Category Archives: Colorado Weather

NASA satellite reveals January had fifth largest snow cover in past 45 years

February 26, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

NASA satellite imagery reveals that at one point in January 2011 the nation saw its fifth largest snow cover extent. Click the image for a larger view. (NASA)

How much snow has fallen this season in Colorado all depends on where you are. The high country has continued to see snowfall far in excess of normal while here on the Plains we remain mostly dry. For the nation, a new NASA satellite image reveals that 71 percent of it was covered in snow at one point last month.

The new image (right), taken by NASA’s Terra satellite using its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), reveals a snow covered contiguous United States in January.

The image uses false colors to show the snow extent and the length of time it was on the ground. White areas were completely covered with snow for most of the month whereas the pale green areas had snow for part of the month or were only partly snowy.

On January 12, 71 percent was covered in snow – the fifth largest amount of snow cover in the past 45 years. In fact, 49 of the 50 states had snow thanks to a significant winter storm that pummeled the Gulf Coast states with Florida being the only hold out.

Despite the expansive snow cover, the National Climatic Data Center said that January 2011 was the ninth-driest January in the United States since 1894. Further, while snow reached the Gulf Coast states, the southern half of the nation has been very dry with a large area from stretching Arizona to Virginia considered in various stages of drought.

Eastern Colorado is now seeing areas of moderate to severe drought as the lack of snowfall we have seen takes its toll. In Denver we have recorded only 18.1 inches of snow so far this season – 21.5 inches below what we would normally see through the end of February. Thornton has barely fared better recording 18.5 inches so far.

From Examiner.com:

Related:

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Proposed National Weather Service budget cuts would impact Thornton residents

February 24, 2011 Thornton Weather 1 Comment

A proposed 30% cut in the National Weather Service's budget could lead to greater loss of life. (Examiner.com)

The National Weather Service is the nation’s frontline of defense against many forms of threats from Mother Nature. As the sole agency responsible for issuing weather related warnings and alerts, a proposed massive cut in the budget for the service could have dire consequences.

Colorado’s weather is as varied as any state in the union. Our true four seasons allow us to witness the entire gamut of weather from scorching hot summers to winters buried in feet of snow to springtime severe weather with damaging and deadly tornadoes. Knowing what is going on with the weather is critical in allowing us to protect ours and families’ lives.

Budget cuts being proposed in Washington DC could severely decrease the accuracy and frequency of weather related information we receive. A massive cut of $126 million to the National Weather Service’s budget is being proposed – a full 30% cut in funding for a service that provides information that saves lives every day.

When you view a detailed forecast on ThorntonWeather.com that is specifically for Thornton, you are viewing data provided by the National Weather Service. Our radar imagery, weather radio, the watches and warnings that we post – all originate from the National Weather Service.

Continue reading Proposed National Weather Service budget cuts would impact Thornton residents →

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Satellite image shows a snow covered Colorado

February 10, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

February 10, 2011 - Satellite image of Colorado and surrounding states showing the extensive snow cover. Click the image for a larger version. (NASA)

The recent snowstorm covered not only Thornton but the vast majority of Colorado in a blanket of white. The latest satellite imagery from NASA shows the extent of the snow stretching across the state from border to border.

The satellite image, taken by NASA’s Aqua satellite on February 10th, shows the impressive snowfall received by the entire region. Not only is Colorado covered but the neighboring states of Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas are covered in snow as well.

Thornton received relatively little snowfall from the recent storm system but the temperatures were bitter cold. Denver set a record low maximum temperature for February 8th, the second time since the first of the year that mark was set.

Click on the image to the right to view a larger image.

Colorado Weather

Avalanche keeps US 40 over Berthoud Pass closed; Search continues for missing snowboarder

January 18, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

CDOT crews work to clear an avalanche that has covered US 40 over Berthoud Pass. (CDOT) — CDOT crews work to clear an avalanche that has covered US 40 over Berthoud Pass. Click to view a larger image. (CDOT)

With hurricane force winds and heavy snowfall conditions in Colorado’s high country have been treacherous in recent days. The search continues for a snowboarder that disappeared at the height of the storm and an avalanche keeps US 40 over Berthoud Pass closed.

The winter storm that struck yesterday brought with it winds to 99 mph near Loveland Pass and 85 mph near one of the Breckenridge Ski Area mountains. The strong winds coupled with the snow that fell has created dangerous avalanche conditions in the high country.

For all the latest, follow us on Twitter and join us on Facebook
Do you know how to stay safe from avalanches? Get more information

US 40 over Berthoud, US 6 over Loveland Pass and Interstate 70 were all closed at some point over the past 36 hours. I-70 has reopened but US 6 remains closed due to adverse conditions and avalanche control work.

