An avalanche near Aspen claimed the life of a backcountry skier on Tuesday. (File Photo - Wikimedia Commons)
The avalanche danger has been high throughout much of Colorado this year and that was highlighted today as rescuers pulled the body of a skier from a slide near Aspen. The victim is the third fatality of the season in Colorado.
Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department officials said the avalanche was triggered at 4:00pm on Tuesday in he Lindley Hut area and 911 received a call at about 6:00pm. The skier was part of a group of eight that supposedly had backcountry experience. Rescuers were on site this morning and pulled the victim out at about 9:00am.
Overall, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) said the avalanche danger was ‘considerable’ across much of the state. The center said that the danger is decreasing but “human triggered avalanches remain probable on steep mid and high elevation slopes.”
Dozens of incidents have been reported this season; two prior to yesterday’s were fatal. On January 6th the season turned deadly near Battle Mountain outside the Vail Ski Area when an out-of-bounds snowboarder died in an avalanche. The second fatality of the season occurred on February 11th in the Ridgway area in southwestern Colorado.
Heavy snow, in particular in the southwestern part of the state, has made conditions ripe for avalanches. Officials urge backcountry users to ensure they have appropriate gear with them and know the dangers of the area they are venturing. At a minimum, experts recommend all members of parties carry an emergency beacon, shovel and probe pole.
Hurricane Ike bears down onto the upper Texas coastline with category 2 wind speed of 110 mph, September, 2008. (NOAA)
Beginning this hurricane season, NOAA’s National Weather Service will use a revamped hurricane rating system that does away with storm surge effects of each category. The new scale, called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale will use wind as its only determining factor.
Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson developed the original Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale as a way to communicate the threat of hurricanes based on their power and released it to the public in 1973. In addition to wind, the scale used storm surge as a factor when determining a storm’s category rating.
Since then, scientists have realized that the amount of storm surge generated by a hurricane can vary greatly, well outside the wind guidelines of the original scale. According to NOAA, the storm intensity, size, pressure and the underwater topography near where a hurricane is going to make landfall make a large difference.
In announcing the new scale, NOAA pointed two recent storms to convey the problem with the old scale. Hurricane Ike made landfall along the Texas coast in 2008. While only a Category 2 storm, it produced storm surge of 15 to 20 feet. By contrast, Hurricane Charley in 2004 was a Category 4 storm that struck Florida but only generated a 6 to 7 foot storm surge.
Storm surge is extremely dangerous and flooding resulting from it and the tremendous rains generated by hurricanes claim more lives than wind. As such, storm surge forecasts will continue however they will be independent of the hurricane ratings. Beginning this year, when discussing surge, it will be expressed in height above ground level to help residents understand the potential for flooding in their area.
The revamped scale also was accompanied by new descriptions of wind impact while retaining the same wind speeds that were previously used.
February 21 to February 27 - This week in Denver weather history
Snow and wind dominate our look back at this week in Denver weather history. Just last year, high winds on the Boulder Turnpike blew a trailer into oncoming traffic damaging two cars and injuring one driver. 40 years ago, a protracted cold spell resulted in seven consecutive days with low temperatures dropping to zero or below. Those are just two of the many events – see more below.
19-21
In 1971…heavy snowfall totaled 9.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to only 16 mph. Most of the snow occurred on the 19th and 20th. The 24 hour snowfall of 8.2 inches was the greatest in February since 1953.
20-21
In 1997…heavy snow fell in the foothills. Snowfall totals included: 16 inches at Eldora Ski Area; 15 inches at South Turkey Creek; 14 inches at Conifer and Morrison; and 11 inches at Blackhawk…Evergreen…and Intercanyon. Only 1.0 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 20th.
21
In 1901…northwest winds sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees.
In 1935…strong west to northwest winds sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 34 mph produced considerable blowing dust. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 60 degrees.
In 1967…west winds gusting to 53 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport. Winds were strong and gusty all day.
In 1988…high winds were reported along the foothills with 90 mph in east Boulder where the winds knocked out a few street and traffic lights. The strong winds whipped a grass and timber fire in Boulder canyon. The fire threatened some homes for a time…but was extinguished before causing any significant property damage. West winds gusting to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport warmed the temperature to a high of 63 degrees.
