Summery weather returns after Memorial Day
Sunday, May 24, 2020
While I did observe some snowflakes mixed in with light rain early this Sunday morning in Steamboat Springs, the cool morning temperatures are moderating as the sun peeks through the clouds this afternoon. We will still see a chance of afternoon showers today and tomorrow with the well below average temperatures today eventually ending up well above average by next weekend. The warming trend will be briefly interrupted midweek as a cool front grazes our area and brings a chance of showers on Wednesday.
The cold storm that is bringing today’s unsettled weather is mostly affecting the Front Range, though it’s always notable when snowflakes are observed in town this late in May. We may see some showers this afternoon and evening as another surge of cool air moves across this evening, but the bulk of storm will stay to our east. Though temperatures have warmed into the upper forties, our high temperature for today will likely be fifteen degrees below our average of 66 F.
Memorial Day will be much nicer, with a mostly sunny morning and high temperatures warming to a bit below average, though there is a chance of some afternoon showers.
The current storm is forecast to become cut off from the main jet stream Monday night and form an eddy that will bring an extended period of heavy rains to eastern Texas through the week. But we should see a very pleasant and dry Tuesday with temperatures in the seventies.
Meanwhile, some Pacific energy and moisture is forecast to cross the Pacific Northwest coast on Tuesday and head along the northern Rockies around midweek. We should see a chance of showers on Wednesday as weak cool front is forecast to graze our area in the afternoon or overnight.
Behind this passing storm, a ridge of high pressure is expected to amplify over the interior West through the coming weekend, likely allowing high temperatures to reach into the eighties for the first time this season as soon as Friday. While we will have some moisture around for some clouds, and perhaps a shower on a pleasant Thursday with high temperatures in the seventies, dry weather is expected for Friday and most of Saturday.
Additionally, a storm currently loitering well off the southern West Coast is forecast to travel northeastward along the west side of the ridge of high pressure, eventually crossing the northern or central California coast around mid-weekend. There is the possibility that moisture will be drawn northward over our area in the southerly flow ahead of the storm by then, though weather forecast models are not in agreement that there will be enough for showers. I hope to know about this possibility by my next regularly scheduled weather narrative on Thursday afternoon.
