DENVER -- May 29, 2010
Just a final thought...

It's been fun Colorado! I've really enjoyed working with you and for you for the past decade.

As a native Coloradan, it was always a dream to come back to my home state as a meteorologist, which became a reality in 2000. Between the blizzards and tornadoes, it's been a wild ride!

When I visit schools, I always begin my presentations with this thought, so let me end with it:

Whether the weather is cold
Whether the weather is hot
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not!

Thanks for your support over the years... perhaps I'll see you around!

Stay safe, and enjoy the weather!

Richard

May 16, 2010
I'm curious, what weather event is most memorable for you?

I'm a Colorado native, and I can draw a direct connection from Colorado's wild weather during my childhood to my decision to become a meteorologist.

After all, Colorado's weather often leaves an impression because it's always changing and often exciting.

I saw my first tornado before I was a teenager, and I vividly remember being impressed by the power of nature. The storm developed over northeastern Colorado in Phillips County, and I can still recall seeing the damaged homes left in the aftermath. I was amazed at the power of moving air.

If you were in Denver in December of 1982, then you likely remember the Christmas Blizzard that paralyzed the metro area. We had three feet of snow in my neighborhood. I drove a Chevy Blazer with 36-inch Monster Mudder tires. You know the rest of that story.

March, 2003, was deja vu. The snowfall seemed relentless, and we covered that blizzard on air from start to finish for three days. The forecasting models had been projecting a major snow storm for at least the week prior, so we were not caught off guard, but it's impact was still impressive. Two to three feet of snow fell in the metro area, and some locations in the foothills were stuck in more than 60 inches of snow. Idaho Springs was slammed with 66 inches, and Interstate 70 was impassable. Rollinsville recorded 87.5 inches. I had the good fortune to be working with Pam Daale, and the Blizzard of 2003 was our last major storm that we worked together before she passed away in 2004. Her calming presence will always be missed.

Hurricane Katrina will be etched in our collective memories for a long time, and I'll forever remember the storm. I was working when Katrina made landfall, and for the days leading up to it. The meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center did a great job in forecasting the track and intensity of storm, so it was more than frustrating to hear members of the government and public state that they weren't really prepared for what happened. Here's hoping we learn from what this storm has to teach us.

On May 22, 2008, I was sitting in the newsroom logging video for a story on a day that was off to an uneventful start, or so I thought. It wasn't even noon yet when the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning, and the town of Windsor was in the path of a significant tornado. Other storms quickly developed along the Front Range, and I was sent to storm chase while other crews were sent to Windsor. The devasation in town was incredible, and in the end one man was killed. I searched for survivors to tell their stories the next day, and I met a woman who survived the tornado by seeking shelter in a concession stand at a baseball park. The storm ripped the roof off the building, but the cinder block walls remained. Her quick thinking likely saved her life. The tornado was unusual, both because it formed early in the day, and because it tracked from the southeast to the northwest. It was also a large tornado that formed relatively close to the Front Range.

I've worked at television stations in Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia, and no matter where I found myself the locals always welcomed me with the same thought: "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes!"

Well, with all due respect, it's actually true in Colorado.

If you have a weather memory that's etched in your mind, I've love to hear it!

Email me, or follow me at @ColoradoWeather on Twitter and send me a message via Twitter.

May 5, 2010
Into space and science?

Straight from the source:

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Celebrates Space Science and Astronomy this Saturday

The whole family will enjoy annual Space Day, scheduled for Saturday, May 8, at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are FREE with general admission.

The event features a special presentation by NASA Astronaut, Bruce McCandless, who helped design and fly the Manned Maneuvering Unit and was on the mission that placed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. McCandless will take visitors on a virtual tour through space, from within the Museum’s planetarium, and explain what it feels like to orbit the Earth in a space shuttle.

Additional Activities include:

Hear the latest news about Mars exploration from Steven Lee, PhD, curator of planetary science.

Take a virtual tour of the solar system with the Museum’s space scientists.

Check out the stunning technology of the new Science on the Sphere interactive exhibit in Space Odyssey.

Enjoy a visit from “Galileo.”

See shows on the Galaxy Stage, including the new show about the science of Colorado thunderstorms.

Explore the phases of the moon, what causes the seasons, spectroscopy, and how to make a sundial.

Experience an astronaut field report from the “surface of Mars.”

Try out solar viewing with special telescopes.

Visitors can also purchase tickets to see Hubble IMAX, which recounts the amazing journey of the Hubble Space Telescope, arguably the most important scientific instrument since Galileo’s original telescope and the greatest success in space since the Moon landing. Saturday show times are 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m..