21-22
In 1909…a major storm dumped 12.9 inches of heavy snowfall over the city. North winds were sustained to 37 mph on the 22nd. Temperatures during the storm hovered in the 20’s.
22
In 1893…northwest winds were sustained to 36 mph with gusts to 50 mph.
In 1900…northwest winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 45 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 61 degrees.
In 1910…a cold front caused a remarkably sharp drop in temperature from 43 degrees at 3:00 am to only 3 degrees at 8:30 am. These were the high and low temperatures for the day. Early west winds switched to northeast behind the front.
In 1927…west winds were sustained to 42 mph with a measured maximum velocity to 60 mph.
In 1954…strong and gusty west winds persisted throughout the day. The highest wind gust recorded at Stapleton Airport was 58 mph.
In 1960…snowfall totaled 5.9 inches…producing near-blizzard conditions in snow and blowing snow at Stapleton Airport where northeast wind gusts to 40 mph reduced visibility to 1/2 mile.
In 1986…high winds occurred in the foothills. Wind gusts of 65 to 70 mph were reported at Golden Gate Canyon…and a peak gust of 83 mph was recorded at Echo Lake. Northwest winds gusted to only 29 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1988…a wind gust to 83 mph was recorded in Boulder with 80 mph clocked at Rollinsville. Northwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1996…wind gusts to 63 mph were reported in western Elbert County. Southwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 1999…strong post-frontal…Bora winds developed over the foothills and spread over the northeast plains. Peak wind gusts included: 87 mph at Golden Gate Canyon; 84 mph at Wondervu; 80 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research mesa lab; 75 mph at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility; 74 mph at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield; 72 mph at the Gamow Tower on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder; and 60 mph at Bennett. West to northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2000…thunder was heard across much of metro Denver. Thunderstorms over southwest metro Denver produced 1/4 to 1/2 inch diameter hail at Pinehurst Country Club. A thunderstorm at Denver International Airport produced wind gusts to 34 mph. This was only the 6th time since 1891 that thunder had been reported in February.
"Global Warming: Meltdown" is the latest television special from Weather Channel founder John Coleman that discusses the problems with the manmade climate change theory. (KUSI)
There is little doubt that John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel, has strong feelings about manmade climate change. He has long railed against the theory calling it “the greatest scam in history.” Now a meteorologist for KUSI in San Diego, Coleman has continued his assault with a series of television specials, the latest of which aired last night.
The latest hour long special titled “Global Warming: Meltdown” walks through the arguments on both sides of the issue. From recent revelations of errors within the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) reports to discussions of faulty climate computer models, Coleman lays out the doubts about man’s influence on the climate reassuring viewers that, “Mankind is not destroying our planet.”
A brief recap of his previous special that aired last month, “Global Warming: The Other Side” kicks off the show and jumps into the IPCC errors. Al Gore, a favorite target for climate change skeptics, receives a jab or two and Coleman refers to the former vice president as “the pied piper of global warming.”
The seriousness of the debate however is clearly seen in the video as are some of the many questions that make the foundation of the manmade climate change theory. From climate computer models that have failed to account for recent cooling to extensive problems with surface temperature monitoring stations Coleman covers it all.
I guess you could have it both ways if you don’t have a very well defined theory.
~ John Christy on the claim that recent snow storms support the global warming theory
In an interview with John Christy, director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Christy addresses satellite data that does not support warming. He further discusses the recent severe weather that has seen snow records across the eastern United States. In response to some who have said those events actually support global warming, Christy said, “I guess you could have it both ways if you don’t have a very well defined theory.”
While not appearing directly on the show, although they were offered the opportunity, the other side makes appearances through interviews from other sources.
Dr. Richard Somerville from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography outlines the basics of the foundation of the anthropogenic global warming theory saying, “once again this is solid, settled science. No reputable scientist, no expert in this field would dispute anything I’ve just said.”
Tom Peterson with the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina admits the problems with surface stations records. He however contents that corrections have been made in the data to compensate.
