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April 12 to April 18 – This week in Denver weather history

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April 12 to April 18 - This week in Denver weather history
April 12 to April 18 - This week in Denver weather history

A look back at this week in Denver weather history shows quite the variety of weather conditions.  We have seen everything from high winds and snowstorms to hail, thunderstorms and sub-freezing temperatures.

From the National Weather Service:

 7-12 

IN 1959…SNOW FALLING OVER A 5-DAY PERIOD TOTALED 20 TO 30 INCHES JUST EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS…WHILE OVER THE PLAINS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CLOSED SCHOOLS AND BLOCKED HIGHWAYS. THE SECOND BIG STORM IN TWO WEEKS DUMPED 16.4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL ON STAPLETON AIRPORT WITH THE MOST…11.6 INCHES…  OCCURRING ON THE 8TH.  EAST WINDS GUSTED TO 37 MPH ON THE 9TH.  TEMPERATURES DIPPED INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS ON THE MORNINGS OF THE 7TH AND 12TH WHEN 7 DEGREES WERE REGISTERED.  LOW TEMPERATURE RECORDS FOR THE DATES WERE SET ON THE 9TH…10TH… AND 12TH.  THE COLD TEMPERATURES CAUSED STREETS TO GLAZE WITH ICE…RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS STRUCK BY A CAR IN DENVER.  THREE PEOPLE DIED FROM HEART ATTACKS WHILE SHOVELING THE HEAVY… WET SNOW.

9-12 

IN 1901…RAIN CHANGED TO SNOW AND TOTALED 10.8 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER OVER THE 4 DAYS.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 28 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 31 MPH ON THE 11TH. TEMPERATURES HOVERED IN THE 30`S.

10-12

IN 1997…A PACIFIC STORM PRODUCED HEAVY SNOW ON THE 10TH AND THE 11TH IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS WITH 6 TO 8 INCHES AT LOUISVILLE AND TURKEY CREEK CANYON…5 INCHES AT MORRISON…  AND ONLY 3.5 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 24 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  THE STORM ALSO BROUGHT UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER WITH 5 NEW TEMPERATURE RECORDS EQUALED OR BROKEN.  RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES OF 8 AND 6 OCCURRED ON THE 11TH AND 12TH.  RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OF 20…19…AND 30 OCCURRED ON THE 10TH…11TH…  AND 12TH RESPECTIVELY.  THIS WAS ALSO ONLY THE SECOND TIME ON RECORD THAT THE TEMPERATURE HAD FAILED TO REACH THE FREEZING MARK FOR 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN APRIL.

Continue reading April 12 to April 18 – This week in Denver weather history →

National Weather, Severe Weather

Wildfires and tornadoes claim lives across the nation

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A tornado rips through Murfreesboro, TN where a mother and child lost their lives in the twister.
A tornado rips through Murfreesboro, TN where a mother and child lost their lives in the twister.

The end of the week saw severe weather claim the lives of seven people across the nation on Thursday and Friday.

Mena, Arkansas Tornado Claims Three Lives

Daylight Friday in the western Arkansas town of Mena brought a devastating sight after a tornado tore through the town killing three people and injuring at least 24.  Reports are that hundreds of homes and businesses have been destroyed in the town of 5,000.

Tornado sirens blared yesterday evening in the town warning of the coming danger.  At about 8:30pm local time the twister struck.  Two women and one man lost their lives in the storm.  One victim died in a collapsed house, another in a front yard and the third in a Masonic Lodge. 

Click here for more details in our story on Examiner.com.

Wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma Wildfires Claim Two Lives, Injure Dozens

Wind-driven wildfires in Texas And Oklahoma proved deadly Thursday afternoon as a Texas couple was killed in the blazes and dozens more injured.  The fires in western and central Oklahoma injured at least 34 people and burned over 100 homes.  In Texas, a former television reporter and his wife were killed.

High winds, low humidity and an abundance of dry fuels sparked the wildfires and made for prime conditions for them to quickly burn out of control.  In Oklahoma the fires started along I-35 and forced its closure for a time although it is now open.  Entire towns were evacuated including Healdton, Sparks, Velma, Wellston and Midwest City.  

Click here for more details in our story on Examiner.com.

Mother and child killed by tornado in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

A mother and her three month old baby were killed in Murfreesboro, Tennessee today when a tornado went through the central part of the state Friday.  The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reports that 30 were also injured by the twister as a line of storms stretching from Alabama, across Tennessee and into Kentucky wreaked havoc.  The deadly twister comes on the heels of one that killed three people in Arkansas Thursday.

