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Thornton Weather

September 2015 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

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Flower and greenery accent a beautiful view of downtown Denver. (Jennifer McNeil)
Flower and greenery accent a beautiful view of downtown Denver. (Jennifer McNeil)

The month of September is typically one of the more pleasant months in Colorado.  Temperatures are usually comfortable and there is not normally a lot of weather drama.  That however does not mean there aren’t plenty of photo opportunities.

Wildlife is still quite active along the Front Range and flowers will hold on to their petals for at least the first part of the month.  Then of course there is the weather which you never know what to expect.  Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and even snow are a possibility.

  • Slideshow updated September 30, 2015
  • To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.

Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather-related imagery.

Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted in images captured from yours and our cameras.

[flickr_set id=”72157657760243740″]

What is missing in the slideshow above?  Your photo!

Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured.  The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.

Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids.  Whimsical, newsy, artsy.  Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard.  You name it, we want to see and share it!

Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State.  We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.

We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.

What do you win for having your image in our slideshow?  We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes.  However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.

To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets.  Links are provided below.

So come on, get those camera’s rolling!

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Tropical Storm Joaquin, Upgraded to Hurricane, May Head to East Coast

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Tropical storm Joaquin, which some meteorologists expect could be headed toward the East Coast of the United States over the weekend, was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning by the National Weather Service. Joaquin formed late Monday over the Atlantic Ocean and strengthened east of the Bahamas on Tuesday afternoon, with wind speeds… Continue reading Tropical Storm Joaquin, Upgraded to Hurricane, May Head to East Coast →
Natural Disasters, World Weather

Taiwan evacuates thousands as ‘super typhoon’ nears

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Taiwan has evacuated thousands of residents and tourists as “super typhoon” Dujuan headed towards the island, gathering strength on its approach to the east coast. Torrential rains and high winds are forecast across Taiwan from Monday afternoon, with landfall predicted around 15:00 GMT. Almost 3,000 people, most of them tourists, were evacuated on Sunday from Taiwan’s… Continue reading Taiwan evacuates thousands as ‘super typhoon’ nears →
Astronomy

Supermoon eclipse provides rare celestial event Sunday

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Path of the moon during the total lunar eclipse on September 27, 2015. (Fred Espenak)
Path of the moon during the total lunar eclipse on September 27, 2015. Click for a larger view. (Fred Espenak)

A total lunar eclipse coupled with a ‘supermoon’ will bring a very unusual scene to the sky on Sunday.  Taken separately, the two events are not quite as extraordinary or rare.  However, this will be the first time in 33 years they have occurred at the same time and the last for another 18 years.

The moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle and when it is at its closest to us, it appears quite a bit larger to our eye – hence the name ‘supermoon.’

On Sunday it will be about 31,000 miles closer to Earth than it is at its farthest point. According to NASA, this results in it appearing to be about 14% larger and 30% brighter.

The total lunar eclipse will be our second of 2015 and fourth in the past two – a tetrad of eclipses.  During these, the moon finds itself in the Earth’s shadow and without direct sunlight hitting its surface, the moon turns an eerie orange / red color – a ‘blood moon.’

The last time these two events coincided was in 1982 and the next time won’t be until 2033.  As NASA scientist Noah Petro said, “That’s rare because it’s something an entire generation may not have seen.”

When and where to watch?

The partial eclipse begins at 7:07pm MDT on Sunday, September 27, 2015 with totality starting at 8:11pm.  The moon will then be completely eclipsed for a little more than an hour with mid-eclipse at 8:47am.  The waning partial eclipse will end at 10:27pm.

One catch for viewing the entire event here along the Front Range is that when it begins, the moon will actually be just starting to rise on the eastern horizon.  However, at mid-eclipse the moon will be 21 degrees above the horizon to the east southeast providing a nice view not far above the landscape.

Anyone in the area with a clear view of the lower, eastern sky should have no problem viewing the event.

Will Mother Nature cooperate?

Our unseasonably warm temperatures will be continuing through the weekend so there are no concerns about it being too cold to go outside.  Clouds, however, are something to watch closely for.  Some atmospheric moisture is expected late in the day Sunday and it is possible cloud cover may impact the clear viewing.

On the day of the eclipse, check our hour-by-hour outlook for the latest sky cover forecast.

What is the ‘blood moon’ and tetrad?

April 15, 2014 - The lunar eclipse is seen half-way to totality, the total lunar eclipse, and half-way between totality and the end. (Tony's Takes)
April 15, 2014 – The lunar eclipse is seen half-way to totality, the total lunar eclipse, and half-way between totality and the end. Click for a larger view. (Tony’s Takes)

During totality, the moon will be rendered orange / red as the Earth’s shadow envelops the moon.  Many are calling this a ‘blood moon’ but the meaning behind that term isn’t exactly clear.

As written on EarthSky.org, some attribute it to the lunar tetrad – four successive full lunar eclipses without any partial eclipses.  Tomorrow morning’s eclipse is the second in the lunar tetrad with each full lunar eclipse coming six months apart.

The blood moon as it pertains to these eclipses should not be confused with the October full moon which is also referred to as a blood moon in folklore.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Fall Foliage 2015: Top spots to view the colors near the Front Range

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The leaves in the high country are changing and certainly give meaning to the moniker 'Colorful Colorado.' (ThorntonWeather.com)
The leaves in the high country are changing and certainly give meaning to the moniker ‘Colorful Colorado.’ (ThorntonWeather.com)

This time of year many folks head to the hills west of Denver in search of gold – fall foliage gold.

