Colorado’s famously highly variable weather seems to showcase itself during the month of May when a variety of weather conditions can be seen.
Winter-like temperatures and snow are possible as are mid-summer like temperatures or the more typical spring severe weather.
As the month starts out in 2015 we are going to enjoy a mild period with unseasonably warm temperatures but with unsettled conditions. Long range forecasts lean toward overall warmer than normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
However the month can bring extremes. Snow is not entirely uncommon during the month, oftentimes causing damage to newly bloomed trees. More common however is severe weather, particularly in the latter half of the month. Thunderstorms become more frequent and their associated hazards – lightning, wind, hail and tornadoes – are usual visitors.
We began the month of April in the need of moisture and while we didn’t do much to bolster our snowfall numbers, rain proved to be a big help. Temperatures were relatively stable but did end up a bit above average.
The first half of the month offered mostly dry conditions and warmer than normal temperatures. The only real exception was a light snowfall on the 2nd and 3rd of the month. Otherwise we saw virtually no precipitation for the first 15 days of April.
The latter half however saw a shift in the weather pattern courtesy of a number of storm systems that moved through. These led to cooler temperatures and some nice shots of precipitation.
A system on the 15th and 16th brought only 3.9 inches of snowfall but a healthy 1.68 inches of liquid precipitation from snowmelt and rain. We then remained mostly dry up until the 26th when another good shot of rain arrived.
Thornton’s average temperature for April 2015 was 49.0 degrees, a good bit above the long term April average of 47.4 degrees. Out at the airport, Denver saw similar readings to ours with an average of 48.7 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a low of 24.0 degrees on the morning of the 4th up to a high of 80.7 degrees on the 30th. Denver’s coldest reading was 27 degrees on the 3rd and its warmest came on the 30th with a temperature of 79 degrees.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton saw 2.68 inches of precipitation for the month. Officially, as measured at DIA, Denver took a very similar 2.65 inches into their bucket. Both readings were a good ways above the April average of 1.71 inches.
Snowfall failed to be anything extraordinary. Both Thornton and Denver saw 5.3 inches of the white stuff, a good bit below the average of 6.8 inches.
Thornton, Colorado temperatur?e summary for April 2015. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)Thornton, Colorado precipitat?ion summary for April 2015. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
552 AM MDT FRI MAY 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 90 04/30/1992
LOW -2 04/02/1975
HIGHEST 79 04/30 80 04/22
LOWEST 27 04/03 18 04/14
AVG. MAXIMUM 62.1 61.5 0.6 62.8
AVG. MINIMUM 35.3 33.3 2.0 35.2
MEAN 48.7 47.4 1.3 49.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.3 -0.3 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 7 13.0 -6.0 10
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 8.24 1900
MINIMUM 0.03 1963
TOTALS 2.65 1.71 0.94 1.24
DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.06 0.03 0.04
DAYS >= .01 9 9.1 -0.1 6
DAYS >= .10 6 4.5 1.5 5
DAYS >= .50 2 0.9 1.1 0
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.5 0.5 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.41 04/16 TO 04/17 04/02 TO 04/03
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 33.8 1933
TOTALS 5.3 6.8
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 481 529 -48 472
SINCE 7/1 5205 5731 -526 5730
COOLING TOTAL 0 1 -1 0
SINCE 1/1 0 1 -1 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
....................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.7
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 41/350 DATE 04/15
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 52/280 DATE 04/12
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 7
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 7
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 58
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 6 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 7
LIGHT RAIN 11 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 3
LIGHT SNOW 4 SLEET 0
FOG 10 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 5
HAZE 3
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
The month of March was relatively uneventful and lacked any sort of real weather drama. What was notable was the dry conditions and unseasonably warm temperatures that dominated for the most part.
March started out considerably colder than normal with the first five days of the month seeing temperatures around 20 degrees below normal. A light shot of snow was recorded on the fourth of the month, a reading that would be our biggest snowfall for the period.
