November 30, 2005 - 2005 Hurricane Season Ends

Today is the last official day of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season, though we can still have a storm or two in the first few days of December.

Right now forecasters are tracking Tropical Storm Epsilon in the eastern Atlantic.

For a complete recap of this year's record setting season...look under Weather News on this page or click here.

It will be cold and blustery today with a chance for light snow across lower elevations. Heavy snow will continue in the northern and central mountains.

November 29, 2005 - Screaming Winds Ease

Our friends on the high plains finally have some lighter winds today after a really tough past 36-hours. The storm that affected Colorado's High Country on Sunday moved off the mountains and reformed over eastern Colorado. While this resulted in a downslope flow for the immediate Front Range with mostly dry weather, once you reached Limon...winds screamed between 40 and 60 MPH with blowing and drifting snow.

In Akron, they endured 24 straight hours with a sustined wind measured between 40 and 49 MPH! Gust ranged between 52 and 66 MPH. That would be equivalent to what folks along the coastline endure when a tropical storm strikes.

Some places saw even higher wind gusts, including 80 MPH at Haxtun. That is hurricane force!!

La Junta, Lamar, Cheyenne Wells, Goodland, and many places across central Kansas and Nebraska endured these dangerous winds.

Conditions are much quieter now as the roads reopen and the winds subside.

November 28, 2005 - A Classic Storm System

The weather around here was quite interesting on Sunday, with whiteout conditions east and west of the Denver Area, cold winds for the entire state, and killer tornadoes out in the Mississippi River Valley.

An area of low pressure came down from the Pacific Northwest, crossed Colorado, reformed out on the plains of Colorado and Kansas and raced northeast.

Out ahead, the low brought warm and moist air up from the Gulf of Mexico. On the backside very cold Canadian air was pulled down from Canada. Combine a 160-MPH jet stream zipping by overhead...and you have the recipe for a classic winter storm.

Where the two air masses met up with the jet stream directly overhead, we saw severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. Many touchdowns were reported from Kansas into Arkansas, with one fatality about 40 miles northwest of Little Rock on Sunday. A twister touched down in a lumber yard near Interstate 40 scattering wood like matchsticks. The tornado overturned cars on the highway, killing one person.

In Kansas, a twister tore through Fort Riley, causing serious damage.

We'll catch a break today in Colorado as the winds slowly subside and the snow ends. Another storm system will be knocking on our door come Wednesday with more mountain snow, and maybe even some flakes for Denver this time.

November 27, 2005 - A Little Weather History

On this date in 1930, a huge sandstorm occurred in Morocco. Dust from this storm produced a mud rain the next day that extended from northern France to southern England.

In 1987, a powerful winter storm dropped snow from Kansas and Oklahoma to Minnesota. Burr Oak, Kansas, picked up a half foot of the white stuff! For many locations it was the first major winter storm of the season.

November 26, 2005 - Winter Weather Watchers Needed

Colorado's reservoirs returned to near normal levels in 2005, contributing to the ongoing recovery from severe drought that hit the state in 2002, according to researchers at the Colorado Climate Center based at Colorado State University.

"Precipitation during the past year has been critical for recharging soil moisture over Colorado croplands, range and forest areas that had never fully recovered from the recent severe drought," said Nolan Doesken, assistant state climatologist and senior research associate in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. "By itself, it would not have been sufficient to make up for all past deficits, but it has been a part of a gradual return to what I would call a fairly average climatic condition.

"When we talk about having an average year for Colorado, we averaged 17 inches of precipitation statewide for the year. That isn't much," Doesken said. "Water shortage is a reality in Colorado."

A contributing factor was temperatures, which remained above average statewide for the past year. The state experienced above-average temperatures during the winter for the 12th straight year, Doesken said. An extreme heat wave also hit in July.

Long-term data from about 200 National Weather Service Cooperative Network weather observers and several dozen automated SNOTEL or Snow Telemetry stations - a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service network of remote mountain stations measuring precipitation and snowpack water content - are used to track statewide climatic conditions. In recent years, this has been supplemented by data from hundreds of volunteers participating in the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network.

Doesken said more CoCoRaHS volunteers are needed, particularly during the winter months.

Between Oct. 1, 2004, and Sept. 30, precipitation levels were near long-term averages over most of the eastern three-quarters of the state while western Colorado was much wetter than average.

