Snow Thoughts on Near Record Heat Memorial Day

As I was relaxing this Memorial Day holiday, I found an article that I thought I would share for those of you who care to have it shared.  Its main premise was describing the amount of snow that still exists in the high country of the western USA.  I decided to further investigate the story and see just how extreme the conditions truly are in the western USA.  The picture below was from the article; a media that often has a global warming bias, but I bit and read the entire article.  Astoundingly, the article suggested that the snowfall was cyclical and that we are ramping up towards a colder period of weather for the next decade or two.  Imagine that, the earth behaving cyclically!  (Sunspots, La-Nina-El Nino, even seasons!)  Essentially, the amount of snow has altered holiday plans for many that utilize the mountains as their playground.  This winter has been gracious to the western USA in as they need a deep snow pack to recharge reservoirs for their ever increasing water needs. Indeed, this snowier than normal winter was a godsend for them.  In this May 18th photo provided by the Colorado Department of Transportation, a sign for Independence pass is nearly obstructed by snow in Colorado near Mt Evans. Trail Ridge Road is closed because of snow, It is the first time in 17 years that Aspen-area cyclists had to cancel their Ride over Independence Pass and campers are being warned that there is still 16 feet of snow in much of the Routt National Forest, northwest of Denver. (see map below) Colorado is still coping with record snows. Some western states are experiencing flooding as the snow melts and recharges the reservoirs.

And it is quite expansive across the west!  Much of the map below in purple squares are experiencing 200%+ of normal water equivalents in the snow pack upping the risk for flooding. 

And it is still snowing as this graphic shows the last 24 hours of snow across the western USA!

 Essentially, the map below shows that the bulk of the mountains in the Colorado region is well above 200% of normal snow pack as of last Thursday!  And the trough of the jet stream is still located in the means out in the western US as you can certainly tell with the early season heat we are currently experiencing.

Now I know some of you are saying, well....that's nice but what about around here???  After all, we don't live in the western USA!  Just trying to keep everyone cool in the midst of this early season heat.....OK?  The forecast is essentially the same.  Hot through Wednesday with the potential to break a max record for KMDT for either Monday or Tuesday.  The record for tomorrow is 97F (1939) and the record max for today (Monday) is 95F (1895).  Wednesday will still achieve 90F.....maybe.....it depends on the progression of the front ushering in drier and slightly cooler air for Thursday-Saturday.  I still don't believe the storms will be too severe with the passage of this front, but the potential certainly exists with this type of heat and humidity.   I am now officially issuing a BEAUTIFUL WEATHER WARNING for late Thursday afternoon, through Friday and Saturday.  Then Sunday will be getting a tad bit hot and humid once again....until a true shot of O Canada air will invade in the Tuesday-Wednesday time frame, 8-9 days from today, Decoration Day.  The jet stream forecast for next Tuesday shows a refreshing shot of much cooler air being discharged directly south on northwesterly jet stream level winds.

And the 850 mb temps show the heat once again for next Sunday.

And how the pattern change will bring in much cooler weather by the middle of the first full week of June.

I hope everyone has a very enjoyable Memorial Day holiday and let's all be cognizant of the fact that freedom isn't free.

Smitty

AA:  Tid-bit on western USA impressive snow pack....and for here, hot!  Hotter than the hinges of Hades through Wednesday....then a frontal passage cooling and drying things out for a period of beautiful weather Thursday-Saturday.  Then hot once again Sunday-Monday.  Looking for pattern change to cooler and refreshing wx next week.  Happy Memorial Day my friend!