Mike's Weather Blog -- September 2005

September 30, 2005 - Last Great Weekend For Fall Color

What a fantastic fall season this has already been!! Nearly 400 pictures have came into the 24/7 Weather Center's Digital Album. For those of you with Comcast Digital Cable, turn your dial up to Channel 247. This is our news and weather channel broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In place of commercials you will see various "home grown" station products, including The Weather Minute. These are one-minute educational segments covering various weather topics. Thursday night we taped three different one minute fall leaf-viewing segments set to a soothing instrumental music selection. The fall leaf pictures are courtesy of our 7NEWS viewers. Again, that is on Comcast Digital Cable, Channel 247.

This really looks to be the last superb weekend, both in terms of color and weather, to catch the 2005 Fall Color Show. Locations along and north of I-70 are already reporting past peak conditions. Your best bet for the vibrant color is to head south and west to the central and southern mountains.

A storm system that is still a long way out is taking shape, and at this point, looks like it will spread strong winds and much cooler weather into Colorado on Tuesday. If it holds together, those winds will take down a lot of the leaves...so get out this weekend and enjoy!

The sidebar on the right of this story has many resources for you to get the information you need for viewing the aspen.

Please drive safely on your trip and have a great time. We'd love to see those digital pictures when you return home. The link to upload them is above in the sidebar.

September 29, 2005 - Warmer Weather Ahead

Our taste of fall will be short lived after waking up to the coolest morning since mid-June in some communities. A few locations on the eastern plains even saw their first frost of the season, such as in and around Greeley.

The 70s and 80s will return and stick with us through the coming weekend with quiet and dry weather the rule.

If you haven't been to find the fall color, this weekend is really your last good opportunity of the season. The weather will be delightful.

We've had many reports of past peak conditions with leaves already starting to fall in the northern mountains. The central and southern locations are at peak right now. The sidebar has our recommended drives, maps, color reports from viewers, and the digital albums created by 7NEWS viewers. It's hard to believe, but we are just over 300 pictures uploaded and counting!!! If you can capture some of the color before it fades, we'd love to see your photos! Just use the link that says upload your pics.

September 28, 2005 - Feeling More Like Autumn

If you like the cooler, more fall-like temperatures than today is your day! We will likely hang in the 50s with a few 60s across the Front Range thanks to a cold front. The cool down will be short lived as things bounce right back into the 70s and lower 80s through the rest of the extended period.

In fact, long-range forecast models keep the warm and dry air in place right through the second week of October, with only a brief cool spell here and there.

We updated all the fall color drive descriptions yesterday with the reports our viewers have sent in. Many locations across the northern mountains are past peak now. If you are heading out this weekend, the pick places will be in the central and southern mountains.

Keep those fall color photos coming! On Tuesday we started our 4th album of fall color thanks to the huge response from viewers. Links and resources can be found in the sidebar to the right of this posting.

September 27, 2005, 10:20 PM -- Much Cooler Tomorrow

A cold front will bring fall like weather to the state Wednesday. Tonight we've seen clouds and showers with some light snow above 11,000 feet! Trail Ridge Road in R.M.N.P. was closed due to adverse conditions around 9 PM.

Earlier today some gusty thunderstorms knocked a small tree down onto a car in Ken Caryl Ranch!

September 27, 2005, 3:20 PM -- Cold Front Moving Into Colorado

After a brief round of gusty storms and rain we'll cool things down overnight with temperatures Wednesday some 25° cooler than today!

24/7 FutureCast Model
Severe Weather Alerts Page
Regional Satellite/Radar
Colorado Doppler Loop
Front Range Nexrad Radar

There will below clouds and fog overnight so make sure you factor that into your travel plans.

September 27, 2005 -- September 2005 Will Be Memorable

There are still a few more days left in the month, but it can already be summed up with two words...warm and dry!

As of yesterday, we are still in the run for the warmest month on record and tied for the third driest. Our average temperature has been nearly 69° and we've recorded only 0.02" of precipitation. Hopefully we can add to that total with the cool down and wetter weather late today into Wednesday.

You still have a few days left to catch the beautiful color show in Colorado's High Country. The northern mountains are just about past peak with about another week in the central and southern mountains before past peak conditions arrive. The weather this weekend looks delightful for a fall color drive. Be sure and check the links over in the sidebar for recommended routes. (maps are provided)

This past weekend we had nearly 70 new pictures uploaded to our digital album along with 20,000 clicks! We really appreciate you sharing Colorado's beauty with our audience and thank you for visiting TheDenverChannel.

Feel free to email links to our Fall Color Headquarters to friends and loved ones out of state so they can see our beautiful aspen in all their glory!

Have a great day and stay with 7NEWS for all the latest weather information. There could be a few storms today out ahead of the cold front. Our 24/7 Weather Center will keep a close eye on things for you. We invite you to watch the weather along with us through our many resources built into TheDenverChannel. Links to a few of these follow.

24/7 FutureCast Model
Severe Weather Alerts Page
Regional Satellite/Radar
Colorado Doppler Loop
Front Range Nexrad Radar

September 26, 2005 -- Fall Color Peaking In Much Of The High Country

The fall color show is in full force right now across Colorado's High Country. If you haven't had a chance to take a drive into the mountains, perhaps you can squeeze out an afternoon this week. It won't be too long before those beautiful leaves fall to the ground as conditions go past peak.

If you are short on time, you can go as close as Nederland on the Peak to Peak Highway and see a brilliant show! For those of you in our northern viewing area, just head west of Fort Collins on Highway 14 through the Poudre Canyon.

