Winter winds can not only make it miserable to be outside, they can also be dangerous.

As we often experience, high winds in Colorado can cause conditions to deteriorate rapidly.  They present a very real danger to life and property, especially when coupled with other winter conditions like snow.

Why does it seem like we get so much wind in the winter?  What causes this?  How can you prepare and protect yourself and your property?

In this third in a series on winter weather preparedness from the National Weather Service, ThorntonWeather.com helps you understand why we receive so much wind and how to prepare for it.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
ISSUED BY NWS PUEBLO CO
600 AM MDT WED OCT 24 2012

HIGH WINDS ARE A MAJOR THREAT IN COLORADO DURING THE WINTER

Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed this week through October 27th as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado. This is the time to review winter weather preparedness plans.

The two main causes of high winds in Colorado during the cold season are the air pressure difference between strong low pressure and cold high pressure systems, and Chinook winds developing across the Front Range and other eastern mountain ranges.

A strong low pressure system across the Rockies, coupled with a high pressure system, can send a cold wind, known as a bora, down the leeward slopes of the mountains.  The majority of events are widespread high winds from the west or northwest into the adjacent plains at speeds which can exceed 100 mph.  Much more rare are those events when low pressure is across the Rockies, and high pressure is across the great plains.  The result is damaging winds from the east across the western slopes of mountain ranges and adjacent valleys.

Mid and upper level winds over Colorado are much stronger in the winter than in the warm season, because of the huge difference in temperature from north to south across North America.  West winds, under certain conditions, can bring warm, dry Chinook winds plowing down the slopes of the eastern mountains. These winds can 100 mph in extreme cases, bringing the potential for widespread damage.  Winds of 60 to near 100 mph are possible in and near the foothills in the Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Westcliffe, Walsenburg and Trinidad areas.  The areas around Boulder and Westcliffe are especially prone to these extreme wind events.

Dangers from high winds include flying debris, reduced visibility due to dust, damaged or destroyed structures, downed power lines, and overturned vehicles.  The National Weather Service will issue a high wind watch when there is around a 50 percent chance for high winds to develop during the next day or two. When the threat becomes more certain in a specific area, a high wind warning will be issued.  Cold strong winds can also bring dangerously low wind chill values, prompting a wind chill advisory or wind chill warning.

If high winds are forecast for your area, it is a good idea to bring lightweight objects indoors, or tie them down or move them so they do not become dangerous missiles.  Any downed power lines should not be approached, instead call the utility company.  Stay clear from buildings under construction during high winds.  They can easily collapse.  Traveling on north-south roads near the mountains along the Front Range during a high wind event can also be dangerous.  If you drive a lightweight or high profile vehicle, you may want to wait until the high winds die down.

Tom Magnuson
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service  Pueblo Colorado

Are you and your vehicle ready for the winter weather ahead?

Before hitting the road, Coloradans need to ensure that they and their vehicles are prepared should inclement weather strike.

ThorntonWeather.com presents the first in a series from the National Weather Service (NWS) as part of Winter Weather Preparedness Week has declared by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.  Check back throughout the week for more winter preparedness stories.

Today’s message from the NWS highlights the importance of having a proper emergency kit in your vehicle and should the worst-case scenario occur where you get stuck, what you should do to survive.

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 600 AM MDT Mon Oct 22 2012

Winter Travel Safety

Winter Weather Preparedness Week continues through Saturday, October 27 as proclaimed by Governor John Hickenlooper. Before winter weather arrives in earnest it is highly recommended that you prepare your car or truck for winter travel.

A well equipped vehicle has adequate tires, tire chains, tow rope, sand or cat litter for traction, shovel, tool kit, windshield scraper and brush, battery cables, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, blankets and/or sleeping bags, extra clothing, candles, water-proof matches, high calorie packaged food for quick energy and an empty can to melt snow for drinking.

