Watch CBS News

Denver's Snow May Change To Afternoon T-Storms, What's Up With That?

DENVER (CBS) - From rain to snow, back to rain, then a mix, and finally thunderstorms with small hail.

We've seen it all over the past several hours; some might say just another spring day in Colorado.

Many on Twitter are saying this weather is bi-polar.

It's not bi-polar, it's just complex.

A very large, slow moving spring storm with many different facets.

The circulation around our spring storm is so large that it is moving air from northern Wyoming, down through Utah and into northern Mexico, and then back up through west Texas, across eastern Colorado and into Wyoming.

We are experiencing what's called Warm Air Advection in meteorology, which simply means the winds are out of the south and warm air is on the move as it travels up the east side of the low pressure.

This warm air moving into the Front Range is sending the rain-snow line higher up into the foothills and is helping create very dense fog as it moves over the fresh snow.

ruc12hr_500_wnd
(credit: NCAR)

The warm air is also clashing with the cool air and creating scattered thunderstorms.

As a weather disturbance rotates around the storm Friday afternoon it will help trigger some thunderstorms on Colorado's eastern plains, with the potential for a few to become strong or severe.

While we are used to storms moving from west to east, today's thunderstorms will be different.

They will move from south or southeast to the north or northwest, due to the circulation of air around the large center of low pressure over the central Rockies.

RELATED: KNOW YOUR COUNTY BEFORE STORMS STRIKE, DOWNLOAD OUR FREE CBS4 SEVERE WEATHER GUIDE

There is even a slight chance we could see a tornado, especially along and east of a line from Greeley to Limon.

Stay with CBS4 and CBSDenver.com all afternoon for the latest.

If you are on the go you can download our free app, just search CBS Denver Weather.

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.