The mother and child whose lives were lost were taken to Middle Tennessee Medical center but were dead when they arrived.  The city of 105,000 saw roofs ripped from homes and trees downed as the twister struck the northern and western parts of the city. 

Click here for more details in our story on Examiner.com.

Climate Change

Obama science advisor advocates climate engineering

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John Holdren as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is President Obama's science advisor.
John Holdren as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is President Obama's science advisor.

In an interview with the Associated Press, John Holdren, President Obama’s newly confirmed science advisor, discussed the possibility of ‘climate engineering’ to battle global warming.  The radical and somewhat controversial technology would require an extraordinary intervention by man in an attempt to purposely influence the climate.

Mr. Holdren feels however the dangers of climate change could leave Earth with little choice.  He is quoted as saying, “It’s got to be looked at.  We don’t have the luxury of taking any approach off the table.”

Climate engineering, or geoengineering, could theoretically be accomplished a number of ways.  Most currently studied techniques revolve around attempts to counteract greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide, which is believe to be responsible for global warming.  Technology to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere called ‘air scrubbing’ is one alternative the administration is supposedly considering.  Another extreme option would be to purposely inject pollution into the atmosphere to reflect the sun’s rays. 

Prior to his nomination, Holdren was a physicist and professor at Harvard.  He has long sounded the alarm of manmade climate change saying global warming is like being “in a car with bad brakes driving toward a cliff in the fog.” 

For all the details, read the rest of this story on our Denver Weather Examiner page. Examiner.com - Get inside Denver weather
Weather History

April 5 to April 11 – This week in Denver weather history

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April 5 to April 11 - This week in Denver weather history.
April 5 to April 11 - This week in Denver weather history.

An incredibly busy week on the Denver weather history calendar as we see below.  Thunderstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricane force winds and more have all been seen during this week in Denver weather history. 

From the National Weather Service:

2-5  

IN 1918…SNOWFALL TOTALED 12.4 INCHES OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW FELL ON THE 3RD AND 4TH.  TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 20`S AND 30`S.  NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 24 MPH ON THE 2ND.

3-5  

IN 1996…THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER RECEIVED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW.  ONLY 0.8 INCH OF SNOW FELL AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT…ALONG WITH SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE ON THE 4TH AND 5TH.  NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 3RD.

3-6  

IN 1898…SNOWFALL TOTALED 8.7 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER OVER THE 4 DAYS.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH ON THE 3RD.

IN 1983…A PROLONGED HEAVY SNOW STORM BLANKETED THE AREA ALONG WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.  THE GREATEST AMOUNTS OF SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WHERE 24 TO 42 INCHES WERE MEASURED.  A FOOT OF SNOW FELL IN BOULDER.  SNOW FELL FOR 50 CONSECUTIVE HOURS AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 3RD THROUGH THE 5TH WITH A TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 8.8 INCHES AND A MAXIMUM ACCUMULATION ON THE GROUND OF 6 INCHES ON THE 5TH.  IN DENVER…THE MERCURY FAILED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING FOR 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS…ON THE 4TH…5TH… AND 6TH…FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN APRIL.  FIVE DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET FROM THE 4TH THROUGH THE 6TH. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES OF 12 DEGREES OCCURRED ON THE 5TH WITH 7 DEGREES ON THE 6TH.  RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OF 25 DEGREES OCCURRED ON THE 4TH…27 DEGREES ON THE 5TH…  AND 28 DEGREES ON THE 6TH.

4-5  

IN 1900…RAIN CHANGED TO HEAVY SNOW AND TOTALED 7.8 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER OVERNIGHT.  A THUNDERSTORM ON THE 4TH PRODUCED HAIL.  PRECIPITATION TOTALED 1.50 INCHES.

IN 1911…NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH ON THE 4TH AND TO 41 MPH ON THE 5TH.

IN 2002…A WHITISH-COLORED HAZE ENGULFED METRO DENVER ON BOTH DAYS.  THE HAZE WAS THE RESULT OF A HUGE WIND STORM THAT KICKED UP DUST AND SAND FROM THE GOBI DESERT IN MONGOLIA AND CHINA DURING THE LATTER HALF OF MARCH.  WESTERLY WINDS ALOFT TRANSPORTED THE DUST CLOUD ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES…DEPOSITING SOME OF IT ON COLORADO.

Continue reading April 5 to April 11 – This week in Denver weather history →

Climate Change

New government brochure promotes ‘climate literacy’

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A new brochure aims to provide clarity and literacy on the issue of climate change.
A new brochure aims to provide clarity and literacy on the issue of climate change.

With the constant din of conflicting information on manmade climate change, some coming from within these very pages, it may be difficult for the layman to understand climate change and what it potentially means for the Earth.  A collaborative project from a number of United States government agencies seeks to offer some clarity to the subject in a new brochure titled “Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences“.