This year the changing of the colors seems to be a bit spotty and an early freeze last fall followed by a late freeze this spring has impacted the overall quality of the show.  That certainly is not to say there isn’t some absolutely gorgeous spots out there.

Where to go?  Below are five of ThorntonWeather.com’s favorite ones near Denver – plus a few further out and some bonus ideas.  After that, we will tell you where you can find a great website that provides regular updates on viewing conditions.

I-70 Corridor – If you’re looking for the easiest route, then this one is for you.  Simply head west on I-70 about 110 miles to Avon.  Between Vail and Avon, both sides of I-70 are lined beautifully with aspen.

Rocky Mountain National Park – One of the most popular summer destinations in the state is of course also a prime spot to view aspen in all their glory.  Once in the park head toward Bear Lake.  Glacier Gorge Junction provides a beautiful spot and you of course also get to enjoy all the splendor that Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer.  Extend your viewing by taking Trail Ridge Road all the way through to the west side of the park and the Grand Lake and Granby area.

Peak to Peak Highway – This little road trip can be a dual purpose trip – gambling and fall foliage viewing!  Take U.S. 6 through Clear Creek Canyon and then 119 through Blackhawk and Central City.  You can of course stop there if your wallet is fat enough and donate some money to the casinos.  From there continue on 119 toward Nederland.  Take highway 72 toward Ward and Allenspark.  There you will find more golden aspen than you can imagine, all with the Continental Divide nearby.

Colorado Fall Foliage - Average Date of Peak Aspen Colors. Click for larger view. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Colorado Fall Foliage – Average Date of Peak Aspen Colors. Click for larger view. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Poudre Valley Canyon –  Heading north on I-25 take Colorado 14 west and into Poudre Canyon and Roosevelt National Forest.  As you continue west you will come very near timberline as you come to Cameron Pass.  Amazing views abound!

Guanella Pass – This is a nice, relatively short drive from Denver.  From C470 take 85 through Bailey and Conifer, a nice drive unto itself.  When you come to the town of Grant, take the Guanella Pass Scenic and Historic Byway north to Georgetown.  The air is pretty thin along the way as you climb in excess of 11,500 views through the Pike and Arapahoe National Forests.  Fair warning – about 10 miles of the road is gravel but it is well maintained.

A couple other possibilities further from the Front Range:

Leadville / Aspen – From Denver take I-70 west to Copper Mountain and then Colorado 91 south over Freemont Pass to Leadville. Along the way there are plenty of viewing opportunities and Leadville is a nice little town to make a stop. From here you can take Highway 24 north back through Minturn and Vail. To extend the drive, take Highway 24 south to Colorado 82 and head toward Aspen. You can stop by the Maroon Bells in White River National Forest to view some of the most photographed mountains in Colorado.

Cottonwood Pass – From Denver take Highway 285 to Buena Vista. Head west on Main Street for seven miles then west on County Road 344 / Colorado 82. From there you start the climb up Cottonwood Pass with absolutely stunning views from the top. If you are up for it, you can continue down the west side of the pass into the Taylor Park area. Be forewarned though that the western half of the pass is unpaved and twisty.

Honorable mentions worth considering:

  • Boreas Pass between Breckenridge and Como (County Road 10)
  • Kenosha Pass on Highway 285 between Bailey and Fairplay
  • Independence Pass (Colorado 82 between Aspen and Twin Lakes)
  • Colorado 103 from Evergreen to Echo Lake. Throw in a drive up Mount Evans for a bonus.

If you do head out, be sure to send us your pictures for inclusion in our monthly photo slideshows!

For more information:

Thornton Weather

Denver breaks 130 year old high temperature record for September 21

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.With only a couple of days left in summer, Mother Nature seems to be indicating the season won’t go down without a fight.  Denver broke a high temperature record today that has been on the books for more than a century.

As officially recorded at Denver International Airport, the high temperature today topped out at 89 degrees.  This bests the old record for the date of 88 degrees set in 1885 and is well above the average for today’s date of 77 degrees.

Here in Thornton we were only minutely cooler with a high of 88 degrees today.

Looking ahead, we do expect to see some cooling in the days ahead. However, temperatures are expected to remain above normal through at least the weekend.  Get the extended forecast here.

Natural Disasters

Chile declares state of emergency after quake

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Santiago (dpa) – The Chilean government declared a state of emergency in a central region Thursday after a magnitude-8.3 earthquake killed 11 people and caused widespread disruption. President Michelle Bachelet declared the state of emergency for the region around the port city of Coquimbo, near the epicentre of the quake which struck late Wednesday, daily El… Continue reading Chile declares state of emergency after quake →
Natural Disasters

Five dead and hundreds homeless in California wildfires

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Los Angeles (dpa) – California authorities recovered the bodies of four more people killed in wildfires raging in the central part of the state, bringing the death toll to five, officials said Thursday. The remains of four men who died separately in the Valley fire, north of San Francisco, and the Butte fire, south-east of the… Continue reading Five dead and hundreds homeless in California wildfires →
Natural Disasters

State of emergency declared: 23,000 displaced in California wildfires

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Around 23,000 people have been displaced and a state of emergency declared in California as wildfires rage in the north of the US state. An elderly, disabled woman is known to have died as flames consumed her building when the fires erupted on Saturday (September 12). Others, such David Clark, managed to flee. He spoke from… Continue reading State of emergency declared: 23,000 displaced in California wildfires →