Winter snow extent for the Northern Hemisphere has been steadily increasing for the past 10 years. (Steven Goddard / Watt’s Up With That)
This winter has seen record-setting snow across parts of North America as well as Europe and Asia. Climate scientists have been quick to remind the public that the storms were short term events and not indicative of a lack of global warming. However, they have neglected to point out that winter snow extent in the Northern Hemisphere has been steadily increasing for more than 10 years.
Rutgers University’s Global Snow Lab is the definitive source for information on snow coverage of the globe. According to the unit’s latest statistics, 20,141,729 square miles (52,166,840 km2) of the Northern Hemisphere is covered in snow.
That puts the week as having the second highest snow extent in the 44 years that Rutgers has been gathering data. The only week out of the last 2,277 in the record with more occurred in 1978 during the second week of February.
In the wake of the recent blizzards that struck the East Coast, many climate scientists took to television and print media repeating the mantra that ‘weather is not climate.’ They point out that short-term weather phenomena do not disprove manmade climate change and global warming. Many even said in recent weeks that the extreme cold actually supports the global warming theory.
After receiving a shot of snow last night, Thornton can expect continued chances of snow throughout the weekend. Temperatures will continue to be well below seasonal normals throughout.
Most areas of Denver received a couple inches of snow last night blanketing the Mile High City in white. Here in Thornton, as we forecast yesterday, we received 2.2 inches. With this latest round, it is likely that Denver will exceed the average amount of snow we receive in February – 6.3 inches. We will know for sure when the National Weather Service releases their official measurement from DIA later this morning.
For Friday, overcast and cold will be the keywords. High temperatures today will only reach 34 degrees and there is a slight chance of an isolated snow flurry here and there. No daytime accumulation of snow is expected. Overnight tonight after 11:00pm look for the chance of snow to increase with a half inch or so being possible.
Saturday the cold continues and the snow chances increase. Temperatures will be right around the freezing mark ensuring that if you venture outside, you will be bundled up. There may be a morning snow flurry or two with the chances increasing after 11:00am or so at which point we could see a couple inches between then and the evening.
A chance for snow continues throughout Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Total accumulations will be much like what we received last night. Look for between 2 and 4 inches in the metro area. The mountains and foothills will receive between 5 and 10 inches and areas closer to the Wyoming border between 3 and 6 inches.
Sunday brings even colder temperatures with forecast highs for Thornton only around 29 degrees. Snow will slowly be coming to an end with a lingering flurry or two possible throughout the day.
The weather forecast for Monday going forward is still a bit muddled. A slight chance of snow continues on Monday before things should warm up and clear out on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday however the chance for snow returns.
As always, stay tuned to ThorntonWeather.com for truly local weather for Thornton.
If you haven’t done so, be sure to follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook! They are great ways to stay up to date with the latest weather news, forecasts and conditions! You can also signup to receive the latest weather alerts and forecasts via email here.
Most will concede the globe is warming but what is responsible. Even a scientist that is a climate change alarmist admits it may not be man.
Dr. Phil Jones has gone from relative obscurity to worldwide prominence as the central figure in the Climategate email scandal. His actions and those of other climate scientists as revealed by the messages have cast a pall over the state of climate science and the manmade climate change theory. In interviews conducted in recent days, Jones shockingly reveals his own doubts about the science.
The world has been told the ‘science is settled’ and the ‘consensus’ of the scientific community is solid – man is the primary driver of climate change on the earth. Skeptics that have pointed out problems with the data and climate computer models. They have said that the lack of warming in the past 10 years despite increases in carbon dioxide show the science is not as solid as it has been portrayed.
In interviews with the BBC and “Nature” over the past week, Jones gives credence to many of the arguments of skeptics and acknowledges the science may not be as solid as the world has been led to believe.
The BBC asked Jones about how the rate of warming from 1975 to 1998 was identical to warming recorded previously from 1860 to 1880 and 1910 to 1940.
Jones acknowledged that the warming in earlier periods was at nearly identical rates as later periods. “The warming rates are not statistically significantly different,” he said. The fact similar rates of warming were recorded before significant CO2 emissions casts a doubt on the argument that CO2 is driving the warming.
Jones admitted that there had been ‘no statistically significant’ warming over the last 15 years. He however maintains that is simply an interruption of warming that will continue.