Temperatures began to turn warmer on the sixth with above normal readings recorded through the 16th of the month. We even managed two 80+ degree days on the 15th and 16th.
Denver actually saw its earliest 80 degree reading in history on the 16th. The previous earliest 80 degree reading occurred on March 18, 1907.
Unsettled conditions interrupted the warmth on the 25th with a light snowfall and colder temperatures.
We then bounced right back to the dry, mild conditions for the balance of the month.
Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 44.9 degrees. This was well above the long term Denver average of 40.4 degrees. Out at DIA, the Mile High City’s reading was very similar at 45.0 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 82.6 degrees on the 16th down to a low of 9.2 degrees on the 5th of the month. At the airport, Denver’s maximum for the month of 81 degrees came on the 16th with its lowest of 2 degrees on the 5th.
Denver officially broke two temperature records in March 2015. On March 6th the high temperature of 79 degrees broke the record high for the date (previously 76 degrees set in 2013). Also, on the 16th, the high temperature reading of 81 degrees was a record (previously 75 degrees in 2012).
In terms of precipitation, the rain bucket totals fell well short of the March average of 0.92 inch. Here in Thornton a mere 0.49 inches was recorded while Denver saw quite a bit more with a measurement of 0.79 inches.
March is historically our snowiest month but that was certainly not the case in 2015. Thornton snowfall totally only 2.8 inches and Denver was at 2.9 inches. Both were well below the average of 10.7 inches.
Thornton, Colorado March 2015 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado March 2015 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
633 AM MDT WED APR 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 84 03/26/1971
LOW -11 03/28/1886
HIGHEST 81 03/16/2015 73 03/09
LOWEST 2 03/05/2015 4 03/02
AVG. MAXIMUM 58.9 54.4 4.5 55.8
AVG. MINIMUM 31.2 26.4 4.8 25.9
MEAN 45.0 40.4 4.6 40.9
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 2 1.9 0.1 2
DAYS MIN <= 32 12 23.6 -11.6 23
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.1 -0.1 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.56 1983
MINIMUM 0.03 2012
TOTALS 0.79 0.92 -0.13 0.83
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.03
DAYS >= .01 5 5.9 -0.9 9
DAYS >= .10 3 2.4 0.6 2
DAYS >= .50 0 0.3 -0.3 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.1 -0.1 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.34 03/19 TO 03/19
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTALS 2.9 10.7
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 611 763 -152 739
SINCE 7/1 4724 5202 -478 5258
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
........................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.9
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/198
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 36/260 DATE 03/23
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 45/260 DATE 03/23
SKY COVER
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 12
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 12
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 7
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 51
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 1
LIGHT RAIN 5 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 4
LIGHT SNOW 3 SLEET 0
FOG 7 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 4
HAZE 4
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
The month of February was quite generous in terms of snowfall pushing our seasonal total thus far above normal. The month of March usually offers healthy snowfall giving us an opportunity to add to those numbers. While there is good snow potential in March, the month also typically brings much warmer temperatures.
March is historically Denver’s snowiest month and brings about 20% of our annual snowfall. Heavy, wet spring snow storms can oftentimes bring the entire month’s snowfall total in one monstrous snow.
We also start the transition to spring and severe weather season and the month typically brings our first thunderstorms of the year. Temperatures climb throughout the month and by the end our average daytime highs are near 60 degrees.
The month of February was quite an interesting one in terms of its weather. Overall temperatures for the first half of the month were well above normal but the latter half saw the bottom fall out and as it did, significant snowfall accumulated.
The first day of February brought a healthy shot of snowfall and cold temperatures. From there, things dried out and warmed up considerably. Thirteen consecutive days were then seen with above normal mercury readings. Only one of those thirteen saw precipitation in the form of a light snow on the 4th of the month.
From the 15th through the end of the month, the mercury plunged and only two temperature readings were at or above normal – all the rest were below, some significantly so. Additionally, Thornton saw 8 days in the last two weeks of the month with measureable snowfall. Out at the airport, Denver saw similarly snowy conditions and set a record for snowfall during the month of February.
