MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0271
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0755 AM CDT THU MAR 26 2009
   
   AREAS AFFECTED...NERN COLORADO PLAINS AND ERN SLOPES OF FOOTHILLS
   
   CONCERNING...HEAVY SNOW 
   
   VALID 261255Z - 261600Z
   
   SNOWFALL INTENSITY WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE ACROSS PARTS OF THE NERN
   COLORADO PLAINS AND ERN SLOPES OF FOOTHILLS.  SNOWFALL RATES
   EXCEEDING 1 INCH/HR ARE PROBABLE BEGINNING IN THE 16-19Z PERIOD.
   
   MORNING SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES MID LEVEL VORTICITY MAXIMUM
   ACROSS SWRN WY WITH INCREASING ASCENT IMPLIED BY MOISTENING/COOLING
   CLOUD TOPS BEGINNING TO SPREAD ACROSS NRN COLORADO.  SURFACE
   MESOANALYSIS SHOWS SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT DRAPED W-E FROM SRN WY
   INTO PLATTE RIVER VALLEY.  THIS FEATURE IS BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE
   SWD AND WILL BE INVOF SERN COLORADO BY 19Z.  BEHIND THIS
   FEATURE...STRONG N-NELY/S WILL DEVELOP...ENHANCING UPSLOPE FLOW
   COMPONENT.
   
   12Z DNR RAOB EXHIBITED NEARLY SATURATED COLUMN UP THROUGH 500 MB. 
   ENHANCED UVV/S AND UPSLOPE FLOW WILL AUGMENT DEEP ASCENT THROUGH THE
   COLUMN YIELDING INCREASING SNOWFALL RATES NEARING 1 INCH/HR.  LATEST
   RUNS OF 4KM HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS AND SREF OUTPUT INDICATE SNOWFALL
   RATES WILL INTENSIFY SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE 16-19Z PERIOD...BEGINNING
   FIRST NEAR DNR / FCL AND ADJACENT FOOTHILLS.  CONDITIONS WILL
   PROGRESSIVELY DETERIORATE THIS AFTERNOON IN THE 19-22Z PERIOD AS
   STRONGER WINDS /GUSTS AOA 40 MPH/ AND MORE INTENSE SNOWFALL RATES /1
   TO 2 INCH/HR RATES/ REDUCE VISIBILITIES CREATING BLIZZARD
   CONDITIONS.
   
   ..SMITH.. 03/26/2009
   
   
   ATTN...WFO...GLD...PUB...BOU...
   
   LAT...LON   38830538 39440543 40540540 40820530 40800399 40380315
               39980277 39410276 38920364 38590498 38830538