Fruita, near the Colorado/Utah border, received 14.49 inches of precipitation or 158 percent of average. Also receiving significant wet weather were a few locations near Durango, parts of Moffat and Rio Blanco counties in northwestern Colorado and the area between Grand Junction and Glenwood Springs.

Some areas still struggle with below-average precipitation such as parts of the Arkansas Valley, the eastern Plains and a few mountain areas. Hugo, southeast of Limon, received a mere 10.71 inches or 78 percent of average between Oct. 1, 2004 and Sept. 30.

Southwest Colorado got off to an extremely wet start with precipitation totals nearly double the average between October and mid-January, but the last half of the year was dry, leading those areas to end up only slightly above average for the year. Drier-than-average conditions were fairly common east of the mountains where a dry May, July and September reduced yields from crops that rely on summer precipitation. Precipitation was between 70 and 85 percent of average for parts of Weld and Morgan counties south through Limon and Hugo to the Arkansas River.

The Plains received a slight reprieve last month: More than 4 inches of rain fell in October in some parts of eastern Colorado.

"At least we've now had a couple of years of fairly average conditions," Doesken said. "We've been watching the state's reservoirs as well as soil moisture levels. We've been inching back up to near average levels. We're making progress in getting more water into storage to be ready for the next drought."

Researchers depend on weather watchers with rain gauges throughout Colorado for accurate data, said Doesken.

The non-profit CoCoRaHS Network includes volunteers ages 6 to 85 in nearly every county of Colorado. Nearby states have also joined the network: Wyoming, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and most recently Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. Volunteers improve precipitation monitoring and help provide detailed drought, water supply and other water decision-making information to municipalities, homeowners, industry, agriculture, utility providers, resource managers and educators.

CoCoRaHS aims to have one weather watcher with a rain gauge at least every square mile in Colorado in urban areas and at least one every 36 square miles in rural areas. The program is in the process of recruiting at least five new volunteers per county for all 63 counties.

Winter is an especially critical time for the program, which is funded by the National Science Foundation and charter sponsors.

"We know winter snow measurements are a little more challenging," said Henry Reges, national coordinator for the CoCoRaHS Network. "But by measuring carefully and accurately, we are able to track the fascinating storm patterns that eventually determine what plants grow, whether we have water to drink or where we can travel safely."

CoCoRaHS sells weather gauges at cost for $25 that measure rainfall to the nearest 0.01 inches and snowfall to the nearest 0.1 inches. Thanks to donations from sponsors, complimentary gauges are available in several counties. Volunteers are encouraged to take measurements on a consistent basis when they are home and available. Training is provided.

To volunteer as a weather watcher or for more information, go to www.cocorahs.org or contact Henry Reges at (970) 491-1196 or hreges@atmos.colostate.edu.

November 25, 2005 - Watching The Maps

A new storm system threatens to bring a cold and snowy end to your Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend. The trip home may not be as easy as the trip to your destination was earlier this week.

Please stay with 7NEWS for all the latest weather information. Our new weather page has a host of new tools for you to use in tracking storms.

November 24, 2005 - Happy Thanksgiving

On this date in 1992, a pre-Thanksgiving blizzard stranded hundreds of holiday travelers in and out of Denver. Stapleton reported nearly 8" of snow with winds up to 37 MPH.

One year later in 1993, another storm dropped widespread snows over Colorado, averaging 4 to 8" at many locations. The snow was followed by very cold arctic air, with an overnight low of 8° below zero in Denver.

In 1970, strong Chinook winds warmed Boulder and much of the Front Range into the 60s and 70s. Denver reached a new record high of 76° with northwest winds up to 40 MPH. A peak gust of 97 MPH was recorded at NCAR in Boulder, with 69 MPH gusts in downtown Boulder.

November 23, 2005 - Where's The Snow?

With less than a half inch officially in Denver this month, many are asking where is the snow? November is typically our second snowiest month of the year.

If you want snow outside of our mountains, then head to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The beautiful city of Marquette has seen just under two feet so far this month, with over half a foot currently on the ground!

More of the white stuff is on the way with a winter storm in progress today right through Thanksgiving. They may add another 6 to 14 inches to the month's total.