If you can make a longer trip, try Gold Camp Road down near Cripple Creek and Victor, or the Maroon Bells near Aspen.

These routes and more are listed under Mike's Recommended Routes in the sidebar on this page. (Maps are included!!)

Finally, if you just aren't able to make it to the mountains for this year's showing...several of our wonderful viewers have brought the color to you! To date we are pushing nearly 200 pictures uploaded to TheDenverChannel. Links to these slideshows are available in the sidebar.

Have a great start to your week and thanks so much for making 7NEWS and TheDenverChannel part of your day.

September 25, 2005 -- Rita Spawns Nearly Two Dozen Tornadoes

The remains of Rita spawned nearly two dozen tornadoes in Mississippi and Arkansas alone on Saturday, and the threat will continue today along with very heavy rains. The links below will allow you to track the remains of Rita.

Hurricane Tracker
US Satellite/Radar Composite
US Radar Loop
Gulf Coast Radar
Southern Plains Radar
Ohio Valley Radar

In Mississippi on Saturday at least a dozen tornadoes touched down, killing one person in Humphreys county. Extensive damage was reported in two subdivisions of Belzoni, which is 81 miles northwest of Jackson. A Jockey manufacturing plant was nearly destroyed. Tornadoes also left several paths of damage in Bolivar county, Mississippi.

In Arkansas, at least 5 tornadoes touched down in the central part of the state, affecting some of the outlying northeast suburbs of Little Rock. Record rainfall also fell in the area, with 2.56" recorded Saturday in North Little Rock.

Texarkana saw just over 3.00" of rain on Saturday, and numerous locations between Shreveport and Baton Rouge saw between 4 and 8" of rain.

Memphis, Tennessee, tied the record low daytime maximum temperature due to all the clouds from Rita. The city topped out at just 76° which was last set in 1926.

If you think someone in your email address book would enjoy the blog coverage of Rita, feel free to email this page to them. There is an "email this story" link above that you can use.

September 24, 2005 -- Rita Makes Landfall Overnight

Blogs have become a very efficient way to document events as they unfold from an eyewitness account. The link below is a web blog on Hurricane Rita by the National Weather Service Office in Lake Charles, Louisiana...which was on the eastern edge of Rita as she roared onshore early Saturday morning.

Rita blog from Lake Charles

Hurricane Rita will continue a very slow crawl inland today after making an overnight landfall near the Texas/Louisiana state line. As a very strong category three storm, it is almost certain that Rita will be responsible for extreme damage across the strike area.

This storm is very large, with Rita's tropical storm winds extending several hundred miles in diameter. Even though Houston and Galveston were spared from a direct hit, ending up on the west side of landfall, they still endured several hours of tropical storm force winds (39 to 74 MPH) and blinding rains.

I am afraid the story won't end here however, as Rita is forecast to sit over eastern Texas and western Louisiana for the next few days, bringing torrential rains. Some locations could end up with 2 feet of rain before all is said and done. One bit of good news is that this region has really been dry of late. Lakes and rivers are lower than usual, and that will help with the copious amounts of rain that will fall. Still, we're looking at a potentially widespread flooding situation.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
US Satellite/Radar
Gulf Coast Radar
Gulf Coast Satellite
Gulf Coast Satellite Loop

Stay with us here at 7NEWS, all the latest information on Rita can be found in the links above and through the sidebar to the right of this posting.

September 23, 2005 -- Rita Now Affecting The Gulf Coast

The fringes of dangerous Hurricane Rita are already affecting a wide area of the Gulf Coast, from near Biloxi and New Orleans westward to Texas.

There could continue to be some fluctuation with Rita's intensity, but regardless, this is going to be a terrible storm that will affect a wide swath of land.

In addition to the damage at the coast, forecasts call for Rita to move inland and stall over northeast Texas. If that happens, we could see a pretty significant flood threat due to heavy rains over a two or even three day period.

In the sidebar on this page you will find some invaluable hurricane resources to help you keep tabs on all the latest, as well as to learn more about hurricanes.

A few links to the Gulf Coast radar and satellite follow.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
US Satellite/Radar
Gulf Coast Radar
Gulf Coast Satellite
Gulf Coast Satellite Loop

Stay with 7NEWS for all the latest weather information, both here at home and with Hurricane Rita.

September 22, 2005 -- All Eyes On Rita

Rita has already made her way into the record books as one of the most powerful storms to be tracked in the Atlantic Basin. (in terms of lowest measured pressure) It is important to look at pressure because this tells us how well a storm is organized in terms of circulation. A low central pressure means a very well structured storm with the correct flow of air into and out of the storm to sustain intensity.

In meteorology, air always flows toward lower pressure, so in a hurricane, air flows inward toward the center area of lowest pressure. Because of the Coriolis Effect these winds flowing into the center will start to circulate counter-clockwise around the low, forming an eye. Meanwhile, at the top of the storm an area of higher pressure develops in response to warming aloft. This causes air to flow up from the surface and out at the top. If it is helpful, think of the center of the hurricane as a chimney. So the higher pressure at the top helps to vent the storm, keeping the converging air at the surface from piling up in the center, maintaining that pattern of circulation around the eye.

So a lowering surface pressure means the process of air flow is more efficient, and thus the storm will either maintain strength or intensify. Once you see surface pressures rising in a hurricane, it is a sign that this "venting" process (recall the chimney) is slowing and thus the storm will overtime weaken.

