Major Storm to Impact Colorado through Sunday

An evolving storm system currently across the Pacific Ocean will track through the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin. Forecast models are coming into much better agreement with regard to the positioning and strength, with the center of the system around the Four-Corners by early Saturday morning.

First, an elevated risk for extreme fire behavior exists Thursday afternoon and early evening Thursday across most of the southeast plains.

A small part of far southeast Colorado may also have an elevated risk for extreme fire behavior Friday afternoon. Currently Baca and Prowers Counties are not included in the Red Flag Warning for today.

On Friday, thunderstorms will develop across the southeast plains and I-25 corridor, and there will be a slight risk for severe storms across most of the southeast plains into the I-25 corridor Friday afternoon and evening. At the same time, snow will develop across the higher terrain.  As time progresses, the risk of heavy snow accumulations and heavy rain will exist from later Friday through Saturday, and perhaps lingering into Sunday.

Non-severe storms will occur over parts of the area Thursday, with a risk for storms producing damaging hail and winds, and a tornado or two Friday afternoon and evening. There is a smaller possibility that severe storms could again occur during Saturday across the far southeast plains.

In addition, there is the distinct possibility of heavy precipitation totals across the area. Rain amounts of a couple to several inches across the I-25 corridor and southeast plains would cause high water flows and potential flooding.  On top of that, across the high country heavy snow is a distinct probability.

The weekend forecast for Lamar and the surrounding area calls for strong winds and some potential for heavy rainfalls.

Friday:

A slight chance of showers between 9am and noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Windy, with a south southeast wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Night:

Rain and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Windy, with a southeast wind 25 to 30 mph becoming east 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday:
Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 63. Windy, with a north northeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming east southeast 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday Night:

Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 37. Windy, with an east southeast wind 20 to 30 mph becoming north 10 to 20 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday:

A chance of rain, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a north wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night:

A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight.