Thermally Forced Surface Flow and Convergence Patterns over Northeast Colorado

Abstract

Numerical model simulations have been performed with the Colorado State University mesoscale model to determine the regions of most likely occurrence of first cumulonimbus activity. It is shown that during the day, convergence along the eastern slopes of the Continental Divide and along the Cheyenne Ridge and Palmer Lake Divide coincides with the regions of most moist and unstable air. During the evening the flow reverses and the main convergence is located in the Platte River Valley. The interaction of these features with the nocturnal jet and Denver convergence/vorticity zone is also discussed.