Monthly Archives: January 2011

Thornton Weather

The Big Freeze – Snow and Arctic cold to be main Thornton weather feature

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CDOT snowplows on I-25
CDOT snowplows work on I-25 near 104th Avenue Monday afternoon. Arctic cold will be a major hazard as wind chills could dip to 35 degrees below zero over the next 36 hours. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Storm update, 4:30pm – The thermometer only knows one way through the rest of today and tonight – down!  Thus far Thornton has dipped to 6 degrees with wind chill values around -3 and it is far from done dropping.

The National Weather Service has modified the weather warnings / watches for the next 12 hours or so.  The Winter Weather Advisory for snow will continue through midnight.  New however is a Wind Chill Warning that will be in effect from midnight through 6:00am Wednesday.

In terms of snow we will continue to see a pretty steady stream of light snowfall through the extended period but accumulations will be light.  Most areas will see a couple inches additional accumulation with higher amounts south and west in the foothills and along the Palmer Divide. 

The cold continues to be the real story.  Temperatures overnight will be dropping to five below zero with some places possibly getting even colder.  Couple the cold air with gusty winds to 25 mph and wind chill readings will be between 15 and 35 degrees below zero. 

These temperatures will be very dangerous for anyone caught outside in the cold.  Hypothermia and frostbite can settle in very quickly and everyone needs to be aware.

Roads continue to be icy and snowpacked and the afternoon and morning rush hour are going to be rough around the metro area.  Drivers should exercise extreme caution.

All Thornton area school districts have announced they will be closed on Tuesday including Adams 12, Adams 14, Adams 50, Mapleton, and Brighton 27J.

Continue reading The Big Freeze – Snow and Arctic cold to be main Thornton weather feature →

Thornton Weather

Thornton set to get a taste of the Arctic; Winter Weather Advisory issued

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A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect at 6:00am on Monday as snow and bitter cold arrive. (ThorntonWeather.com)
A Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect at 6:00am on Monday as snow and bitter cold arrive. (ThorntonWeather.com)

A major winter storm is set to impact nearly two thirds of the nation starting tomorrow including Thornton and the rest of northeastern Colorado.  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for our area warning of blowing snow and dangerous cold.

The service is warning of total snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches for the event from tomorrow morning through Tuesday.  Snow is expected to start lightly on Monday morning then increase in intensity in the afternoon and continue overnight into Tuesday morning. 

Arctic cold will be a prominent feature of this system sending the mercury plummeting into areas that present a very real danger to people and property.  Monday will see temperatures at about 26 degrees at 6:00am but then decreasing continually throughout the day and overnight when it will drop below zero. 

Tomorrow’s afternoon commute and the Tuesday morning commute are likely to be rough ones so you will want to plan accordingly. 

Tuesday’s high temperature will struggle to even get above zero and overnight temperatures on Tuesday could drop all the way to 15 degrees below zero.  Wednesday will warm only slightly with highs of around 10 degrees.

Continue reading Thornton set to get a taste of the Arctic; Winter Weather Advisory issued →

Weather History

January 30 to February 5 – This week in Denver weather history

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January 23 to January 29 - This week in Denver weather history
January 30 to February 5 - This week in Denver weather history

The end of January and the first week of February have historically been an active period in Denver weather.  We see many high wind events which are common this time of year as well as the usual snowstorms.  Given the extreme cold we are set to experience this week, one event 22 years ago serves as a timely reminder of the dangers of cold.  In 1989 one Arctic cold event turned deadly and dangerous.

26-1

In 1888…a protracted warm spell lasted a week.  Maximum temperatures ranged from 62 degrees on the 29th to an all time record high for the month of 76 degrees on the 27th.  Daily record high temperatures of 76…69…and 71 occurred on the 27th…28th…and 30th respectively. Record high minimum temperatures of 47 and 34 occurred on the 26th and 27th.