April 1, 2010

Suffering from spring fever?

Does the wind blow and you hear your name?

Are you now wearing Teva and Vasque with all of your best suits?

Breathe easy, you're not alone. Help is on the way.

The Colorado Mountain Club's Wilderness Trekking School is a comprehensive course on hiking and the Colorado Rockies are your classroom.

So before you hit the trailhead this spring, learn how to travel on the trail and off. Know how to use a map and compass? You'll learn! What are the ten things that should be in your pack on every trip? You'll find out.

You'll learn about nutrition, gear, weather forecasting, and how to handle emergency situations during five Tuesday night lectures, and you'll have the chance to practice your new skills during five all-day field sessions (your choice of Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays).

I've taken the class, and it's a great way to learn new skills and meet new friends.

The spring session starts on Tuesday, April 6, at the American Mountaineering Center in Golden. Classes are held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For more information and to register, check out www.wts.cmcschools.org or call the office at 303-279-3080.

March 2, 2010

Feeling a bit askew lately?

Turns out, the massive 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile may have changed the entire Earth's rotation and shortened the length of days on our planet, a NASA scientist said Monday.

You have to check out the story on Space.com

From the Save the Poles team:

Polar explorer Eric Larsen announced today that his three-man expedition team is situated at Cape Discovery at Ellesmere Island in the Nunavut Territory of Northern Canada, and is prepared to depart for the 490-mile trek to the North Pole.

This departure marks the next leg of Larsen’s “Save the Poles” first-ever expedition to the South Pole, North Pole and summit of Mt. Everest in a continuous 365-day period.

In January of 2010, Larsen and his team successfully completed a 750-mile, 48-day jaunt to the South Pole on skis. If he completes the entire expedition, Larsen will be the first person to accomplish this incredible feat.

His purpose? To travel to the “front lines” of global warming to document the changes occurring in these last great frozen places. Larsen will also use the expedition as a platform to advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions and collect relevant scientific data.

“This expedition will tell the story of these remote places so we can better understand how our actions affect the poles and ultimately the planet,” Larsen said. “We all need to be reminded that we must act now to stop global warming.”

To help tell the story, Larsen is partnering with the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and the Protect Our Winters Foundation to produce 12 hours of climate change curriculum to provide teachers with the tools needed to prepare the next generation of students for what will be the defining issues of their time. Larsen will also team up with the Center for Biological Diversity to petition the Senate and President on the need for stronger climate legislation.

A member of The Explorer’s Club, Larsen isn’t new to the world of polar exploration. Larsen completed the first-ever summer expedition to the North Pole in 2006 where he pulled and paddled modified canoes over 600 miles of shifting sea ice and open ocean.

In January 2009, Larsen successfully led an international team to the geographic South Pole becoming one of only a few Americans to ski to both poles.

The Save the Poles Expedition’s objectives are:

•Complete the first-ever expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, the North and South Poles in a continuous 365-day period

•Create awareness of global warming, advocate strategies for reducing carbon emissions and collect relevant scientific data

•Produce a documentary film, book and educational curriculum that focuses on the science of climate change, teamwork and the spirit of adventure

•Develop a post expedition multi-media lecture series for education in schools and organizations

Mount Everest and the North and South Poles represent the harshest and most extreme environments on the planet. Yet as inhospitable as these places are to humans, they are also the areas most affected by people.

Scientists estimate by summer 2030, the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free. Recently, the 1,250 square mile Larsen B Ice Shelf collapsed off of Antarctica and disintegrated into the Southern Ocean. A report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecasts that if current trends continue, 80 percent of Himalayan glaciers will be gone in 30 years. While we are seeing the most dramatic changes in the polar and higher altitude regions, global warming is an issue that affects us all.

February 22, 2010

The winds of change are blowing at the National Hurricane Center.

Beginning with the 2010 hurricane season, the center will use the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Sound familiar? It should, but there are critical changes with this new system. The wind speed ranges are the same as the original Saffir-Simpson Scale. Gone are references to specific storm surge and flooding effects related to each of the five categories.

The original scale was developed by Herbert Saffir, a consulting engineer, and Robert Simpson, who was director of the National Hurricane Center from 1967 to 1973, as a tool to describe the threats posed by tropical cyclones.

Storm surge and flooding are being removed from the new scale because they are highly variable, depending on a combination of the storm's strength, size, motion, and barometric pressure. Water depth along coastlines and local topography are also factors that significantly alter storm surge and flooding.

