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Forecast Discussion:
The Nebraska storm forecasted yesterday (Tuesday) DID occur and even dropped a near-dawn tornado Wednesday morning. There was plenty of hail in that storm as well (Figure 1). The outflow did make it to the Front Range, but no storms formed here (except some very small midday cells north and south of Estes Park).
We continue to dry out today. The upper level ridge is now centered overhead (Figure 2) so the atmosphere is sinking, making thunderstorms more scarce. Precipitation over the next 48 hours is nearly zero on the northeastern plains of Colorado (Figure 3). The mountains and southern central regions of the state may see something. But not much.
We have a surface high in place as well today (Figure 4). Things are getting quiet.
Checking on last week's drought index (Figure 5) dry conditions are creeping up from the southwest as we go longer and longer without widespread rain.
The longer range forecast:
The ridge tilts over by the weekend (Figure 6) but we remain quite dry and very close to normal for temperatures all week. We are normally dry and around 89°F this time of year. That is what you'll get!