27-31

In 1951…a major storm dumped 10.1 inches of snowfall at Stapleton Airport.  Most of the snow…8.3 inches…fell on the 29th.  Cold arctic air accompanied the snow.  Several temperature records were set…including record low maximum temperatures of 4 on the 28th and 4 below zero on the 29th and record low temperatures of 12 below zero on the 29th and 24 below zero on the 31st.  Temperatures were below zero for 45 consecutive hours.

28-30

In 1887…winds were strong and gusty for three days in the city.  West and northwest winds were sustained to 56 mph on both the 28th and 29th and to 44 mph on the 30th. Temperatures warmed to a high of 57 degrees on the 29th.

29-30

In 1985…an arctic air mass with snow closed I-70 for a time in Denver and east of Denver.  Snowfall totaled 5.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 29 mph on the 29th.

Continue reading January 30 to February 5 – This week in Denver weather history →

Natural Disasters

Japanese volcano made famous in James Bond movie erupts

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Volcanic lightning is seen above the erupting Mount Shimnoe in Japan. (Takaharu Town Office)
Volcanic lightning is seen above the erupting Mount Shimnoe in Japan. Watch video of the eruption below. (Takaharu Town Office)

This week a significant eruption of Mount Shimnoe on the island of Kyushu in Japan sent ash billowing 15,000 feet into the atmosphere.  The mountain, part of a complex of 20 volcanoes, will be familiar to fans of James Bond movies. 

Shimnoe-dake (Shimnoe Peak) began to erupt on Wednesday prompting some flight cancelations from area airports and covering nearby cities in a coating of ash.  The Japanese government raised the alert level for the volcano and banned entry to an area in a one mile radius around the peak. 

According to the Global Volcanism Program, Shinmoe is part  of a group of 20 volcanoes north of Kagoshima Bay called Kirishima.  Eruptions in the area have occurred four times in the past 40 years however this recent is the largest in more than 50 years. The most recent significant even occurred on February 13, 1959 with others since 1900 occurring in 1946, 1923, 1913 and 1903.

James Bond fans may recall the volcano from “You Only Live Twice.” In the 1967 movie the villain, Ernst Blofeld, maintains a secret lair underneath the mountain. 

Activity at the volcano is gradually subsiding and no injuries have been reported.  Photos and video of the event nevertheless show that it was a significant eruption.   The ballooning ash cloud was large enough to be captured in images taken by NASA satellites.

Among the most impressive images are ones that have captured volcanic lightning, a phenomena which is not entirely understood.  You can learn more about it in this story on the Natural Disasters Examiner.

The video below captures the eruption – be sure to take note of the impressive flashes of pyroclastic lightning.

National Weather

Slammed again – Northeastern U.S. gets another snowstorm while Thornton waits

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Snowfall totals from the latest snowstorm to strike the northeastern United States. (Examiner.com)
Snowfall totals from the latest snowstorm to strike the northeastern United States. Click the image for a larger view. (Examiner.com)

Yet another major snowstorm pummeled the northeastern United States yesterday and last night, their third in less than a month.  Snow totals in many areas from this single storm have far exceeded what Denver has received for its entire snow season thus far.

Snow began falling on Wednesday snarling evening commutes from Virginia to New York and picked up in intensity overnight. 

Snowfall totals this morning include 18.9 inches at Newark Airport, 19.0 inches at Central Park and 15.1 inches in Philadelphia (click here to view the latest totals from across the region).  These all dwarf Denver’s official seasonal total thus far of 12.1 inches!

Even President Barack Obama was not immune to the storm as Marine One, the presidential helicopter, was grounded due to the weather Wednesday.  Returning from a trip to Wisconsin, the president took a motorcade back to the White House instead and spent an hour stuck in traffic. 

As many as 400,000 residents across the northeast are without electricity as the unusually wet snow wreaked havoc with the utilities.  Public schools are closed Thursday and many government offices followed suit with the only exception being emergency personnel.

