Throughout June and July, thunderstorms bubble up above the Front Range mountains by late morning. Where they will head is anyone's guess.
Some merge into impressive storms while others shrink as they drift eastward, producing but a tail of virga beneath their residual clouds. The direction that the storms take will depend on upper level winds, adding to the uncertainty of who will benefit from their nourishing rains. Since the larger storms often bring damaging winds and hail, urban corridor residents hope to be in the path of less intense downpours. In the end, on any given day, most areas will remain dry.
By August, the Southwest Monsoon has generally moved up from the Four Corners region and the rain events are more generalized and usually less potent. Of course, this typical summer pattern will likely change as our climate warms; whether we receive more or less atmospheric moisture remains to be seen.
