SPC MD 1754

MD 1754 CONCERNING HEAVY SNOW FOR WEST-CENTRAL TO SOUTH-CENTRAL CO

Mesoscale Discussion 1754
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0617 PM CDT Sun Oct 25 2020

Areas affected...West-central to south-central CO

Concerning...Heavy snow 

Valid 252317Z - 260315Z

SUMMARY...Heavy snow that has affected portions of the Upper CO
Valley along the I-70 corridor should shift south and may subside,
while a separate band of heavy snow likely forms across portions of
the Upper AR Valley, including the I-25 corridor near Pueblo.
Snowfall rates of 2-3 inches/hour are expected in the stronger
bursts.

DISCUSSION...Intense frontogenetic forcing for ascent associated
with a very tight thermal gradient arcing in a zigzag pattern across
west-central to south-central CO has supported a persistent band of
heavy snow just to the cold side of the slowly-southward shifting
surface front. This band of heavy snow has recently affected the
I-70 corridor in the Upper CO Valley. Radar/satellite imagery
suggest a separate band of probable heavy snow is beginning to form
off the northern Sangre de Cristos as elevated convection with CG
lightning that formed farther west-southwest overspreads this
portion of the baroclinic zone. Both convection allowing and
parameterized guidance are largely consistent in suggesting that
this will be the favored corridor for persistent heavy snow through
the evening. Rates should reach 2-3 inches/hour in the stronger
convective bursts that affect lower terrain across the Upper AR
Valley across portions of I-25 from near Pueblo to Trinidad.

..Grams.. 10/25/2020

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

ATTN...WFO...PUB...BOU...GJT...

LAT...LON   38590514 38560478 38530422 38280413 37790414 37240433
            37090476 37500510 37910555 38090613 38370654 38500702
            38430785 38520834 38710861 39130865 39390814 39560775
            39560713 39580659 38700555 38590514 

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from SPC Forecast Products http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md1754.html