When the National Weather Service issues summer warnings
The National Weather Service issues special weather announcements, including tornado, thunderstorm, high wind and high fire danger warnings.
- The storm is expected to bring over an inch of beneficial rain to areas including Fort Collins, Estes Park, and Boulder.
- Severe thunderstorms with large hail, strong winds, and possible tornadoes are a threat for northeast Colorado.
- A winter weather advisory is in effect for the mountains, with 3 to 15 inches of snow expected.
Another strong spring storm moved into Colorado on May 16, producing hail on the Eastern Plains, and it will continue to bring the potential for severe weather May 17, along with beneficial rain to the I-25 corridor and snow to the mountains.
This lingering storm system is not forecast to bring as much rain and snow as the May 4-6 storm that dropped nearly 3 feet of snow around Estes Park and nearly 2 inches of precipitation in the Fort Collins area.
But the bull’s-eye of this storm is forecast for the same area as the earlier May storm, Larimer and Boulder counties. Red Feather Lakes is forecast for 5 to 10 inches of snow and Cameron Pass 10 to 19 inches. Fort Collins, Estes Park and Boulder are expected to see an inch or more of precipitation.
The National Weather Service has also issued a freeze watch from midnight May 18 through the morning of May 19 for the entire northeast quarter of the state from the Wyoming border to Colorado Springs east, including Fort Collins, Boulder and Denver. Lows could reach 30 degrees.
Here is the timing, severe weather outlook, and rainfall and snowfall totals expected for this storm, according to the National Weather Service:
Timing of potential for large hail, tornadoes in Colorado on May 17
Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms have the potential to form east of Interstate 76 in northeast Colorado from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 17.
Large hail, up to 2 inches in diameter, is the greatest threat, but strong wind, gusting to 60 mph, and short-lived tornadoes are possible, according to the weather service.
Fort Collins is listed in the marginal potential area for severe weather.
How much precipitation is forecast for Fort Collins, surrounding area?
Another good soaker is forecast for much of drought-stricken Colorado, with the greatest chance the night of May 17 into May 18. Here is a look at the precipitation forecast May 17-20, according to the National Weather Service:
- Estes Park: 1.3 inches
- Boulder: 1.3 inches
- Red Feather Lakes: 1.2 inches
- Fort Collins: 1.1 inches
- Loveland: 1.1 inches
- Wellington: 1 inch
- Cheyenne, Wyo.: 1 inch
- Windsor: 0.9 inches
- Denver: 0.8 inches
- Walden: 0.8 inches
- Greeley: 0.7 inches
- Sterling: 0.4 inches
Forecast snowfall totals for Colorado mountains
The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory from midnight May 17 through 6 p.m. May 18 for the northern and central mountains, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow Range, Summit County, Mosquito Range and Indian Peaks.
The forecast calls for accumulations of 3 to 15 inches with wind gusting to 45 mph for the advisory area, creating hazardous driving conditions Monday.
Zeroing in on the Fort Collins forecast during the storm
According to the National Weather Service:
- May 17: 70% chance of showers with a thunderstorm possible after noon, increasing to a 90% chance of showers at night. High near 68 degrees. North-northwest wind 9 to 13 mph, becoming east-northeast in the afternoon, gusting to as high as 23 mph. Low around 40.
- May 18: 100% chance of showers with a thunderstorm possible after noon, decreasing to 40% at night. High near 45, with a north wind 11 to 17 mph, gusting to as high as 31 mph. Low around 32.
- May 19: 40% chance of snow showers before 9 a.m, then a chance of rain showers. Some thunder is also possible. Partly sunny, with a high near 52, calm wind and low around 37.
- May 20: 40% chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 62 and low around 40.
This story was updated with additional information.
