Having completed its organization and now with a board in place, the Thornton Community Chorus (TCC) is set to hold auditions this coming Saturday, April 17, 2010.
Supported by the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO), the Thornton Community Chorus adds to the cultural offerings for Thornton residents.
Next for the group are auditions for performers that will be held this coming Saturday at ITT Technical Institude (500 E 84th Ave) from 9:00am to 12:00pm. Singers and other musicians are encouraged to try out and help bring this new musical experience to the City of Thornton and the north metro area.
Mary Lindow, President of TCC, said that they are anxious to get going and expect to hold their first performance in the coming months.
For all the details on the chorus, a complete event calendar and more information about the auditions, please visit their website at: http://www.thorntoncommunitychorus.org
April 11 to April 17 - This week in Denver weather history
We are far from finished with winter weather as is clearly shown in our look back at this week in Denver weather history. There are many occurrences of snowstorms wreaking havoc in the Mile High City. One such notable event was just five years ago when 1 to 2.5 feet of snow was dumped on the Front Range.
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.
9-11
In 1951…heavy snowfall totaled 9.4 inches at Stapleton Airport. The storm was accompanied by strong northeast winds gusting to 43 mph.
In 1953…heavy snowfall occurred at Stapleton Airport where 7.9 inches of snow were measured. North winds gusted to 29 mph.
In 1994…6 to 14 inches of heavy snow buried much of eastern Colorado…closing many schools and I-70 from east of Denver to the Kansas border. Rain changed to snow on the 9th…and snow continued through the 11th. Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches at Stapleton International Airport…but maximum snow depth on the ground was only 3 inches on the 10th due to melting. East winds gusted to 26 mph on the 9th.
In 1995…a major spring storm dumped 8 to 16 inches of snow in the foothills west of Denver. Snowfall totaled 8.3 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport…but most of the snow melted as it fell with the maximum snow depth on the ground of only 2 inches. Five-to 6-inch snow accumulations occurred over southern portions of metro Denver and eastward onto the plains. Northeast winds gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th. I-70 was closed for several hours east of Watkins to the Kansas border due to drifting snow and near whiteout conditions. High temperature of only 29 degrees on the 10th was a record low maximum for the date.
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.
10-11
In 1979…a heavy snow storm produced near-blizzard conditions across eastern Colorado with 10 to 20 inches in the foothills and 4 to 8 inches over the plains. Winds to 35 mph combined with the snow to produce drifts at least 3 feet deep…closing many roads and causing power outages. Travel was interrupted south of Denver when the storm closed both I-25 and State Highway 83. Snowfall totaled only 3.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted 37 mph…causing some blowing snow on the 11th.
In 2001…a potent spring storm dumped heavy snow over metro Denver and the adjacent foothills…while a blizzard roared across the plains to the east of Denver. Snowfall amounts ranged up to a foot and a half across metro Denver and in the foothills. North to northwest winds at sustained speeds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph piled the snow into drifts of 3 to 6 feet deep. I-25 southbound was closed at lincoln avenue. I-70 to the east was closed at gun club road. The combination of heavy wet snow and damaging winds resulted in widespread electrical outages. Denver International Airport was completely shut down for the first time in its brief 6-year history. Power surges and outages crippled the airport’s massive computer systems. The airport was closed at 5:00 am and did not re-open until mid-afternoon on the 11th. The power outages resulted in businesses and schools closing. Over all of northeastern Colorado…there were 220 thousand customers without power… The worst outage in Xcel energy’s history. Repairs totaled 1.6 million dollars. Across metro Denver…snow totals included: 18 inches in southeast Aurora…16 inches at centennial airport and Parker…14 inches at Broomfield… 13 inches in Louisville…12 inches at Lakewood and Morrison… 11 inches at Ken Caryl and Thornton…10 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport and in Wheat Ridge…9 inches in Westminster…and 8 inches in Littleton. Thunderstorms preceded the start of the snow on the afternoon of the 10th and were embedded in the snow storm during the early morning hours of the 11th at Denver International Airport where northwest winds gusted to 60 mph on the 11th. Snow storm totals in the foothills included: 17 inches at Genesee…16 inches at Rollinsville… 14 inches at Intercanyon…13 inches in Coal Creek Canyon and near Evergreen…11 inches at Aspen Springs and Chief Hosa…10 inches at Blackhawk…and 9 inches atop Crow Hill.
