Tag Archives: Christmas

A white Christmas in Thornton? Chances not great but not bad either

For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without a chill in the air and snow on the ground. Here in Denver we historically enjoy a better chance of experiencing the proverbial white Christmas than many places in the nation.

However, how the Mile High City fares in experiencing a white Christmas does depend on your definition of one.

If it means having actual snowfall on Christmas Day the chances aren’t that good. But, if simply having snow on the ground suffices, the chances improve considerably.

For a complete look at Denver’s Christmas weather statistics, click here.

Historical Probability of a White Christmas. (NOAA)
Historical Probability of a White Christmas. (NOAA)

Weather Geek Stuff is your one-stop-shop for the weather enthusiast on your gift list

Weather Geek Stuff is a great place to shop for gifts for weather enthusiasts, weather geeks and weather lovers.

Not everyone gets excited about blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of extreme weather but many folks out there are passionate about Mother Nature.  Weather enthusiasts are certainly a different breed and they would welcome a gift that shows their enthusiasm for everything the weather offers.  Weather Geek Stuff is an online shop just for those whose hearts race with the thrill of severe weather.

Weather Geek Stuff is an online store that provides a host of clothing items and novelties just for weather buffs.  From the store’s custom ‘Weather Geek’ and ‘Weather Diva’ logoed merchandise to items imprinted with amusing weather warnings signs as well as Skywarn storm spotter logos, there is something there sure to please any weather lover.

Weather Geek Stuff’s merchandise was shown on the Weather Channel as a recommended gift so you know the quality is good.  Stu Ostro, Weather Channel’s Senior Director of Weather Communications even sports a ‘Weather Geek’ t-shirt on his Twitter profile.

Kids and dogs aren’t left out of the weather fun either.  There is a wide variety of clothing items sized just right for the little ones from babies to bigger kids.  Canine companions as well can get shirts and bowls emblazoned with a weather-related logo.

The selection goes far beyond clothing too.  Water bottles, clocks, mugs, bags and other novelties are part of the store’s offerings.  For the tech types, cases for iPhones and iPads are available.  Recently added products include laptop skins, clipboards and throw blankets.

Be sure to head over to WeatherGeekStuff.com and get that holiday gift today for your favorite weather geek. 

Support ThorntonWeather .com

Weather Geek Stuff is owned and operated by the same folks that run ThorntonWeather.com.  We provide ThorntonWeather.com as a no-cost service to the community and use the minimal amount of money made from Weather Geek Stuff to support the costs of running this website and the associated equipment.  So remember, if you have a weather buff on your shopping list, by buying from Weather Geek Stuff you are supporting ThorntonWeather.com!  You can also donate directly to fund the site here.

Dreaming of a white Christmas in Denver? Odds are not historically that great

As Christmas gets closer everyone always wonders if we are going to get the proverbial white Christmas. Unfortunately, if you look at Denver and Thornton weather history, the chances aren’t all that good but it also depends on what you define as a white Christmas.

If to you a white Christmas means having actual snowfall on Christmas Day the chances aren’t that good. But, if simply having snow on the ground suffices, the chances improve considerably.

For a complete look at Denver’s Christmas weather statistics, click here.

For the latest Thornton weather forecast for Christmas, check out our forecast page.

White Christmas probability map for the contiguous United States. Click for larger view. (NOAA)
White Christmas probability map for the contiguous United States. Click for larger view. (NOAA)

NOAA details the chances for a white Christmas for the United States

White Christmas probability map for the contiguous United States. (NOAA)
White Christmas probability map for the contiguous United States. Click for larger view. (NOAA)

With our most recent snowstorm, the Colorado Front Range is likely to enjoy a white Christmas (defined as 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day).  Other locations in the United States of course are not quite so lucky and historically, Colorado can be quite hit or miss.

Below is the latest narrative from NOAA.  To the right is a probability map – click it to view full size.

From NOAA:

Minnesota. Maine. Upstate New York. The Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Practically anywhere in Idaho. And of course, the Rockies or the Sierra Nevada Mountains. These are the places where weather history suggests you want to be if you’re looking for the best chance of a white Christmas.

The map at right shows the historic probability of there being at least 1-inch of snow on the ground in the Lower 48 states on December 25 based on the latest (1981-2010) U.S. Climate Normals from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.  Dark gray shows places where the probability is less than 10 percent, while white shows probabilities greater than 90  percent.

The 1981–2010 Climate Normals are the latest three-decade averages of several climatological measurements. This dataset contains daily and monthly Normals of temperature, precipitation, snowfall, heating and cooling degree days, frost/freeze dates, and growing degree days calculated from observations at approximately 9,800 stations operated by NOAA’s National Weather Service.

While the map shows the climatological probability that a snow depth of at least one inch will be observed on December 25, the actual conditions this year may vary widely from these probabilities because the weather patterns present will determine the snow on the ground or snowfall on Christmas day. These probabilities are useful as a guide only to show where snow on the ground is more likely.  For prediction of your actual weather on Christmas Day, check out your local forecast at Weather.gov.

You can locate Normals data for the observing station closest to you using the NCDC’sinteractive map.

If you would like to keep track of the snowfall across the United States on a daily basis, see the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center’s National Snow Analyses. For a more detailed assessment of the probability of a white Christmas as well as documentation of the methodology used to calculate the map’s underlying climatological statistics, see the scientific paper, White Christmas? An Application of NOAA’s 1981-2010 Daily Normals, by NCEI scientists and published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. You can also download a spreadsheet to see the full list of stations and their historic probabilities.

This post was adapted from an article first published by the National Climatic Data Center. It was first published on December 11, 2013, and is reviewed each year and updated as needed.