Standard sea level pressure is 1013 millibars. Well developed hurricanes have central pressures in the mid 900s, and super hurricanes (like Rita) have central pressures in the upper 800s and low 900s. That is why we keep such a close watch on the hurricane's pressure, and make missions with hurricane hunter aircraft to the eye to capture that vital pressure reading.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
US Satellite/Radar
Gulf Coast Radar
Gulf Coast Satellite
Gulf Coast Satellite Loop
Caribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

We will keep the links above updated for you to keep track of the storm, and don't forget all the great resources available to you in the sidebar on the right of this page.

September 21, 2005, 5:45 PM -- Tracking Hurricane Rita

Rita is a monster storm currently moving through the Gulf of Mexico on what appears to be a direct path toward the central Texas Gulf Coast. A bouy located 180 nautical miles south of Southwest Pass, Louisiana, reported 22 foot wave heights last hour. Just 6 hours ago those waves were less than 10 feet.

The blog will be dedicated to tracking Rita over the next few days, with the links below updated with all the latest data. There is also some great information in the sidebar, including a slideshow of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. You can see the path of that storm by using Hurricane Tracker below.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
US Satellite/Radar
Gulf Coast Radar
Gulf Coast Satellite
Gulf Coast Satellite Loop
Caribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

Stay tuned for all the latest Hurricane Rita information.

September 21, 2005 -- Say Goodbye To Summer 2005

Today is the last full day of summer, with fall arriving tomorrow shortly after 4 PM. Mother Nature is going to make summer go out with some record heat on the eastern plains of Colorado, with many communities up around the 90° mark once again. The record high today for Denver is 88° and dates back 120 years to 1885!

We aren't the only ones ending summer on a hot note; the entire southern plains are baking! Yesterday Little Rock, Arkansas, climbed to a sweltering 102° with 100° recorded at Hot Springs National Park. Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana, as well as Lufkin, Texas, all topped out at 102°. The intense heat and light winds are also causing bad air quality for some locations, with ozone alerts issued across northeast Texas.

A cold front will bring cooler weather to start the first day of fall in Denver, where highs may struggle to reach 70° on Thursday.

If you have leaf-viewing plans this weekend, the color should be fantastic! The weather will be pretty good for the first half of the weekend, but will turn cooler and possibly damp by Sunday. For more information on fall color, be sure and check out our Fall Color Headquarters in the link below.

Fall Color Headquarters

Share Your Fall Color Digital Pics By Clicking Here

Rita is now a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico and poses a serious threat to the western coastline by the weekend. Get the latest information right here on TheDenverChannel through the resources provided below. If you have friends or loved ones on your email list that would benefit from the tools below, be sure and jot them a quick note inviting them to check out the daily weather blog. We'll keep these links right here until Rita no longer poses a threat to land or life.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
US Satellite/Radar
Gulf Coast Radar
Gulf Coast Satellite
Gulf Coast Satellite Loop
Caribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

Have a great day, stay cool, and keep it here on TheDenverChannel for the latest news, weather, and sports.

September 20, 2005 -- Summer's Last Stand, Beautiful Fall Color

Summer is determined to end with a last stand of heat as the eastern plains will flirt with 90° both today and tomorrow. Temperatures of this nature will challenge some area records, including Denver. The record high today is 92° set back in 1956, and tomorrow's is 88° which dates back to 1885.

So far this month we have averaged a temperature of 69.6° in Denver. The warmest September ever recorded in the city was back in 1948. (68.3°) We have 11 days left and of course anything is possible in the world of weather, but it appears the above average temperatures will stay with us making September 2005 one of the warmest on record.

In the precipitation department we've only seen 0.02" out at the airport, tying us for the 3rd driest September.

The fall color is well underway across Colorado's High Country. We've had dozens of pictures uploaded to our 24/7 Digital Album. If you are looking to perhaps take a weekend drive in search of this fall beauty, be sure to consult our Fall Color Headquarters here on TheDenverChannel. There you will find 20 scenic routes, maps, pictures, and more!

Fall Color Headquarters

Share Your Fall Color Digital Pics By Clicking Here

And we continue to watch Rita churn west-northwest through the Florida Straits and into the Gulf of Mexico. We invite you to track this storm along with us here in the 24/7 Weather Center by using the resources linked below.

Hurricane Tracker Tropical Satellite/Radar
Atlantic Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Loop
Atlantic Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Caribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

Have a great day and thanks so much for reading the blog!

September 19, 2005 -- Colorado Heats Up, Rita May Become Major Hurricane

The weather headlines this week will be as follows...

Tracking Rita
Monitoring the Fall Color
Return to Summer by Tuesday (maybe even a few near record highs?)

Rita has the potential to become a major hurricane by Tuesday, tracking very close to the path Katrina took about this time last month. A large ridge of high pressure should steer the storm into the Gulf of Mexico by mid-week, with a U.S. landfall possible by the weekend. At this time it looks like Texas will be in the line of fire as long as no major deviations from the current forecast takes place.

Hurricane Tracker

Map and satellite links follow...

Tropical Satellite/Radar
Atlantic Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Loop
Atlantic Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Bahamas Visible Satellite

These links give the best view of Rita.

Caribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

Back home we'll keep an eye on some warm weather settling in this week, thanks to a ridge of high pressure over the area. Sinking air beneath the ridge causes compressional warming and thus brings above normal temperatures. By Tuesday the eastern plains (including Metro Denver) could be up near the 90° mark one last time this year. Record highs are in the low 90s and we can't rule out one or two places getting near record levels.

