Moisture returns for Sunday and next week
Friday, July 29, 2016
Cool air currently moving into the Gulf of Alaska will nudge the western ridge eastward, keeping the current hot weather around for most of the weekend. By Sunday, some of this cool air in the Gulf and associated energy will break off and move across the the US - Canadian border, moving the western ridge further eastward and allowing a surge of monsoonal moisture from the southwest to be carried over Colorado starting as soon as Saturday. Initially, storms will be high-based and mostly windy, though wetting rains become more likely by Sunday afternoon as the atmosphere continues to moisten.
The threat of afternoon storms will continue for at least the next week with cooler daytime highs and warmer overnight lows as the moisture and associated clouds reduce solar heating during the day and trap surface heat during the night.
Another lobe of energy crosses the Pacific Northwest coast late Monday and may be strong enough to drag a weak cool front through the Steamboat Springs area on Wednesday as it travels along the US - Canadian border. The stronger winds and decreased atmospheric stability may allow for better storm organization and an increased threat of locally heavy rainfall for Wednesday and lasting into the night.
Though moisture will decrease behind the front early Thursday, the western ridge quickly redevelops over our area as more cool air drops in the Gulf of Alaska. The humid conditions will quickly return by Thursday afternoon and last through the weekend as longer-range models keep the storm off the Pacific Northwest coast with moist southwest flow over Colorado until the following work week.
