Category Archives: Climatology

NOAA Still Sees Above Average Temperatures for Most of the U.S. and Below Normal Precipitation Across the South. Colorado Expected to be Warmer, Average Precipitation.

WinterNOAA released its final 90 day winter forecast and little changed from earlier predictions. For Colorado that means the likelihood of warmer than normal temperatures, particularly in the southern part of the state. In terms of precipitation, they foresee equal chances for normal, above and below normal moisture while southern Colorado remains dry.

“Although we are expecting a warmer than normal winter, we do believe there will be fluctuations of warm weather and typical winter weather throughout the season,” said Edward O’Lenic, chief, forecast operations, NOAA Climate Prediction Center. “We encourage people to review winter weather risks for their particular area and information available online to help keep them safe when events do occur.”

Temperature map
Winter temperature outlook.
Click for larger image.

Precipitation map
Winter precipitation outlook.
Click for larger image.

Click here to read the complete report from NOAA.

The Weather Channel founder calls global warming the “greatest scam in history.”

Global WarmingJohn Coleman let his feelings be known on a blog recently and made it clear he didn’t buy into the hype over man-made climate change. Among his comments:

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the research to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild scientific scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda. Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15 minute documentary segment.

Wow! Pretty strong stuff but I do think it highlights that despite the media’s portrayal, there isn’t really a consensus on how much man impacts the climate. You can read the rest of his comments here.

Wrong again? Despite predictions, 2007 may rank as most inactive hurricane season in the last 30 years.

HurricaneThis marks the second year in a row forecasters predicted above normal hurricane activity only to have it be the opposite. Despite the “sky is falling” predictions about how global warming is the cause of all sorts of disasters, including an increased threat of hurricanes, we find the opposite is actually occurring. For more information see this page from the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies.

What can we expect in November?

NovemberNovember is actually Denver’s second snowiest month so the potential is there for a good bit of moisture. Temperatures can vary widely with Denver having seen a record high of 80 degrees and a record low of -18. Forecast models right now show above normal temperatures can be expected for the month with an indeterminate amount of moisture. For more on what to expect and what Denver has seen in November in the past, check out the Climatological Preview for November.