Despite the cold close to the month, overall the month of February saw warmer than average temperatures. Thornton’s month averaged 34.3 degrees, just a bit above the long term Denver average for the month of 32.5. The Mile High City was warmer than normal as well with an average reading of 33.8 degrees for the month.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a spring-like high of 75.9 degrees on the 7th of the month down to a low of 0 degrees on the morning of the 27th. Denver’s warmest and coldest readings came on those same dates with 74 degrees and -6 degrees.
Denver set or tied four temperature records for the month. On February 6th a maximum reading of 70 degrees was a record for the date. That same day a low temperature of 46 degrees set a record high minimum for the date. The next day, the 7th, a record high of 74 degrees was set as was a record high minimum of 41 degrees.
In terms of precipitation, the month was quite generous. On average Denver receives 0.37 inch of liquid precipitation during February. Thornton saw 1.81 inches while Denver tallied 1.25 inches.
Snowfall was a big part of the month’s story. We did not receive any large storms but rather prolonged ones that delivered steady, healthy doses. Thornton totaled 26.7 inches during the month. Out at Denver International Airport, they lagged the totals in the rest of the metro area with a reading of 22.4 inches.
Denver’s reading of 22.4 inches, while lower than ours, allowed February 2015 to go into the weather history books as the snowiest February on record in the Mile High City. This just eased out the now number two, February 1912, which recorded 22.1 inches.
Thornton, Colorado February 2015 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado February 2015 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
1124 AM MST MON MAR 2 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 77 02/28/2006
02/04/1890
LOW -25 02/01/1951
02/08/1936
HIGHEST 74 02/07 66 8 68 02/16
LOWEST -6 02/27 -2 -4 -19 02/05
AVG. MAXIMUM 46.6 46.2 0.4 42.3
AVG. MINIMUM 21.0 18.9 2.1 14.1
MEAN 33.8 32.5 1.3 28.2
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 7 3.9 3.1 8
DAYS MIN <= 32 24 26.9 -2.9 26
DAYS MIN <= 0 2 1.3 0.7 5
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 2.01 1934
MINIMUM 0.01 1970
TOTALS 1.25 0.37 0.88 0.19
DAILY AVG. 0.04 0.01 0.03 0.01
DAYS >= .01 10 5.3 4.7 4
DAYS >= .10 5 0.7 4.3 1
DAYS >= .50 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.40 02/15 TO 02/16 02/04 TO 02/04
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 22.4 2015
TOTALS 22.4 5.7
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 864 908 -44 1022
SINCE 7/1 4113 4439 -326 4519
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.....................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.4
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 2/205
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 44/010 DATE 02/21
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 43/040 DATE 02/04
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 5
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 15
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 8
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 60
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 1 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 4 SNOW 8
LIGHT SNOW 13 SLEET 0
FOG 12 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 8
HAZE 9
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Denver’s weather rollercoaster this week took us from cold and snow to unseasonably warm temperatures sure to bring an onset of spring fever. The Mile High City set a record high temperature Friday and may set another Saturday.
As measured at Denver International Airport, today’s office high temperature was 70 degrees. That easily bests the old record for the date of 67 degrees set in 1944. Here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler with a high of 69 degrees,
The mild weather will be sticking around for the rest of the weekend with a forecast high of 70 degrees on Saturday (but with some wind) and 66 degrees on Sunday. The record high for Saturday’s date, February 7, is 71 degrees so we will be coming close to the mark.
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February in Colorado typically brings to an end an extended period when average temperatures are at their lowest. Winter begins to loosen its grip and temperatures get warmer but precipitation is not a particularly common event during the month.
Probably one of the biggest question marks is whether or not we will see some help with the snow situation. While mountain snowpack is not in too bad of shape, Denver’s seasonal snowfall to date is well below normal. February is only our sixth snowiest month so it may not provide much help on the precipitation month.
Temperatures however do usually see a nice rebound during the month. Average high temperatures climb from an average of 44 degrees at the start to 50 degrees by the end of February.