According to NOAA, Hurricane Ike in 2008 was a very large storm that made landfall on the upper Texas coast as a Category 2 hurricane with a peak storm surge of 15 to 20 feet. In contrast, Hurricane Charley struck Southwest Florida in 2004 as a Category 4 hurricane, but produced a peak storm surge of just 6 to 7 feet.

Storm surge forecasts will continue to be included in hurricane advisories and statements issued by the National Hurricane Center and local National Weather Service forecast offices.

February 2, 2010

So the question on everyone's mind every February 2nd is whether Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow. He sees it, and we're in for six more weeks of winter weather. If he doesn't see his shadow, then we can look forward to an early spring.

Well, Phil saw his shadow this morning. Will winter be sticking around?

Well, probably, but it has little to do with Phil. More on that in second, but first, a little history of Groundhog Day is in order.

Punxsutawney Phil's meteorological prognostications date back to the 1800s, with his first appearance at Gobbler's Knob on February 2, 1887. According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog club, Groundhog Day originates from Pennsylvania's earliest settlers, a group that the legend of Candlemas Day with them. According to the club's website, the legend of Candlemas Day fall on February 2, and states, "For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May…"

And why Phil and not Bob? Legend suggests that Punxsutawney Phil is named after King Phillip. Before he was called Phil, he was known as Br'er Groundhog.

According to the National Center for Climatic Data folks, Phil is right about 39-percent of the time.

Why the connection? If Phil sees his shadow, then it's likely that a ridge of high pressure is in place over Punxsutawney (which is in Pennsylvania, by the way), therefore, there's a good chance that the weather will be fair, with enough sunshine that Phil will see his shadow.

But what follows high pressure, especially during an active weather season like winter? Low pressure! In other words, shortly after the ridge of high pressure retreats it will be replaced by a storm system, AKA, a low pressure system. With low pressure comes an increased chance for precipitation.

For Colorado, we're looking at El Nino as a factor in our weather pattern this spring. Even though the month of January has been dry (in fact, it's been much drier than normal during the month of January. It's the sixth driest on record, with just 0.07" of precipitation recorded), El Nino years tend to have an active weather pattern over the Front Range of Colorado during the spring.

Remember the Blizzard of March, 2003? An El Nino year and almost three feet of snow at my house.

Will we see another big storm this spring? Perhaps.

January 26, 2010

More news from the National Center for Atmospheric Research:

BOULDER--Roger M. Wakimoto, an associate director and senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, was named the center's new director today. He will assume his new position on February 1.

"Roger is a world-class scientist and administrator with broad knowledge of both the atmospheric sciences and the university community that NCAR serves," says Richard Anthes, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which manages NCAR for the National Science Foundation (NSF). "I am are very pleased to have him at the helm of NCAR."

A geophysicist with expertise in tornadoes, thunderstorms, and other types of severe weather, Wakimoto has served as director since 2005 of NCAR's Earth Observing Laboratory, which oversees instrument development and major field projects.

He has most recently guided the development of a major workforce management plan for NCAR. Wakimoto came to NCAR after 22 years at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a professor of atmospheric sciences for more than a decade and also chaired the department.

Wakimoto succeeds Eric J. Barron, who left NCAR this month to assume the presidency of Florida State University.

"I am both excited and honored to take on the challenge of building on the organization's expertise and leading it in new and potentially exciting directions," Wakimoto says. "NCAR is in a strong position to help meet the nation's growing demand for research into weather and climate change."

At NCAR, Wakimoto oversaw a comprehensive survey of instrumentation to better serve atmospheric scientists, and he collaborated with researchers at other agencies in the largest tornado field study ever conducted. His ties to the center date back to the late 1970s, when he participated in a field project as a graduate student to study wind shear, a potential threat to aircraft. He has also served on the UCAR Board of Trustees and was chair of the University Relations Committee.

Wakimoto has written or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in meteorology and has taken part in a dozen major field projects in the United States and overseas. He has served on numerous committees, panels, and boards for the National Science Foundation, The National Academies, the American Meteorological Society, and other organizations. He has won numerous awards and honors, including a scientific and technical achievement award from the Environmental Protection Agency for observations of air pollution and the Meisinger Award from the American Meteorological Society in recognition of his contributions to understanding mesoscale weather events.

January 23, 2010

If you're into science, then Colorado is a great place to live. For meteorologists, living in Colorado is as close to Nirvana as you can get. For example, just in terms of the atmospheric sciences, we have the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)--all located in Boulder, Co.

Now, one of our own is going to be the "meteorologist-in-chief," as the new president of the American Meteorological Society.

Courtesy of the good folks from NCAR:

BOULDER--Margaret "Peggy" LeMone, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), today begins a one-year term as president of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Elected by AMS members, she will assume the post at the annual meeting of the society in Atlanta.