Why so much snow? When storm systems bring cool northerly winds to the U.P. of Michigan, the result is snow. The long fetch of open waters on Lake Superior provides ample moisture. As the winds hit the shoreline and slow down due to friction, they also lift (or rise) in the atmosphere helping to generate clouds and snow. This is called the "Lake Effect" snows. The same is true for all the Great Lakes, but different areas need different wind directions to get a good snow. Chicago, for instance, needs a good northeast or easterly wind off Lake Michigan.

November 22, 2005 - A Warm November

If you think this month has been above normal in the Denver Area, you are right! In fact, as of yesterday we are averaging 5.6° above normal. That puts us at the 6th warmest on record.

Unless a real cold blast hits us soon, we'll likely finish in the top ten as the seven-day forecast keeps us at or slightly above normal in the temperature department.

There have been no records set this month. Temperature extremes range from 75° back on the 2nd and 8th, to 15° overnight on the 16th.

11 out of 20 days have seen highs above 60° this month, with only 5 out of 20 days less than 50° for an afternoon high.

We are behind both on snowfall and total precipitation, with just 0.3" of snow so far this month in Denver, and just 0.48" of moisture.

November 21, 2005 - A Quiet Week For Some

The weather looks quiet this week around Colorado, other than just a few mountain snow showers from time to time.

If you are traveling outside Colorado, it will be cold and stormy for many locations east of the Mississippi River. A large low pressure will be the cause for some travel delays throughout the major eastern airport hubs.

By the end of the weekend, a new storm will move into the Pacific Northwest. This will potentially bring cooler and unsettled weather back to Colorado by late Sunday into Monday.

If you need a personal forecast for your travel plans this Thanksgiving, we will have our weekend weather travel line open Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5:00 PM through 6:30 PM. Watch 7NEWS Tuesday and Wednesday at 5 PM for the phone number. Meteorology students from Metro State and UNC - Greeley will be here to take your calls.

November 20, 2005 - T.S. Gamma Losing Strength

Tropical Storm Gamma is fighting a very hostile environment over the south Caribbean Sea with wind shear and dry air weakening the storm. In fact, it may even lose tropical storm status today.

A strong cold front that will be making its way into the lower latitudes may prevent Gamma from threatening the Sunshine State with stormy weather by Thanksgiving. All current forecast models keep this system well to the south. which is a sigh of relief for many!

We'll keep these hurricane tracking tools up for another day just so you can keep abreast of all the latest information.

November 19, 2005 - New Tropical Storm Forms

Tropical Storm Gamma has formed just north of Honduras and is slowly getting better organized as it moves northwest around 5 MPH.

Gamma is expected to bring heavy rains and strong gusty winds to Belize, western Cuba, and the eastern Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Believe it or not, Gamma is forecast to take a similar path with similar behavior to Wilma, making a turn and then accelerating to the northeast. The system is not expected to gain hurricane status.

By late in the weekend Gamma should be located off the coast of Cozumel and Cancun, making a turn toward south Florida with a potential landfall by late Monday.

Again, this is forecasted to remain a tropical storm through the duration of its track at this time.

Another very important feature to keep a close watch on is a developing low pressure over the southeast. Combined with an approaching cold front, Gamma could be steered further south and never make a Florida landfall. On the other hand, these systems could combine and make for a messy travel period Monday into Tuesday across the southeast, including Florida.

November 18, 2005 - A Real Weather Flip-Flop

The eastern United States baked through September 2005 with land surface temperatures soaring to some of the highest levels ever recorded during the 9th month of the year.

In addition to the heat it was unusually dry. (See the red shading in the picture above)

Things changed dramatically during October thanks to a few tropical systems combined with an offshore low pressure and area of high pressure anchored over eastern Canada. Many locations, especially in southern New England, saw up to a foot of rainfall throughout the month.

According to some global climate models, this dramatic flip-flop of extreme weather conditions over such a short period of time might be a result of global warming. Still others argue this was just Mother Nature keeping things in static balance.

Here in Colorado we don't look for any dramatic flip-flops in the weather over the next few days. A dry and seasonal weather pattern will dominate through the weekend.

November 17, 2005 - The Full Frosty Moon

We're just past the Full Moon of November, known as the Full Frosty Moon and the Full Beaver Moon.

The Full Beaver Moon came about because this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, ensuring a supply of warm winter furs.

Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter.

