Alert archive / Colorado / Special Weather Statements in 2018

Special Weather Statement, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

August 3, 2018Boulder County, Gilpin County, Jefferson County, Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this special weather statement at Aug 3, 2018, 8:16 PM MDT for Boulder County, Gilpin County, Jefferson County, Colorado. It was in force for 44 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued
Aug 3, 2018, 8:16 PM MDT (02:16 UTC)
Expired
Aug 3, 2018, 9:00 PM MDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Boulder County, CO, Gilpin County, CO, Jefferson County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:19 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 167 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2018-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 00:00Z on 2018-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -10 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1819 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-51 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

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What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this special weather statement went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before this special weather statement went out at Aug 3, 7:55 PM MDT, 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 3, 7:55 PM MDT, 21 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
755 PM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

.UPDATE...
Issued at 755 PM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

An area of showers and thunderstorms will continue to sink
southeast across north central Colorado through mid evening.
Biggest question is how far south and east these storms will make
it. The 00Z sounding at KDNR showed a dry airmass just off the
surface, so don't believe the convection will make it into the
Denver area. So far, any storms moving over the divide have
quickly died. A few showers and storms may move southeast out of
Nebraska and clip the northeast corner where better moisture
exists. As the airmass stabilizes overnight and drier moves in,
skies will clear with mostly sunny/smokey skies expected at
sunrise.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday)
Issued at 253 PM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

With cloud cover throughout north central and northeast Colorado,
the latest model runs have reduced CAPE over the far eastern
portions of the forecast area. For this reason, any severe storms
that form will be isolated. Strong to severe storm formation has
begun in Yuma County on the far northeastern plains. The back end
of the convection on the plains is expected to reach Denver by 6 PM.
Storms should move in from Wyoming tonight which will remain over
the mountains and foothills.

Late Saturday morning convection will begin over the high country
and spread onto the nearby plains in the afternoon. Highs will be
increasing to near seasonal normal, due to 700 mb temperatures
being several degrees higher on Saturday. CAPE values will be
1500 to 2000 J/kg with shear of 45 to 50 knots over Phillips and
Sedgwick Counties and 100 to 200 J/kg elsewhere. With this in mind
warm air aloft will keep any severe thunderstorms isolated. Any
severe storms that do form could produce large hail and strong
outflow winds.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday)
Issued at 346 PM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

Models show flat upper ridging to our south Saturday night, with
a weak upper trough to move across late into Sunday morning. The
flow aloft is mainly due westerly and pretty strong Saturday night
and Sunday. By Monday into Monday night, upper ridging is
developing and building in from the west. The flow aloft is still
zonal but it supposed to decrease by Monday night. Upward motion
is progged on the QG Omega fields late Saturday night through
Monday. The low level wind fields show upslope Saturday evening
then weak downsloping into Sunday morning. There is more upslope a
slightly cooler airmass for Sunday evening. This continues well
into Monday. Normal drainage kicks in Monday evening. Moisture-
wise, there is pretty decent amounts around Sunday through Monday
night. Precipitable water values are from 0.50 to 1.25 inch all
five periods. There is limited CAPE across the CWA progged for
Saturday evening. CAPE values are higher over the foothills and
plains late day Sunday and late day Monday. There is a bit of
measurable rainfall on the QPF fields Saturday night. The coverage
is greater late day Sunday, with decent amounts progged over the
far east around 00Z. The best coverage is for Monday into the
evening. Of course, the GFS shows the lion's share of measurable
rainfall all five periods. For pops, will go with "chances" in
many areas during the late afternoon and evening periods. For
temperatures, Sunday's highs a tad cooler than Saturday's.
Monday's will be a bit cooler than Sunday's.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening)
Issued at 755 PM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

A slight chance for thunderstorms continues through 04-05Z. Most
if not, all the storms should stay over the higher terrain west of
Denver and over the northeast plains. Could see a wind shift to
the northwest with this convection. If not, winds will stay
southerly through the night. Skies will clear after 06Z, as the
airmass dries. On Saturday, there will be a chance for late
afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Have a PROB30 in the TAFs for
this.

&&

.BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

UPDATE...Meier
SHORT TERM...Sullivan
LONG TERM...RJK
AVIATION...Meier
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 3, 11:09 AM MDT, 9 hours 7 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1109 AM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

COZ030>051-041715-
Jackson County Below 9000 Feet-
West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet-
Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet-
South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/
Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet-
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/
Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above
9000 Feet-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet-
Central and Southeast Park County-
Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County-
Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield
County-
North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and
Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet-
Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County-
Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County-
Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County-
Logan County-Washington County-Sedgwick County-Phillips County-
1109 AM MDT Fri Aug 3 2018

This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There will be scattered showers and thunderstorms today as a
disturbance moves across the area. An isolated severe storm or two
may occur east of a Sterling to Akron to Limon line. Hail to one
inch in diameter along with wind gusts to 60 mph will be the main
threat. Otherwise storms could produce wind gusts to 50 mph,
small hail, and brief heavy rain.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

There is a slight chance of late day showers and thunderstorms
for most of the forecast area Saturday through Tuesday. Chances
will be a bit higher in the mountains and foothills. It will be
a little drier Wednesday and Thursday in most areas. Some of the
storms over the plains may produce moderate to heavy rain, hail
and gusty winds.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 3, 8:16 PM MDT, 0 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
816 PM MDT FRI AUG 3 2018

COZ034>036-039-040300-
South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest
Boulder/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above
9000 Feet CO-
Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County
CO-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet CO-
Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above  6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear
Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet CO-
816 PM MDT FRI AUG 3 2018

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN BROOMFIELD...
GILPIN...EASTERN CLEAR CREEK...NORTHERN JEFFERSON AND SOUTHERN
BOULDER COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM MDT...

At 814 PM MDT, Doppler radar showed thunderstorms dissipating over
the foothills northwest of Denver. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will
be possible with this activity in and near the foothills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Prepare for sudden gusty winds. Secure loose objects and move to a
safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 4012 10506 3964 10507 3963 10511 3963 10509
      3962 10508 3962 10510 3961 10508 3953 10508
      3960 10569 4016 10556
TIME...MOT...LOC 0214Z 253DEG 10KT 3991 10548

MEIER

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 3, 8:39 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOUAdams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and 3 more51 min

Nearby

Special Weather Statements in Colorado, 2018Every special weather statement in 2018

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.