Meteorologist: Colorado drought still possible despite storms

Drought?An interesting article from USA Today today discusses the fact that despite the snow we have recently enjoyed, we can’t rule out drought in 2008.  In part it says:

Despite a series of snowstorms that rescued ski areas in Colorado just before the holidays and built up the below-average snowpack, experimental forecaster Klaus Wolter says there still is a possibility of drought next year.

“My experimental forecast guidance for the late winter season (January-March 2008) continues to show a pervasive tendency for dry conditions over the full domain. Half of Colorado, and most of Arizona and New Mexico appear most likely to experience a dry season, raising the specter of renewed drought in currently drought-free regions,” said Wolter.

In other words, we can’t count on the wet weather to continue.  It is important to note that while the southern and central mountains have had lots of snow, the South Platte River basin, from which the Front Range gets most of its water, is still below normal levels.  To read the full article, click here

Lightning Detector Up and Running

LightningWe are pleased to announce that ThorntonWeather.com’s lightning detector is now up and running!  This new system will allow us (and you) to monitor in real-time approaching storms and to more accurately gauge how severe a storm is and where it is headed.  Of course in the middle of winter there isn’t a lot to see on it but come spring, it will prove to be invaluable.  For more information on the system and how it works, please click here

Lightning over the Colorado MountainsColorado is ranked # 2 in lightning related deaths (1997 – 2006) so the danger this presents to life and property is very significant for us.  It is interesting to note though that Colorado ranks only 31st in the number of cloud to ground strikes over that same period.  This highlights the fact that, quite frankly, folks here in Colorado are ignorant about the dangers lightning presents and they simply do not take proper steps to protect themselves. For this reason, we have created a Lightning Education Center with more information about how you can protect yourself.  Click here to visit it.

Some interesting facts about lightning:

  • – If you can see it or hear it, lightning can hit you. Find shelter now.
  • – Lightning is the number two weather killer in the United States (behind floods).
  • – Lightning kills about 60 people in the U.S. each year and inflicts severe life-long debilitating injuries on at least a 1,000 people a year.
  • – Every 5 seconds between flash and boom is a mile’s distance from you.
  • – Under ideal conditions, lightning’s thunder can be heard 12 miles away.
  • – Lightning is really no wider than a few inches.
  • – “Bolts from the Blue” – These lightning flashes have been documented to travel more than 25 miles away from the thunderstorm cloud.  Clear skies above you are no indication of how dangerous a nearby storm is!

Statistics and Conditions Currently Down – Fixed

NewsUpdated, 12/22/07, 2:15pm – Back up and running!  We have obtained another console, have it all configured, and the site is running as it should.  Thank you to all for your patience. 

Updated, 12/22/07, 3:45am – We have at least managed to get some data up and running thanks to our sister site, ReunionWeather.com. We are currently tapped into their live data so current statistics and the like are now working. The Trends & Statistics and the Climatology reports won’t be updated but everything else should work fine.  Please bear with us while we work through this problem.

12/22/07, 3:00am – Well… What can we say, this definitely fits in the category, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Davis Instruments, the manufacturer of our weather station released an updated firmware for our console (the main unit that receives the data from all of the sensors). The update appeared to go just fine but after it was complete, the console was locked up. Resetting it only has yielded a beep and a blank screen.

Unfortunately, it would appear we are down indefinitely. With the holidays here, it may take us a while to get a replacement unit. Forecasts and radar will continue to work as normal.

We may start pulling data from the DIA weather station if we have to. We apologize for the inconvenience but will do our best to get back online ASAP.

Coming Soon – Live Lightning Monitoring!

LightningMrs. Claus was generous enough to give the hubby his Christmas present a few days early – a lightning detector!  These are pretty incredible devices allowing real-time lightning storm monitoring with the ability to detect strikes hundreds of miles away.  More details will be coming after the final installation and calibration is complete.  If you want a sneak peak, click here.  Please bear in mind though that the system setup has not been complete so it isn’t entirely accurate yet. 

Also of note, we are in the process of installing a heater in our rain guage.  This will allow us to provide moisture content measurements for snowfall. 

Weather Outlook – Warm and Sun!

Melting snowmanThings are finally starting to look nice for us.  The recent series of storms is gone for us (and now wreaking havoc on the midwest) and we should be in for a nice week.  Temperatures should be in the mid to upper 40’s with clear and sunny skies all week.  Friday and heading into Saturday though could bring a change.  Current forecast models (below) show a chance for snowfall during that time period but of course this far out it is hard to say for sure.  Check back often for the latest! 

Precipitation Forecast for Saturday, 12/22

The snow is ending and the weekend should be nice.

ThorntonWeather.com recorded 8/10ths of an inch of snow so the system didn’t product much moisture. Lows Friday night will be down into the single digits. Saturday will be sunny and near freezing and Sunday we will finally truly warm up above 40 degrees. That may not last for too long though – long range forecasts show a chance for more snow toward the end of next week!

More snow on the way this evening – the third storm in a week.

SnowmanHere it comes again but this time won’t be as bad as the last two. This storm should move pretty quickly through the area tonight and into tomorrow morning. Current indications are we can expect between 1 and 4 inches of the white stuff. A lot of folks are already tired of the snow but remember that while the mountains have had a ton of snow, here on the Front Range we are still a good ways below normal for precipitation!

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Snowy HouseAnother round of snow moved into the metro area last night making for pretty messy conditions. As of 6:00 this morning we have recorded 2.1″ of fresh snow in Thornton with more on the way. You can expect the white stuff to continue falling throughout the day with additional accumulations of 1″ to 3″.This of course is the second storm in less than a week to bring snow to us. It is hard to complain considering how dry we have been in recent weeks. The cause for the moisture? Two factors have helped:

One is the jetstream. We generally see moisture come our way when the jetstream has dipped south to off of the coast of Southern California / Baja California. If you take a look at our jet stream map, you will see that happening.

The second factor is the wind from the northeast. Heading into this past weekend’s storm, we weren’t expecting much because the wind was from the west northwest (called a downslope wind) which would have helped move the storm past quickly. Instead, the wind shifted from the northeast (an upslope wind). Upslope winds help to slow storms down and hold them in place against the mountains, thus resulting in greater snowfall for the metro area.

Until these storms move out, stay warm and stay safe!

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