Did you know as you read today's blog entry...the moon is moving away from us? Researchers say each year, the Moon steals some of Earth's rotational energy, and uses it to propel itself about 3.8 centimeters higher in orbit.

Scientists think that when the moon formed it was only 14,000 miles away from Earth. Now it is more than 280,000 miles away!

November 16, 2005 - Severe Storms Pounded The Eastern States Tuesday

Over 30 counties in 4 states had tornado warnings in effect at the same time on Tuesday afternoon, likely a record! We often see a second peak in the severe weather season during the month of November as the battle of cold and warm air takes place with the change of seasons.

Over 30 tornadoes were reported, with some of the heaviest damage in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Hail fell across the mid-south, including in downtown Memphis where golf ball sized hail was recorded.

Wind damage was reported from Arkansas to Indiana.

This area was hit hard with severe weather just one week ago, when a deadly twister struck Evansville, Indiana.

The severe weather on Tuesday was part of the same storm system that blew through Colorado on Sunday night and Monday.

On the cold side of the storm, snow fell from Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, all the way through the Twin Cities of Minnestoa. Over a foot of snow was expected along the shores of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

November 15, 2005 - Get Out The Hot Cocoa, A Chilly Day Ahead

Today will be winter-like across Colorado as many mountain locations struggle into the 20s by afternoon, with low to mid 30s on the eastern plains. If you want some warm weather, head to the southwest counties where lower elevations will climb into the mid 40s.

A fast moving jet stream aloft brought a potent cold front through Colorado on Monday. Out ahead of it we saw 50s and a quick round of thundershowers. Behind the front, winds gusted to 60 MPH and rain changed to snow.

In the mountains and foothills, snow fell heavy at times, especially between 3 and 6 PM. On Berthoud Pass, up to 6" of snow fell in just two hours along with 62 MPH wind gusts. The weather caused a snowslide that shut down the pass.

Along I-70, the road was closed most of the evening for a 60-mile stretch between Vail and Idaho Springs. Our own Jessica Jamison got stuck in Georgetown where a quick 8" of snow fell in just a matter of hours.

Here are some area snow totals...

Lookout Mountain -- 5"

Evergreen -- 3.1"

3 miles north of Black Hawk -- 8"

Downtown Denver -- 0.5"

SW Aurora -- 1"

Monument -- 4"

10 miles east of Westcliffe -- 5"

Grand Lake -- 17"

There real winners were our ski resorts, with several picking up nearly 2 feet of snow!

Today the weather headlines will be WINDY and COLD! On the eastern plains winds could gust up to 70 MPH, making for dangerous wind chills and tough driving. If you have travel plans on east-west routes, you will have an especially hard time steering with the northerly cross winds.

Keep you pets protected and your body covered when outdoors for any length of time.

Tonight will be one of the coldest nights so far this season as temperatures dip into the single digits and teens statewide. Some of the highest elevations will dip below zero while a few places along the western slope stay in the 20s.

November 14, 2005 - Heavy Mountain Snows, Windy On The Plains

A variety of weather advisories are in effect for the state as a Pacific Storm moves in from the northwest. The mountains will continue to see heavy snows along with gusty winds, not making for the best of travel conditions. If you can avoid travel through the northern and central mountains today, that would be advised.

On the plains it will be very windy and much cooler as a cold front presses through the region. Very strong northerly winds will drive the wind chills down to near zero at times.

As the front moves in expect an increase of clouds and even some thundershowers. Precipitation will turn to snow as low as 5,000 feet in elevation, but significant accumulations aren't expected at this time. Right now we're calling for 1 to 2" of the white stuff. The south and west suburbs of Denver may see up to 4", mainly over the Palmer Divide in elevations above 6,000 feet.

This is a developing storm so stay with theDENVERchannel.com and 7NEWS all day Monday for the latest updates.

The weather will dry out as we head into Tuesday, but it will be one of the coldest days we've seen since last spring, as highs remain in the 20s and 30s for most of Colorado, with overnight lows down into the single digits and teens Tuesday night for a widespread area of Colorado.

November 13, 2005 - The Doppler Radar

The Doppler Radar is a weather radar that measures direction and speed of a moving object, such as drops of precipitation, by determining whether atmospheric motion is horizontally toward or away from the radar.

