Another spectacular sunset in Pagosa Country – Pic taken 5/23/2023
If images fail to load in the email, please click the title of the post. Thanks!
Friday – 26 May 2023 – 9:40am
The past…
At Stevens Field the high temperature yesterday afternoon was 73, the low this morning was 41, and humidity bottomed out at 15% yesterday afternoon.
The peak wind at Stevens Field yesterday afternoon was 25mph. Our peak wind yesterday afternoon in O’Neal Park was 24mph.
*** The average last freeze is 31 May. Temps can still drop below freezing into the third week of June with average lows remaining in the mid-30s. ***
| Average High | Record High / Year | Average Low | Record Low / Year |
| 71 | 86 / 1947 | 32 | 22 / 1950 |
Precipitation summary… No measurable precip was reported in the last 24 hours.
Forecast discussion…
Radar this morning – Nothing significant in the Four Corners area.
Highlights…
*** The cold spots will be near freezing each morning. ***
River flow…
On 25 May Navajo Reservoir had an inflow of 6,112cfs, an outflow of 4,200cfs, and rose 0.2 feet. Releases and inflows are starting to even out, so I think we’re near the high point. There has been a change to the release schedule. Releases will slowly ramp up to 5,000cfs by 1 Jun and stay there until 17 Jun. Flow is expected to be back to 500cfs by 28 June. Here’s the link for more info: Navajo Dam Project Notices
Rest of today through Tuesday… A more typical springtime dry, southwest flow pattern will set up. There will be a slight chance for a spotty afternoon shower or thunderstorm, mostly over the mountains. I expect most of us to be dry.
Temps… Highs will be in the high 60s to high 70s and lows will be in the low 30s to low 40s. *** The cold spots will be near freezing each morning. ***
Winds… Friday and Saturday afternoons winds will gust into the 20-30mph range. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday afternoons winds will peak in the 15-20mph range.
Next Wednesday and beyond… Moisture will gradually increase, the atmosphere will gradually become more unstable, and we’ll see a better chance for scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
Temps for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday… Highs will be in the mid-60s to mid-70s, and lows will be in the mid-30s to mid-40s.
Winds for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday… Afternoon gusts will mostly be in the 15-20mph range. However, isolated gusts 25-35mph are possible near showers and thunderstorms.
The usual reminder: This is all convective precip and will be spotty. Showers are capable of dropping a bunch of rain over small areas in short periods.
My next post will be on Sunday.
– Shawn
