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10/24/07 Weather Forecast for RMNP |
This is the first installment of a weekly weather forecast for the high country of Rocky Mountain National Park, researched and written by our in-house meteorologist: Dan "the weather man" Gottas.
Warning: Climbing Life and it's contributors accept no liability for your decisions based on the information contained in this site. Weather conditions change very quickly and unpredictably, especially in this part of the world, and the actual conditions you find may vary from what we have forecast.
Oct. 24-28 Weather Summary:
After a relatively active couple of weeks weather wise in Colorado, the storm track has weakened and retreated northward over the western US. For the remainder of this week (Wed - Fri), the mountains of RMNP will remain precipitation free. The most notable weather feature during this time will be the lack of wind relative to recent days. On Friday afternoon and evening, a cold front will move into the area from the north, which will bring clouds, cooler temperatures, and possibly some very light precipitation to locations east of the Continental Divide. By Saturday morning, the skies will clear but the westerly winds will begin to strengthen behind the front. For the extended period Sunday through Friday, the storm track is forecast to remain north of RMNP, with no precipitation and light to moderate west to northwest winds.
Post frontal conditions on Sat. could be windy. Mountain waves can form in these situations, which accelerate the flow just east of the higher terrain. This isn't a classic setup, but the potential exists for +10 mph more than what is currently forecast. Some typical ingredients for mountain wave formation: at least 25 mph cross barrier flow; a mountain top inversion which is usually induced by subsidence behind a front; and a northwesterly wind direction. The terrain from Longs southward has a favorable orientation for mountain wave setups during northwesterly flow. From Longs to Milner Pass, the large scale terrain orientation changes, and may be less vulnerable to the mountain-wave effect.
Detailed 5-day Forecast:
Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007
Winds:
10 kft northwesterly at 5-10 mph
12 kft northwesterly at 5-10 mph
Temperatures:
10 kft high upper 50s F
12 kft high near 50 F
Sky: clear
Thursday Oct. 25, 2007
Winds:
10 kft west to northwesterly at 10 - 15 mph; gusts to 25 mph in the morning
12 kft west to northwesterly at 15 - 20 mph; gusts to 30 mph in the morning
Temperatures:
10 kft low upper 30s F; high upper 50s F
12 kft low near 35 F; high near 50 F
Sky: clear
Friday Oct. 26, 2007
Winds:
10 kft west to northwesterly at 5 - 10 mph in the morning becoming southwest in the afternoon
12 kft west to northwesterly at 5 - 10 mph in the morning becoming southwest in the afternoon
Temperatures:
10 kft low mid 30s F; high mid 40s F
12 kft low near 30 F; high low 40s F
Sky: sunny in the morning; increasing clouds in the afternoon becoming cloudy by early evening with a chance of light snow showers.
Saturday Oct. 27, 2007
Winds:
10 kft southwesterly at 10 - 15 mph in the early morning turning northwesterly at 25 - 30 mph in the afternoon with gust to 40 mph
12 kft southwesterly at 15 - 20 mph in the early morning turning northwesterly at 30 - 35 mph in the afternoon with gusts to 45 mph
Temperatures:
10 kft low near 30 F; high upper 40s F
12 kft low mid 20s F; high near 40 F
Sky: lower-level clouds in the early morning, clearing east of the divide by mid morning; increasing mid and upper-level clouds during the day.
Sunday Oct. 28, 2007
Winds:
10 kft northwesterly at 15-20 mph with gusts to 25 mph
12 kft northwesterly at 20-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph
Temperatures:
10 kft low mid 20s F; high mid 40s F
12 kft low in the low 20s F; high mid 30s F
Sky: mostly clear with scattered clouds over the higher terrain - favored on the windward side; increasing high clouds late in the day.
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