Using the Doppler effect, it measures the velocity of particles.

It is named for J. Christian Doppler, an Austrian physicist. In 1842, Doppler explained why the whistle of an approaching train had a higher pitch than the same whistle when the train was going away. (this can also be related to an emergency vehicle traveling to you with its siren on, and then noticing the change in pitch once it passes)

At 7NEWS, we have our 24/7 LIVE Doppler, equipped with a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic array that absorbs sunlight and converts it into electricity. The power is transferred directly into the radar's receiver/transmitter and pulses out, at the speed of light, to detect snow, rain or dangerous thunderstorms.

The 24/7 LIVE Doppler Radar teams up with our 24/7 Doppler Network -- a composite display of four doppler radars from the National Weather Service that are located near Denver, Pueblo, on the Grand Mesa and in Goodland, Kansas. The five radar combination provides excellent coverage of storms anywhere in Colorado.

Perhaps the most innovative part of 24/7 LIVE Doppler is the efficiency of the radar transmitter. Because the radar uses a "coherent" signal processor, it actually needs less power to run than older models of weather radar.

A good analogy is to think about the computers back in the 1950s and 60s. They filled an entire room and needed vast amounts of power to operate, but today you can hold more computer power in the palm of your hand!

A coherent radar signal is more like a laser beam, while the "incoherent" signal used by older model weather radars is like a flashlight. The flashlight puts out a large fuzzy signal that is mostly wasted, while the laser pinpoints snow, rain and hail -- thus requiring less power to do the same job.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, 24/7 LIVE Doppler also has many important meteorological capabilities to help track dangerous weather:

24/7 LIGHTNING TRACKER A series of special antennae that pinpoint the locations of cloud to ground lightning strikes, which can be plotted on the radar display.

24/7 STORM TRACKER Special computer software that enables 7NEWS Meteorologists to determine the time of arrival of dangerous storms for any town in Colorado.

24/7 HAIL TRACKER Displays the size of hail in the thunderstorm and graphically shows the future track of the hailstorm.

24/7 STORM VISION "X-ray" vision allowing 7NEWS Meteorologists to peer inside the heart of a thunderstorm and "see the winds". We can show this in a user-friendly format for the viewer that will indicate where the storm is rotating, and where tornadoes may be forming.

24/7 LIVE 3-D RADAR Our new LIVE radar display can be turned to show a side view of thunderstorms. By showing the profile of the storm, we can easily display the height and thickness and intensity of severe thunderstorms.

24/7 STREET LEVEL MAPPING 24/7 Doppler radar has a complete data base of street level maps and locations over all of Colorado. This enables 7News Meteorologists to zoom the radar “up close and personal” right down to neighborhood streets, giving viewers a detailed look at which areas are in the path of dangerous weather.

November 12, 2005 - Say Goodbye To The 70s

If you are ready for some cooler and more typical November weather, then you will enjoy the next 7 days. An cooler weather pattern will settle across the central Rockies with afternoon highs only in the 40s expected by Tuesday and a chance for snow in Denver.

November is typically the 2nd snowiest month for the city, and tied for the cloudiest. The first 10 days have been anything but with sunny skies and widespread 60s and 70s.

Many of you are itching to hit the slopes and your choices will increase this coming week as additional resorts open, including Winter Park. Breckenridge, Keystone, A-Basin, Copper, and Loveland are already open.

Did you know you can get current ski conditions for the state of Colorado as well as the entire country right here on theDENVERchannel?

Just follow the link below.

Current Ski Reports

Have a safe and fantastic weekend! Thanks for visiting us on theDENVERchannel. Watch 7NEWS all weekend for the latest forecast information with Meteorologists Richard Ortner and Jessica Jamison.

November 11, 2005, 1:30 PM - Our New Weather Page Is Your One Stop Storm Tracking Shop

With the first storm system to affect Colorado since launching the new look of our weather page in progress, I want to take a minute and point out some of the nice features that will help you get the weather information you need with just a few clicks.

First, the Radar Views page breaks Colorado into sections that can be toggled with just a mouse click on each button. From northwest Colorado to the central mountains, or the southeast plains to the metro area...just click the gold button and the image will appear in the viewer above. If you want a larger image, just click the radar view and it will open for you.

The Severe Weather page offers graphical and text information for current watches, warnings, and advisories.