  • To download the brochure, see our links at the bottom of this article.

According to the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, the guide “presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth’s climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.”   The document is wonderfully laid out and colorfully illustrated with photos and begins by outlining the basic principles many have come to believe in terms of man’s impact on the climate. 

Human activities—burning fossil fuels and deforesting large areas of land, for instance—have had a profound influence on Earth’s climate.
– Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences

According to the document, the ‘essential principles of climate science’ are: 

  • The Sun is the primary source of energy for Earth’s climate system.
  • Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth system.
  • Life on Earth depends on, is shaped by, and affects climate.
  • Climate varies over space and time through both natural and man-made processes.
  • Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling.
  • Human activities are impacting the climate system.
  • Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives.

Great detail is spent on each of those issues.  Tom Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center said, “There is so much misinformation about climate.  We want to provide an easily readable document to help everyone make the most informed decisions. Having one product endorsed by the nation’s top federal science agencies, as well as leading science centers and associations, makes this document an essential resource.”

Scientific observations and climate model results indicate that human activities are now the primary cause of most of the ongoing increase in Earth’s globally averaged surface temperature.
– Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences

As one might expect from the above quote, the document doesn’t lend any credence to or even mention any dissenting opinions about manmade climate change like we have documented previously.  The agencies represented obviously agree that the ‘science is settled’.  However, it is not overly preachy nor does it use over the top language like some climate change advocates are known to do.  The brochure can be a handy reference for everyone on all sides of the issue and help to lend a reasonable voice to the debate.

The new guide was spearheaded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with contributions from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Agency for International Development and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

For more info: 

National Weather

Washington D.C. prepares to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival

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The Washington Monument is framed by blossoming cherry trees this week. View our slideshow below. (Photo: Jim Schuyler)
The Washington Monument is framed by blossoming cherry trees this week. View our slideshow below. (Photo: Jim Schuyler)

At about this time of year an extraordinarily beautiful event takes place when the cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin in our nation’s capitol blossom.  For those that haven’t seen it first hand, the blossoms coupled with the sights and monuments is incredible.

The entire blossom event lasts for a relatively short two week period during which bright pink blossoms cover the trees.  Wednesday, the trees reached their peak bloom period for this year and this coming weekend the event will be highlighted with the annual parade and street festival – all part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. 

The history of how the cherry trees came to the capitol goes back nearly 100 years.  According to the National Park Service: 

The plantings of cherry trees originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the People of the United States from the People of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree, or “Sakura,” is an exalted flowering plant. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a potent symbol equated with the evanescence of human life and epitomizes the transformation of Japanese culture throughout the ages.

As we wait for our own trees to blossom here in Colorado, take a look at this incredible slideshow of images taken just the other day of Washington D.C.’s trees.  Thank you to Jim Schuyler for sharing the photos as well as to Justin Berk, the Baltimore Weather Examiner for passing them on to us.

[nggallery id=1]

Climate Change

From London to Las Vegas the planet goes dark for Earth Hour

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The Eifel Tower goes dark for Earth Hour. See a slideshow of the event from around the world on Examiner.com.
The Eifel Tower goes dark for Earth Hour. See a slideshow of the event from around the world on Examiner.com.

From the Las Vegas Strip to the Great Pyramids, lights were turned off across the globe for one hour on Saturday as part of Earth Hour, an event to draw attention to climate change.  Sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), nearly 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries dimmed nonessential lighting in what U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hoped would, “be largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted.”

At 8:30pm local time, cities including Berlin, Beijing, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Sydney and Toronto dimmed downtown lights and lighting at landmarks.  Here in the United States Albuquerque, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. and many others including Denver and Boulder participated.

In the nation’s capitol, the Capitol dome went dim at 8:30pm as did the Empire State Building in New York, Central Park and the George Washington Bridge.  In London, Big Ben was darkened and in Australia the iconic Sydney Opera House saw its lights extinguished. 

Other landmarks to go dim as part of the event included the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the Vatican, Niagara Falls, the Eiffel Tower, the Acropolis, the ‘Bird’s Nest’ in China and the Las Vegas Strip.  Here in Denver, lights were turned out in the Wellington Webb Building, the City and County Building, the Human Services Building on Federal Boulevard and the McNichols Building.

Acknowledging that the event will not do anything to decrease the world’s carbon footprint, the WWF likens it to other symbolic events such as the Boston Tea Party or the protests of the 1960’s.  Organizers are hopeful the event will get the attention of world leaders who will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark in December for a summit on climate change.