"As someone who has been fascinated by weather since childhood, I've devoted my professional life to meteorology," LeMone says. "I'm looking forward to playing a role as we try to better understand the weather that affects us all."

As president, LeMone will help guide planning for the 2011 annual meeting in Seattle, which will have the theme, "Communicating Weather and Climate." She and other leaders of the organization will focus on the role of communication, not just among scientists of different disciplines but also between scientists and other audiences, such as students, the public, and policy makers. LeMone stresses that good communication includes listening and it should ultimately lead to delivering vital information that is useful and understandable to the target audience.

LeMone is a renowned atmospheric scientist and a pioneering woman in the field of meteorology. She joined NCAR in 1973, shortly after getting her Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington. She has participated in numerous field campaigns and computer modeling studies to better understand the atmospheric boundary layer, the formation and development of clouds, the structure of storms, and the interaction between land surfaces and the atmosphere. She is the author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed papers on meteorological topics.

LeMone has had a lifelong interest in educating the public about meteorology and promoting diversity in the atmospheric sciences. She began her outreach work with slide shows on clouds and then began reviewing textbooks and popular books, writing for the public, and working with teachers. She developed materials through the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Project LEARN in the late 1990s and then served as chief scientist for GLOBE, an international science education program for K-12 students. She is the author of a non-technical guide to clouds, "The Stories Clouds Tell," published by AMS.

LeMone's outreach efforts earned her the NCAR Education Award in 1995 and the AMS Charles Anderson Award in 2004. She was the first head of the AMS Board on Woman and Minorities (1975-78), and has served the society as a councilor as well as a member of the executive committee and the planning commission. She also was editor of the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.

LeMone is a fellow of the AMS and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research under sponsorship by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

December 21, 2009

Cue the Winter Solstice and welcome to Winter 2009-10!

For those of us who are fans of snow, it has been a good start to the season and more snow is on the way for the middle of the week.

And it's just in time, too, because winter officially begins today, December 21.

(Quick parenthetical thought: The solstice is actually an astronomy thing... we meteorologists have been celebrating the winter season since the beginning of December, but I digress).

Here's a link to an interesting article written by National Geographic's Brian Handwerk about the Winter Solstice. It's a must read!

Enjoy! And keep doing the snow dance... especially for the central mountains!

December 14, 2009 Thought you might find this article from NOAA an interesting read:

Winter, Nighttime Tornadoes Pose Greatest Risk, National Weather Service Warns 


Know Your Risk, Have a NOAA Weather Radio

Shrouded in darkness, nighttime tornadoes can be deadly, especially during the winter season when people are not accustomed to such severe weather. Given the dangers, forecasters with NOAA’s National Weather Service are increasing efforts to alert people of a potential threat in their area before they go to sleep.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center, in conjunction with local National Weather Service offices across the country, is now issuing new public severe weather outlooks when forecast conditions are favorable for strong and violent tornadoes to occur overnight. When issued the outlook will be available online: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products.

“Nighttime tornadoes pose a particular challenge since many people are asleep and not aware of watches and warnings,” said Joseph Schaefer, director of NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. “We added this extra outlook to highlight potential threats while people are still awake.”

Following the February 2008 Super Tuesday Tornado outbreak that caused 57 fatalities in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, researchers found most people minimize the threat of tornadoes in winter because it is outside the “traditional” tornado season.

“We know tornadoes can occur anywhere and at any time under the right conditions,” Schaefer said. “Residents across the southern U.S. need to be extra vigilant in watching weather developments during this winter season.”

The strongest winter tornado activity in the United States this winter is expected to be over Florida and the Gulf Coast region due to the current El Niño, Schaefer warned.

Chances of a tornado increase along the Gulf Coast with the current El Niño, a large-scale weather pattern associated with warming of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. As these waters warm, they force the development of a stronger-than-average jet stream emanating from the eastern Pacific and extending across the southern tier of the United States. The impact of this jet stream is most apparent from January through late March when it enhances severe thunderstorm and tornado potential over coastal states.

Nearly 80 percent of cool-season tornado deaths in Florida occur during El Niños, many after dark. This type of deadly nighttime tornado activity occurred as recently as February 2007 when an outbreak caused 21 fatalities and 76 injuries, and February 1998, when tornadoes killed 42 people and injured 259. Other recent deadly cold season tornado outbreaks have affected parts of Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi during El Niño years.

Having a NOAA Weather Radio at your bedside is the best way to know when a tornado is on the way. These small units receive a special tone that activates the radio alarm before broadcasting emergency announcements, such as a tornado warning issued by NOAA’s National Weather Service. This feature is especially crucial when severe storms or other events occur at night when most people are sound asleep.

