Snow On The Increase In the Rockies...

Above (and noted on the identical image below) is the latest water vapor satellite image, showing a strong middle and upper-level weather disturbance (yellow encircled area on the 2nd image) moving East/Northeastward into the Rockies.  Upper-level winds are blowing in pattern (red arrows on the 2nd image) that favor strong upward motion (called diffluence) in the atmosphere.  This, coupled with increasing low level moisture and instability creates widespread rain and snow showers.

You can see the increase in precipitation noted on the latest radar mosaic from the region, shown below:

This activity will increase during the evening and overnight hours as the upper level energy grows stronger and moves deeper into the region.

Meanwhile, at the surface level, low pressure is developing over southeast Colorado, as noted by the closed green circle in the isobars (lines of equal atmospheric pressure) on the analysis below:

This low pressure area will deepen (or intensify) rapidly overnight, which will result in an increase in North-Northeast surface winds across much of Colorado.  The combination of increasing surface winds and increasing coverage and intensity of snowfall will result in blizzard to near blizzard conditions across much of the region later tonight and into at least the first half of Wednesday.

The images below show the latest watches, warnings and advisories in effect across the region, from the National Weather Service:

Wyoming Warnings

Colorado Warnings

Kansas Warnings

Snow will become heavy at times overnight and early Wednesday, which coupled with the strong winds of 30-40 mph with gusts of 50+ mph will create white out conditions in many areas, particularly within the Blizzard Warning areas on the above images.

Below are the latest forecasts as far as snow accumulation are concerned from the GFS and NAM models, centered near the Denver airport (scale in inches on the bottom of each image):

The wind will be an even bigger player with this event as compared to the one last week, with widespread blowing and drifting snow likely.  Folks across this region need to take this situation very seriously, and do not plan on venturing out tonight or Wednesday until the heavy snow and strong winds subside.

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