Look back at last month, we see that Thornton experienced an unusually warm month, one punctuated by a couple rare 70 degree January days. Precipitation fell short of normal as did snowfall.
The month started out on the cold side with three of the first four days failing to reach temperatures above freezing. Some light snow was also recorded on the 2nd and 3rd of the month.
We then began a bit of a temperature rollercoaster with above normal readings for two days, a turn toward colder temperatures on the 9th, back to warmth on the next day and then colder than normal for the next four days.
Fourteen of the last 17 days of the month then recorded temperatures at or above normal. The 26th and 27th saw amazing readings above 70 degrees.
Overall, Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 33.7 degrees. That was well above Denver’s January average of 30.7 degrees. Out at Denver International Airport where the city’s official records are taken, the month saw a 33.9 degree average.
Thornton’s warmest reading of 74.5 degrees came on the 27th. Its coldest of -3.7 degrees occurred early in the morning of the 4th. Denver’s warmest and coldest readings came on the same days. DIA recorded 75 degrees on the 27th and -10 degrees on the 4th.
In terms of precipitation, 0.20 inches of liquid precipitation was recorded in Thornton. Denver nearly doubled our number with 0.38 inches. Both locations fell shy of Denver’s January average precipitation of 0.41 inches.
Snowfall in Thornton totaled only 3.5 inches, exactly have of Denver’s January average of 7.0 inches. Here again the airport bested us with 7.2 inches this January.
Thornton, Colorado temperature summary for January 2015. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado precipitation summary for January 2015. (ThorntonWeather.com)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
614 AM MST SUN FEB 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 76 01/27/1888
LOW -29 01/09/1875
HIGHEST 75 01/27 65 01/19
LOWEST -10 01/04 -10 01/05
AVG. MAXIMUM 46.7 44.0 2.7 44.9
AVG. MINIMUM 21.0 17.4 3.6 17.3
MEAN 33.9 30.7 3.2 31.1
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 5 5.5 -0.5 4
DAYS MIN <= 32 27 29.4 -2.4 30
DAYS MIN <= 0 3 1.7 1.3 3
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 2.35 1883
MINIMUM 0.01 1933
1934
1952
TOTALS 0.38 0.41 -0.03 0.94
DAILY AVG. 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.03
DAYS >= .01 5 4.1 0.9 9
DAYS >= .10 1 0.9 0.1 3
DAYS >= .50 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.12 01/21
STORM TOTAL 0.14 01/20(19) TO 01/21(16)
SNOWFALL (INCHES) JANUARY NORMAL
TOTALS 7.2 7.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 958 1063 -105 1046
SINCE 7/1 3249 3531 -282 3497
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.7
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/229
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 37/290 DATE 01/17
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 46/270 DATE 01/05
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 5
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 10
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 62
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 1 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 2 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 4
LIGHT SNOW 12 SLEET 0
FOG 16 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 6
HAZE 6
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Warming mountain climate? A new study raises serious questions about the accuracy of the data. (Tony’s Takes)
We have all heard the warnings about a warming climate and scientists have claimed to have the data to prove it. However time and time again the very underlying data has been shown to be faulty. Here we again find another case.
A new study from the University of Montana shows extreme warming bias in temperature data from critical networks. The study takes a hard look at climate data gathered across the Rocky Mountain west, including here in Colorado.
“In the context of a warming climate, this artificial amplification of mountain climate trends has likely compromised our ability to accurately attribute climate change impacts across the mountainous western US,” author Jared Oyler writes in his study.
From the University of Montana:
January 12, 2015
MISSOULA – In a recent study, University of Montana and Montana Climate Office researcher Jared Oyler found that while the western U.S. has warmed, recently observed warming in the mountains of the western U.S. likely is not as large as previously supposed.
His results, published Jan. 9 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, show that sensor changes have significantly biased temperature observations from the Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) station network.