October 20, 2009 The National Weather Service issued a WINTER STORM WARNING for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Wet Mountains for Tuesday, Oct. 20 until Wednesday, Oct. 21. The warning replaces the WINTER STORM WATCH that had been in place.

This week is Winter Weather Preparedness Week and Tuesday’s topic is about weather warnings, watches, and advisories, and in my experience is it well worth the time to familiarize yourself with these weather alerts. Confusion seems commonplace.

What’s the difference between a watch and a warning? The simplest explanation is that watches mean you should be watching out for extreme weather and a warning means that extreme weather is either happening or is just about to occur. Knowing the difference is important, and below you’ll find a list of definitions.

When winter weather warnings are in place for your community you will likely want to reduce unnecessary travel and pay attention to the most recent weather forecasts. Denver’s 7 and TheDenverChannel.com will provide the most recent information regarding developing storms.

Did you know that warnings, watches and advisories are issued by the National Weather Service, and not by your local media meteorologists?

This keeps the message consistent; if there is a weather warning in effect, then broadcasters have a legal obligation to rebroadcast the warning message as part of our licensing agreement with the FCC. This protocol minimizes public confusion (well, at least it’s suppose to help).

As I mentioned in Monday’s blog entry, know before you go. In other words, know what the forecast is for the area in which you will be traveling. Also, know the difference between a watch, warning, or an advisory, so that you can either plan or react appropriately.

WATCHES, WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES DEFINED:

A WINTER STORM WATCH is issued when winter storm conditions are possible within the next 3 days. The timing, intensity, or occurrence may still be uncertain.

A WINTER STORM WARNING is issued when heavy snow is occurring or will develop in the next 24 hours. Winds greater than 15 mph and blowing snow may accompany the storm.

A BLIZZARD WATCH is issued when blizzard conditions are possible within the next 12-24 hours.

A BLIZZARD WARNING is issued in lower elevations when the following weather conditions are present:

Expected for at least 3 hours

Sustained winds of 35 mph or greater are observed or expected

In the mountains winds need to be in excess of 50 mph for a BLIZZARD WARNING to be issued

Visibility is ¼ mile or less due to falling or blowing snow

A WIND CHILL WATCH is issued when wind chill warning criteria are possible in the next 12 to 24 hours.

A WIND CHILL WARNING is issued for wind chills of at least minus 25 degrees on the plains and minus 35 degrees in the mountains and foothills.

A FREEZE WATCH is issued when freezing conditions are possible during the next 12 to 24 hours.

A FREEZE WARNING is issued during the growing season when widespread temperatures are expected to drop to below 32 degrees.

A HIGH WIND WATCH is issued when high wind conditions are expected to develop in the next 12 to 36 hours.

A HIGH WIND WARNING is issued when the following conditions are observed or expected:

Sustained winds of 50 mph or greater for at least one hour, or gusts to 75 mph for any duration in the mountains and foothills.

Sustained winds of 40 mph for at least one hour, or gusts to 58 mph for locations in lower elevations away from the foothills.

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is issued:

When snow accumulations are expected between 4 and 8 inches in 12 hours in the mountains and between 3 and 6 inches in 12 hours at lower elevations.

When falling snow is accompanied by blowing snow to cause travel problems due to lower visibilities.

When wind blown snow will occasionally reduce visibilities and create a hazard for travelers.

For freezing drizzle or a mix of wintry precipitation, such as sleet and snow, that will likely impact travel conditions.

A DENSE FOG ADVISORY is issued when fog will reduce visibilities to ¼ mile or less.

October 19, 2009

Winter Weather Preparedness Week continues this week, and today’s topic is traveling safety through winter conditions.

It’s commonsense, but the time to get ready for that tough wintry commute is now—before the weather takes a turn for the worse.

The best way to stay safe when the weather turns rough this winter is to avoid travelling. If you must venture out, then an accurate forecast and knowledge of current road conditions are a must. That’s where Denver’s 7, TheDenverChannel.com, and Cotrip.org can help you get prepared. Know before you go, and you’ll know what to expect.

Whether your travel plans take you through the plains, urban corridor, or the Rockies, winter driving conditions can be dangerous, and your car or truck needs to be equipped both in terms of maintenance and supplies.

Is your vehicle road ready?

Here’s a list of considerations:

Do your tires have adequate tread?

Do your travel habits mean you should consider snow tires?

When did you last replace your windshield wipers? They should be replaced twice a year.

Consider taking your vehicle into the shop for professional winterization.