Slideshow: Northeastern U.S. battered by another snowstorm New York area airports shuttered Wednesday causing flight delays and cancellations across the nation.   The FAA reports that most should open late this morning or this afternoon.

Virtually every major city has reported seasonal snowfall totals so far this year far in excess of normal.  New York City, Boston, Worcester and Providence all have accumulated more than a foot of snow above average. 

Click the image to the left to view a slideshow of images of the snow around New York City (Examiner.com).

This story was originally featured by the Natural Disasters Examiner on Examiner.com.  Remember that by visiting there you are supporting ThorntonWeather.com.

Natural Disasters, World Weather

Death toll in Brazilian flooding and landslides climbs over 800

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Recent flooding in Brazil has submerged entire towns in water and mud. Image courtesy Blamed (Arquivo pessoal) via Wikimedia Commons
Recent flooding in Brazil has submerged entire towns in water and mud. Image courtesy Blamed (Arquivo pessoal) via Wikimedia Commons

Australia and Brazil have both been besieged by heavy rains and flooding in recent weeks.  While Australia’s damage was more widespread, the death toll in Brazil has been far more severe.

At latest count at least 809 people have been killed in the flooding in areas just north of Rio de Janeiro.  389 are reported dead from the floods and mudslides in Nova Friburgo and 324 in Teresolis.  With at least 200 people missing the toll may eventually exceed 1,000.

More than 20,000 people have been forced out of their homes as flash floods and mud rushed through the Serrana region and the Brazilian government is being heavily criticized for its lax oversight of construction standards. The lack of a proper weather warning system and civil defense plan have also been highlighted by the calamity. 

Many within the country and in the international community are questioning the ability of Brazil to play host to the World Cup and the Olympics later this decade. Brazilian daily newspaper Estado de S. Paulo wrote, “A look at public policy … or the lack thereof … reveals a long chain of unpreparedness, administrative incompetence, technical incapacity, and political irresponsibility.”

The recent deaths far surpass Brazil’s previous worst natural disaster. That event, a flood in the state of Sao Paulo in 1967, claimed 436 lives. 

For complete coverage of all types of natural disasters, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Weather History

January 23 to January 29 – This week in Denver weather history

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January 23 to January 29 - This week in Denver weather history
January 23 to January 29 - This week in Denver weather history

When Denver’s weather turns severe it can turn deadly and damaging.  As we look back at this week in Denver weather history we see a time when extreme cold claimed a life and many occasions where wind wreaked havoc and caused damage.

15-23

In 1962…a protracted cold spell kept metro Denver in the deep freeze for more than a week.  From the 15th thru the 23rd…low temperatures were zero or below for 9 consecutive days…but a daily record low was set only on the 22nd when the temperature dipped to 14 degrees below zero.  A record low maximum for the date was also set on the 22nd when the temperature climbed to only 11 degrees.  The coldest high temperature was 3 degrees above zero on the 21st…which did not break the record.  The protracted cold was broken for only a few hours on the afternoon of the 20th when Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 38 degrees before another surge of cold arctic air plunged temperatures back into the deep freeze that evening.  The severe cold caused much damage to water systems.  A woman was frozen to death at Morrison.  There were other deaths attributable to the weather…including traffic deaths and heart attacks from overexertion.

18-24

In 2005…a week of mid-winter unseasonably warm weather pushed high temperatures into the 60’s or more on all but one day.  During the period…the highest temperature of 70 degrees on the 20th was a new record maximum for the date.  Low temperatures remained above freezing on 4 of the days.

22-23

In 1982…wind gusts up to 101 mph were clocked at Wondervu. Wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph were common along the Front Range foothills from Boulder north.