The best way to prevent treacherous winter travel is to avoid it.  This can be done by staying informed about the current weather and road conditions as well as the latest weather forecasts. Information on road conditions in Colorado is available on the web at www.cotrip.org or by dialing toll free 1-877-315-7623.  When calling from anywhere in Colorado dialing 511 will also access the Colorado road reports. In addition, a new and free smartphone application, CDOT Mobile, provides road conditions for the I-70 mountain corridor and will eventually include other roads in Colorado. Road conditions for neighboring states can also be obtained on a link from www.cotrip.org.

If you should become stranded during a winter storm stay with your vehicle and do not panic. If accompanied by others take turns sleeping. Run the motor every hour for about ten minutes to maintain warmth but keep windows open a little to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked. Keep the car visible with brightly colored cloths tied to the side view mirrors, door handles or external antenna. Exercise periodically by vigorously moving arms, legs, toes and fingers.

In the mountains avalanches become a possibility in the winter especially below steep slopes. Avalanches occasionally come down across roads with little or no warning. However, avalanche control work is performed on many avalanche prone roads in Colorado making the roads safer to travel. Caution is advised when traveling along avalanche prone roads, especially during and shortly after a heavy snowstorm or during periods of rapid snowmelt.

Very strong downslope winds occur at times mainly along the Front Range of Colorado. These Chinook and Bora winds can have gusts exceeding 100 mph. Persons traveling in light weight or high profile vehicles should avoid travel during these strong wind events especially on north-south oriented roads.

Roads which appear to be clear in the wintertime may actually be coated with a thin layer of ice commonly known as black ice. This nearly invisible ice layer can cause you to rapidly lose control of your vehicle. Black ice is most common during the nighttime hours.  If you detect black ice you should reduce your speed.

When braking on icy and snow-packed roads it is recommended that you apply steady pressure to the pedal just to the point of brake lock-up allowing plenty of extra stopping distance. For those without anti-lock brakes another suggestion is to gently tap on the brake pedal several times just prior to applying steady pressure.

Jim Pringle
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
NOAA National Weather Service
Grand Junction CO

Don't be caught off guard by winter weather! Remember the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982? Be prepared!

Winter weather in Colorado can be an inconvenience but more than that it can be deadly.  Emergency preparedness for major winter storms – as well as for other types of severe weather – is an important part of living in a state where conditions can change wildly from one moment to the next.

To help raise awareness of the need to be prepared for these occasions, Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed the week of October 21st to October 27th Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado.

The National Weather Service will be issuing Public Information Statements each day this week to highlight the dangers of winter weather and how best to be prepared.  ThorntonWeather.com will be posting these important messages here to help you be prepared.  Please take the time to read and heed these messages – your life and the lives of your loved ones could depend on it.

• Stay up to date with Thornton’s weather: ‘Like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles

From the National Weather Service:

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service
Grand Junction CO

..Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado…

Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed the week of October 21st through October 27th as Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado. This is an excellent time for all individuals…families…businesses…schools…and media outlets to review their winter storm preparedness plans. It is especially important for all new arrivals to the state to become familiar with the national weather service watch and warning definitions…as well as winter safety procedures.

Snow in Colorado is important to the farmers…the ski areas…and for filling up reservoirs. However…winter storms often bring heavy snow…bitterly cold temperatures…high winds…low visibilities and slick roads. This can lead to dangerous travel conditions and other life threatening situations such as avalanches and dangerously low wind chill temperatures.

To help you prepare for these hazards this coming winter…the National Weather Service will issue statements throughout the week to discuss:

Anyone who needs information on winter storms in Colorado should contact their nearest National Weather Service office.

The United States has seen an extraordinary number of billion dollar disasters in 2011.

According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the U.S. has seen a record number of billion dollar disasters in 2011.  Thus far this year the nation has seen 10 such disasters and with hurricane season far from over, it seems likely the number will grow.

The events range from the Groundhog Day Blizzard to Hurricane Irene’s recent devastating blow to the East Coast.  In all, the disasters represent more than $35 billion in losses and that is no including Irene’s yet to be determined toll.

Below is the list and narrative for each disaster from the NCDC.  For the latest disaster news, be sure to check out the Natural Disasters Examiner.