As always, the My 24/7 Weather page will allow you a point-and-click hourly forecast anywhere in the state.

November 11, 2005 - November Has Been A Warm One So Far

Lately you might have had the urge to double check the calendar to make sure it is really November. Mother Nature has delivered some very mild weather to much of the state during the first 10 days of the month. Our average temperature in Denver has been right at 51° which puts us at the warmest November on record so far. But with 20 days to go, a lot can change.

The average high for this time of year is in the mid 50s and we've seen 5 out of 10 days in the 70s, with 8 out of 10 in the 60s or higher!

So far the airport has picked up 0.19" of precipitation and no snowfall.

The warmest November on record was back in 1949 with an average monthly temperature of 50.9°, and the coldest in 1880 with an average temperature of just 22° during the month. The second coldest was not too long ago, with an average temperature of just 28.9° back in 2000. That month we saw a few cold snaps pass through Denver, with a high of only 24° on the 11th.

November 2000 brought 7 nights in a row with overnight lows around Denver between 0 and 10°.

November 10, 2005 - A Personal Tour Of Our New Weather Page

Today you can tour the all new DENVERchannel.com and see many of the new features we offer.

On the weather page we've added sections to help you easily navigate to what you are looking for.

Once you click on the weather button, a sub-navigation menu will open guiding you to pages for the item(s) you are looking for. This includes...

My 24/7 Weather -- Our point-and-click forecast service for the Denver Metro, State of Colorado, and the Nation.
Current Conditions -- A look at current weather for the area.
FutureCast -- A look at the forecasted clouds, precipitation, and winds for the next 36 hours. This is our exclusive computer model ran directly from the 24/7 Weather Center.
Severe Weather -- Quick links to graphic and text displayed watches and warnings when severe weather is threatening Colorado.
Satellite Views -- A snapshot of satellite maps viewable with just a few clicks.
Radar Views -- Take a radar tour of Colorado from corner to corner with just a few clicks of your mouse.
Weather Maps -- Access to nearly 90 different weather maps, ranging from Colorado to the tropics.
Digital Album -- Upload pictures to us and see other viewer's great snapshots!
Live Cameras -- Take a look around Colorado without even hitting the road!
Travel Weather -- Taking a trip? Get everything from the forecast at your destination to current airport status at most major US airports with just the click of your mouse.
Weather Glossary -- Learn nearly 1,000 weather and weather-related terms.

Plus get closings, the almanac, ski reports, and pollen information!

The 24/7 Weather Center is serious about the weather, and dedicated to not only getting you a timely and accurate forecast, but the information you need to understand and learn more about the fascinating science of meteorology.

This new look and added features of our weather page is just the beginning. We will continue to develop our product to serve your needs. Please feel free to send us any feedback you may have to me and/or our weather producer.

Mike Nelson and Chris Spears

Have a great day, enjoy looking around the new site! Thanks so much for making 7NEWS your choice for news, weather, and sports.

November 9, 2005 - Winter Weather Seminar And Yesterday's Trivia Question Answer

If you would like to learn about Colorado's exciting winter weather, then tonight is the night! Our Second Annual Winter Weather Seminar will be held in Broomfield at the Omni Interlocken Hotel. Best of all...it is FREE!

We have an awesome line up of speakers, several door prizes to give away (including a few weekend ski trips), and a small gift for each attendee.

For more information, see the link below.

Winter Weather Seminar Details

Bring a friend, co-worker, neighbor, or family member along!

Here is the answer to yesterday's trivia question. "There are only two states out of the 50 United States in which no water flows in...it all goes out. What are they?"

The answer: Colorado and Hawaii

November 8, 2005 - Winter Weather Seminar And Some Trivia

Tomorrow is our winter weather seminar in Broomfield. We'd love for you to attend. Details are below.

Winter Weather Seminar Details

There are only two states out of the 50 United States in which no water flows in...it all goes out. What are they? The answer will be in tomorrow's blog.

November 7, 2005 - Chinooks, Upslope, Avalanches, And Some Weather History

Looking in the weather books on this date all kinds of weather has taken place in Denver. Everything from post-frontal snowfall in 1898 to gusty downslope Chinook winds in 1980, 1989, and 1996.

So what do all these weather phenomena have in common? They are all winter hazards we face here in Colorado. The 24/7 Weather Center wants you to be informed with the best information possible of what to do when winter weather threatens.