In 2005…a strong spring storm produced blizzard conditions in areas to the east of Denver and south of I-76 and near- blizzard conditions across metro Denver. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds forced the closure of Denver International Airport…stranding thousands of travelers. Long stretches of I-25…I-70…and I-76 were also closed due to extensive blowing and drifting snow. Snow amounts ranged from 1 to 2.5 feet in and near the eastern foothills and over the Palmer Divide. Drifts were 2 to 5 feet in depth. Downed power lines caused scattered electrical outages. Storm total snowfall amounts in and near the foothills included: 31 inches near Conifer; 27.5 inches in Aspen Springs; 25.5 inches near Sedalia and Blackhawk; 25 inches near Bergen Park and around Genesee; 24.5 inches at Pine Junction and Roxborough park; 24 inches southwest of Boulder; 23.5 inches at Ken Caryl; 23 inches atop Crow Hill and near Larkspur…Evergreen…and Nederland; 21 inches at Eldora Ski Area; 18 inches at Eldorado Springs and near Castle Rock; 17 inches near Chatfield Reservoir and Perry Park; and 16 inches near Jamestown. Across the city storm total snow amounts were: 22.5 inches in Aurora; 22 inches at Bennett; 20 inches near Arapahoe park and in centennial… Littleton…and south Denver; 17.5 inches near Bennett; 16 inches in Thornton; 15 inches in Lakewood; 14.5 inches in wheat ridge and near Englewood; 14 inches at Lone Rree and in Arvada; and 9.9 inches at Denver Stapleton. North winds were sustained from 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 46 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th.
Arctic sea ice grew to near average levels during the 2009 - 2010 season. (NASA) Watch the amazing animation video below.
A curious thing has happened over the 2009 – 2010 winter season – Arctic sea ice has rebounded to near normal levels. Long pointed to as a sign of the impact of global warming, the extent of sea ice had been shrinking in recent years.
According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), the maximum extent for Arctic sea ice was reached on March 31st. This is the latest date maximum extent has been reached since 1979 when satellites began measuring the Arctic Ice.
The center said that it was thought the sea ice was done growing around the beginning of March. However, late season winter storms over the Bering and Barents Seas allowed it to continue to enlarge. “By the end of March, total extent approached 1979 to 2000 average levels for this time of year,” the NSIDC said.
The NASA video below portrays the 2009 – 2010 sea ice season from start to finish. For all the latest climate and global warming news, be sure to visit the Climate Change Examiner.
Hurricane forecasters at CSU predict unusually high levels of hurricane activity in 2010.
The hurricane forecasting team at Colorado State University released an updated forecast for the 2010 season and they continue to predict an above normal level of activity. The numbers would seem to put residents along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts on notice that they should be prepared.
The CSU team’s forecast, generated by Dr. Phil Klotzbach and Dr. Bill Gray, portend what may be an active season in the Atlantic basin.
The team is calling for 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). By contrast, an average season has only 10 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
Residents in coastal regions will want to take note that the forecasters said there is a 69% probability of a major hurricane striking the United States coastline. That is 17% above the average for the past century.
Breaking their analysis down further, Klotzbach and Gray forecast a 45% chance of a major hurricane striking the U.S. East Coast and a 44% chance of one striking the Gulf Coast. For the Caribbean, a 58% chance of a major hurricane tracking through the area is given. Each of those reflects significant increases above average.
AccuWeather.com’s hurricane forecasting team led by Joe Bastardi issued their forecast last month and predicted an ‘extreme season.’ Their forecast called for 16 to 18 named storms with two to three with five hurricanes making landfall, two to three of those being major hurricanes.
Hurricane season officially starts on June 1st and runs through November 30th. However, hurricanes can and have formed anytime between March and December.
For more on hurricanes, check out these other stories from the Natural Disasters Examiner:
Despite the snowstorm that struck on March 23rd and 24th and the rain that fell beforehand, the National Weather Service says Denver's March precipitation was below normal.
