By Doug Schneider
A few of our followers have asked for a forecast for the Pikes Peak hill climb this Sunday. This event seems to become more and more popular each year, so it may be something we add to our regular schedule in the future.
Forecasting for the complex terrain of the mountains can be very difficult and uncertain. Conditions can vary widely over a small area as air flows across the peaks and valleys, causing air to rise and sink, which impacts the temperature, moisture, and potential for rain. This forecast is for the start/finish line, which is located at an elevation of about 9,390 feet above sea level. The finish line is located at 14,115 feet, so the conditions there may be very different, particularly the temperature.
Here's the general weather pattern that is expected this weekend - a low pressure trough in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere is projected to be moving into the Utah/Colorado region. This will induce a low pressure center to form in southeastern Colorado, and the south to southeast flow across the Plains will draw some moisture into the mountains for Sunday. All these ingredients point toward mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms for Sunday afternoon.
The finer details of what will happen at the course will probably not be clear until Sunday, but I'll have at least one more update to the forecast before then.
Forecasting for the complex terrain of the mountains can be very difficult and uncertain. Conditions can vary widely over a small area as air flows across the peaks and valleys, causing air to rise and sink, which impacts the temperature, moisture, and potential for rain. This forecast is for the start/finish line, which is located at an elevation of about 9,390 feet above sea level. The finish line is located at 14,115 feet, so the conditions there may be very different, particularly the temperature.
Here's the general weather pattern that is expected this weekend - a low pressure trough in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere is projected to be moving into the Utah/Colorado region. This will induce a low pressure center to form in southeastern Colorado, and the south to southeast flow across the Plains will draw some moisture into the mountains for Sunday. All these ingredients point toward mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms for Sunday afternoon.
The finer details of what will happen at the course will probably not be clear until Sunday, but I'll have at least one more update to the forecast before then.