While the skies have cleared over US 40 and Berthoud Pass, the massive avalanche has forced the highway to remain closed. Images released by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) show the highway completed covered from the slide. No ETA has been provided as to when the pass will open.

Editor’s note – CDOT reports Berthoud Pass opened at 5:40pm. Read on though for for other information.

Search and rescue teams from Grand County were also combing the Berthoud Pass area for a missing snowboarder and his dog although it is unknown if that is in the same location as the avalanche. 26-year-old Jeffrey Miller, his dog and a companion were separated at the height of yesterday’s storm. The severe weather conditions have limited the search for Miller.

The snow from the avalanche has completely covered US 40 over Berthoud Pass. Click the image for a larger version. (CDOT)

An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the Front Range mountain areas as well as the Vail and Summit County Areas. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center warns of high danger levels saying, “Natural and human-triggered slides are likely in avalanche terrain where significant storm and wind-blown snow has accumulated.” Most other areas in Colorado have been given a “considerable” danger rating for avalanches.

Colorado’s weather this winter has been a story of two halves. The eastern half of the state and the Denver area have been warmer and much drier than normal. The western half of Colorado however has had a great deal of snow with some basins reporting more than 130% of normal snowpack.

More on ThorntonWeather.com:

Colorado Weather, National Weather

NASA satellites capture images of snow across the U.S.

January 13, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Snow cover across Colorado as imaged by NASA satellites on January 12, 2011. View a larger image below and images of snow elsewhere in the nation.

Snow cover across the lower 48 states jumped to more than 70% in recent days as a number of snowstorms dumped a blanket of white. NASA satellites took some extraordinary images of not only Colorado but also the South and the northeastern U.S.

Here in Colorado our recent storm brought nearly 6 inches of snow to Thornton and deposited a pretty solid layer across most of the state. Warm weather today and in the coming days will make short work of it though, particularly on the eastern half of the state.

In the southern U.S., a powerful winter storm on Monday brought rare snow to states along the Gulf of Mexico. For a region accustomed to more mild conditions the storm presented a major challenge for residents.

Little Rock, Arkansas reported 5.6 inches of snow, Atlanta 3.0 inches and 7.0 inches fell on Tupelo, Mississippi, Asheville, North Carolina and New Boston, Texas. Adding to the problems was ice which coated some places up to an inch and a half thick.

The same storm system that wreaked havoc in the south moved to the northeast and brought snow from the Mid-Atlantic to New England. The region was buried by a major snowstorm right after Christmas and while this storm wasn’t near as bad, it added to the misery.

The images below were taken yesterday by NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites and are impressive testaments to the powerful winter weather. For more on all of these storm systems, be sure to visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Continue reading NASA satellites capture images of snow across the U.S. →

Colorado Weather, National Weather, Thornton Weather

Winter storms take their toll – Snow covers 69% of the lower 48 states

January 11, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

National snow cover map as of January 11, 2011. — Snow now covers nearly three quarters of the lower 48 states and 47 of the 48 have at least some snow. (NOAA)

For much of the lower 48 states of the United States the 2010 to 2011 winter season has been a rough one. Blizzards and snowstorms have stretched into the Deep South and this morning data shows that nearly three quarters of the nation is covered in snow.

The latest analysis from NOAA’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center shows 69.4% of the lower 48 states covered in snow as of this morning. This is a significant increase over the 33.1% cover seen in December and bests the previous snow season’s highest number.

NOAA animation – The 2010 / 2011 snow season to date (Examiner.com)

Perhaps most interesting is that 47 of the lower 48 states and 49 of all 50 states including Hawaii have at least some snow with the only exception being Florida. Even the Deep South reaching nearly to the Gulf of Mexico is covered in a blanket of white today after ice and snow pummeled the region yesterday. Early this morning only five of the 48 did not have some sort of a winter weather warning or advisory in effect.

A snowstorm that started in the South before Christmas moved up the East Coast and left record-setting snow totals in its wake including in New York City. The same storm that struck the South yesterday now has its sights set on the same area from the mid-Atlantic to New England.

Continue reading Winter storms take their toll – Snow covers 69% of the lower 48 states →

Climatology, Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s 2010 weather year in review

January 6, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

2010 was a relatively uneventful year for weather in Thornton.

Many years in Colorado are marked by significant weather events. The Christmas Blizzards of 2006, the severe thunderstorms that dominated June of 2009 or reaching even further back the Thornton Tornado of 1981. The same can’t entirely be said about 2010 as we experienced a relatively quiet year without any truly major events.

