the District which is valid from 4pm until midnight tonight
and Message 2’s will be issued later this afternoon, possibly before
4pm.
Prime time for thunderstorms will be from 3 or 4pm until midnight but
could linger beyond midnight into the early morning hours on Tuesday.
Storms will generally move from WSW to ENE at around 15mph, but
stronger storms may move more slowly or against the grain. Heavy
rainfall will be the primary threats from thunderstorms today but
large hail is also possible.
Temperatures will be near normal for this time of year with afternoon
highs over the plains in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Normal high for
Denver today is 90 degrees.
STORM RAINFALL POTENTIAL AND DURATION: Weak to moderate thunderstorms
will produce rainfall rates of 0.2-0.8” in 10-30 minutes. Strong
thunderstorms will have the potential to produce rainfall rates of
0.8-2.2” of rain in 10-30 minutes.
WORST CASE SCENARIO: A slow moving strong thunderstorm or a large
thunderstorm complex may result in up to 4.0” of rain in 60-90
minutes.
A LOOK AHEAD: Thunderstorms will be widespread to numerous on Tuesday
and Wednesday with highs only in the 80s. Thunderstorms will again be
very capable of producing heavy rainfall that may lead to excessive
runoff and possibly flash flooding and additional NWS Flood
Watches/Message 2’s are likely. A decrease in thunderstorms is
expected Thursday and Friday but there will still be a few storms with
heavy rainfall a good bet.
LOCATION
PRIME TIME
30-Minute Rainfall
and % Probability Message
Potential
Plains
Adams
400 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (60%) to 2" (30%)
HIGH
Arapahoe
400 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (60%) to 2" (30%)
HIGH
Broomfield
400 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (75%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (25%)
HIGH
Denver
400 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (60%) to 2" (30%)
HIGH
Boulder
300 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (75%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (25%)
HIGH
Douglas
300 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (60%) to 2" (30%)
HIGH
Jefferson
300 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (75%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (25%)
HIGH
Foothills above 6500ft
Boulder
200 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (20%)
HIGH
Douglas
200 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (20%)
HIGH
Jefferson
200 PM TO 1159 PM
0.5" (80%) to 1" (50%) to 2" (20%)
HIGH
MONITOR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOR SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENTS.
MHFD Flood Prediction Center: 303-458-0789 F2P2 Website
[
http://udfcd.org/Flash+Flood+Prediction+Program]