A massive thunderstorm 1,900 miles wide lasting more than 9 months is occuring on Saturn.
A thunderstorm that would encompass an area from San Francisco to the Mississippi River was recorded on Saturn. The storm, recorded by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, has lasted an amazing 9 months so far and became a record setter for the longest lightning storm recorded in the solar system. The previous longest storm duration was 7 ½ months, also set on Saturn, between November 2007 and July 2008.
Scientists speaking at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) said instruments onboard Cassini recorded the storms that are 10,000 times more powerful than lightning storms on Earth. This record breaking storm is the ninth that the spacecraft has recorded on Saturn since it arrived at the planet in July 2004.
Saturn is well known for its severe thunderstorms that usually occur in an area scientists have dubbed ‘Storm Alley’ – something akin to Tornado Alley in the central United States although much bigger in area and the storms are much more powerful. The area on Saturn lies 35 degrees south of Saturn’s equator and scientists aren’t entirely sure why this area is a hot bed for activity.
A funnel cloud near Thornton on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Knowing where to get information on developing weather could save your life. Image courtesy John Wagner, Warrior Legacy Foundation.
We recently updated our weather links page (available from the menu at the left) with dozens more links to a wide array of weather related website. From sites that provide statistical information and historical data to ones where you can become your own weather forecaster, we have it all.
Certainly weather is one of the things that every single person on the globe has in common. It can impact almost every aspect of our daily lives in a myriad of ways. It can make or break that outdoor event, determine whether or not the kids have school today and most notably it can change lives in an instant when it turns severe.
Knowing where to find information about weather can help to educate, inform and possibly save lives – possibly even your own. We have accumulated this extensive list of Internet resources devoted to weather topics on everything from climatology to tropical weather and winter weather.
Highlighting the cooler summer, thousands of record low temperatures were experienced in July 2009. (NCDC)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced this week that the summer of 2009 was the 34th coolest since 1895. Covering the months from June to August for the contiguous United States, the average temperature was 0.4 degrees below the 20th century average.
Emphasizing the lower temperatures experienced in the United States over the summer, a closer look at the statistics provides some telling information.
Over the three month period, stations reporting to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) showed 2,254 daily record low temperatures and 1,296 low temperature records were tied according to preliminary data. Similarly, 4,051 daily record low maximums were recorded and 1,501 records were tied across the nation during the summer.
July in particular was notably cooler than normal and the single month by itself counted for roughly half of the records set across the three month summer. For the month, 2,212 record low maximum temperatures were recorded and 737 were tied. 1,225 new record low temperatures were recorded and 657 records were tied.
September 13 to September 19 - This week in Denver weather history
Weather conditions in Colorado can of course vary greatly and we always see that in our weekly look back in the history books. For this week, we see a dizzying array of weather events from record setting temperatures in the 90’s and summer-like thunderstorms with tornadoes to an early arrival of winter that brought a foot of snow!
From the National Weather Service:
13
In 1899…west winds were sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph.
In 1928…northwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
In 1937…an apparent dry microburst produced brief north winds sustained to 31 mph with gusts to 41 mph. There was a trace of rain.
In 1982…torrential rains drenched both the foothills and plains from Denver north. While the heaviest rain occurred north of Denver…just east of Denver 2 1/3 inches of rain fell in 5 hours along with hail that caused minor damage to a few airplanes. Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.83 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1993…an upper level system combined with a cold and moist upslope flow to bring the heaviest snowfall to metro Denver for so early in the season. Snowfall from the storm totaled 5.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport; however…most of the snow melted as it fell leaving a maximum of one inch on the ground at any one time. North winds gusted to 21 mph at Stapleton International Airport where a record low temperature of 33 degrees for the date was observed.
In 2002…Friday the 13th proved to be bad luck for several motorists when heavy thunderstorm rainfall caused flooding on I-25 in central Denver. Water rose several feet under the Logan Street overpass…inundating several vehicles. Some motorists were rescued…while others simply waited atop their cars for the flood water to recede. The highway had to be closed in both directions for about 3 hours. The flooding was exacerbated by poor drainage due to the construction along the highway. A 12-foot drainage pipe had not yet been installed beneath the underpass. The deluge also flooded several businesses along Broadway.