Supplies you should consider having in your car:

Tow rope

Tire chains

A sand bag or two stored in the trunk (for traction assistance)

Shovel

Battery jumper cables

Tools for emergency repairs

Snow scraper & brush

First aid kit

Flash light, along with extra batteries

Blankets and/or a sleeping bag

Extra clothes, including hats and gloves

Emergency candles and water proof matches

Prepackaged high calorie food

A pot or empty can (for melting snow for drinking water)

Cell phone and charger

What should you do if you become stranded by a winter storm?

First, stay with your car. Depending on where you find yourself, your vehicle is likely to be your most substantial shelter.

Don’t run your vehicle continuously, but rather run it every hour for about 10 minutes.

Leave windows open just enough to ventilate the car and prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.

Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.

Increase your vehicle’s visibility by tying brightly colored clothes or ribbons to your side view mirrors, door handles, or the antenna.

Stay active by exercising in your car. Vigorously move your arms, legs, fingers and toes in an effort to minimize the risk of hypothermia and frost bite.

Other weather hazards during the wintertime include avalanches, strong winds, and black ice. These dangers typically lurk outside of our awareness and catch us off guard and unprepared. When dealing with these winter hazards it is important to be proactive and be aware of your surroundings.

Many of Colorado’s high country roads pass through avalanche zones, and while many are marked as such, others are not. Roadways that meander along steep slopes are most vulnerable, especially during and immediately following heavy snowstorms.

Hurricane force winds are possible in the mountains and along the Front Range of Colorado, with wind gusts exceeding 100 mph. Light weight and high profile vehicles are the most susceptible to high winds. Avoiding travel during extremely windy weather is the safest solution. Monitor Denver’s 7 and TheDenverChannel.com for high wind warnings, watches and advisories.

Black ice is an invisible killer, and while you may never encounter an avalanche or winds strong enough to blow you off the road, chances are that you will cross paths with black ice.

What is black ice? Roads that appear to be clear, or just wet, may be covered in a thin layer of ice that is difficult to detect until it’s too late and you’ve lost control of your vehicle. Solution? Anticipate a problem when wintry precipitation has fallen and reduce your speed. Elevated road surfaces such as bridges and overpasses tend to freeze first, creating inconsistent road surfaces.

Do you know if your car has anti-lock brakes? It’s important information, because your braking strategies will be different depending on your vehicles braking system. If your vehicle does have an anti-lock braking system, then don’t pump your brakes if you start losing control of your car. Instead, apply even and steady pressure to your brakes and always give yourself extra distance to stop. By contrast, if you don’t have anti-lock brakes, then gently pump your brakes a few times before applying steady pressure.

Stay safe this winter, and check with our forecasters on TheDenverChannel.com and Denver’s 7 for the latest forecasts before venturing out!

Tuesday’s topic? Warnings, watches, and advisories. What do they mean? What should you do?

October 18, 2009

The week of Oct. 18 – Oct. 24 is Winter Weather Awareness week in Colorado, thanks to a proclamation by Gov. Bill Ritter.

Yes, it’s an annual event. While it may not be breaking news, the week does offer the opportunity to prepare for winter weather hazards.

Personally, winter is my favorite season (the other three tie for a close second, since Colorado weather is fantastic all-year-round!). There is nothing like seeing a fresh blanket of snow hugging the ground.

More seriously, winter precipitation is important for water resources and winter recreation, and it’s possible to take full advantage of Colorado’s winter playground while staying safe from winter’s hazards.

Watch this space during the next week for information related to Colorado’s wintry weather, including tips for traveling safely during winter storms, what watches, warnings, and advisories mean to you and your family, and safety information about avalanches, hypothermia, dangerous winter winds.

Stay tuned, and stay safe!

August 21, 2009

The Aug. 18 Park County tornado was an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, according to the National Weather Service meteorologists who conducted the survey.

An EF-1 tornado has estimated wind speeds between 86-110 mph and cause minor structural damage.

The storm developed Tuesday afternoon and the tornado first touched down at 1:16 p.m., approximately two miles north of Eleven Mile State Park.

The tornado skipped across mountainous terrain before reaching the north side of Lake George. It dissipated one mile northeast of Lake George around 1:33 p.m.

The tornado was on the ground for close to 10 miles, and the damage path covered 100 yards about four miles west of Lake George.

According to the damage survey, property damage from the storm occurred two miles north of Eleven Mile State Park.

The tornado destroyed two small sheds and one camper, while a steel framed barn suffered major damage. Two homes in the tornado's path received minor damage, limited to broken windows, cracked siding, and roof damage.

