Boulder, and much of Colorado, braces for early heat and fire risk
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Below-average snowpack and rapid snow melt will contribute to an early and hot summer across the West, the latest summer forecast shows.
Why it matters: Drier and warmer conditions increase the likelihood of wildfires and drought conditions.
State of play: Neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions are present, leading to above-average temperatures and active monsoon seasons in the Southwest, according to meteorologists at Colorado-based OpenSnow.
- A new seasonal forecast from NOAA further cements the likelihood of a scorching summer for Colorado.
Zoom in: Here at home, higher temperatures will arrive in June and persist through September, accompanied by intense heat waves.
- In terms of precipitation, the monsoon season is expected to start earlier than normal in late June but only clip southwestern areas of the state.
- The Front Range will see drier-than-normal conditions at the start and equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation through the rest of summer, per forecasts.
What they're saying: "If June is hotter and drier … it could mean a rough fire season, especially early on before the monsoon kicks in," said OpenSnow meteorologist Alan Smith.
The big picture: It's not just us. NOAA predicts a coast-to-coast heat-up, with every state in the Lower 48 leaning warming — and Utah and southwest Texas topping the charts.
Caveat: These ENSO-neutral atmospheric conditions can create anomalies.
- In September 2013, the conditions led to the historic floods that devastated Lyons and surrounding areas.