Snow Squall Warning 3, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

779 
WWUS55 KBOU 310135
SQWBOU

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
634 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

COC035-039-310200-
/O.CON.KBOU.SQ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200131T0200Z/
Douglas CO-Elbert CO-
634 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

...A SNOW SQUALL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM MST FOR
EASTERN DOUGLAS AND WEST CENTRAL ELBERT COUNTIES...

At 634 PM MST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line
extending from near Louviers to 6 miles north of Black Forest, or
along a line extending from 18 miles south of Denver to 20 miles
north of Colorado Springs, moving south at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Extremely poor visibility and heavy snow.

SOURCE...Radar and webcams.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

This includes Interstate 25 between mile markers 164 and 192.
 
Locations impacted include...
Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, southwestern Parker, Elbert, Lone Tree,
Larkspur, Perry Park, Louviers, Franktown, Castle Pines, Sedalia,
Greenland and The Pinery.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes
your location. If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra
time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead
to accidents.

Wet roadways will quickly freeze. Black ice will cause roads, bridges
and overpasses to become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be
prepared for sudden loss of traction.

&&

LAT...LON 3913 10502 3957 10500 3952 10481 3935 10466
      3913 10439
TIME...MOT...LOC 0134Z 019DEG 20KT 3948 10496 3911 10468 

$$

BARJENBRUCH

570 
WWUS55 KBOU 310201
SQWBOU

Snow Squall Warning
National Weather Service Denver CO
700 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

COC035-039-310210-
/O.EXP.KBOU.SQ.W.0003.000000T0000Z-200131T0200Z/
Douglas CO-Elbert CO-
700 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

...THE SNOW SQUALL WARNING FOR EASTERN DOUGLAS AND WEST CENTRAL
ELBERT COUNTIES HAS EXPIRED...

The snow squall which prompted the warning has weakened slightly. 
Therefore, the snow squall warning has been allowed to expire.

However, snow continues across much of Douglas and southwestern 
Elbert County.  Please exercise caution while traveling as roads 
will remain snow covered and slick.  

LAT...LON 3913 10502 3957 10500 3952 10481 3935 10466
      3913 10439
TIME...MOT...LOC 0200Z 358DEG 25KT 3932 10495 3895 10467 

$$

BARJENBRUCH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
223 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 203 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

The fast moving disturbance dropping southwest out of the
northern Rockies is upon us at this time. Latest WYDot cams from
this morning and afternoon have been indicating the gradual
southward movement snow activity associated with the advancing
cold front and best ascent aloft. Current radar starting to show
weak reflectivity developing along the northern Colorado counties,
including the northern foothills and CO/WY border. Will expect
snow showers to continue to increase in coverage across the I-25
corridor through the rush hour period into the early-mid evening
hours.

Echoing the late morning update, latest short range forecast
soundings still indicate a brief period of pretty good
instability in the mid-level saturated layer about the time
colder air from the front ramps into the higher terrain. Forecast
cross sections indicate a brief 3-6 hour period of a banded
structure to the precip, so a hit or miss coverage to the snow is
expected with this fast moving disturbance. Latest short term
model runs have trended even lighter with the potential snowfall
accumulation and coverage. Snowfall coverage should be mainly
confined to the favored upslope areas of the west Palmer Ridge,
southern foothills and portions of the southern and southwest
Metro Denver areas. Will look for .5-2 inches along the west
Palmer with up to an inch in the favored areas above. Due to the
banded nature to the precip, a quick strip of up to an inch would
be possible over the Urban Corridor before it quickly moves out
later this evening. In the high country, with very weak/brief QG
ascent this afternoon, most of this evenings snow will be from a
moment of steep lapse rates and orographics. Will expect a few
lingering snow showers in the high country overnight in moderate
to strong northerly flow aloft.