White Christmas in Denver? Snow on the holiday not particularly common

For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without a chill in the air and snow on the ground. Here in Denver we historically enjoy a better chance of experiencing the proverbial white Christmas than many places in the nation.

However, how the Mile High City fares in experiencing a white Christmas does depend on your definition of one.

If it means having actual snowfall on Christmas Day the chances aren’t that good. But, if simply having snow on the ground suffices, the chances improve considerably.

For a complete look at Denver’s Christmas weather statistics, click here.

For the latest Thornton weather forecast for Christmas, check out our forecast page.

Historical probability of a white Christmas (at least 1" of snow on the ground).  NOAA / NCDC
Historical probability of a white Christmas (at least 1″ of snow on the ground). NOAA / NCDC

Santa Claus begins his journey – Track him live

ThorntonWeather.com and NORAD offer the Santa TrackerSanta Claus begins his whirlwind trip around the globe tonight to deliver toys to all the good little boys and girls! For more than 50 years the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Kris Kringle on Christmas Eve and helped to ensure he completes his journey safely.

ThorntonWeather.com is pleased to be able to provide live Santa tracking from NORAD right here on our site!

Click here to check it out and be sure to come back often to see where Kris Kringle is at!

Here’s the first video released today of Santa’s departure from the North Pole:

NASA releases video recreating iconic Apollo 8 Earthrise image

Planet Earth is seen by humans in lunar orbit for the first time during Apollo 8.
Earth is seen by humans in lunar orbit for the first time during Apollo 8. (NASA)

It was Christmas Eve in 1968 when three brave astronauts, the first humans to leave Earth orbit, circled the moon. As the 45th anniversary of that event approaches, NASA has released a video that recreates the iconic Earthrise image that has captivated the world since.

Using imagery obtained from its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, the video released by NASA yesterday allows viewers to see Earthrise as it was first witnessed 45 years ago.

Audio from the Apollo 8 mission provides commentary from the astronauts as they conducted routine observations – until the spacecraft oriented itself to allow them view the planet. The astronauts then scramble to get cameras in place to capture the event.

Read the rest of this story and check out the amazing video on Examiner.com

Santa begins his annual journey, track him on ThorntonWeather.com

ThorntonWeather.com and NORAD offer the Santa TrackerSanta Claus begins his whirlwind trip around the globe tonight to deliver toys to all the good little boys and girls! For more than 50 years the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Kris Kringle on Christmas Eve and helped to ensure he completes his journey safely.

ThorntonWeather.com is pleased to be able to provide live Santa tracking from NORAD right here on our site!

Click here to check it out and be sure to come back often to see where Kris Kringle is at!

Here’s the first video released today of Santa’s departure from the North Pole:

Weather Geek Stuff offers holiday deals on gifts for weather enthusiasts

Weather Geek Stuff is a great place to shop for gifts for weather enthusiasts, weather geeks and weather lovers.

Not everyone gets excited about blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and other types of extreme weather but many folks out there are passionate about Mother Nature.  Weather Geek Stuff is an online shop just for those whose hearts race with the thrill of severe weather and they are offering special deals on Black Friday and through the first part of the holiday season.

From now through December 10th Weather Geek Stuff is offering 15% off all orders over $50.00.  If you have a weather geek, weather diva or storm chaser on your shopping list – or maybe you just want to get yourself a gift – now is the time to buy.  Simply enter the coupon code SHOPUP at checkout to receive your discount.

Weather Geek Stuff is an online store that provides a host of clothing items and novelties just for weather buffs.  From the store’s custom ‘Weather Geek’ and ‘Weather Diva’ logoed merchandise to items imprinted with amusing weather warnings signs as well as Skywarn storm spotter logos, there is something there sure to please any weather lover.

Weather Geek Stuff’s merchandise was shown on the Weather Channel as a recommended gift so you know the quality is good.  Stu Ostro, Weather Channel’s Senior Director of Weather Communications even sports a ‘Weather Geek’ t-shirt on his Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Kids and dogs aren’t left out of the weather fun either.  There is a wide variety of clothing items sized just right for the little ones from babies to bigger kids.  Canine companions as well can get shirts and bowls emblazoned with a weather-related logo.

The selection goes far beyond clothing too.  Water bottles, clocks, mugs, bags and other novelties are part of the store’s offerings.  For the tech types, cases for iPhones and iPads are available.  New products this season include flasks, drink mixers, mouse pads, cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and much more.

Be sure to head over to WeatherGeekStuff.com and get that holiday gift today for your favorite weather geek. 

Support ThorntonWeather .com

Weather Geek Stuff is owned and operated by the same folks that run ThorntonWeather.com.  We provide ThorntonWeather.com as a no-cost service to the community and use the minimal amount of money made from Weather Geek Stuff to support the costs of running this website and the associated equipment.  So remember, if you have a weather buff on your shopping list, by buying from Weather Geek Stuff you are supporting ThorntonWeather.com!

NORAD’s Santa-cam captures St. Nick’s trip to Denver

Santa Claus flies over downtown Denver. Check out the video below to see highlights of his visit to Denver.
Santa Claus flies over downtown Denver. Check out the video below to see highlights of his visit to Denver.

As all the good little boys and girls rush to open their Christmas presents this morning most were asleep and missed Santa’s flight over Thornton and the Mile High City.  The good folks at NORAD in Colorado Springs however were able to capture video of St. Nick as he made his rounds.

Santa’s annual trip across the globe covers hundreds of thousands of miles.  From the North Pole to each of the seven continents and billions of presents delivered Santa Claus’ 2010 trip went off without a hitch. 

For 55 years the good men and women at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have tracked St. Nick on his annual journey and this year their cameras captured him as he visited Denver.  Check out the video below.  To see more pictures and videos of his trip check out our Santa Tracker page.