DENVER — Storms and showers are becoming more active across Colorado as a surge of Pacific and tropical moisture moves in — and the bigger rainfall threat is still ahead.
Tonight, look for a few lingering showers around the Denver metro and plains.
Tuesday will feel more like fall, with cooler temperatures, cloudy skies, and more widespread showers especially across southern Colorado.
A cold front arrives in the Denver area early Tuesday morning, shifting winds to the north and bringing a low cloud deck with it. With so much moisture in place, a band of showers could develop along the front. Otherwise, expect another round of occasional showers Tuesday afternoon. Daytime highs will hold in the mid to upper 60s around the Interstate 25 corridor and will remain well below normal through Thursday .
The bigger concern arrives Tuesday night and ramps up Wednesday, when remnants of Hurricane Polo merge with another storm and send a surge of tropical moisture into Colorado. There will be a huge amount of moisture to work with, and combined with a strong storm system, it could produce a significant flooding threat to parts of the state.
A Flood Watch is in effect for the Palmer Divide and nearby plains, including parts of Elbert and Lincoln counties Tuesday evening through Thursday morning. Around 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain is possible across the southeastern Denver metro, with locally 3 to 4 inches possible across the southern tier of the state. Even if rainfall rates aren't especially intense, several rounds of moderate rain over the same locations could overwhelm low-lying and poor-drainage areas.
We'll likely see our heaviest rain along the Front Range on Wednesday with up to an inch for some places. A little snow could even mix in at the highest mountain elevations around 11,000 feet, if temperatures cool enough.
The storm system finally pushes out Thursday, setting the stage for warmer and drier weather heading into Friday and the weekend. Look for more sunshine and highs in the 70s starting Friday continuing through the weekend.
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