Hurricane Irene, August 20-29, 2011 While it will take several months to determine an accurate estimate of the damage from Hurricane Irene, there is no question it will rank as the 10th billion-dollar weather event of the year. This 10th U.S. billion-dollar disaster officially breaks the annual record dating back to 1980.

Upper Midwest Flooding, Summer, 2011 Melting of an above-average snow pack across the Northern Rocky Mountains combined with above-average precipitation caused the Missouri and Souris Rivers to swell beyond their banks across the Upper Midwest (MT, ND, SD, NE, IA, KS, MO). An estimated 11,000 people were forced to evacuate Minot, North Dakota due to the record high water level of the Souris River, where 4,000 homes were flooded. Numerous levees were breached along the Missouri River, flooding thousands of acres of farmland. Estimated losses exceed $2.0 billion as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15). The flooding also stretched into the Canadian Prairies, where property and agriculture losses were expected to surpass $1.0 billion, at least 5 deaths.

Mississippi River flooding, Spring-Summer, 2011 Persistent rainfall (nearly 300 percent normal precipitation amounts in the Ohio Valley) combined with melting snowpack caused historical flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Estimated economic loss ranges from $2.0-4.0 billion; at least 2 deaths. Below are more detailed stats, which are preliminary, as the event continues to unfold (as of 8/15): $500 million to agriculture in Arkansas; $320 million in damage to Memphis, Tennessee; $800 million to agriculture in Mississippi; $317 million to agriculture and property in Missouri’s Birds Point-New Madrid Spillway; $80 million for the first 30 days of flood fighting efforts in Louisiana.

Southern Plains/Southwest Drought, Heatwave, & Wildfires, Spring-Summer, 2011 Drought, heatwave, and wildfires have created major impacts across the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Arkansas and Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, respectively, 75% and 63% of range and pasture conditions were classified in ‘very poor’ condition as of mid-August. Wildfire fighting/suppression costs for the region are also ~$1 million / day with over 2,000 homes and structures lost. The total direct losses (as of August 15) to agriculture, cattle and structures are well over $5.0 billion; both direct and total economic losses will rise dramatically as the event continues.

Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, May 22-27, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (MO, TX, OK, KS, AR, GA, TN, VA, KY, IN, IL, OH, WI, MN, PA) with an estimated 180 tornadoes and 177 deaths. Notably, an EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, MO resulting in at least 141 deaths, making it the deadliest single tornado to strike the U.S. since modern tornado record keeping began in 1950. Over $4.9 billion insured losses for event; total losses greater than $7.0 billion; 177 deaths.

Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest Tornadoes, April 25-30, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (AL, AR, LA, MS, GA, TN, VA, KY, IL, MO, OH, TX, OK) with an estimated 305 tornadoes and 327 deaths. Of those fatalities, 240 occurred in Alabama. The deadliest tornado of the outbreak, an EF-5, hit northern Alabama, killing 78 people. Several major metropolitan areas were directly impacted by strong tornadoes including Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville in Alabama and Chattanooga, Tennessee, causing the estimated damage costs to soar. Over $6.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $9.0 billion; 327 deaths.

Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 14-16, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (OK, TX, AR, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, VA, PA) with an estimated 160 tornadoes. Despite the large overall number of tornadoes, few were classified as intense, with just 14 EF-3, and no EF-4 or EF-5 tornadoes identified. Over $1.4 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 38 deaths [22 of which were in North Carolina].

Southeast/Midwest Tornadoes, April 8-11, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (NC, SC, TN, AL, TX, OK, KS, IA, WI) with an estimated 59 tornadoes. Over $1.5 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.2 billion; numerous injuries, 0 deaths.

Midwest/Southeast Tornadoes, April 4-5, 2011 Outbreak of tornadoes over central and southern states (KS, MO, IA, IL, WI, KY, GA, TN, NC, SC) with an estimated 46 tornadoes. Over $1.6 billion insured losses; total losses greater than $2.3 billion; 9 deaths.