Between Eleven Mile Reservoir and Lake George, there were numerous areas with significant tree damage. Ponderosa pine trees as large as two feet in diameter were uprooted and snapped off.

August 7, 2009

After a cool June and July, the summer season seems to have roared back with a vengeance.

With temperatures in the 90s for the past several days, you may be enjoying "Summer Redux 2009." For some of us, the cooler weather during the early days of summer was more of a breath of fresh air.

7NEWS viewer Linda from Arvada shared her thoughts with me in a recent e-mail, and I think she may be on to something!

Sweat is dripping down my nose.
Any minute now, it'll hit my toes.
If you so-o-o live to pant and swelter.
You're bound to love Arizona's weather.

I live for forecasts of coolness and rain.
Some of you think I'm criminally insane.
My best nights' sleep are dark and cool.
Unless I'm about to go back to school.

I dream of sweet four and five year olds.
They hug me, love me and give me colds.
I have about 21 more days to go.
Unfortunately there's no more money to blow.

A few more weeks of sandals and Tees.
That's 504 hours to lounge in jammies.
Don't get me wrong, I love it and all.
I just wish my time off was all in the fall.

My favorite days are red, orange and brown.
The cool breeze of autumn, crunchy leaves on the ground.
No more West Nile mosquitoes or poop-carrying flies.
Kids can go down a slide without burning their thighs.

So sorry that August means summer is fleeting.
For me it means soon it'll be snowing and sleeting.
It's football, Halloween and Thanksgiving dinner.
For some it is sad but for me it's a winner.

I say adios to summer with little regret.
I still don't have air-conditioning yet.
I don't have the body to wear skimpy suits.
I will miss those juicy seasonal fruits.

It's really not over for 7 more weeks.
It's really not over till snow's on the peaks.
For those of you out there admiring your tan.
Summer's for you, I'm just not a fan.

Many thanks to Linda for letting me share her prose with the rest of the 7News universe!

August 1, 2009

What's in a name? That which we call summer feels much more like fall

Saturday morning on 7News, Dayle Cedars asked me if we have had any 100 degree days this summer. I wanted to say yes, but I couldn't recall any examples.

There's a good reason why I couldn’t remember a 100-degree day this summer -- there hasn't been any.

Sure, we've had our 90-degree days (8 of them, actually), but the warmest day of the summer, to date, is July 24's 93 degree reading.

It's been wet, too. Total precipitation for June was 3.30 inches above average, and 1.40 inches above average in July.

A hot and dry summer? I think not.

I'd say it feels more like the Pacific Northwest, but Seattle had a record high of 105 degrees on July 29.

Maybe that's where our summer went. Hmm ....

Oh well, bring on the snow.

July 12, 2009

If your impression of June is that it was cooler and wetter than you remember from back in the day, well, you're right.

During a typical June (well, according to climatology), thunderstorms are recorded on 10 days, but not this year. We had almost double that number with storms recorded on 18 days out of 30.

According to National Weather Service data, the temperature never reached 90 degrees at Denver International Airport during the month. The last time this happened was June 2003, and then you have to go back to 1972 to find a June where temperatures were sub-90 degrees.

After a disappointing winter (we ended the snow season with 38.1 inches of snow, well below the normal seasonal snowfall of 67.1 inches) we made up for it in June.

Denver International Airport is the official National Weather Service observation station for Denver data, and a total of 4.86 inches of rain fell during the month of June, making it the second wettest June on record, since records began in 1872.

The wettest June on record was in 1882, when 4.96 inches of rainfall was recorded.

By comparison, the average precipitation for June is 1.56 inches, which we surpassed on June 23, when 1.64 inches of rain fell at DIA, setting a new record.

June 27, 2009

Call it a Mulligan, a redux, a second chance.

After a dry winter, Mother Nature has decided to inundate metro Denver with rain.

Snow totals for the year? 38.1 inches. Dismal.

That's 22.3 inches below average.

True to the essence of Colorado weather, it's been a crazy ride recently, and we've managed to make up the moisture deficit.

In fact, June 2009 is the second wettest June in Denver since weather records began in 1872. As of June 26, Denver International Airport has measured 4.86 inches, which is 3.52 inches above average.

By comparison? According to the National Weather Service data, Denver had only 0.73 inches by June 26, 2008. What a difference a year makes!

The wettest June on record? June, 1882.

Denver received 4.96 inches that year, and June 2009 is one storm away from establishing a new record for the wettest June in more than 100 years.

June 19, 2009

If you’re heading to the high country this weekend, then keep an eye to the sky.

Another weather system is going to move through the state this weekend, bringing unsettled weather with it.