We have assembled some of the best local experts for our winter weather seminar this Wednesday, and we'd love for you to come. It will be held at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield.

Between 5 and 7 PM we will broadcast the weather live during our newscasts and have the 24/7 Weather Experience on hand. This is your chance to do the weather in front of the green screen!

Our speakers take the floor at 7 PM, speaking about winter winds, avalanches, safety tips, and more.

For a complete listing of talks scheduled, click the link below.

Winter Weather Seminar Details

We will have a great time as well as some door prizes to give away, including a few ski packages!

Here is a little more weather history for you...

On this date in 1998, Denver experienced the its first snowfall of the season with 1.2" falling under upslope conditions.

November 6, 2005 -Overnight Twister Strikes The Ohio River Valley

A tornado touched down around 2 AM Sunday morning in Henderson, Kentucky, and traveled across the Ohio River into Evansville, Indiana.

At least 12 people were killed when the twister hit a trailer park.

The storm damaged at least 125 homes and destroyed 100 others.

The tornado path was estimated to be up to 3/4 mile wide and 20 miles long. The tornado lifted after hitting the town of Newburgh, 8 miles east of Evansville.

This was the deadliest tornado to hit Indiana since the big outbreak on April 3, 1974.

November 5, 2005 - A Review Of Winter Weather Preparedness Week

Today wraps up Winter Weather Preparedness Week across Colorado.

A few key things to remember is when traveling while winter driving conditions exist, you need to have your car prepared in case you become stranded. This includes a winter survival kit, plenty of gasoline, and extra money.

Know the difference between a "watch" and a "warning," and when planning outdoor activities in the winter, know the forecasted winds and temperatures to protect yourself from dangerous windchills.

Always have more than one person when venturing into the high country for recreation outside ski resorts, in case of an avalanche. All members of your party need proper equipment for a day of fun, including an avalanche beacon, probe pole, and shovel.

For additional information, read back through the archived blog entries starting October 30 through November 4 for other facts and tips regarding Winter Weather Preparedness.

November 4, 2005 - It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week, Today's Topic -- Avalanches

Thousands of avalanches occur each year in the mountains of the United States, with about 2,000 on average each season in Colorado. With the enormous popularity of winter sports, this poses a significant threat.

Over the past 10 years, Colorado has led the nation with highest number of fatalities from avalanches, averaging 6 per year.

Your first line of defense is to know a little about avalanches. They typically happen after a fresh snowfall and most occur on slopes of 30 to 45°. A significant snowfall may result in an unstable snowpack.

By waiting 36 hours after a heavy snow, you may allow the snowpack to become more stable.

Staying in valleys away from avalanche chutes, in stands of dense trees, or on gentle slopes, all can help to minimize your avalanche risk.

You are typically safe at a commercial ski area, and you should always respect their rules and stay in bounds.

Here are some additional avalanche safety rules...

Never travel alone. Always have one or more companions with you. Even a small avalanche can be fatal. It is entirely possible that if you are alone and get trapped, you may not be found until spring!
If crossing a slope that may be prone to avalanches, do it one person at a time. You want to minimize the impact on your party if an avalanche is accidentally triggered.
All members of your party should wear an avalanche beacon, and carry other rescue equipment such as a shovel and probe pole.

Here in Colorado, avalanche conditions are monitored and forecasted by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

November 3, 2005 - It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week, Today's Topic -- Wind Chill

Wind and cold can be a deadly combination anywhere, but especially in a state like Colorado.

Often when a winter storm is expected, the first thing on everyone's mind is how many inches of snow can we expect. Often times we overlook the fact that winter storms bring very cold temperatures and strong winds...a deadly combination, especially in the aftermath of a storm system.

The wind chill is an "apparent" temperature the body feels, which actually measures the amount of heat lost by the body due to the wind and cold. Two consequences of exposure to the cold and wind are hypothermia and frostbite.

Let's say for example that the air temperature outside is 5° below zero with a 20 MPH wind. The apparent temperature to your body would be about -30°. In other words, your body will think and react (lose heat) in the same manner as it would if the air temperature was actually -30° with no wind present.

When the wind chill values reach -25° your body can experience frostbite in as little as 15 minutes.