Groundhog Day Blizzard, Jan 29-Feb 3, 2011 Large winter storm impacting many central, eastern and northeastern states. The city of Chicago was brought to a virtual standstill as between 1 and 2 feet of snow fell over the area. Insured losses greater than $1.1 billion; total losses greater than $2.0 billion; 36 deaths.

The March 2003 blizzard that buried Thornton in snow was ranked as the top weather event of the past 10 years. (ThorntonWeather.com)

There is a lot that can be said about the weather in Colorado but ‘boring’ is not usually a term associated with it.  Anyone who has lived in the Centennial State for very long quickly experiences a weather-related event that will give them memories for a lifetime. 

From major snowstorms and blizzards to tornadoes, wildfires, scorching heat and damaging hail storms Colorado weather can and does bring it all to the table.  The Denver office of the National Weather Service has released a list of what local meteorologists rank as the top 10 weather events of the past 10 years.

For some it may be a blizzard that buried the Mile High City in a heavy blanket of snow and brought everything to a standstill.  Others will remember the heavy smoke from fires burning in the mountains destroying hundreds of thousands of acres.  The tragedy tornadoes bring to Colorado in terms of destruction and loss of life may be what others remember.

Over the past 10 years many memorable weather events have occurred that fully display the sheer variety of weather Colorado receives.  A team of meteorologists serving Colorado analyzed these events and ranked them based on meteorological intensity and their human and economic impact.

Their top 10 list is below.  Also be sure to check out the Examiner.com slideshow with images of each of the events.  What are you memories of these events?  What is your most memorable weather event?  Leave a comment below and let us know.

From the National Weather Service:

1. March Blizzard of 2003, March 17-19, 2003.  According to the Denver mayor, this storm is the storm of the century, a back breaker, a record breaker, a roof breaker.  Denver experienced the snowiest march in its history, and the storm broke a streak of 19 consecutive months of below normal precipitation in Denver.  The foothills and Palmer Divide received 3 to 8 feet of snow, with 2 to 3 feet in the urban corridor and metro Denver.  Denver International Airport was closed, as was Interstate 70 in both directions from Denver, and hundreds of roofs collapsed due to the weight of the snow. 

2. Christmas Blizzards of 2006, December 20-21 and December 28-30 2006. Mother Nature delivered a one-two punch as large slow moving storms dropped heavy snow along with strong winds to produce blizzard conditions on the plains.  Total cost of lost revenue, snow removal and livestock losses for both storms was estimated in the tens of millions of dollars.  The residual effects of the storms included huge ruts on local streets in the Denver metro area for weeks, and the heavy snowpack created an extremely cold winter into early spring followed by a flood threat over southeast Colorado. More from Examiner on the Christmas Blizzards of 2006.

3. 2002 Summer of Fire, as a result of record dryness from early spring through the summer of 2002, dozens of wildfires erupted across the state during the late spring and summer.  In June during the height of the fire activity, the governor of Colorado pronounced, it looks as if all of Colorado is burning today,

The fires scorched hundreds of thousands of acres, with costs in the millions of dollars.  Some of these fires included Trinidad Complex, the Hayman Fire, southwest of Denver which set a record as the largest fire in the history of Colorado, the Missionary Ridge Fire northeast of Durango, the Million Fire south of South Fork, and the Mount Zirkel Complex Fire, north of Steamboat Springs. 

4. The Windsor Tornado, May 22, 2008. In the late morning a powerful tornado raced north northwest for 39 miles across Weld County before moving into eastern Larimer County.  Damage was extensive in eastern Windsor and west of Greeley.  One person was killed at the Missile Silo Campground and there were 78 injuries. 

The tornado was rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale due to the extent of damage near the Missile Silo Campground.  With insured damages reaching 147 million dollars, this was the fourth costliest disaster for Colorado.  More on the Windsor Tornado (Examiner.com).

5. 2002 Drought, Denver experienced 19 consecutive months of below normal precipitation, much of the state shared in the dry conditions.  In April 2002, the governor requested a statewide emergency drought declaration from the U.S. Agricultural Secretary. At the end of that month the snowpack in the South Platte River basin was 44 percent, other basins were even lower.  The dry conditions directly set the stage for the 2002 summer of fire. 