The fall color is well underway in Colorado's High Country. Nearly 2 dozen new pictures came into the 24/7 Digital Album from over the weekend. Be sure and check them out. If you want to take a drive to find some of your own Kodak moments, we have a list of scenic drives with maps right here on TheDenverChannel.

Fall Color Headquarters

Share Your Fall Color Digital Pics By Clicking Here

Have a great week and stay with us for all the latest local and national weather information!

September 18, 2005 -- The Tropics Heat Up Once Again

Just when we get Ophelia to move on we have not one but two new tropical systems to track over the next several days. Tropical Storm Philippe has developed from an area of disturbed weather east of the Lesser Antilles, 295 miles ENE of Barbados. Movement is to the north-northwest at 5 MPH. The waters are very warm out that way along with favorable winds aloft for further development, so we'll have to keep a close watch on this storm. Current forecast models keep Philippe out over the central Atlantic during the next five days.

Closer to home we are watching an area of disturbed weather 70 miles northeast of Grand Turk Island which is just southeast of the Bahamas. A hurricane hunter aircraft that was scheduled to fly into Philippe has been diverted and will fly into this system, which is forecasted to strengthen into the 18th tropical storm of the season, which would be Rita. This storm has the potential to strengthen into a category 2 hurricane over the next few days and threaten south Florida by Tuesday, and potentially coastal Texas by next weekend.

Stay with 7NEWS and be sure to check in often with TheDenverChannel's tropical weather resources. You can not only see various radar and satellite maps, but we also have the 24/7 Hurricane Tracker, which will show forecasted paths. Simply select 2005 storms where it says Select a Time Period and then the name of the storm you want to track. It will load up the current progress of that system to date, and will show the current status on the right below the map. (including position and current sustained winds) To see the forecasted path, click the Forecast Path button.

Hurricane Tracker

Also using hurricane tracker, you can track the paths of all past storms from 2004 and the current season. Selected storms from as far back as 1900 can be tracked, including Andrew, Camille, and Donna.

Map and satellite links follow...

Tropical Satellite/Radar
Atlantic Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Loop
Atlantic Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Bahamas Visible Satellite

These links give the best view of the system closest to the United States that could affect our shores by early next week.

Carribbean Infrared Satellite
Caribbean Visible Satellite

Closer to home we have more delightful weather in store with just a few more clouds and even a stray thundershower today. The fall color show is really getting underway in the high country. If you want to make plans for a Sunday drive, be sure to check out our Fall Color Headquarters in the link below to find a route that will fit into your plans. We always love to have you share any pictures you get with our viewers by uploading them to the 24/7 Digital Album. Links to the fall color information as well as the digital album follow.

Fall Color Headquarters

Share Your Fall Color Digital Pics By Clicking Here

Have a great day and a wonderful week ahead. Stay with us here at 7NEWS for all the latest in news, weather, and sports! We'll keep a very close eye on the Tropical Weather situation this week. You will be able to find daily updates right here in the blog, and we'll keep the links above active and updated to help you keep track of all storms. If you have friends or loved ones on your email list that might find the information in our daily blog helpful, copy and paste the link above into an email and invite them to visit us on TheDenverChannel.

September 17, 2005 -- Last Weekend Of Summer 2005

Saturday will kick off another fine September weekend across Colorado with above normal temperatures and ample sunshine. It has been a rather warm month so far, roughly 5° above normal, and the streak of 80s will remain with us into the start of next week.

If you want to do a little fall color searching this weekend, be sure and check out our Fall Color Headquarters under Weather News. A link is below.

Fall Color Headquarters

Enjoy this last weekend of Summer 2005! Fall officially arrives on Thursday of the coming week, bringing with it shorter days and colder nights. Climatologically speaking, we have just over a month to go until the average date of our first snowfall!

September 16, 2005 -- A Great Weekend To Seek Out Fall Color

Fantastic...Delightful...Picture Perfect...it must be September in Colorado! Today and tomorrow will be excellent days for a little trip into the high country in search of the fall color show. We've already had several reports of color showing up, especially across the northern part of the state.

We've got a really nice resource here on TheDenverChannel for you to use while seeking out Colorado's Gold. Just click the link below for more on why leaves change, facts about the aspen, and the best routes to drive in Colorado to seek out the color. (Maps included!!)

Fall Color Headquarters

Saturday will be the pick day for a little leaf peeping. Some cooler weather and perhaps a few thunderstorms will enter the picture on Sunday with a cold front passing through the state.

Don't forget to share those great digital pictures you capture with us by uploading them to our digital album. From the link above you will find a Fall Colors resource box near the top of the story. In there, look for a link that says Photos: Upload Yours and then simply follow the instructions. It is that easy! We'll show them in our fall color slideshow for everyone to see, and you might even just see your picture on television during one of our weather segments!

If you are busy this weekend don't worry, we should still have one or two more great weeks of color before conditions go "past peak" shortly after the calendar changes to October.

September 15, 2005 -- Autumn Moon

If you are familiar with the famous picture by Ansel Adams titled "Autumn Moon, the High Sierra from Glacier Point" then you will find today's blog extremely interesting.

The picture shows a fuzzy moon sitting high in the darkening sky above the Clark Range, as seen from Yosemite National Park in California. Astronomers determined that Adams took the picture at 7:03 PM, September 15, 1948. They used a series of lunar tables, maps, weather records and computer software to determine the time the picture was taken. They also determined that this setting only happens every 19 years. That would have made it happen in 1948 when Ansel Adams took the picture, again in 1967, 1986, and now in 2005.