According to the Denver / Boulder office of the National Weather Service, Denver’s March weather was warmer and drier than normal. The latest climate summary from the service would seem to contradict what Denver residents actually experienced, at least in terms of precipitation.
The report starts with a seemingly contradictory statement saying, “Denver’s March 2010 finished with below normal liquid moisture in spite of finishing above normal in the snowfall category.”
According to the report, Denver recorded 0.80 inch of precipitation, well below the normal of 1.28 inches. Most of that occurred in conjunction with the snowstorm on the 23rd of the month when the official measuring station at Denver International Airport (DIA) reported 0.61 inch of precipitation. By contrast, ThorntonWeather.com recorded 1.42 inches of precipitation from that storm alone and 1.90 inches for the month.
Overall for the season, Denver has recorded 58.8 inches of snow which is 7.5 inches above the average snowfall up to this point. Denver’s snow season runs from July through June and we average 61.7 inches over that period so for 2010 we are quickly approaching a ‘normal’ year.
The average temperature as recorded at DIA was 41.0 degrees which was 1.4 degrees above the normal of 39.6 degrees. Temperatures for the month ranged from a high of 82 degrees on the 30th down to a low of 13 degrees on the 20th. The 82 degree high temperature on the 30th broke the record for that date of 81 degrees set way back in 1879.
Controversy once again surrounds measurements in latest report
The March 2010 climate summary once again highlights the problem. Comparison of temperature records for DIA versus areas closer to historical monitoring locations continue to show discrepancies. Standing out even more are precipitation records that are curious at best, ridiculous at worst given the wet snowstorm that struck on the 23rd and 24th.
The Denver Weather Examiner is in the process of updating our previous investigation and will have an updated report soon. In the meantime, you may wish to look at the results of the investigation we conducted last year.
April 4 through April 10 - This week in Denver weather history
As we discussed in our April preview, the month is Denver’s third snowiest month behind March and November. Our look back in Denver weather history for this week clearly shows that the month can bring not only snow, but lots of it. If we look just at the last decade or so, we see significant snowstorms occurring in 1997, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Will that happen this year? Also notable are damaging wind events including one in 1999 that caused $20 million in damage.
31-4
In 1905…much rain and some snow occurred over the 5 days behind an apparent cold front. Precipitation totaled 2.00 inches. There was a thunderstorm on the 3rd. Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches on the 4th. North winds were sustained to 34 mph on the 1st and 2nd and to 30 mph on the 3rd. High temperatures during the period ranged from the upper 30’s to the lower 40’s. Low temperatures were in the upper 20’s and lower 30’s.
2-4
In 1934…snowfall totaled 8.2 inches in downtown Denver from the afternoon of the 2nd through the early morning of the 4th. Most of the snow…6.8 inches…fell on the 3rd. Rain changed to snow behind a strong cold front on the afternoon of the 2nd. The cold front first appeared as a long-cigar shaped squall cloud to the north of the city. Strong north winds at sustained speeds of 33 mph with gusts to 43 mph produced much blowing dust and an abrupt fall in temperature…from a high of 68 on the 2nd to a low of 22 on the 3rd.
In 1964…a major storm dumped 10.9 inches of heavy wet snow on Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 35 mph. Most of the snow…10.0 inches…fell on the 3rd.
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
In 1888…southwest winds were sustained to 40 mph.
In 1915…Chinook winds from the northwest were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 43 mph. The winds warmed the temperature from a low of 44 degrees to a high of 67 degrees.
In 1935…light dust enveloped the city during the day on southwest winds sustained to 23 mph with gusts to 27 mph.
In 1985…north winds gusted to 53 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the visibility was briefly reduced to less than a mile by blowing dust and a snow shower.
In 1987…microburst winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1997…heavy snow developed over western portions of metro Denver and along the palmer divide. As a strong surface low pressure system intensified over the plains…moist upslope flow developed across metro Denver producing strong north winds at 20 to 40 mph and some blowing snow. Snowfall totaled 12 inches at Conifer with 4 to 7 inches at Crow Hill…Evergreen…and Morrison. Thunderstorm rain changed to snow across the city with 2.0 inches of snowfall measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport where precipitation (rain and melted snow) totaled 0.70 inch. North-northwest winds gusted to 43 mph at Denver International Airport.
