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Ashley Morrow, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Coming soon for the first time in more than 30 years: you’ll be able to witness a supermoon in combination with a lunar eclipse. Late on Sept. 27, 2015, in the U.S. and much of the world, a total lunar eclipse will mask the moon’s larger-than-life face for more… Continue reading Shedding light on the rare Sept. 27 supermoon eclipse |
All posts by Thornton Weather
At Least 6 Dead In Southern Utah Flash Flood
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At least six people were dead and several others were missing after heavy rains in southern Utah triggered flash flooding, authorities said Monday night. Those missing are reportedly from Colorado City and Hildale area, near the Utah-Arizona border. Hildale officials reportedly said that a flash flood washed two vehicles off the road at Canyon Street and… Continue reading At Least 6 Dead In Southern Utah Flash Flood |
Terrifying videos capture man’s escape from California wildfire
Colorado has been extremely fortunate this summer with no truly notable wildfires. Other locations across the western U.S. have not been near as lucky. Highlighting this are videos taken by a northern California man as he fled the fast moving Valley Fire.
The Valley Fire broke out Saturday afternoon and quickly exploded forcing thousands to evacuate with little or no notice. Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Lake and Napa counties. As of this morning the blaze had already consumed 61,000 acres and firefighters only had 5% containment.
A YouTube user posted three videos yesterday showing a harrowing escape down roads in the Anderson Springs and Middletown areas. As he drives, flames burn, oftentimes reaching 10 or more feet into the air, lap the roadway and embers and debris blow across the road.
Watch the terrifying videos below.
Japan’s Mount Aso Erupts, Tourists Evacuated
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Japan’s largest active volcano, Mount Aso, erupted Monday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to raise its five-scale volcanic alert level to three from two, warning people not to approach the area. The eruption shot plumes of smoke 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) into the air. Mount Aso, located on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, erupted… Continue reading Japan’s Mount Aso Erupts, Tourists Evacuated |
California wildfire spreads; governor declares emergency
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A fast-moving wildfire left a path of devastation northwest of Sacramento, Calif., destroying homes and forcing and forcing residents to run for their lives. On Sunday morning, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Lake and Napa counties, noting that he fire forced large evacuations and damage to state infrastructure. The order mobilizes various… Continue reading California wildfire spreads; governor declares emergency |
Thornton’s September preview: Typically on of our most pleasant months
Following on a drier and slightly warmer than normal August, the month of September arrives and one can’t help but wonder if an early fall lies in wait. The month can bring our first snow of the season but more often than not, it is one of the most pleasant along the Colorado Front Range.
As temperatures start to drop, September usually reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.
The month can bring extremes however. We will of course forever remember last year’s devastating floods brought on by record-setting rain. Longtime residents might remember September 1971 which brought over 17 inches of snowfall.
Get a complete look at September’s weather and more details as to what we can expect this year here.
August 2015 weather recap: Month saw near normal temps, below average precipitation
High pressure was the dominant feature across much of Colorado during the month of August 2015. This helped keep temperatures quite warm and while there were occasional storms, they failed to deliver much in the way of precipitation.
We started out the month very warm and dry. This was interrupted on the 9th when a series of disturbances finally brought some measurable precipitation. Dry weather returned for a few days but then a strong cold front moved bring much cooler temperatures from the 17th to the 19th. The break was short-lived and warmer mercury readings and drier conditions dominated the balance of the month.
Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 71.8 degrees, not far off Denver’s long term average for August of 72.5 degrees. Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, it was much warmer with an average of 74.0 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 98.1 degrees on the 15th down to a low of 45.3 degrees on the morning of the 19th. Denver’s maximum reading of 98 degrees came on the 15th as well and its lowest reading of 43 degrees came on the 23rd.
We saw 18 days with high temperature readings above the 90 degree mark. Denver saw one more than that.
Two daily high temperature records were tied in Denver during the month, those coming on the 18th and 26th with readings of 98 and 97 degrees respectively. Additionally, two mornings in a row fell to record lows. The record low temperature for the 18th (47 degrees) was tied and the following day a new record low of 47 degrees was set.
In terms of precipitation, a paltry 0.87 inches fell in Thornton’s rain bucket. Out at the airport, Denver recorded 1.18 inches. Both were well below Denver’s long term average of 1.69 inches for August.
Click here to view Thornton’s August 2015 climate report.
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
244 AM MDT TUE SEP 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 105 08/08/1878
LOW 40 08/26/1910
08/25/1910
08/24/1910
HIGHEST 98 08/15 105 -7 91 08/19
08/17
LOWEST 43 08/23 40 3 52 08/31
08/30
08/25
AVG. MAXIMUM 89.8 87.2 2.6 83.8
AVG. MINIMUM 58.3 57.9 0.4 57.4
MEAN 74.0 72.5 1.5 70.6
DAYS MAX >= 90 19 11.5 7.5 4
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 5.85 1979
MINIMUM 0.02 1924
TOTALS 1.18 1.69 -0.51 2.73
DAILY AVG. 0.04 0.05 -0.01 0.09
DAYS >= .01 9 8.6 0.4 13
DAYS >= .10 4 4.3 -0.3 5
DAYS >= .50 1 1.2 -0.2 3
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.68 08/11 TO 08/11 08/25 TO 08/26
08/10 TO 08/11 08/31 TO 08/31
08/11 TO 08/11 08/31 TO 08/31
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 08/26(00) TO 08/26(00)
08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1
08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 13 10 3 2
SINCE 7/1 18 16 2 7
COOLING TOTAL 304 244 60 182
SINCE 1/1 713 688 25 613
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/189
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 38/260 DATE 08/31
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 47/340 DATE 08/09
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 23
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 45
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 15 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 4
LIGHT RAIN 12 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 5
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 4 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 8
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
August 2015 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow
As the calendar turns to August, the summertime heat begins to fade and that makes it easier to get out and enjoy all of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. From a walk in a park to afternoon thunderstorms to an abundance of wildlife, photo opportunities abound as is seen in our slideshow.
Our monsoon season typically arrives about now and that means better chances for moisture. However with limited instability, the intensity of storms are more sedate. That doesn’t mean however that the weather is any less photographic.
- Slideshow updated August 30, 2015
By the end of the month some of our seasonal feathered friends will be looking to leave the state giving our last chance to see them till spring. Larger mammals are gearing up for the rut (mating season) and that can make for some intense scenes.
Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather and nature related imagery. Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted.
To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.
| [flickr_set id=”72157656784854999″] |
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!
- Email: info@ThorntonWeather.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThorntonWeather
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Thorntonweather
- Twitter: @ThorntonWeather (https://twitter.com/thorntonweather)
Denver ties high temperature record for August 26
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s high temperature reached 97 degrees at 2:33pm. This ties the record for the date set in 1985 and 1936.
Today, here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler topping out at 95 degrees.
The event makes it the fourth temperature record set or tied in Denver this month.
On August 15 Denver tied the record high for the date (98 degrees). This was followed by record lows on August 18 and 19 (47 degrees on both days).
EPA Spill Conspiracy Theories Gain Traction in Utah Legislature
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Within days of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s accidental release of 3 million gallons of mining wastewater into the Animas River in Colorado, portions of the Internet frothed over with conspiracy theories that the EPA spill may not have been an accident. Now, that line of thinking has found its way to the Utah legislature. And… Continue reading EPA Spill Conspiracy Theories Gain Traction in Utah Legislature |