Global warming or global cooling? There doesn't seem to be a consensus anymore.
While the United States debates whether or not to push climate change legislation this year, the debate on the climate and man’s effect on it continues in the public forum. In recent days two high profile meteorologists have come forth and added their voices to the growing movement of those who reject the ‘consensus’ of the manmade climate change theory.
Many who advocate the manmade climate change theory like Al Gore and James Hansen have said that the ‘science is settled’ and there is no debate to be made on the issue. Despite this, more and more evidence is being released calling into question the very basis of the arguments climate change alarmists make.
The Capital Weather Gang section of the Washington Post is a must read for many weather enthusiasts. Today, meteorologist and Capital Weather Gang writer Matt Rogers outlined his case for questioning the ‘consensus’ of manmade global warming in a ‘top 10’ list.
AccuWeather.com is one of the most popular weather websites on the Internet and a major provider of weather related news and information to media of all types. Joe Bastardi is an Expert Senior Forecaster at AccuWeather and is considered one of the premier meteorologists in the country. Bastardi recently said that those that advocate the manmade climate change theory have a “house of cards that goes up in smoke.”
September 6 to September 12 - This week in Denver weather history.
Colorado weather is certainly varied and this week’s look back at weather history proves that. We have seen everything from deadly lightning, hail and severe winds to even snow during the second week of September.
1-7
In 1978…the temperature reached 90 degrees or more on seven consecutive days with the highest temperature…94 degrees… Recorded on both the 4th and 6th.
3-6
In 1909…rainfall for the 4 days accumulated to 3.97 inches in Boulder…while in Denver rainfall totaled 2.45 inches on the 4th…5th…and 6th.
5-9
In 1988…layers of smoke aloft from large forest fires in Yellowstone National Park completely obliterated the sun at times. At Stapleton International Airport…surface visibility was reduced at times to 5 and 6 miles in smoke.
6
In 1940…a thunderstorm pelted the city with small hail. The storm produced some lightning damage. One woman was stunned by a bolt which struck near her. Heavy rain from the storm raised the level of Cherry Creek by more than 3 feet during the height of the storm. Rainfall downtown was only 0.26 inch.
In 1988…strong winds blew down two houses that were under construction in Castle Rock. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1993…a man was struck and killed by lightning while standing outside his home in unincorporated Arapahoe County 11 miles south of Denver. Lightning also struck a cabin in Marshdale…20 miles southwest of Denver…which started a fire and damaged one room and a portion of the roof.
In 1995…hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell in Coal Creek Canyon in northern Jefferson County.
In 2001…a thunderstorm dropped 3/4 inch diameter hail in Aurora near Cherry Creek.
The view of the Rocky Mountains from Denver is obscured by haze caused by smoke from wildfires burning across the western United States.
Update, 5:30pm – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a smoke health advisory for northwest and north-central Colorado. The department warns that residents may wish to limit outside activity, particularly those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly.
Read the advisory in its entirety at the bottom of this story.
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported 17 fires burning in states from Colorado west. Seven fires in California, three in Utah and two in Colorado are the primary ones causing smoke over the Mile High City.
The largest of the blazes, the Station Fire in the foothills near Los Angeles, exploded to more than 120,000 acres in recent days. In Utah, the Mill Flats Fire burning in the Dixie National Forest grew to more than 10,000 acres.
Colorado reports two wildfires, the largest of which has been dubbed the Tabaguache Creek Fire in the Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. That blaze is six miles north of Nucla and has scorched 1,260 acres.
Altogether, the fires that are actively burning have burned more than 150,000 acres of land. For the entire fire season which runs during the calendar year, 65,140 wildfires have been reported and an estimated 5,303,691 acres – more than 8,000 square miles – have been burned.
Tuesday the smoke has eased some over the Front Range and it should dissipate this evening.