As seen from space, snow covers the Mid-Atlantic from Washington D.C. through Baltimore and Philadelphia to New York City. (NASA) See a larger image below.
Whether it is called ‘Snowmageddon’, ‘Snowpocalypse’ or any other array of the names, the amazing series of winter storms that have struck the Mid-Atlantic States has been nothing short of astounding. Two storms struck the region in less than a week and NASA satellites have captured images of what the scene looks like from space after the second storm struck.
Just some of the artists performing ‘We Are the World: 25 for Haiti’. Watch the video below.
One month after a devastating magnitude earthquake struck Haiti claiming the lives of more than 230,000 a band of musicians released a new song and video to aid relief efforts. Premiering at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti’ is a remake of the song originally recorded 25 years ago to aid famine relief in Ethiopia.
The song was originally written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and performed by music artists of the time. According to USA for Africa, more than $63 million was raised as the song went on to become the biggest selling single of all time.
Bringing together more than 80 contemporary artists from across the music industry and all genres, the new version seeks to repeat that success on the 25th anniversary of the original. A new non-profit organization named the We Are the World Foundation will collect and distribute funds collected via cash donations and the purchase of the song and the video.
The video and song are reminiscent of the original showing the various artists singing in unison with many performing brief solos.
Introduced by Jamie Foxx, the video intersperses footage of the devastation on the ground in Haiti with that of the artists performing in a studio. A veritable who’s who in the music industry takes part – see the complete list below the video.
February 14 to February 20 - This week in Denver weather history
Many notable weather events have occurred in Denver this week in the past, some recently. It was just last year that a windstorm knocked down trees and powerlines in Boulder. Three years ago, we saw an end to 61 days straight with snow cover – the second longest streak in Denver history.
13-14
In 1895…a cold air mass settled over the city. High temperatures of only 4 degrees on the 13th and 8 degrees on the 14th were record low maximum temperatures for each day. Low temperatures were 6 degrees below zero on the 13th and 5 degrees below zero on the 14th…but were not records. Light snow totaled only 0.4 inch. Winds were light.
In 1960…snowfall totaled 6.1 inches and north-northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1967…high winds were widespread along the foothills where wind gusts of 60 to 90 mph were common. A wind gust to 108 mph was measured at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Sustained winds of 50 to 55 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph were recorded in downtown Boulder. An estimated 3 thousand dollars in damage occurred to mobile homes in Boulder. Power lines were downed over a wide area. At Stapleton International Airport…west winds gusted to 32 mph on the 13th and southwest winds gusted to 48 mph on the 14th.
In 1972…winds gusted to 67 mph at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder. Wind gusts to 49 mph were measured in downtown Boulder. West winds gusted to 26 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 2001…heavy snow fell across metro Denver and in the foothills. Snowfall totals included: 8 inches at Evergreen; 7 inches atop Crow Hill and in Lakewood; 6 inches in Denver…Doubleheader…Eldorado Springs… Morrison…and Pine Junction. Snowfall totaled 4.8 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 33 mph at Denver International Airport on the 13th.
14
In 1918…southwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with a measured extreme velocity to 46 mph.
In 1987…metro Denver received only 3 to 4 inches of snow… But the foothills west of Boulder received up to 11 inches of snow. Snowfall totaled 4.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 31 mph.
In 1988…winds gusted to 81 mph at Echo Lake.
In 2002…high winds developed in the Front Range foothills during the early morning hours. Winds gusted to 84 mph… 11 miles north of central city. West winds gusted to 43 mph at Denver International Airport.
14-15 in 1960…heavy snowfall totaled 6.1 inches at Stapleton Airport.
In 1965…5.4 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport behind a cold front. North-northeast winds gusted to 32 mph. Winds were strong and gusty all day and caused considerable blowing snow…contributing to hazardous driving conditions mainly to the east of Denver.
In 1984…a snow and wind storm howled across eastern Colorado closing I-70 east of Denver. This was the second blizzard in less than 4 days. Only 0.5 inch of new snow fell at Stapleton International Airport…but north winds gusted to 51 mph.
After receiving a shot of snow last night, Thornton can expect continued chances of snow throughout the weekend. Temperatures will continue to be well below seasonal normals throughout.