A crowd of photographers are expected to gather just off the trail below Geology Hut at Glacier Point today to recreate the image Adams captured on film nearly 60 years ago.

Astronomers are confident the moon will be in the exact same place, and of course the mountains will be too...but will the clouds? Everyone is hoping for clear weather for this picture-taking event.

September 14, 2005 -- A Taste Of Fall Weather

You might call it a preview of what's to come! Mother Nature delivered some refreshingly cool fall-like air to the state on Tuesday, and it will last into the day on Wednesday before we warm back to around 80° for the weekend.

Tuesday did bring the season's first snowfall to portions of the high country. Adverse conditions closed both Trail Ridge Road and Mount Evans. A mix of rain and snow was even reported in Breckenridge.

Meanwhile, our friends along the Carolina coastlines are likely tired of playing the wait game with Ophelia. It looks like they will endure another day of watching her every move as the storm meanders slowly toward the north. Large waves have battered the beaches for several days now causing some incredible erosion. Heavy rains and inland tornadoes are also a threat over the next 24 to 48 hours.

You can keep track of Ophelia using our 24/7 Hurricane Tracker. This feature will allow you to look at the projected path, the current storm location and wind speed, and see the track of Ophelia since forming off the Florida coast last week.

Hurricane Tracker

Have a great day and thanks for making 7NEWS your choice for news, weather, and sports!

September 13, 2005 -- Av Jam To Benefit Colorado Avalanche Information Center

The 2005 Av Jam will be held this Friday night in Golden, a kickoff to the 2005-2006 Winter Season that benefits the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC for short).

The CAIC's mission is to promote safety by reducing the impact of avalanches on recreation, industry, and transportation in the State of Colorado through a program of forecasting and education.

Operating from a handful of small offices throughout the state, the CAIC helps get the word out to the public through emails to observers and Friends of the CAIC, faxes to observers and the media, as well as through their website.

Taking a look back at the 2004-2005 Season, snowfall was generally below normal across the northern mountains, but much above normal in the central and southern mountains where several large storms rolled across the area. Here are some snow totals from last season and their percent of average for November through April.

NORTHERN MOUNTAINS

Loveland Basin -- 292.5" (84% of normal)
Berthoud Pass -- 289.2" (94% of normal)
Arapahoe Basin -- 221.0" (78% of normal)
Bear Lake in RMNP -- 206.3" (87% of normal)

CENTRAL MOUNTAINS

Gothic -- 374.5" (113% of normal)
McClure Pass -- 299.5" (111% of normal)

SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS

Wolf Creek Ski Area -- 476.0" (129% of normal)
Wolf Creek Highway -- 399.0" (142% of normal)
Red Mountain Pass -- 364.2" (126% of normal)

During the 2004-2005 season there were 2,985 avalanches reported to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which is 30% above the average of 2,293. Avalanche warnings were posted on 32 days, which was above average.

76 people were caught in avalanches (6 above average) and 10 were injured (3 above average). Sadly, there were 5 avalanche deaths (1 below normal) and property damage was estimated at $103,500.

For more information on the Av Jam 2005 Benefit Bash, as well as for additional information on avalanches and snow slides, click here.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog! Enjoy this "Preview to Fall" weather and check out the 24/7 Hurricane Tracker to keep up with the latest information on Ophelia by clicking here.

September 12, 2005 -- Some Facts About Sea Level Changes

Some researchers studying the East Antarctic Ice Sheet recently made public some interesting facts about the sheet and its relation to sea levels.

1) The East Antarctic Ice Sheet increased in mass every year from 1992 to 2003. According to the researchers, this increase in most likely attributed to global climate change. The additional mass comes from snowfall. Because the weather at the ice sheet is typically much too cold for snow, the increase in snowfall is thought to be caused by an increase in air temperature across the region.

2) The increase in the size of the sheet has partially offset rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers in other locations. The researchers say this is the only large mass of ice that is adding water rather than losing it.

3) The snowfall adds 45 billion tons of water to the ice sheet each year, which is nearly as much as the amount that melts into the ocean from Greenland's ice sheet.

4) Sea levels are rising by approximately 1.8 mm each year throughout the world. Every millimeter equals about 350 billion tons of water.

5) The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is thickening by about 1.8 centimeters per year. This growth could offset about 0.12 mm of the previously mentioned sea level rise per year. A release of the fresh water in the sheet would raise sea levels by approximately 196 feet, but continued growth of the sheet could counteract much of the anticipated swelling of seas over the next century.

This study was published in a recent issue of the journal Science and recapped in The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Volume 86, Number 8, August 2005.

September 11, 2005 -- Tracking Fall Color In Colorado, Ophelia Near The Carolinas

It's that time of year where sunny September days and cool, longer nights start the process of "fall fireworks" in Colorado's high country. There are already a few reports of aspen turning gold and scrub oaks turning bright orange, red, and yellow. We are still a few weeks away from the peak conditions however, so if you still want to plan a day or weekend trip there is still time.

Speaking of trips, be sure to check out twenty of my favorite routes in the link below. You will find general driving directions from the Metro Area as well as scenic tips for each drive.

Colorado Scenic Drives

More information on this beautiful time of the year can be found in a story listed under weather news on our weather page. Click the link below to learn more.