Also see: Denver’s 2010 weather – Month by month narrative

Temperatures

In terms of temperatures the year was slightly warmer than the historical average of 50.1 degrees. In 2010 Denver officially recorded an annual average of 51.2 degrees at Denver International Airport. Thornton was actually spot on Denver’s historical average at 50.1 degrees.

Denver temperatures ranged from a high of 102 degrees on July 17th down to -16 on January 7th. The July high was a record for the date but the January low didn’t fall far enough to set a record. Thornton’s high temperature for the year was 101.6 degrees and our low was -9.7 degrees – both occurring on the same dates as Denver’s.

The average high temperature for the year was 65.3 degrees – 1.1 degrees above normal. The average low was 37.0 degrees, 1.2 degrees above normal. Thornton’s average highs and lows were very close to Denver’s at 65.7 degrees and 36.8 degrees respectively.

DIA reported 47 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees – 16 above normal. Thornton stayed cooler recording only 38 days. Low temperatures dipped below freezing on 158 days in Denver (2 above normal) while Thornton had one more with 159 days.

Snowfall

The first half of the 2010 to 2011 snowfall season was dismal as Denver recorded a mere 4.8 inches and Thornton recorded 4.9 inches. This is the second lowest total on record for the period with the only year with less snow being 1888 when 3.8 inches was recorded.

Continue reading Thornton’s 2010 weather year in review →

Climatology, Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Denver’s 2010 weather – Month by month narrative

January 6, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

2010 Year in Review - A month by month narrative from the National Weather Service.

While Denver’s weather in 2010 was generally pretty quiet that isn’t to say there wasn’t something to talk about. Below is a month by month narrative from the National Weather Service for each month of the year.

Also be sure to check out Thornton’s 2010 weather year in review.

From the National Weather Service:

JANUARY…ONLY A TOTAL OF 0.07 INCH OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT WAS COLLECTED DURING JANUARY 2010 WHICH CAME FROM MELTED SNOWFALL. THIS IS 0.44 INCH BELOW THE NORMAL OF 0.51 INCH. IT ALSO TIED 1961 AS THE 6TH DRIEST JANUARY SINCE DENVER RECORDS KEEPING BEGAN IN 1872. ONLY 2 DAYS RECORDED MEASURABLE MOISTURE WITH THE 6TH COLLECTING THE MOST IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD WITH ONLY 0.05 INCH. IN THE SNOWFALL DEPARTMENT WHERE MEASUREMENTS ARE TAKEN NEAR THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (DIA)… ONLY 2.6 INCHES OF THE WHITE STUFF WAS RECORDED. THIS AGAIN WAS BELOW THE JANUARY NORMAL OF 7.7 INCHES. FOR THE SEASON…THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE JULY THROUGH JANUARY’S SEASONAL TOTAL WAS 40.2 INCHES WHICH IS 6.9 INCHES ABOVE THE NORM OF 33.3 INCHES FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. 40.2 INCHES IS FAR BETTER THAN THE 2008-09 SEASONAL TOTAL THROUGH JANUARY OF A MERE 16.9 INCHES. THERE WERE NO PRECIPITATION RECORDS SET OR TIED DURING THE MONTH.

JANUARY 2010 TEMPERATURE STATISTICS TURNED OUT TO BE A NON-HEADLINE. THE MONTH FINISHED WITH AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 30.4 DEGREES WHICH IS 1.2 DEGREES ABOVE THE 29.2 NORMAL. TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM A HIGH OF 58 DEGREES DOWN TO A LOW OF A NON-RECORD -16 DEGREES. IN FACT… THERE WERE NO TEMPERATURE RECORDS SET OR TIED DURING JANUARY 2010. ALL 31 DAYS HAD LOW TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING AND 3 DAYS HAD MINIMUM TEMPERATURES BELOW ZERO. TWO DAYS HAD HIGH MERCURY READINGS AT OR BELOW FREEZING. JANUARY 2009 SEEMED LIKE A COOL MONTH AS THERE WERE ONLY 7 READINGS THAT REACHED INTO THE FIFTIES. OBVIOUSLY THE REST OF THE MONTH ONLY SAW READINGS IN THE 40S OR BELOW.

THREE DAYS HAD DENSE FOG (VISIBILITY OF 1/4 MILE OR LESS) RECORDED AT DIA. LIGHT FOG WAS OBSERVED ON 8 DAYS. THE PEAK WIND DURING THE MONTH WAS A FAIRLY LIGHT GUST OF 35 MPH FROM A NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION (310 DEGREES).

