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The Next Storm/Next Snow Forecast Discussion from the Cherrywood Observatory – April 24, 2018

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Forecast Discussion:

Figure 1 shows our first thunder-maker moving through at 5:30p Monday. It wasn't a lot of water, but it was nice to hear.

By the time most read this, it will be Tuesday morning, but I'll release this Monday night to give the latest on the snowfall forecast.  We might see a morning coating of snow from this minor system (Figure 2). The front is just south and east of Denver at 6pm Monday (Figure 3).

Midday today (Tuesday), the front will be down into Texas and New Mexico, but some post front precipitation is still possible in the easterly flow behind the front (Figure 4). This is also being aided by a short wave moving over today (the red line to the northwest of Colorado Tuesday AM in the 500mb map-Figure 5). I have to admit, with the split jet stream flow - that is a messy, confusing map!

By this evening (Figure 6), some showers and higher elevation snow chances continue.  They won't be gully-washers. They will be more like wandering showers.

Figure 1: The live radar image from RadarScope Pro app at 5:30pm showing our thunderstorm. White zig zags are lightning strikes.

Figure 2: total snowfall accumulation between Monday PM and Tuesday PM from the GFS and weather5280.com Longmont is the pink dot.

Figure 3: The current surface analysis map from the weather channel.Longmont is the pink dot.

Figure 4: The noon Tuesday forecast surface analysis map from NCEP. Longmont is the pink dot.

Figure 5: the 500mb upper air forecast map for Tuesday AM. Ridges are blue lines, troughs are red lines. Longmont is the pink dot.

Figure 6: The Tuesday PM forecast surface analysis map from NCEP. Longmont is the pink dot.'

The longer range forecast:

Things simplify in the upper atmosphere later this week as a big ridge moves into place.  Warm spring like weather will become the rule. More later!

Figure 7: the 500mb upper air forecast map for Friday AM. Ridges are blue lines, troughs are red lines. Longmont is the pink dot.

Current Weather

Partly sunny

Partly sunny

49°F

UV Index
2 Low
Pressure
29.6 Rising
Visibility
8 miles
Dewpoint
44 °F
Humidity
84%
Wind
NW 2.4 mph
Gust
7.9 mph
Wind Chill
49 °F

Hourly Forecast

Today
9 AM
54°F
Cloudy
Today
10 AM
58°F
Cloudy
Today
11 AM
63°F
Cloudy
Today
12 PM
68°F
Cloudy
Today
1 PM
67°F
Mostly cloudy
Today
2 PM
70°F
Mostly cloudy
Today
3 PM
68°F
Mostly cloudy
Today
4 PM
67°F
Mostly cloudy
Today
5 PM
65°F
Cloudy
Today
6 PM
58°F
Thunderstorms
Today
7 PM
56°F
Thunderstorms
Today
8 PM
55°F
Cloudy

7 Day Forecast

Thunderstorms

Friday

70 °F

Mostly cloudy with a couple of thundershowers this afternoon; gusty winds and small hail can accompany any downpour


Thunderstorms

Friday Night

45 °F

Cloudy; a couple of showers and a thunderstorm this evening followed by periods of rain late; gusty winds and small hail can accompany any downpour


Rain

Saturday

48 °F

Chilly with periods of rain and a thunderstorm; travel in the foothills and mountains will be slippery due to snow


Rain and snow

Saturday Night

39 °F

Cloudy with rain, mixed with a little snow late; travel in the foothills and mountains will be slippery due to snow


Mostly cloudy

Sunday

59 °F

Mostly cloudy and warmer


Partly cloudy

Sunday Night

36 °F

Partly cloudy


Partly sunny

Monday

71 °F

Partly sunny, pleasant and warmer


Partly cloudy

Monday Night

45 °F

Partly cloudy


Mostly sunny

Tuesday

73 °F

Mostly sunny, breezy and pleasant


Partly cloudy

Tuesday Night

43 °F

Partly cloudy


Sunrise and Sunset

Sunrise
6:06 AM
Sunset
7:51 PM

Based on AccuWeather data