Fall Color Resource: Finding Colorado Gold

Meanwhile, we are still talking tropical headlines in this very active 2005 Tropical Season. Hurricane Maria is no longer with us, having weakened to a tropical storm over the north Atlantic and eventually becoming just an extra-tropical low pressure. Hurricane Nate has weakened to a Tropical Storm and is located near the Azores, continuing to trek northeastward.

Hurricane Ophelia is hanging tough about 200 miles off the Carolina coastline. A minimal category one storm, Ophelia is still capable of some wind damage and flooding should a landfall along the Outer Banks of North Carolina happen this upcoming week.

The weather patterns are finally showing signs of a shift, and that should help get this storm on the move north and east in the coming days.

Below are links for you to track the storm right here from TheDenverChannel.

National Satellite/Radar
Eastern USA Satellite/Radar
Northeast USA Satellite/Radar
Atlantic Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Loop
Atlantic Visible Satellite
Mid-Atlantic Radar
Mid-Atlantic Radar Loop
Mid-Atlantic Satellite
Mid-Atlantic Satellite Loop

All the above maps are updated several times each day so be sure and check back often on the progress of Ophelia. Have a great Sunday and upcoming week, thanks so much for making the blog part of your day.

September 10, 2005 -- More Warm Weather In Store

So far the average temperature for September is warmer than that of any past September. With 20 more days of the month, it will be hard to keep that ranking. There is warm weather in store at least through the start of the coming week.

Speaking of warm weather, much of the nation is under a large dome of high pressure that is keeping things on the warm side. From Rapid City to Minneapolis, and Chicago to Springfield, Missouri, mid 80s to mid 90s have been quite common of late.

Some cool air is making its way down from Canada. Spokane, Washington may not get out of the 50s and 60s all weekend! The cool weather has invaded Boise, Idaho too!

We might see some of this airmass by the middle of next week.

Hurricane Ophelia continues to spin off the southeast coast, currently heading northeast at a snail's pace! (Just 3 MPH) An area of high pressure moving into the mid-Atlantic is forecast to pick Ophelia up, turning the storm toward the northwest on a beeline for South Carolina's coastline.

You can keep track of Ophelia through the links below.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite

Have a nice and safe weekend! If you run across any fall color while out and about in the high country, be sure and share your pictures with our 24/7 Digital Album! You can find more information about fall color, as well as 20 of my favorite Colorado drives under weather news on the weather page.

September 9, 2005 -- Tracking Hurricane Ophelia

Ophelia is now the 7th hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season, and continues to churn off the eastern coast of Florida. So is it common to reach the "O" named storms? Well, it is more common than you might think. What isn't common is to reach it this early in the hurricane season.

Here are some "O" storms since 1995; notice the dates.

1995 -- Opal (September 27 through October 5)
2001 -- Olga (November 24 through December 4)
2003 -- Odette (December 4 - 7)
2004 -- Otto (November 29 - December 3)

Typically by the time we reach the "O" storms hurricane season is ending. The season runs through November 30th, although a few can form just into December.

This year we are at the "O" named storm and it isn't even the climatological peak of the season! The peak is generally said to be September 10, but the tropics are often quite active through early October.

Ophelia is going to be with us for several more days according to current forecasts. So far Florida has just seen some breezy conditions with a few passing showers. The real problem has been the surf. Many beaches are already being eroded as 9 to 12 foot waves crash onshore. Combine that with high tide and some beaches are actually gone!

We know many of you have an interest in tracking this historical hurricane season right along with the 24/7 Weather Center. Below you will find some links to maps and radars we have that will show you where Ophelia is at present.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite

The Atlantic Satellite (linked below) is particularly impressive, as you can see Maria, Nate, and Ophelia lined up. The energy from all three storms is really churning the Atlantic Ocean, so high surf is likely along the entire east coast, from Maine to Florida.

Atlantic Satellite Image

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog!

September 8, 2005 -- September Off To A Warm Start

The first 7 days of this month had an average temperature of 72.1°, which is 5.7° above normal. The warmest September on record was back in 1948 with an average temperature of 68.3°. Keep in mind we still have 23 days to go and a lot can change in that time. However, it does look like the above average temperatures will stick around at least another 5 to 7 days.

When we say an average monthly temperature, that simply means taking all the highs and lows, adding them up and dividing by the number of highs and lows; a simple average.

We're off to a dry start as well, with just a Trace in the rain gauge. That ties us for the driest September on record thus far.

Taking a quick look at Ophelia, it appears she will stay in the headlines for at least the next 3 to 5 days. Some uncertainty on the track remains, but a slow looping motion while slowly gaining strength is likely.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Image

You can keep track on the latest by using the links above. Have a great day!

September 7, 2005, 8:20 AM -- Ophelia Bringing Stormy Weather To Florida

The latest data on Ophelia has changed the path quite a bit from the last posting, so this is a storm that we will just have to sit and watch real closely.

As stated in the last blog entry, the problem is two parts of the subtropical ridge almost playing tug-a-war with the system. Both have an influence on the track and that is making the forecast a tough one. The latest thinking is the storm will make a loop and head east and even south. This is not the best news for a few reasons...it will keep stormy weather in the Florida area, and allow the storm to remain over warm waters for a longer period of time, which may allow Ophelia to reach hurricane status.

At last advisory the storm was located 80 miles east of Cape Canaveral, moving north-northwest at 7 MPH. Winds are 45 MPH. High surf along the southeast US coast can be expected as a result of Ophelia.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Image

Stay with us and we'll keep you posted with the latest.