Thornton and the Front Range are under a Red Flag Warning until 8:00pm Saturday.
Thornton, the Front Range and most of southeastern Colorado are under a Red Flag Warning through 8:00pm tonight. The snow last week is a distant memory and winds and warm temperatures have created very dry conditions.
Winds have been increasing throughout the day and will continue to do so for the next few hours before they gradually ease. Humidities are exceptionally low, below 20% in many areas, and temperatures remain mild. These conditions have dried ground fuels and create a potentially hazardous situation.
Remember, a Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring or imminent. The National Weather Service said the warning will remain in place until 8:00pm this evening.
Grassfires are not uncommon this time of year and if they get started they can quickly spread thanks to the gusty winds. It was 47 years ago yesterday that winds helped to quickly burn 25,000 of land in southern Weld County near Roggen.
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.
Many rivers were experiencing major (purple) or moderate (red) flooding according to the National Weather Service. (NWS / AHPS) Click the image for a slideshow of the flooding.
Record breaking rains across the Northeast turned into flooding the likes of which haven’t been seen in the region for more than 100 years. As hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate yesterday, authorities have warned that the worst is yet to come.
Earlier this month many of the same areas were struck by flooding but that event pales in comparison. Rainfall amounts have been staggering in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. From New York to Maine, widespread flooding is expected.
The nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island, has suffered the most with rainfall in some areas approaching 10 inches. 120 homes in Cranston were evacuated and in Warwick 300 apartments and 100 businesses fled the rising floodwaters.
Interstate 95, the main route between Boston and New York was closed and may remain so for days. Amtrak was forced to cancel some train service through the region due to water on its tracks.
Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri said, “None of us alive have seen the flooding that we are experiencing now or going to experience. This is unprecedented in our state’s history.”
The governor gave all non-essential state personnel the day off and officials asked schools and businesses to consider closing as well.
The Pawtuxet River crested early Wednesday in Cranston at 20.79 feet – more than 10 feet above flood level and almost six feet above the record level.
Other rivers in the region were already above flood stage and some may not crest for days leading officials to warn that the worst is yet to come. The Charles River in Dover, Massachusetts and Merrimack Basin tributaries in New Hampshire and Massachusetts were at ‘major flood stage’ according to NOAA’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.
State of emergencies were declared in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and governors in those states called out the National Guard to help with relief and recovery efforts.
President Barack Obama had already declared Major Disasters for Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts from the flooding earlier this month.
A British Parliament committee has largely absolved scientists involved in the Climategate email scandal but also accused them of a 'culture of withholding information.' (Examiner.com)
A formal inquiry by the British Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee into the Climategate email scandal has largely absolved the British scientists involved of the most serious allegations against them. The panel did however also conclude that there were issues that needed to be addressed in order to allay public doubts about the scientists’ work.
Among the issues the committee discussed were the charges of manipulation / suppression of data, UAE’s / CRU’s practices for information dissemination and its compliance with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
In a 63 page report (link above), the British MP’s outline the case against those involved and the conclusions they reached. For most critical issues including the charges of data manipulation that were brought about by emails discussing a ‘trick’ to ‘hide the decline’, the panel concluded Jones and his colleagues had not done anything untoward.
It further concluded that the climate data generated by CRU is in line with other datasets from NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) and the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). “We therefore conclude that there is independent verification, through the use of other methodologies and other sources of data, of the results and conclusions of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia,” the report said.
A statement accompanying the report, the panel said that, “The focus on Professor Jones and CRU has been largely misplaced.” It notes that Jones’ limiting of access to the underlying data of his conclusions about manmade climate change were ‘standard practice’ in climate science.
However, all was not perfect in the report at the panel slammed the scientists and university for their lack of action on Freedom of Information Act requests. Get all the details at the Climate Change Examiner.
Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
Having completed its organization and now with a board in place, the Thornton Community Chorus (TCC) is set to hold auditions this coming Saturday, April 17, 2010. 
