Migration Weather: Rocky Ford/La Junta/Las Animas Area

[Bryan Guarente]

COBirders,

Short note, it looks like the overnight flow is directing birds toward the Rocky Ford/La Junta/Las Animas area tonight with some moderate convergence.  

https://earth.nullschool.net/#2021/05/11/1200Z/wind/isobaric/850hPa/orthographic=-98.50,29.02,2203/loc=-103.239,37.185 (6am Tuesday; green circle is around Kim, CO)

I state Rocky Ford/La Junta/Las Animas as an area with multiple hotspots around it to check.  But in reality, it is a line of convergence from Clayton, NM through Yoder, CO with a stronger convergence on the south side of that line than on the north side and a good chance of increased convergence between Kim, CO and Rocky Ford, CO.  Anywhere to the east of that is fair game too depending on how good the model has a handle on this system.  Again the further south you go the better the chances are for increased bird convergence.  

Overall, there is nice 850mb flow from the south that should bring in birds to that area.  The origin of these winds is likely near the Yucatan peninsula.

Best of luck if you run out there tomorrow.  Sorry for the late notice.

Bryan

Bryan Guarente

Meteorologist/Instructional Designer

UCAR/The COMET Program

Boulder, CO