FEBRUARY…IT WAS A COOL FEBRUARY WITH THE MONTH FINISHING WITH A 29.1 DEGREE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WHICH WAS 4.1 DEGREES BELOW THE NORMAL OF 33.2 DEGREES. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS 4.1 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL…IT WAS STILL 3.9 DEGREES BELOW THE 10TH COLDEST FEBRUARY WHICH WAS 25.2 DEGREES ESTABLISHED IN 1905. THE COLDEST FEBRUARY OCCURRED IN 1954 WITH A VERY FRIGID 17.6 DEGREE AVERAGE. THE FEBRUARY AVERAGE OF 29.1 DEGREES WAS COLDER THAN THE JANUARY 2010 30.4 DEGREE AVERAGE. TEMPERATURES DURING FEBRUARY RANGED FROM A HIGH OF 52 DEGREES ON THE 27TH DOWN TO A LOW OF -1 DEGREE ON THE 9TH. ONLY 3 DAYS DURING THE MONTH REGISTERED HIGHS IN THE 50S. ALL 28 DAYS REGISTERED OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW FREEZING WITH 8 DAYS WHEN THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DID NOT REACH ABOVE 32 DEGREES. ONLY 1 LOW TEMPERATURE DIPPED BELOW ZERO.

PRECIPITATION WAS ALSO BELOW NORMAL. THE MONTH FINISHED WITH ONLY 0.30 INCH OF LIQUID WHICH WAS MEASURED FROM WATER EQUIVALENT OF SNOW. THIS EQUATED TO 0.19 INCH BELOW THE NORMAL OF 0.49 INCH. NINE DAYS RECORDED MEASURABLE MOISTURE BUT THERE WAS NO DAYS THAT ACCUMULATED .10 INCH OR MORE. THE MAXIMUM 24 HOUR LIQUID MEASUREMENT WAS 0.10 INCH BUT THAT COVERED 2 DAYS…THE 7TH AND 8TH. IN THE SNOWFALL DEPARTMENT…5.8 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WAS MEASURED AT THE AIRPORT. THIS WAS ONLY 0.5 INCH BELOW THE NORM OF 6.3 INCHES. THE 24 HOUR SNOWFALL MAXIMUM WAS 1.7 INCHES ON THE 20TH AND 21ST. THERE WERE NO PRECIPITATION OR SNOWFALL RECORDS SET OR TIED DURING THE MONTH. THE DRIEST FEBRUARY WAS 0.01 INCH COLLECTED IN 1970 AND THE WETTEST FEBRUARY WAS 2.01 INCHES IN 1934. THE MOST FEBRUARY SNOW OCCURRED IN 1912 WITH 22.1 INCHES WHILE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FEBRUARY SNOWFALL WAS A TRACE WHICH OCCURRED JUST LAST YEAR…2009.

THE AVERAGE FEBRUARY WIND SPEED WAS 7.6 MILES PER HOUR WHILE THE PEAK GUST DURING THE MONTH WAS ONLY 35 MPH FROM A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION (210 DEGREES).

Continue reading Denver’s 2010 weather – Month by month narrative →

Colorado Weather, Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

Ranking the top 10 Colorado weather events of the past 10 years

December 31, 2010 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

The March 2003 blizzard that buried Thornton in snow was ranked as the top weather event of the past 10 years. (ThorntonWeather.com)

There is a lot that can be said about the weather in Colorado but ‘boring’ is not usually a term associated with it. Anyone who has lived in the Centennial State for very long quickly experiences a weather-related event that will give them memories for a lifetime.

From major snowstorms and blizzards to tornadoes, wildfires, scorching heat and damaging hail storms Colorado weather can and does bring it all to the table. The Denver office of the National Weather Service has released a list of what local meteorologists rank as the top 10 weather events of the past 10 years.

For some it may be a blizzard that buried the Mile High City in a heavy blanket of snow and brought everything to a standstill. Others will remember the heavy smoke from fires burning in the mountains destroying hundreds of thousands of acres. The tragedy tornadoes bring to Colorado in terms of destruction and loss of life may be what others remember.

Over the past 10 years many memorable weather events have occurred that fully display the sheer variety of weather Colorado receives. A team of meteorologists serving Colorado analyzed these events and ranked them based on meteorological intensity and their human and economic impact.

Continue reading Ranking the top 10 Colorado weather events of the past 10 years →

Colorado Weather, National Weather

Snow across western United States imaged by NASA satellite

November 29, 2010 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Widespread snow from the Sierra Nevada to the Colorado Rockies snarled travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. As the holiday weekend wraps up, NASA has released satellite imagery showing just thousands of square miles coated in a blanket of white.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.