The array of satellite channels currently indicate a fairly sharp
dry and subsident back edge to this feature up to the north over
the northwest Wyoming and Montana vicinity. Behind this fast
moving wave, the ridge axis is quick to rotate southeastward onto
the high plains of Montana and Wyoming tonight and eventually
over Colorado by early Friday morning. With dry conditions Friday,
will expect a rebound back to warm temperatures and light winds.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 203 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

Upper level ridge off the California coast will flatten and track
inland this weekend in advance of an upper level trough. This
ridge will be centered over the the Great Basin Saturday and shift
east of the Central Rockies Sunday. Surface high pressure will be
centered over the Great Basin and lower pressure will be east of
the Colorado. This set up will produce windy conditions at times,
especially in the foothills. It will be a warm and dry weekend
under the ridge. Highs will climb into the 60s on Saturday. It
should be a little warmer Sunday ahead of the approaching Pacific
system. Expect downslope winds to increase Sunday which should
help with the warming. A few locations may reach the lower 70s
Sunday afternoon.

Much colder temperatures and snow are expected for Monday and
Tuesday. Models are in better agreement today showing the upper
level trough dropping southeast out of the Pacific Northwest and
strengthening into a closed low over the Great Basin Monday
morning. At the surface, a strong cold front will push south
across Colorado Sunday night and early Monday morning. Highs
Monday will occur during the morning as strong cold air advection
takes place during the day Monday. Lift from the trough and
upslope flow is expected to produce a period of snow sometime
Monday into Monday night. Light snow could linger into Tuesday.
Snowfall amounts are still quite uncertain at this time. A few
models have been showing a shift to the south. In addition to
this, once the low moves across Colorado models show the low gets
shear apart. Main message for early next week is that it will be
much colder with a period of snow. There should be enough snow and
cold to make roads snow covered and slippery Monday afternoon
through Tuesday morning. Coldest air will be over the area Tuesday
and Tuesday night. Highs Tuesday will struggle to reach the lower
20s with the higher elevations in the single digits. On Tuesday
night, if skies clear out lows could drop below zero.

Northwest flow aloft will prevail Wednesday and Thursday as an
upper level ridge amplifies over the eastern Pacific. This is
expected to keep temperatures at or below normal. Weak ridging
embedded in the northwest flow will bring dry conditions Tuesday
night and most of Wednesday. Snow will return to the mountains
late Wednesday and persist through Thursday as moisture in the
northwest flow aloft gets rung out over the mountains. Downslope
winds are expected to keep areas east of the mountains dry.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening)
Issued at 203 PM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

A fast moving storm system will continue to affect the Denver
Metro terminals into the late afternoon and evening hours. A
northerly wind shift associated with an advancing cold front is
expected in the 22Z to 23Z timeframe. This will bring a lowering
of clouds along with an increasing chance for snow showers after
22Z. This will create the likelihood for periods of MVFR
conditions late this afternoon through 03Z Friday. Conditions
will rapidly dry and improve after 06Z with VFR conditions likely
into Friday morning. As surface winds weaken behind the the cold
front this evening, a gradual transition to the normal overnight
drainage pattern is expected into the late Friday morning hours.

&&

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

SHORT TERM...Fredin
LONG TERM...Meier
AVIATION...Fredin

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1109 AM MST Thu Jan 30 2020

COZ030>051-311815-
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 MST Thu Jan 30 2020

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A cold front will move onto the northeast plains this afternoon
brining an increase in clouds, colder temperatures along with the
development of snow showers. With light snow persisting in the
mountains and high foothills today, snow showers will increase
late this afternoon and continue into the early evening.
Additional snow accumulations in the mountains will range from 2
to 4 inches through tonight. Across the lower elevations, around
an inch can be expected along the Palmer Ridge with up to an inch
over the southern portions of the Denver Metro area. Elsewhere
across the lower elevations, snow accumulations will range from a
dusting to under and inch. Conditions will improve for later this
evening with clearing skies expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Mild and dry conditions are expected to prevail through this
weekend. At times, it will windy in and near the foothills.

Much colder temperatures are expected Monday and Tuesday with
highs in the 20s. Snow is expected Monday through early Tuesday.
Several inches of snow will be possible, especially in the
mountains, foothills and urban corridor. The snow combined with
cold temperatures will make roads snow covered and slippery. Stay
tuned for updates on this developing storm.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.