While there are dozens of weather apps to keep adults aware of what Mother Nature has going on, kids have been left out the cold – until now. A just-released weather app designed by a meteorologist and his son brings the weather to kids in terms they can understand while educating them on the science of meteorology.
Kid Weather was created by our friend, Justin Berk, meteorologist, and his six-year-old son Brendan. With winter weather set to strike Colorado the timing of the apps release couldn’t be better!
Weather – The true determining factor of who will be president?
We oftentimes hear about how weather can affect voter turnout but is there truly a link? If there is, who does it benefit – Republicans or Democrats? Studies seem to indicate that what might be thought of as an urban myth is indeed true.
In 2005, political science researchers Brad Gomez, Thomas Hansford and George Krause completed the first comprehensive study on the correlation between weather and voter turnout. Their paper, “The Republicans Should Pray for Rain: Weather, Turnout, and Voting in U.S. Presidential Elections” confirmed the conventional wisdom that weather does affect voter turnout, bad weather benefits Republicans and most interestingly, two presidential elections in the last 60 years may have had different results had the weather been different.
Looking back at presidential elections from 1948 to 2008, the study takes into account the weather in 3,000 U.S. counties. They in turn looked at key areas of the nation and how weather, good and bad, affected voter turnout. In the end, the study determined that precipitation is the key weather condition to affect voter turnout.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder will host Super Science Saturday on October 27th.
Every year the folks up at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder open their doors to the public for a big event dubbed Super Science Saturday. The event brings together the fun of Halloween with science education and is a great time for kids and adults.
Presentations and static displays with plenty of hands on activities are available. They will even be launching weather balloons three times during event as well.
When: Saturday, October 27, 2012. 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Where: NCAR, 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305
From this year’s announcement about the event:
New this year: The debut of the new Weather Gallery Exhibit showcasing all aspects of weather including the basic ingredients of weather, how we observe and forecast weather, and unforgettable wild weather!
Also, throughout the day, NCAR’s “Science Wizards” will explore science with live demonstrations and the Little Shop of Physics crew will present interactive hands-on activities! You can see a science magic show, view storm chaser equipment up close, and explore exciting science from several organizations.
When faced with a tornado what would you do? Do the smart thing and drop the camera and seek shelter.
Just as we were wrapping up Severe Weather Awareness Week on ThorntonWeather.com, disaster struck the nation’s south. Dozens of tornadoes brought death and destruction and at the same time Mother Nature allowed us to learn valuable lessons.
Extreme weather events have gotten more and more attention thanks to Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other forms of social media. Television shows like Discovery’s Storm Chasers and shows on the Weather Channel feed a seemingly insatiable desire to see these events. They give the impression that anyone can stare down major storms with few repercussions but that is far from the truth.
Professional weather watchers, meteorologists and storm chasers cringe at some of what we see when these events happen. People with seemingly no clue of the destructive and unpredictable nature of what they are looking at put themselves in harm’s way for 60 seconds of fame.
The severe weather outbreak of recent days highlights the folly of those uninitiated and untrained in these phenomena. One particularly striking video has emerged of a man in Wilson, North Carolina watching as a tornado approaches, talking on the phone and shooting video.
The video (below) is scary to watch as the man is oblivious to what is coming toward him at 50mph. We implore all ThorntonWeather.com readers to do the smart thing – seek shelter when severe weather. Don’t become a statistic for a photo or a video.
On June 3, 1981 a tornado struck Thornton in what is the worst twister to have struck the Denver metro area. Are you ready should disaster strike again? Image courtesy the City of Thornton archives.
Last month the National Weather Service announced the first batch of storm spotter training sessions for the spring but notably missing was any in the north metro area. That has now been rectified as two sessions at Front Range Community College were added for next week.
Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado – from blizzards to tornadoes we can and do see it all. Each year the weather is responsible for claiming lives in our state and across the nation and the threat is very real. Storm spotter training allows you to learn how to protect yourself and your family while providing a public service.
Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family. Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.
The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters. These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes. Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.
Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.
By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter. When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.
These are great sessions for anyone wanting to learn more about the severe weather we experience in Colorado, whether you want to be an official spotter or not. All training is free. Topics include:
Below are the dates, times and locations announced thus far with the first occurring today. At the current time only one is in the north metro area but more may be added. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.
March, 2011 – Upcoming
Day
City, State
Time
Location
14
Castle Rock, CO
(Douglas County)
6:30pm MDT
Black Feather Condominium Club House 403 Black Feather Loop Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104
Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com
15
Westminster, CO
(Adams County)
3:30pm MDT
Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
15
Centennial, CO
(Arapahoe County)
6:30pm MDT
Arapahoe County Sheriff Dept. 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO
Contact Information: CStelter@co.arapahoe.co.us
15
Westminster, CO
(Adms County)
7:00pm MDT
Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
21
Sedgwick, CO
(Sedgwick County)
6:30pm MDT
Sedgwick Fire Department on US 138 on east side of town
Contact Information: sedgwickoem@yahoo.com
22
Holyoke, CO
(Phillips County)
1:00pm MDT
Phillips County Fairgrounds Event Center Holyoke, CO
Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop
22
Haxtun, CO
(Phillips County)
6:30pm MDT
Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept.
Contact Information: Robert.glancy@noaa.gov
29
Akron, CO
(Washington County)
6:30pm MDT
Washington County Events Center, Washington County Fairgrounds
Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us
31
Greeley, CO
(Weld County)
6:30pm MDT
Weld County Training center, 1104 H Street Greeley, co
Contact Information: Rrudisill@co.weld.co.us
April, 2011 – Upcoming
Day
City, State
Time
Location
04
Sterling, CO
(Logan County)
6:30pm MDT
Sterling Public Library 425 North 5th Street Sterling, CO
Contact Information: OWENS@sterlingcolo.com
05
Fort Morgan, CO
(Morgan County)
6:30pm MDT
note location change to: American Legion Hall 121 Nelson Road Fort Morgan, CO
Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us
08
Denver, CO
(Denver County)
6:30pm MDT
Metropolitan state college of denver Tivoli Union, Room 440
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
09
Kiowa, CO
(Elbert County)
9:00am MDT
Elbert County Public Health 75 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO
On June 3, 1981, Thornton was the site of the most destructive tornado in the history of the Denver metro area. Storm spotter training gives you the education you need to keep you and your family safe. (City of Thornton archives)
Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado – from blizzards to tornadoes we can and do see it all. Each year the weather is responsible for claiming lives in our state and across the nation and the threat is very real. Storm spotter training allows you to learn how to protect yourself and your family while providing a public service.
Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family. Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.
The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters. These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes. Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.
Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.
By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter. When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.
What is the best way to get information about severe weather? A weather radio. (File photo)
No matter whether it is a blizzard in the winter or tornadoes and hail in the summer, it is important that everyone knows where to turn for information about developing weather conditions. Keeping an eye on the sky is fine but oftentimes there is dangerous weather brewing that you may not see.
How dangerous is the weather? Consider this: In 2008, 566 people across the United States were killed by weather-related causes and 2,899 were injured – and that was a below average year. Of those, 12 were Coloradoans that were killed with 100 Coloradoans injured. Over $29 billion was paid out in property and crop losses across the nation, $166 million in Colorado alone.
The danger is real and with the severe weather we have seen recently, residents are wondering how best to keep themselves and their families safe. Tuning in the TV or radio or checking your favorite weather website is one way but what if you aren’t near your computer or don’t have your TV on? What if severe weather strikes in the middle of the night?
It is important to note that there is only one official source for weather related alerts and warnings – the National Weather Service (NWS). All watches, warnings and alerts you see and hear about originate with the NWS and by far the best way to be proactively warned of severe weather is what is commonly referred to as a “weather radio.”