Frostbite first affects exposed body tissue where blood circulation may be limited, such as fingers and toes. Your ears and nose are also highly susceptible. You should always make sure your body parts are well covered. When frostbite sets in, the area will turn pale or white in appearance. If you notice this happening, hold that part of your body close to warm skin so that the flow of blood returns.

Hypothermia is a dangerously low body temperature and is the most common winter killer. You often hear this as the cause of death when a stranded traveler, hiker, climber, or hunter dies. Surprisingly, hypothermia can set in with temperatures as warm as 50°. If your clothes are wet, you have an even higher chance of hypothermia setting in.

Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, and drowsiness. If you suspect hypothermia is setting in you need to seek immediate medical attention. If no help is available, the victim should be warmed slowly with warm liquids and blankets. Wet clothes should be replaced with dry garments.

So what do you need to do for survival?

Have access to a wind chill chart and listen for the latest forecast here on 7NEWS when you have outdoor plans. If wind chills are forecast to be a concern, the National Weather Service will issue a Wind Chill Advisory or Warning for the area. Even if there aren't any advisories in effect for potentially dangerous wind chill, you should still pay attention to the forecasted temperature and wind when you have outdoor plans, especially for extended periods of time.

Otherwise...when outdoors enjoying wintertime...dress in layers, stay dry, stay covered, and stay informed.

November 2, 2005 - It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week, Today's Topic -- Winter Winds

Winter winds can sometimes howl across Colorado, with speeds up to (and even over) 100 MPH at the surface. This is especially true in and just along the foothills. Boulder and Fort Collins are two communities extremely prone to intense downslope windstorms due to their location with respect to surrounding terrain. Other places prone to intense winter winds include Denver, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Westcliffe, and Walsenburg just to name a few.

The pressure difference between a strong low pressure and cold high pressure can be one cause for intense winter winds. You can think of our atmosphere as always trying to find a state of equilibrium, or balance. When sitting in between two large differences in pressure, the atmosphere will correct this through winds. The greater the difference in pressure over a relatively small distance, the stronger the winds. These winds will blow until a state of balance is obtained.

Another cause for strong winter winds is the Chinook, which are most common in the eastern half of Colorado. A Chinook is a warm wind, much like what we saw yesterday and will see again today. The Chinook is also known as a "snow eater."

A strong low-pressure area in Colorado with a high pressure to the west can send what we call a Bora wind across the state. This is a cold wind. Damage caused by these winds can be more widespread than what we see with a severe thunderstorm.

The jet stream over Colorado is much stronger during the colder months of the year, due to the big difference in temperatures from north to south across the continent. This is just another piece of the puzzle so to speak in generating those strong winter winds.

High winds bring several dangers, including flying debris, overturned vehicles, and collapsed structures.

When high winds are possible, the National Weather Service will issue a High Wind Watch, and upgrade that to a Warning when necessary. If temperatures are cold, high winds can also bring about dangerous wind chills. It isn't uncommon in Colorado to have a Wind Chill Advisory or Wind Chill Warning issued.

If high winds are in the forecast, tie down or bring any lose objects that may be outside indoors. Avoid north-south oriented roads along mountain barriers, and don't drive light weight or high profile vehicles during high wind events. If your power lines come down, notify the electric company immediately. Never approach downed power lines.

November 1, 2005 - It's Winter Weather Preparedness Week, Today's Topic -- Watches, Warnings, And Advisories

The National Weather Service has a variety of winter weather products they issue, including everything from a winter storm warning to an ice storm warning. Today we'll review a few of the more common items you often see in Colorado.

Winter Storm Watch -- means winter storm conditions are likely within the next one to two days, but timing, occurrence and strength are uncertain

Winter Storm Warning -- issued when heavy snow is occurring or will develop within 24 hours with winds greater than 17 MPH

Blizzard Warning -- issued with snow is falling with sustained winds of 35 MPH or greater...or if visibility is lowered to less than 1/4 mile

High Wind Warning -- issued when sustained winds of 50 MPH or gusts of 70 MPH will be experienced for at least one hour

Freeze Warning -- issued when widespread temperatures below freezing are expected for several hours, putting an end to the growing season

Winter Weather Advisory -- issued when a variety of precipitation is expected that will slow travel, including snow, sleet, or freezing rain with light to moderate accumulations