September 7, 2005 -- Ophelia To Bring Heavy Rain, Wind To Florida

Hurricane Maria and Tropical Storm Nate (likely upgraded to hurricane soon) are moving away from the US mainland in the central Atlantic, but will bring stormy weather and rough seas to Bermuda.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Ophelia is moving slowly toward the Florida coast. This system will bring heavy rains, high surf, and gusty winds to central and north Florida over the next 36 to 60 hours.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Image

The official forecast track takes Ophelia into Florida pretty close to the Jacksonville vicinity sometime on Saturday as a strong tropical storm. The remains will then drift slowly west over the Florida panhandle and possibly back into the Gulf of Mexico. It is important to note a few features that could change this forecast. Some wind shear and cooler air could work its way into the cyclone, preventing further development. Also, two areas of the subtropical ridge are influencing the path of Ophelia. One is trying to pull the system more westward, while the other wants to curve it northeast out to sea. It is just a situation we will have to monitor over the next 24 hours. Regardless, unsettled weather will definitely be in the forecast for much of central Florida over the next few days.

September 6, 2005 -- Strong Storms Possible Today In Colorado, 14th Tropical System Churning In The Atlantic

Welcome back from the long holiday weekend! We've got some active weather to talk about.

A slow moving cold front approaching Colorado from the north combined with an area of low pressure in western Kansas will serve as a focus mechanism for some afternoon showers and thunderstorms today. A few could even reach severe levels, especially on the eastern plains out toward the Kansas border.

Now typically September is a quiet month, but with the change of seasons underway, we can certainly get thunderstorms in the area, strong to severe at times. On this date back in 1940, a thunderstorm pelted Denver with small hail and cloud-to-ground lightning. One woman was stunned when a bolt struck near her. Heavy rain from the storm caused Cherry Creek to rise 3 feet.

In 1993, a man was struck and killed by lightning in unincorporated Arapahoe county, 11 miles south of Denver. Lightning also struck a cabin in Marshdale, 20 miles southwest of Denver.

Other severe weather reported on this date include 3/4" diameter hail falling in Coal Creek Canyon back in 1995, and 3/4" hail falling in Aurora near Cherry Creek more recently, in 2001.

If we do get a round of severe thunderstorms today in Colorado, large hail and gusty winds will be the primary threat; although you can never rule out the possibility of a tornado. We saw one on Monday touch down 8 miles south of Sharon Springs, Kansas, in Wallace County.

Below are links to FutureCast, the state and Front Range radars, as well as our Severe Weather Alerts page. These tools will help you keep ahead of any storms that develop this afternoon.

FutureCast
Colorado Doppler
Front Range Radar
Severe Weather Alerts

While our friends in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast keep picking up the pieces left behind from Katrina, forecasters are now watching Maria and Nate churning in the central Atlantic. The good news is that it appears both will remain at sea. However, the steering currents (winds aloft) are quite weak and any other dominant weather feature that may enter the picture could change the currently forecasted tracks.

A third area of unsettled weather remains off the Bahamas and will be investigated today by the hurricane hunters. Conditions are favorable for development. Should we see a depression and eventually tropical storm, it would be called Ophelia.

Below are some links of resources we have right here on TheDenverChannel to help you keep track of the tropics.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite
Atlantic Satellite Image

Have a great day and stay with 7NEWS for all the latest weather information today, both on your television and here online.

September 5, 2005, 4:52 PM -- Tropical Depression #15 Forms In The Atlantic

While Hurricane Maria continues to churn in the central Atlantic with 105 MPH winds, the batch of storms approximately 300 miles southwest of Bermuda has organized into Tropical Depression #15, with estimated winds of 30 MPH. If the official forecast verifies, we'll soon be tracking Tropical Storm Nate along with Hurricane Maria.

The biggest problem with the environment of Nate is that there are no strong wind currents aloft to steer the storm. In the short-term, we should see a slow drift to the west-northwest. Forecast models seem to agree that a trough pushing off the east coast will pick up the storm and turn it out to sea. Despite, people along the Atlantic Seaboard from Jacksonville, Florida, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, should monitor this weather situation.

Atlantic Satellite Image

In the link above you can see both Maria and the depression that will become Nate upon additional strengthening. More tropical weather links can be found below, as well as in our forecast discussion on the weather page of TheDenverChannel.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite

Stay with the 24/7 Weather Center for all the latest weather information.

September 5, 2005 -- The Tropics Remain Active

Interests in Florida and the Bahamas need to keep an eye on an area of disturbed weather that could develop into a tropical system. Hurricane hunter aircraft will fly into the region later today, looking for an area of low-level circulation.

The cause is an old cold front that stalled over the region, which has served as the focus for shower and thunderstorm activity. The front marks an area of lower pressure and thus over time, with favorable winds aloft, can develop into a tropical circulation. You can see this unsettled weather clearly on the maps below.

National Satellite/Radar
Tropical Satellite/Radar
Bahamas Visible Satellite
Bahamas Infrared Satellite

Elsewhere, Hurricane Maria continues to churn over the open Atlantic. It will not be a threat to land, but may eventually cause some higher surf along the east coast. Another area of disturbed weather is located about 300 southwest of Bermuda, moving to the northwest. This has potential to develop into a tropical depression so interests along the east coast should monitor the situation closely. You can see this disturbance, Maria, and the unsettled weather off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Satellite below.