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a weather watch or warning is issued, it is immediately broadcast on NWR. The system is also used to broadcast information about other civil and weather hazard information like earthquakes, avalanches, chemical spills, terrorist attacks and even AMBER alerts.
This weather radio from Midland (model WR-300) includes SAME area encoding and an AM / FM radio.
It is highly recommended that any weather radio purchased include the SAME feature – Specific Area Message Encoding. Using the SAME feature, users can program a code into the radio for the area in which they live and the radio can then be set to automatically turn on and sound an alert when a weather watch or warning is issued for their area. Users of weather radios with SAME coding can be assured they will be immediately notified in an emergency.
Price and features of weather radios can vary but a good one with the SAME feature can be found for about $30.00. More expensive models may add clock, AM/FM radio and even weather forecasts retrieved from the Internet. There are portable handheld models as well that you can take with you wherever you go.
Finding a weather radio locally may be difficult as there aren’t many stores that carry them. Some Denver area King Soopers and Radio Shack stores have had them so you may call your local store to check. Alternatively, there are many good, trustworthy sites online where they can be purchased including Amazon.com, New Egg and Ambient Weather.
Weather radios provide essential information when severe weather is ready to strike. With a small investment, these units are an essential tool to protecting you and your family.
Do you have questions about weather radios? Post them in the comments section below and ThorntonWeather.com will answer them.
The City of Thornton has created a new flyer for residents with basic severe weather information. (City of Thornton)
Severe weather season is quickly going to arrive in Colorado – we have already seen signs of it in recent weeks. Helping to bring attention to the dangers severe weather presents, the City of Thornton has created a new flyer with some tips for residents.
Available on the city’s website, the flyer covers the basics of tornado, thunderstorm and lightning safety. It is a good, brief look at the highlights of keeping you and your family safe when severe weather strikes.
Last year's "Summer of Storms" should serve as a reminder of the severe weather threat in Denver.
Remember last year’s “Summer of Storms” that saw a seemingly endless parade of hail, funnel clouds and tornadoes visit the Front Range? The severe weather threat in Colorado is real and it can turn deadly in an instant.
Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family. Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.
The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters. These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes. Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.
Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.
By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter. When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.
These are great sessions for anyone wanting to learn more about the severe weather we experience in Colorado, whether you want to be an official spotter or not. All training is free. Topics include:
Below are the dates, times and locations announced thus far. There is one this coming weekend in north Denver, two in Westminster in March and one in Commerce City in April – all are great opportunities for Thornton residents. Click here to go to the NWS site for the latest.
February, 2010 – Upcoming
Day
City, State
Time
Location
14
Denver, CO(Denver County)
1:00pm MST
note: Following National Storm Chaser conference.
There is a charge for the conference, spotter training is free.
Red Lion Hotel Central
4040 Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80216
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
March, 2010 – Upcoming
Day
City, State
Time
Location
08
Holyoke, CO(Philllips County)
10:00am MDT
Phillips County Fairgrounds
Event Center
Holyoke, CO
Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop
08
Julesburg, CO(Sedgwick County)
6:00pm MST
Julesburg Fire Department
Contact Information: sedgwickcooem@yahoo.com
09
Haxtun, CO(Phillips County)
6:30pm MST
Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept.
Contact Information: jdavis@pctelcom.coop
16
Westminster, CO(Adams County)
2:30pm MDT
Front Range Community College
3645 West 112th Ave.
room TBD
Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
16
Westminster, CO(Adams County)
6:30pm MDT
Front Range Community College
3645 West 112th Ave.
room TBD
Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
29
Sterling, CO(Logan County)
6:30pm MDT
Sterling Fire Department
420 Oak Street
Sterling, CO
Contact Information: Owens@Sterlingcolo.com
31
Akron, CO(Washington County)
6:30pm MDT
rescheduled…
Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center, Akron
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.
