Tonight’s Forecast:
** FLASH FLOOD WATCH for SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS, WET MOUNTAINS, RATON MESA until 3AM MONDAY **
There is an exceptional amount of moisture in Southern Colorado. With the passing of a cold front yesterday, we now have Easterly winds pushing all of that moisture up against the mountains. That will lead to strong thunderstorm development for this evening. These storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall, strong gusty winds, and small hail. The greatest threat from this is likely to be the heavy rainfall, which is why there is a Flash Flood Watch for the Sangre de Cristo & Wet Mountains along with the Raton Mesa. The Eastern Plains look to miss out on the majority of the thunderstorms for Sunday, but the I-25 corridor should keep a close eye. These storms will come together to form a mesoscale convective system (MCS), or a large group of organized thunderstorms. The MCS will likely move south towards the New Mexico border into the overnight before eventually dying off.
Monday will be MUCH cooler than the past few days, with highs only in the 70s for the Pikes Peak Region and lower 80s for Pueblo. High pressure works down in from Canada and will not only bring cooler air, but once again push that moisture up against the mountains and fire off another round of storms.
COLORADO SPRINGS: Low: 55, High: 75. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the mid-50s. Partly Cloudy to begin your Monday with scattered showers and storms by the afternoon. Much cooler, with highs just in the mid 70s.
PUEBLO: Low: 60, High: 81. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows near 60. Mostly clear to begin your Monday with scattered showers and storms. Cooler, with highs in the lower 80s.
CANON CITY: Low: 63, High: 80. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the lower 60s. Partly Cloudy to begin your Monday with scattered showers and storms by the afternoon. Cooler, with highs near 80.
WOODLAND PARK: Low: 50, High: 71. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows near 50. Partly Cloudy to begin your Monday with scattered showers and storms by the afternoon. Cooler, with highs in the lower 70s.
TRI-LAKES: Low: 50s, High: 60s / 70s. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the 50s. Partly Cloudy to begin your Monday with scattered showers and storms by the afternoon. Cooler, with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s.
PLAINS: Low: 60s, High: 70s / 80s. Partly cloudy early this evening before becoming clear by daybreak. Lows in the 60s. Mostly Clear on Monday morning with isolated showers and storms by the late afternoon and early evening. Cooler, with highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
WALSENBURG/TRINIDAD: Low: 50s, High: 70s. Strong to Severe Thunderstorms early this evening with potentially heavy downpours, then becoming partly cloudy with lows in the 50s. Mostly Clear on Monday morning with isolated showers and storms by the afternoon. Cooler, with highs in just the 70s.
Extended Outlook:
Tuesday and Wednesday look to bring a warm up in our afternoon high temperatures, but also a chance for an afternoon shower or T’storm. The majority of the thunderstorm activity should be held to the mountains for the middle part of the week. On Thursday, another powerful system will rumble through the state and bring a greater chance for late day showers and storms. Those chances will stay with us through to next weekend before finally clearing out next Sunday.
