DENVER -- In a state like Colorado, where so much time is spent outdoors, it is important to understand the local climate.Instead of the weather moving in, sometimes it forms right on top of you -- and quickly.In the spring of 2005, 7NEWS produced a weather special called Storm Season. This program included vital information you need to know for staying ahead of Colorado's severe weather.
With the heart of severe weather season around the corner, now would be a great time to watch the following videos to refresh your memory on severe weather safety.
Colorado lies right on the western edge of Tornado Alley, a place where cold dry polar air from Canada meets warm moist tropical air from the Gulf of Mexico. Add in hot dry air aloft from the desert southwest, and you have a boundary where some of the world's most powerful thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. In this video, ride along with Professional Storm Chaser, Roger Hill, and Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson, as they search for the "big storms." Learn what it is like to spend a day in the life of a storm chaser in tornado alley, and other interesting facts about these awesome and powerful forces of Mother Nature.
Learn the tornado safety rules you and your family need to know in the event a tornado strikes your area. Colorado sees on average about 50 tornado touchdowns each year. The greatest threat for tornadoes occurs mid-May through early August, with the peak occurring in June. A tornado can form at any hour of the day, but 90% happen between 1-9 PM. Tornadoes can form anywhere within the state of Colorado, though most are found east of I-25. While most are considered weak, with winds 110 MPH or less, they can completely destroy a mobile home and some wood frame structures. The most violent tornadoes can stay on the ground as long as an hour and travel over 50 miles!
Lightning is the most prevalent danger from thunderstorms, with nearly 500,000 bolts striking the state of Colorado each year. Each stroke can contain millions of volts of electricity, carrying enough power to supply several homes for a solid month! As lightning travels through the air, it heats the surroundings up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, creating a shockwave that we hear as thunder. Lightning can behave very erratically. Do you know what to do when caught outside in a thunderstorm and lightning is present? Or when at home during an electrical storm? Learn about one Coloradoans story and find out the lightning safety rules to best protect yourself when lightning strikes.
Hail is a frequent visitor to Colorado during severe thunderstorm season, especially on the eastern plains. It can cause large amounts of damage to life and property each year. Hailstones form in thunderstorms as liquid water freezes in the cold mid and upper levels of the storm. Stones are kept aloft by strong updrafts of wind. They continue to grow until the weight overcomes the strength of the updraft. Once this happens, they fall to earth. Sizes can range from rice and pea size in most storms, to baseball or even grapefruit in the strongest of storms. Find out more about hail and the hazards it can pose in this video.
Flash flooding is a major concern in Colorado during the spring and summer thunderstorm season. There are two types of flooding situations we can experience here in Colorado. A flood, such as from snowmelt, typically occurs on rivers and streams during May and June. The more common situation, and most dangerous in Colorado, is the flash flood. A flash flood is a dangerous sudden rise in water along a creek, wash, river, or normally dry area. They are most common in Colorado from May to September, with the peak activity usually during July and August. We've seen numerous flood events throughout Colorado's weather history, with one of the more recent events happening in Fort Collins on July 28, 1997. Flash flood experts have their eye on many locations around Colorado, but one city in particular is at great risk. Find out what city we're talking about, and more information on the nature of flash floods in this segment.
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Weather Special: Tornado Alley
