Initial Eta-based initial forecast of surface temperature, 00Z Dec 23 1996

Note the cold air mass to the Northeast, the tail end of the major cold outbreak of the preceding week in the central U.S.

Background map: Colorado counties and surrounding states' counties.

Colorado is an excellent place to test weather forecasting techniques. Sometimes there is more variation in weather across one county in Colorado than across one state in the eastern U.S. Notice the details provided by model-based forecasts displayed on the AFPS 10-km grid.