6. Holly Tornado, March 28, 2007.  A large tornado developed just south of Holly in Prowers County and moved north at 50 mph, into Kiowa County.  In holly, the tornado produced ef3 damage, with 200 structures in the town heavily damaged or destroyed.   The tornado remained on the ground for 28 miles.  Two people were killed, the first tornado fatalities in Colorado since 1960. 

7. 4 Mile Fire, September 5-13, 2010.  A wildfire spread rapidly,fanned by erratic 45 mph wind gusts, burning 3500 acres the first day, with a final tally of 6181 scorched acres.  The fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado history, destroying 171 homes and an estimated cost of 217 million dollars in damage.   Coverage from Examiner.com on the Fourmile Canyon Fire.

8. Northwest Metro Area Hailstorm, July 20, 2009.  After a clear evening, a severe thunderstorm developed rapidly over the northwest Denver metro area, tracking southeast across Arvada, Wheat Ridge, and Lakewood.  Downburst wind gusts to 80 mph combined with golfball hail produced damages of 350 million dollars to homes and cars.  As many as ninety thousand homes and businesses lost power.   Examiner.com coverage of the July 2009 hailstorm.

9. DIA Hailstorm, June 21, 2001. A severe hailstorm tracked across Denver International Airport and the town of Watkins, dropping golfball to baseball sized hail.  Planes and a ground surveillance radar were damaged at the airport, while 200 people were left homeless when the same storm moved through a mobile home park in Watkins.  State Farm Insurance estimated the hailstorm caused nearly 17 million dollars in damages.

Two events were tied for 10th.

10.  Ellicott Tornado, May 28, 2001.  Microbursts and tornadoes raged across eastern El Paso County that evening.  One tornado destroyed nearly half of the junior-senior high school.  Nearly 100 mobile homes, some occupied, were destroyed. 

10. July 2005 Heat Wave, in Denver from the 19th to the 23rd the high temperature each day climbed above 100 degrees, with a high of 105 degrees on the 20th which tied the all time record high temperature for Denver. In the month there were 7 new record maximum temperatures at Denver and 4 new record maximum temperature records at both pueblo and Colorado Springs.  Pueblo had 20 days of 90 degrees or higher, and 12 days of 100 or higher.

Before and after pictures of the northeastern U.S. show the impact of the hurricane-looking storm. (NOAA)

From the southern United States to the mid-Atlantic and New England a major winter storm has had a wide impact in recent days.  Some areas of the south recorded their first Christmas snow in decades and as the storm moved further northeast it turned into a major blizzard.

Snow fell as far south as Jacksonville, Florida over the holiday and areas further north recorded moderate snowfall.  Huntsville, Alabama saw 6 inches of snow; Raleigh, North Carolina saw 8.5 inches and Gatlinburg, Tennessee recorded 8.0 inches.

Those totals are minimal however to what is being deposited on a large area from New York City to Boston.  Central Park has reported 13 inches and Brooklyn 17.5 inches.  In New Jersey Atlantic City reported 19.0 inches while Foxboro, Massachusetts has seen 11.5 inches.

• Don’t miss: Amazing time lapse video of East Coast blizzard as it struck New Jersey (Examiner.com)

Travel across the northeastern U.S. came to a standstill as travel by road, rail and air was impacted.  Thousands of flights into and out of the area were canceled as airports in New York and New Jersey shuttered.  Airlines at Denver International Airport were impacted by the storm and its ripple effect.

The nor’easter was imaged this afternoon by NOAA satellites that provided a birds-eye view of the area before and after the storm. 

A furor erupted when the National Football League announced it would postpone the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings and move it to Tuesday.  The league cited concerns for fan safety however many were quick to point out that it is highly unusual for the NFL to postpone a game based on snow of any amount. 

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell told FOX, “It’s an absolute joke. We’re becoming a nation of wussies.”

Certainly it is hard to see Denver taking similar measures in the face of a snowstorm. 

