Hail in Colorado, May 31, 2024

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
302 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Chance of more storms through tonight, a few could be severe
  with the greatest threat over the Palmer Divide into East
  Central Colorado.

- Severe storm threat over eastern plains on Saturday.

- Low 90s possible for highs over the plains on Sunday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /Through Saturday/...
Issued at 233 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

Surface observations show a convergence line extending from the
Palmer Divide east-northeast across Washington County. Expect
storms to form along the boundary later this afternoon. With ML
CAPE of 1000-1500 J/kg and 0-6km Bulk Shear around 40 knots,
supercell thunderstorms with large hail and strong winds will be
possible. For the Front Range Urban Corridor, soundings show the
airmass should stay capped through most of the afternoon. Better
chance for storms will be this evening, if temperatures can warm
into the lower to mid 70s, which will help break the cap. Also, if
a strong outflow boundary from convection off to the east is
thrown westward, it could kickoff convection as well. Another
possible source of lift for storms will be the right entrance of a
speed max moving across northern Colorado and southern Wyoming.
If storms develop they could become severe as well with ML CAPE
climbing to 1000-1500 J/kg. Models generally agree storms form
along the boundary to the southeast of Denver. For the rest of the
area, not much model agreement if and where storms will form late
this afternoon through tonight, so forecast confidence is low.

For Saturday, another round of afternoon/evening thunderstorms is
expected. Mostly clear skies will prevail Saturday morning,
allowing temperatures to warm into the lower 80s by early
afternoon. A wave embedded in the westerly flow aloft should kick
off weak showers and thunderstorms over the high country by early
afternoon. This activity will progress eastward through the day. A
dry line/surface trough sets up over eastern Colorado, roughly
from Fort Morgan to Limon. Strong to severe storms are expected
along and east of the dry line with ML CAPE up to 2000 J/kg and
good shear. Large hail and damaging winds will be possible with
severe thunderstorms.

&&

.LONG TERM /Saturday night through Friday/...
Issued at 301 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

Models have zonal flow aloft over the CWA Saturday night with
flat upper ridging Sunday. There will be weak northwesterly flow
aloft Sunday night into Monday night. There is weak upward
synoptic scale energy late Saturday night through Sunday night and
again Monday night. The low level winds look to be normal diurnal
patterns through the period.

Moisture-wise, is is pretty dry, with he best precipitable water
values and dew point readings over the far eastern border areas. It
seems the models are not quite as dry as they were previously,
especially for Monday. CAPE-wise, there is still some over the
far eastern plains Sunday evening early. On Monday, the best CAPE
is over the far eastern border late in the day. Will leave the
limited pops in for the eastern plains Saturday evening, and again
for the northern and eastern border areas late day Sunday. Monday
looks pretty dry with just isolated storms for the high mountains
for now. Temperatures look to heat up pretty good for Sunday and
Monday, with Sunday's highs 3-6 C warmer than Saturday's highs.
Monday highs are close to Sunday's. Denver could see it's first 90
F degree reading on Sunday.

For that later days, Tuesday through Friday, upper ridging seems to
dominate the weather for the CWA.  Pops will be sparse, with the
best chances in the high country.  Temperatures look to stay above
seasonal normals.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday/...
Issued at 1132 AM MDT Fri May 31 2024

Low stratus clouds will give way to stratocumulus clouds after
18Z with ceilings slowly rising in the 2500-5000 foot range. Best
chance for thunderstorms will be to the south and east of DEN
where less cloud cover will allow temperatures to warm and help
destabilize the airmass. Still a chance for a storm near DEN and
will continue with the VCTS beginning at 23Z. Threat for storms
ends in the 04-06Z window. Another round of storms are expected
Saturday, beginning 19-20Z. There's a chance for low clouds
09-15Z, though they are expected to stay to north of the Denver
area.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Meier
LONG TERM....RJK
AVIATION.....Meier

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
1102 AM MDT Fri May 31 2024

COZ030>051-011715-
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-
1102 AM MDT Fri May 31 2024

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There will be a threat of severe storms over portions of northeast
Colorado late this afternoon and evening. It appears the main
threat will initially be across the Palmer Divide and eastward to
Elbert, Lincoln and Washington Counties, with potentially
spreading as far north as the I-76 Corridor this evening. Large
hail will be the primary threat, with a lower risk of damaging
winds and a brief tornado.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

A few severe thunderstorms will be possible across the plains
Saturday afternoon and evening. The threat of severe weather could
be as far west as the southern and eastern sections of Metro
Denver, but the greatest threat will generally be along and east
of a line from Fort Morgan to Strasburg and Kiowa. Large hail and
damaging winds will be the primary threats.

A drier, hotter airmass is expected to move into the forecast
area from Sunday through mid next week.  There is still a slight
risk of a severe storm over the northeast corner of Colorado on
Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required after 4 pm, mainly over the
Palmer Divide and adjacent plains to the east and northeast toward
Akron.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
407 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

COZ041-312230-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
407 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN ELBERT COUNTY
THROUGH 430 PM MDT...

At 406 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
capable of producing a landspout tornado 9 miles north of Kiowa, or
29 miles southeast of Denver, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD...Landspouts and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Landspout tornadoes can damage mobile homes, roofs,
         vehicles, and trees. Outdoor objects may be tossed about.

This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of northwestern Elbert
County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

If a tornado is spotted seek shelter inside a sturdy building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
east central Colorado.

&&

LAT...LON 3940 10455 3955 10457 3955 10446 3954 10447
      3953 10446 3954 10445 3953 10444 3954 10442
      3950 10440 3950 10437 3946 10437 3946 10433
      3940 10434
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 270DEG 11KT 3948 10450

LANDSPOUT...POSSIBLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

RPK

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Denver CO
427 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

COZ041-045-046-312300-
Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet CO-
North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln
County CO-Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties CO-
427 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL ELBERT AND CENTRAL
ARAPAHOE COUNTIES THROUGH 500 PM MDT...

At 426 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13
miles southwest of Byers, or 35 miles southeast of Denver, moving
northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Byers.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM MDT for
east central Colorado.

&&

LAT...LON 3940 10439 3962 10448 3972 10419 3946 10409
TIME...MOT...LOC 2226Z 232DEG 16KT 3952 10433

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

RPK

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Denver CO
546 PM MDT Fri May 31 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0545 PM     Hail             Byers                   39.71N 104.22W
05/31/2024  E1.00 Inch       Arapahoe           CO   Public

&&

KEB