Atlantic Satellite Image

Closer to home it looks like another fine day in Colorado, with partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures. Look for afternoon and evening thunderstorms later today. If dark and stormy skies threaten your area, simply move to shelter until the storms pass. They should be fairly short-lived, with cloud-to-ground lightning and gusty winds the main threat. Below are links to FutureCast, as well as the State and Front Range radars.

FutureCast
Colorado Doppler
Front Range Radar

Have a great Labor Day Holiday! Stay with 7NEWS for all the latest weather information.

September 4, 2005 -- Summer Ozone Season Comes To A Close

Despite some of the hottest days in Denver's weather history this summer, the Regional Air Quality Council is marking the end of a very successful ozone season. Amazingly, Denver did not violate the new, stricter eight-hour standards for ozone set forth by the EPA thanks in part to local cooperation between governments, citizens, and industry to enhance education and awareness at curbing ground-level ozone pollution.

With eight days of record high temperatures during the month of July and an average high of 94.5° for the month, the weather was more than ripe for ground-level ozone formation.

During the three-month summer ozone season, which runs June 1 through August 31, there were 23 Ozone Action Alert Days issued by the meteorologists at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

A telephone survey of 400 Denver-area residents in August 2005, conducted by the Regional Air Quality Council, found that 37% made lifestyle changes to reduce summer ozone pollution. Of those, 56% reduced their driving. Emmissions from automobiles are the primary contributor to ground-level ozone formation.

September 3, 2005 -- Labor Day Weekend Weather History

Your Labor Day weekend looks pretty nice this year, with above normal temperatures and just some widely scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Be sure and consult the FutureCast forecast, as well as the state and front range radar links listed below before heading out.

FutureCast
Colorado Doppler
Front Range Radar

While we've had several very nice Labor Day weekends when taking a look in the weather records, a few stand out as particularly extreme.

In 1961, Sunday the 3rd brought the earliest trace and measurable snow (greater than a trace) to Denver. Stapleton Airport picked up 4.2" of very heavy wet snow. Nearly a foot fell in the western suburbs and foothills. The snow broke many tree limbs that were still in full foliage. The low dropped to a chilly 33° which was the coldest ever recorded for so early in the season.

In 1978 it was just the opposite with a seven-day streak of 90° + heat the 1st through 7th. The hottest days came on Labor Day (the 4th) and also on the 6th, when the mercury topped out at 94°.

More recently, in 1995, another Labor Day heatwave struck the city, with the first five days of September well into the 90s. In fact, the high reached 97° on both the 1st and Labor Day (the 4th), equaling the all time high temperature that stands today for the month of September. The high topped out at 94° on the 2nd and 5th, and at 95° on the 3rd. On the 4th, the morning low of 64° set a new record high minimum for the date.

We don't expect a Labor Day weekend that hot this year, though today and tomorrow we should easily reach into the 88° to 95° range across much of the area.

While you are out and about this weekend, if you get some great scenic pictures (hopefully with a little weather-related background, such as cool clouds or beautiful sunrise/sunsets), feel free to share them with our viewers in the 24/7 Digital Album.

Click here for the 24/7 Digital Album

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, thanks so much for taking time to visit us on TheDenverChannel! Stay with 7NEWS all weekend for the latest news and weather, including updates on Hurricane Katrina.

September 2, 2005 -- Two More Tropical Systems

Tropical Depression Lee and Tropical Storm Maria both are churning in the Atlantic Ocean today, as the 2005 Hurricane Season nears it peak, during the second week of September.

Some good news with both these storms is that a United States landfall doesn't appear likely at this time. Lee is continuing to weaken over the central Atlantic with winds of 30 MPH. It will continue to drift to the northwest over the next 24 hours. The National Hurricane Center has issued the last advisory on this system unless it shows signs of gaining additional strength.

Maria is forecast to remain over open waters while moving to the northwest over the central Atlantic. Currently this system is located 1200 miles southeast of Bermuda.

So far this year, Maria makes 14 named storms. With several more weeks to go in the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season, we could challenge the previous records for number of systems in a given season. The most active hurricane season on record was 1933, with 21 named storms. The next most active was back in 1995, when 19 storms reached tropical storm or hurricane status.

September 1, 2005 -- September Outlook

This month is typically a delight for Colorado, with bright sunny days and crisp clear nights. In fact, Denver sees its highest monthly percentage of sunshine during September.

Summer can hang tough with 90° afternoons, more common during the first two weeks, but we've seen 90° heat as late as the 30th back in 1980.

The hottest September temperature recorded in the Denver area was 97° and that has happened four times in our weather history; most recently on the 4th in 1995.

Thunderstorms are still around during the month, but severe storms are rare.

A taste of winter is certainly possible during September, with 2.1" of snow falling on average. We've seen the white stuff as early as September 3, 1961, with 4" falling on the city. On the 29th back in 1985, a winter blast brought 9" of snow to Denver with a high of 29° and a low of 17° (both new records for the date). Since 1882, there have been 79 Septembers without snow.

The earliest freeze on record in Denver came September 8, 1962, with an overnight low of 31°.

Taking a look at the Climate Prediction Center's long-range forecast model, there are no specific trends for above or below normal weather in the Denver area. Thus, we must look at climatology (30 year average) as a general forecast for weather this month.

As far as the averages, we can expect highs in the lower 80s falling to the lower 70s by month's end. Lows average in the mid 50s on the 1st falling to the lower 40s as we round out September.

Average precipitation is 1.14" for Denver with a little of that falling as snow.