From the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
COLORADO SMOKE ADVISORY & OUTLOOK:
Significant smoke from fires in Canada, Utah, Colorado, California and other western states will cause widespread haze in Colorado on Tuesday and from time-to-time this week. Fine Particulate levels are in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups category in Garfield County and are probably in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range in other areas across Northwest and North-central Colorado due to the smoke from the forest fires. The highest concentrations are expected to occur in Northwest and North-central Colorado, generally north of I-70, possibly as far east as the Front Range. Much of the rest of Colorado will see concentrations in the Moderate range. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY. If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. Smoke should gradually diminish later this evening in most areas.
Moderate to heavy smoke is also possible in the vicinity of a fire 6 miles north of Nucla, especially in areas down-valley of the fire during the nighttime and morning hours.
FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:
Ozone is expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range Tuesday afternoon and evening (with the highest readings in the Denver metro area) and in the Moderate category on Wednesday. Active children, active adults, and people with respiratory illnesses should limit prolonged outdoor exertion from 2 PM until midnight tonight.
Visibility is expected to remain in the Poor Category on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Carbon monoxide levels are expected to remain in the Good category along the Front Range on Tuesday.
Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Moderate category along the Front Range on Tuesday and Wednesday
Denver & Thornton Climatological Preview - September 2009
As temperatures start to drop, September reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.
Normal highs on the first of the month are 82 degrees with a low of 53. By the end of the month we see those high temperatures drop to an average of 73 and the lows get to a chilly 42. Overall the month averages 62.4 degrees.
August 30 to September 5 – This week in Denver weather history.
As always, when looking at weather history we are reminded of the varied and sometimes dangerous weather conditions we have here in Colorado. Our look this week we see high temperatures soaring to 97 degrees but also we see the earliest snowfall on record.
From the National Weather Service:
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
30
In 1981…60 mph winds were reported in Boulder.
In 2004…a severe thunderstorm produced hail as large as 1 inch in diameter in south Aurora near Cherry Creek.
31
In 1951…hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter caused an estimated 300 thousand dollars damage in metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter was measured at Stapleton Airport.
In 1978…strong thunderstorm winds tore the roof off an apartment building in Aurora…downed trees…and damaged windows in Denver. A microburst wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1985…a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph was clocked at Buckley Field in Aurora.
In 1997…hail to 1 1/4 inches in diameter was measured in Aurora.
In 2006…a female postal worker was struck and injured by lightning while delivering mail in Westminster.
In 2008…lightning struck a home in Brighton…damaging the roof and a bedroom. The damaged totaled 20 thousand dollars.
August 23 to August 29 – This week in Denver weather history
Quite the interesting week in Denver weather history. Swarms of grasshoppers are the most unusual item we see but there is plenty of standard severe weather including tornadoes, landspouts, hail, lightning and much more.
From the National Weather Service:
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
22-24
In 1987…some locations in metro Denver had a total 3-day rainfall of 2 to 4 inches. Rainfall totaled 0.96 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
23
In 1900…northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 49 mph.
In 1921…a thunderstorm cloudburst produced 2.20 inches of rainfall in an hour over downtown Denver. This is the greatest 1 hour rainfall on record at the official observing site in the city. Precipitation totaled 2.93 inches…which is the greatest calendar day precipitation ever recorded in august.
In 1941…one man was killed by lightning about 2 miles from the official weather station in downtown Denver.
In 1962…a home near Boulder was destroyed by a lightning- caused fire.
In 1968…strong winds buffeted Boulder briefly during the early morning hours. At the National Center for Atmospheric Research…winds averaged 55 mph with gusts to 85 mph. Damage was minor. Northwest winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1977…lightning damaged at least 6 homes in Aurora.
In 2008…a landspout touched down near Westcreek in Douglas County. One man was seriously injured when he tried to escaped several falling trees in his ATV. One of the trees struck his back and broke two vertebra. Another camper narrowly escaped injury. Seconds after he back up his truck…a tree came down where it had been parked.