In an interview on CNN, WWF CEO Carter Roberts said, “We think we are going to have 100 million people around the world sending a message that climate change is real, and we need to take action now.  The world is watching to see what America is going to do because if America acts on climate change, the world will follow.”

Weather History

March 29 to April 4 – This week in Denver weather history

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March 29 - April 4 - This week in Denver weather history.
March 29 - April 4 - This week in Denver weather history.

This week in Denver weather history is notable for the variety of conditions that can be experienced this time of year.  From hurricane force winds and heavy snow to more typical spring severe weather like tornadoes, all can be experienced this time of year. 

From the National Weather Service:

27-29

IN 1948…HIGH WINDS RAKED BOULDER.  A WIND GUST TO 75 MPH WAS RECORDED AT VALMONT.  SUSTAINED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH WERE ESTIMATED IN BOULDER.  MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

IN 1961…HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 9.5 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT OVER THE 3 DAY PERIOD.  MOST OF THE SNOW…5.3 INCHES…FELL ON THE 28TH.  WINDS WERE GENERALLY LIGHT AND GUSTED TO ONLY 22 MPH FROM THE NORTH.
28-29 IN 1891…RAIN CHANGED TO SNOW AND TOTALED 9.7 INCHES IN THE CITY.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 12 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 28 MPH ON THE 28TH.

IN 1910…A STRONG COLD FRONT BROUGHT MUCH WIND…RAIN…AND AND SNOW TO THE CITY.  RAIN ON THE 28TH CHANGED TO SNOW EARLY ON THE 29TH.  SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 2.8 INCHES…BUT NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 50 MPH ON THE 29TH. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM TOTALED 0.96 INCH.

IN 1994…MOIST UPSLOPE WINDS COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO DUMP 5 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS AND ACROSS METRO DENVER.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.3 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH.  THIRTEEN INCHES OF NEW SNOW WERE MEASURED AT THE ELDORA SKI AREA WEST OF BOULDER.

28-30

IN 1949…A MAJOR WINTER STORM DUMPED 11.3 INCHES OF SNOW OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 10.4 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.  NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 17 MPH.

Continue reading March 29 to April 4 – This week in Denver weather history →

Climatology, Thornton Weather

A Preview of Denver’s April Weather – Something for Everyone

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Do April showers bring May flowers? Find out in our April 2009 weather preview!
Do April showers bring May flowers? Find out in our April 2009 weather preview!

April marks a transition between winter and summer for most of the country but for Denver it is especially true as we can see a stunning variety of weather. The proverbial April showers are certainly a possibility for Denver. Snow? Tornadoes? Thunderstorms? You bet – all can happen! For good measure throw in a chance for hail and even dust storms and April gives every type of weather condition you could like – or hate.

The good news is that sunshine and warmer temperatures are usually in abundance as the normal highs during the month move up from 57 degrees on the first to 65 degrees on the 30th. It is not unusual to have a number of days well into the 70’s and the low 80’s. We also see the normal lows move above freezing from 30 degrees at the start of the month to 39 degrees by the end. Temperature extremes can hit both ends of the spectrum with a record low of 2 degrees below zero on April 2, 1975 and a record high of 90 degrees on April 30, 1992.

Get all the details here in our complete April 2009 preview.

Thornton Weather

Denver blizzard moves out as the digging out begins

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Thornton begins digging out from the March Blizzard of 2009.
Thornton begins digging out from the March Blizzard of 2009. This image is from our webcam as the storm really began in earnest just before noon.

The sun is already beginning to shine in the wake of Denver’s biggest snowstorm of the 2008 – 2009 winter season.  The storm was also Denver’s biggest since December 2007 when a series of storms dumped more than 30 inches on the city.  While the snow brings much-needed moisture to the parched Front Range, it was a stark contrast to the 70 degree temperatures of just a few days ago. 

Here is Thornton we received 11.4 inches of snow from the storm which increases our season total to 38.1 inches.  While yesterday’s snow helps, that is still barely half of what we average in a season so much more is needed if we want to make up lost ground.

Cold and wind were also part of the story.  Thornton’s high temperature yesterday was 35 degrees but that occurred before 11:00am.  Once the storm arrived, the mercury plummetted 15 degrees and we saw temperatures in the mid-teens.  Winds are what made the storm a blizzard and we had plenty of that with gusts to 33 mph.  The cold temperatures and wind coupled to give us wind chills in the low single digits and Thornton actually recorded a maximum wind chill of 1.3 degrees below zero.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out these two Thornton weather stories from the blizzard:

For a complete recap on Denver’s March Blizzard of 2009, see our story on Examiner.com.

For all the details, read the rest of this story on our Denver Weather Examiner page. Examiner.com - Get inside Denver weather