Flood in Colorado, August 5, 2002

WESTERN COLORADO & EASTERN UTAH AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
230 PM MDT MON AUG 5 2002

MONSOONAL PLUME STREAMING OVER THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON.
PRECIPITABLE WATER EXCEEDING ONE INCH WITH THE MORNING SOUNDING
RECORDING 1.3 INCHES.  SURFACE DEW POINTS GENERALLY RANGING FROM
THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S.  ONCE VALLEY TEMPERATURES REACHED THE
UPPER 70S.. CONVECTIVE CELLS RAPIDLY FORMED.  SUFFICIENT STEERING
FLOW TO KEEP CELLS MOVING ALONG.. BUT FLASH FLOODING COULD BE A
POTENTIAL PROBLEM IF CELLS TRAIN OVER THE SAME AREA.  THIS WILL BE
A POSSIBILITY FOR PARTS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO TONIGHT.. SO WILL
EXTEND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT.  MAIN CONCERN IS THE
MISSIONARY RIDGE BURN AREA AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.  WITH PACIFIC
NORTHWEST TROUGH KEEPING SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE WESTERN U.S.. AND
EASTERLY WAVES MOVING INTO NEW MEXICO.. SUB TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL
CONTINUE TO FUNNEL ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.  ONE WAVE TO WATCH IS
THE POTENTIAL VORTICITY CENTER.. CURRENTLY OVER THE TEXAS PANHANDLE..
THAT WILL MOVE INTO SOUTHERN COLORADO ON TUESDAY.  THIS COULD
ENHANCE CONVECTION IN THE UPSLOPE AREAS OF THE SAN JUANS.. SO THE
THREAT OF HEAVY SHOWERS WILL PERSIST.  THE ETA MODEL KEEPS PROGGING
THAT AS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TROUGH SHIFTS INLAND.. IT WILL SHIFT
THE MONSOONAL PLUME EASTWARD WITH OUR AIR MASS GRADUALLY DRYING
OUT.  DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WILL OCCUR AS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TROUGH
WILL WEAKEN AS IT MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN ROCKIES WITH ENERGY
SHEARING NORTHEAST.  FOR THE TIME BEING.. WILL FORECAST PERSISTENCE
FROM TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY.  FRISBIE

EXTENDED (THU-MON)...THE PERIOD WILL BEGIN UNDER A DEEP SOUTHWEST
FLOW. ON THURSDAY, SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY
WITH THE THREAT OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN,ESPECIALLY OVER THE HIGHER
TERRAIN OF WESTERN COLORADO. AFTER THAN, THE SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT
WILL BECOME MORE WEST TO NORTHWEST AS HIGH PRESSURE SETS UP TO OUR
SOUTH. THIS WILL CUT OFF THE MOIST FLOW, BRINGING ANOTHER BREAK FROM
THE MONSOON. A WEAK SHORTWAVE LOOKS TO SKIRT THE EXTREME NORTHERN
PART OF THE CWA ON FRIDAY-SATURDAY. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT,
COMBINED WITH RESIDUAL MOISTURE, SHOULD PROVIDE THE IMPETUS FOR
THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY LATER IN THE DAY ON FRIDAY. ON SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY, THE HIGH IS FORECAST TO BE CENTERED OVER SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA...WHICH SHOULD PUT OUR REGION UNDER A DRY NORTHWEST FLOW
FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. BA

.GJT...FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR AREAS IN AND AROUND
     THE MISSIONARY BURN SITE IN LA PLATA COUNTY.