We have provided complete coverage of the storm on Examiner.com – Please follow the links below for more details:

• Story – Snowfall totals continue to climb from major East Coast blizzard
  • Slideshow – Blizzard slams U.S. East Coast burying major cities in snow
• Story – East Coast blizzard strands travelers across the nation
  • Slideshow – Nor’easter slams East Coast snarling travel across the region
• Story – NOAA satellites capture before and after images of East Coast blizzard
  • Slideshow – NOAA satellites capture before and after images of East Coast blizzard
    

The Christmas Eve Blizzard of '82 buried Thornton and the Denver metro area under record-setting amounts of snow. (rjones0856 / Flickr)

As Christmas approaches everyone reflects on the past and for longtime Denver residents that oftentimes means remembering one of the most significant winter storms in the Mile High City’s history – the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982.  This major winter storm has become the one by which all others are compared not only due to its record-setting impact but also due to its timing being near Christmas. 

As Christmas 1982 approached, forecasters were predicting a white Christmas several days beforehand but most were expecting a moderate snowfall of 6 inches.  Two days before Christmas Eve though, the picture began to change.  On the 22nd a Pacific cold front came ashore in California bringing severe rain, high surf and even hurricane force winds.  As it moved east over higher terrain, it dumped 2 feet of snow in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City.

At about that same time, jet stream winds were forming a trough of low pressure over the southeastern plains of Colorado.  The counterclockwise motion of the trough began to pull moist air into the state.  Further east Kansas and Oklahoma experienced severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.  The winds set the stage for strong upslope conditions along the Front Range.

• In pictures – Denver’s Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982 (Examiner.com)
• Do you remember the Christmas Eve Blizzard of ’82?  Leave a comment below with your memories of this epic snowstorm.  If you have photos of the event email them to info@thorntonweather.com and we will add them to the slideshow.

Click the image to view a slideshow on Examiner.com of the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982. (Examiner.com)

Rain changed to snow on the plains and shortly before midnight on the 23rd, a full blown blizzard had developed.  Denver woke to snow on the ground the morning of Christmas Eve but the storm was just getting started.  Snowfall rates of 2 – 3 inches per hour were the norm during the day and winds screamed at 50mph causing wind chill temperatures to plummet to as low as -35 degrees.  As conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the day, the gravity of the situation began to be realized.

Stapleton International Airport was forced closed at 9:30am on the 24th and remained closed for 33 hours and only limited operations were possible for days following the storm.  Thousands of travelers were left stranded in the airport and forced to spend their white Christmas on the concourses of the facility. 

Last minute Christmas shoppers quickly found themselves wishing they hadn’t procrastinated.  Malls and shopping centers became refugee centers as the city shut down and roads became impassible.  Mall workers were unable to go anywhere so the mall restaurants stayed open providing food for those who were stuck.  For the first time in history the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News were unable to publish their newspapers.

4 – 10 foot snowdrifts covered many areas of the city, built by the extreme winds and snow.  Every mode of transportation was paralyzed and every highway into and out of the city of Denver was closed.  Many residents who were caught in the storm had to rely on the kindness of strangers for shelter or braved the blizzard trying to make their way home on foot. 

The snow totals for the storm were nothing short of incredible.  Golden Gate Canyon to the west of the city received 48 inches, Thornton 34 inches, Littleton 29 inches and Denver had 25 inches.  Denver’s 24 hour total was a record which still stands to this day.  Colorado’s bizarre weather can truly be seen also when looking at the snow total for Greeley – a mere 45 miles north of Denver – where only 1 inch of snow fell!

Roads and highways became impassable in the aftermath of the blizzard. (NCAR/UCAR/NSF)

The aftermath of the storm took weeks to recover from and the toll was astounding.  Three people died as a direct result of the storm and there were many injuries from frostbite and falls.  Roofs collapsed across the city striking greenhouses especially hard whose damage alone was estimated at $5 million.  Fences and trees were downed and power outages were common.  The local economy took a tremendous hit as the second busiest shopping day of the year was a bust – it is estimated that area businesses lost $500 million in holiday sales.

The removal of that much snow proved to be a huge effort for residents and governments.  While children happily built snow forts and tunnels the adults labored for days digging out. 

