Hail in Doulgas County accumulated over 6" in places along Delbert Rd (CR-01), Singing Hills Rd and Hilltop Rd. In places along Hilltop Rd hail accumulation made passage impossible and cars were seeking shelter from the storm in driveways and side streets. - Jim Rooney (CREDIT OF JIM ROONEY & DENVER POST)
Both Colorado and Wyoming endured one heck of a wild night of weather. As the perfect ingredients converged upon both states, so powerful supercell thunderstorms formed overhead. These storms produced huge rains which caused flash flooding in several areas while torrents of hail followed creating crazy scenes in which vehicles became stuck. We even saw some tornadoes touch down. One reportedly tocuhed down close to Denver International Airport.
WHAT HAPPENED TO CREATE SUCH STORMS?
An energetic trough driving unseasonably chilly air into the Pacific Northwest from the Gulf of Alaska pushed all the way into the Rockies. As this chilly air mass slammed up against the wall of heat, explosive thunderstorm development was a given. With plenty of energy associated with the Pacific storm system, the cold front highly charged, it’s leading edge became the perfect breading ground for thunderstorm formation. Along with a sharp thermal contrast and steep lapse rate from surface to upper levels, another important ingredient helped incubate the environment, harnessing the power already converging late yesterday afternoon over Colorado and Wyoming.
Today may see further strong thunderstorms form over the same areas hammered last night (Graphic courtesy of Accuweather.com)
A powerful jet stream roaring out of the southwest at 35-40,000ft enhanced the already vigorous upward motion. A region within the jet core known as the ‘front right rear entrance region’ aligned beautifully allowing these cells to explode into much higher, much colder regions of the upper atmosphere and so the wild storms resulted. Colorado and Wyoming found themselves beneath a hostile crossroads of conflicting weather.
Today may see yet more wild weather as those same ingredients remain in place.
Below is the result of such an atmospheric collision. (Some YouTube videos from last night’s storms)
Related Stories
Tornado Threat Returns Late Today in Denver, Cheyenne (ACCUWEATHER)
Recent Comments