More than 700 SNOTEL sites monitor temperature and snowpack across the mountainous western U.S. SNOTEL provides critical data for water supply forecasts. Researchers often use SNOTEL data to study mountain climate trends and impacts to mountain hydrology and ecology.
Oyler and his co-authors applied statistical techniques to account for biases introduced when equipment was switched at SNOTEL sites in the mid-1990s to mid-2000s. His revised datasets reduced the biases to reveal that high-elevation minimum temperatures were warming only slightly more than minimum temperatures at lower elevations.
“Observations from other station networks clearly show that the western U.S. has experienced regional warming,” Oyler said, “but to assess current and future climate change impacts to snowpack and important mountain ecosystem processes, we need accurate observations from the high elevation areas only covered by the SNOTEL network. The SNOTEL bias has likely compromised our ability to understand the unique drivers and impacts of climate change in western U.S. mountains.”
Co-authors on the paper “Artificial Amplification of Warming Trends Across the Mountains of the Western United States” include UM researchers Solomon Dobrowski, Ashley Ballantyne, Anna Klene and Steve Running. It is available online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/enhanced/doi/10.1002/2014GL062803/.
###
Contact: Jared Oyler, Montana Climate Office, 215-260-4487, jared.oyler@ntsg.umt.edu.
Significant U.S. Weather and Climate Events for 2014. Click for larger view. (NOAA / NCDC)
The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) has released its summary of the nation’s climate and weather for 2014. Its analysis shows that overall, the United States experienced warmer than normal temperatures and above average precipitation.
From NOAA / NCDC:
2014 U.S. temperature exceeds 20th-century average for the 18th consecutive year
Second warmest December boosted 2014 to 34th warmest year for contiguous U.S; eight weather and climate disasters exceeded $1 billion in damages
The 2014 annual average contiguous U.S. temperature was 52.6°F, 0.5°F above the 20th century average. Very warm conditions dominated the West, with four states having their warmest year on record, while the Midwest and Mississippi Valley were cool. This ranked as the 34th warmest year since we began keeping track in the 1895, while the temperature exceeded the 20th Century average for the 18th consecutive year.
The average contiguous U.S. precipitation was 30.76 inches, 0.82 inch above average, and ranked as the 40th wettest year in the 120-year period of record. The Northern U.S. was wet, and the Southern Plains were dry; the national drought footprint shrank about 2 percent.
In 2014, there were eight weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States. These eight events resulted in the deaths of 53 people. The events include: the western U.S. drought, the Michigan & Northeast flooding event, five severe storm events, and one winter storm event.
U.S. climate highlights: 2014
The West was warmer than average for much of 2014. Nine states had a top 10 warm year.Alaska, Arizona, California, and Nevada each had their warmest year on record. Most locations from the Rockies to the East Coast were cooler than average, with the exception of New England and Florida. Seven states across the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley had a top 10 cool year. No state was record cold during 2014.
The Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies, Midwest, and Northeast were all wetter than average. Michigan and Wisconsin each had their seventh wettest year on record. The Southern Plains and parts of the Ohio Valley were drier than average, but no state was top 10 dry. The rest of the contiguous U.S. had near-average annual precipitation totals.
The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for 2014 was 35 percent above average, ranking as the 19th highest annual USCEI in the 105-year record. The components of the USCEI that were much above average for the year included warm nighttime temperatures and 1-day precipitation totals. The USCEI is an index that tracks extremes (falling in the upper or lower 10 percent of the record) in temperature, precipitation, drought, and land-falling tropical cyclones across the contiguous U.S.
Statewide Average Temperature Ranks for 2014. (NOAA / NCDC)Statewide Average Precipitation Ranks for 2014. (NOAA / NCDC)
Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
Denver’s weather rollercoaster this week took us from cold and snow to unseasonably warm temperatures sure to bring an onset of spring fever. The Mile High City set a record high temperature Friday and may set another Saturday.
February in Colorado typically brings to an end an extended period when average temperatures are at their lowest. Winter begins to loosen its grip and temperatures get warmer but precipitation is not a particularly common event during the month.