For Denver mayor Bill McNichols the storm proved to be disastrous to his re-election efforts the following May.  Millions of dollars was spent on snow removal but the city’s 45 snow plows simply were not capable of dealing with the sheer amount of snow. 

A decision by McNichols to have trash trucks drive down the streets to compact the snow only added to the misery.  The compacted snow became riddled with “snow potholes” and ruts and was barely better than when buried under snow and residents were less than pleased. 

To make matters worse, the misery of the storm was only prolonged by cold weather in late December and through January which left snow on the ground for 48 consecutive days – the third longest period on record.  The snow could easily have lasted longer except that perhaps mercifully, no significant snow fell for two months after the blizzard.

When the Denver mayoral elections came around the following May a young political new comer named Federico Pena defeated McNichols.  Voters indicated the response to the Christmas Eve Blizzard of ’82 was one of their biggest reasons for choosing a new mayor.

As seen from space, snow covers the Mid-Atlantic from Washington D.C. through Baltimore and Philadelphia to New York City. (NASA) Watch the amazing time lapse video below.

The northeastern United States has seen a winter of historical proportions as a seemingly endless stream of storms brought record setting levels of snowfall. NASA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) captured a series of these storms as they struck in February.

The amazing time lapse video released by NASA covers the period from February 1st to February 16th. During that time, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. all saw major winter snowstorms that ranked in each city’s ‘top 10′ and gave way to terms like ‘Snowmageddon’ and ‘Snowpocalypse.’

Baltimore recorded an astounding 24.8 inches from February 5th to the 6th and 19.5 inches from February 10th to the 11th. The nation’s capital received 17.8 inches of snow during the February 5th / 6th snowstorm. The City of Brotherly Love was similarly buried under 28.5 inches from February 5th to the 6th and 15.8 inches from February 10th to the 11th.

The February storms added to already hefty seasonal snowfall totals across the northeastern United States that actually got a start in December. Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Atlantic City have all seen seasonal snowfall records.

In a statement accompanying the video which compressed 16 days into two minutes, NASA explains these “Nor’easters”. “The counter-clockwise circulation around a low pressure system on the Atlantic coast pushes moist sea air from the north-east into arctic air over the land. This windy mixture creates a very efficient snow-making machine from Boston to Washington,” the agency said.

• This story was originally published on Examiner.com. For all the latest on all types of natural disasters from snowstorms to sandstorms to earthquakes, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

As seen from space, snow covers the Mid-Atlantic from Washington D.C. through Baltimore and Philadelphia to New York City. (NASA) See a larger image below.

Whether it is called ‘Snowmageddon’, ‘Snowpocalypse’ or any other array of the names, the amazing series of winter storms that have struck the Mid-Atlantic States has been nothing short of astounding. Two storms struck the region in less than a week and NASA satellites have captured images of what the scene looks like from space after the second storm struck.

Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Wilmington and Atlantic City have all set new records for seasonal snowfall. Baltimore has recorded nearly 7 feet of snow so far this winter eclipsing the previous record by more than 17 inches.

All of those cities have recorded more snow than ones in the Rocky Mountain region. That also led to the unusual event of 49 of the 50 states having snow on the ground on the same day.

The image to the right and below was taken by NASA’s Terra satellite on February 11, 2010 after the second blizzard struck.

• Related: Video – Satellite and radar imagery show ‘Snowmageddon’ striking the Mid-Atlantic

Second Blizzard Strikes U.S. East Coast

Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Baltimore were just some of the major cities on the east coast to be struck by what some have called ‘Snowmageddon.’ Last week a major winter storm dumped over two feet of snow on major cities in the Mid-Atlantic. Residents had just finished digging out from that event when Mother Nature delivered another wallop Tuesday and Wednesday.

Separately, the two storms in the past week and a previous one in December ranked each in many cities’ ‘top 10’ snow events. Collectively, the storms have dumped more snow than the region has ever seen in a single season.

How much snow fell?  Check out the astounding snowfall totals at the Natural Disasters Examiner.