22-26

In 1948…the longest period of snowfall on record (92 hours and 3 minutes) occurred in downtown Denver where a total of 13.6 inches of snow fell.  At Stapleton Airport…19.0 inches of snow fell…making it the heaviest snow in January and the 5th heaviest snow of record at that time.  North winds were sustained to a velocity of 23 mph on the 25th…but generally the winds were light throughout the storm.  The snow disrupted traffic…but street clearing was begun soon after it became apparent that the snow would be heavy.  Over the 5 days…temperatures ranged from a high of 48 degrees on the 22nd to a low of 1 degree on the 26th.  Most readings were in the teens and 20’s during the storm.

23

In 1872…a brisk northerly wind set in about noon…blew almost a gale about 6:00 pm…and continued brisk until night.  A light snow commenced during the late afternoon and continued all night.
 
In 1886…northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph in the city around sunrise.  A cold wave accompanied the strong winds.
 
Continue reading January 23 to January 29 – This week in Denver weather history →

World Weather

Aussie teens learn what type of flotation device not to use in a flooding river

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Two teens in Australia discovered that certain flotation devices aren't appropriate in a flooding river. (Trevor Pinder)
Two teens in Australia discovered that certain flotation devices aren't appropriate in a flooding river. (Trevor Pinder)

Sometimes you just can’t save people from themselves.  With Australia battling flooding across four of its states, emergency officials have had their hands full providing relief and rescuing those affected by the disaster.  The Natural Disasters Examiner reports about how the decision by a young couple to test the floodwaters with inflatable sex dolls earlier this week was not met with amusement by authorities. 

The 19-year-old couple chose to enter the waters of the Yarra River near Melbourne with inflatable sex dolls to aid them in their swim.  The rushing waters apparently were too much for the pair – and the dolls – and they soon found themselves in danger.

The young lady held onto a tree while her companion and his doll stood watch and began yelling for help.  A passerby called police and rescue units retrieved the couple from the river.

According to The Telegraph, officials told the couple that sex dolls were “not a recognized flotation device.”  Authorities were not pleased to have had to divert resources for a rescue that should not have been necessary. 

Flooding in Australia has become a disaster of gargantuan proportions as hundreds of thousands of acres across four states have been flooded.  More than 30 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people are now homeless. 

View more images of the water rescue here.

Thornton Weather

Wednesday’s snowstorm in 10 seconds or less

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To say today’s snowstorm was a fast mover doesn’t do it justice.  The storm hit fast and furious and many doubted our forecasts for only light snowfall.  But, as quickly as it arrived the winter storm departed and the event was over by nightfall.

In a span of three hours or so Thornton received 1.2 inches of snow.  Of course it is a bummer to have to withstand the traffic problems caused by a storm that brought so little.  To top it off we now have to wash our cars which hadn’t been clean but for a few days.  Not much return for the hassle, even if we need the moisture.  🙂

The time lapse video below captures the entire event from start to finish and does it in about 9 seconds.

National Weather

California’s ‘big one’ may not be an earthquake

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A 'super storm' like one that struck California 150 years ago would flood an area hundreds of miles long. (USGS / Google Earth)
A 'super storm' like one that struck California 150 years ago would flood an area hundreds of miles long. (USGS / Google Earth)

California and earthquakes go together like coffee and a cup but a new study suggests that an entirely different kind of disaster may have a bigger impact.  The U.S. Geological Survey gathered 117 scientists to evaluate a hypothetical – but possible – “super storm” and its impact on the Golden State. 

At the end of 1861 and into the beginning of 1862 a very wet Pacific storm inundated California with rain.  This storm turned much of the Sacramento Valley into an inland sea and flooded an area hundreds of miles long. 

Today, California is the United State’s most populous state and it has the equivalent of the eighth largest economy in the world.  The study shows that if a similar storm were to occur today the result would be disastrous. 

The implications of this disaster scenario are tremendous and stretch far beyond California’s borders.  Further, one has to wonder ‘what if’ Thornton and the Denver area were presented with a similar scenario? 

Read more about the study at the Natural Disasters Examiner.