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Mesoscale Discussion 0846
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0526 PM CDT Fri May 20 2022

Areas affected...Central Colorado

Concerning...Heavy snow 

Valid 202226Z - 210430Z

SUMMARY...Evidence of heavy snowfall rates is noted in a few
locations across central Colorado, and an increase in the coverage
and intensity of heavy snowfall rates is expected heading into the
evening hours.

DISCUSSION...Regional radar mosaics continue to show widespread
precipitation across much of CO over the past few hours. At the
surface, many locations are observing snow where temperatures are
near or below freezing. A handful of ASOS/AWOS sites are reporting
visibility between 0.25 to 0.5 miles with weak winds (near 10
knots), which is indicative of moderate to heavy snowfall rates. Web
cameras from the region support this idea and show heavy snowfall
with reduced visibility for a few locations. While the coverage and
intensity of the heaviest snowfall remains limited for now, an
gradual uptick is expected heading into the evening hours. 

Latest GOES imagery and RAP analyses show isentropic upglide, aided
by frontogenetical lift within the 850-700 mb layer, occurring over
a deep cold frontal intrusion that is draped zonally across the
state. This lift will be bolstered through the evening hours as an
upper-level impulse (currently noted in water-vapor imagery across
UT) approaches the region. Forecast soundings suggest much of this
lift will occur at least partially in the dentritic growth zone,
which will further boost snowfall rates up to 1-2 inches per hour in
the valleys with higher rates likely in the higher terrain. This
activity is expected to linger through the evening and into the
overnight hours.

..Moore.. 05/20/2022

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

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

LAT...LON   38620609 39170695 39550706 40160652 40300573 40240513
            39860457 39370421 38720415 38270459 38130508 38260564
            38620609