Check out the satellite and radar imagery before hitting the road. You should be able to see the system as it approaches the Four Corners region of Colorado, and then track it across the state.

There’s a good chance for thunderstorms on Saturday, even during the morning hours. Storms are likely to redevelop during the afternoon, before dissipating by Saturday evening.

That said, there is a slight chance of rain overnight into Sunday morning. You are going to bring your tent fly, right?

Temperatures on Saturday afternoon will be in the 50s, with 30s to low 40s overnight.

Sunday is likely to be a more pleasant day, but afternoon storms are still in the forecast. Temperatures will be warmer, with highs in the 60s.

As always, be safe, and enjoy Colorado’s Rocky Mountains this weekend.

And remember: if you hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Be sure to check out @ColoradoWeather on Twitter for weather updates!

June 11, 2009

Heading to the high country for the weekend?

Take your rain gear.

The same weather pattern that is bringing round after round of storms to the Front Range and eastern plains will keep storms in the forecast for the mountains this weekend.

Not that I’m expecting the weekend to be a washout, but I would certainly be prepared for wet weather, especially during the afternoons from Friday through Sunday.

A trough of low pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere is currently positioned over the western United States, resulting in a southwest flow over Colorado.

A series of weather disturbances are cruising through the mid levels of the atmosphere within this southwesterly flow, and stormy weather is the result.

For the Front Range and eastern plains, there will be another risk of severe weather. for the next couple of days.

For the central mountains, the forecast looks stormy in the afternoon through the weekend.

For Friday, expect a sun/cloud mix during the day, with storms developing during the afternoon. Temperatures will be in the upper 40s to mid 50s through the afternoon and in the 30s overnight. Winds will be from the west, between 5 to 15 mph for much of the day, before becoming lighter later in the evening.

Saturday and Sunday will be similar to Friday, with a chance of afternoon storms. Highs will be in the 40s and 50s. Lows will be in the 30s.

Be safe, and enjoy Colorado’s Rocky Mountains this weekend.

And remember: if you hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

Be sure to check out @ColoradoWeather on Twitter for weather updates!

May 25, 2009

It’s been a bummer of a winter.

Yes, we had snow, especially late in the season, but it was too little too late.

I write that knowing that you probably aren’t a huge snow fan.

For me, snow is like white gold. I can’t get enough of it.

That’s why this winter was so disappointing.

We average 61.7 inches of snow each winter.

For 2008- ’09 we weren’t even close.

We only managed to get 38.1 inches this year.

I’m not holding out hope that we’ll pick up any more, even though the latest snowfall in Denver was recorded on June 12, 1947. Last year it was May 14, 2008.

At least it’s not as bad as the winter of 1888- ’89, when only 20.8 inches fell.

I suppose the same could be said about the winter of 1908- ’09. That was a winter for the record books, when more than 118 inches fell in Denver (118.7, to be exact).

Nine feet of snow may be too much of a good thing.

May 18, 2009

I have a confession.

I twitter. Or maybe I should say, I tweet.

I dunno, but either way, there may be a need for a warning from the Surgeon General.

Twittering (Tweeting?) can be addictive, and I'm sure someone somewhere will discover that it's not good for you.

Whatever.

Admittedly, I'm a newbie.

If you're not familiar with the latest micro-blogging craze, just check out @ColoradoWeather on Twitter.com

Sign up and follow a few folks for a day or two, even people you don't know, like that kid from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Wesley Crusher, @wilw.

His name is Wil Wheaton, and he's no longer a teen genius in Star Fleet.

He has more than half-a-million followers and he tweets (twitters?) all the time, usually random stuff that makes no sense.

Turns out, he's all grown up now, and I think he's married with a little Crusher cruising around (do you think they let the little one play with the good dilithium crystal?).

He's even a published author, and yes, parental guidance is suggested if you're going to follow his tweets (twitters?).

Twittering is the epitome of parasocial interaction (Google it, or better yet, twitter it. On second thought, Google it. When did Google become a verb?).

As new technologies go, Twitter can be useful and a complete waste of your time.

Some Twitter-heads have given into the Dark Side and use it for spamming purposes. Others use it to market their businesses. Some update their friends and family.

The messages are as varied as the users, and certainly--user beware.

But it can be a great tool for instant news updates from the TheDenverChannel team: @DenverChannel

Or traffic updates from traffic guru Jayson Luber: @KMGHTraffic

For me it's all about the weather, with the occasional personal anecdote.

I'm @ColoradoWeather, and I twitter just enough to irritate my family.

So, hello.

My name is @ColoradoWeather, and I twitter (tweet? whatever).