All posts by Thornton Weather

ThorntonWeather.com is your local source for live Thornton, Colorado weather conditions and news!
Severe Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather Education

National Weather Service adds storm spotter training in the north Denver area

Leave a comment
On June 3, 1981 a tornado struck Thornton in what is the worst twister to have struck the Denver metro area. Are you ready should disaster strike again? Image courtesy the City of Thornton archives.

Last month the National Weather Service announced the first batch of storm spotter training sessions for the spring but notably missing was any in the north metro area.  That has now been rectified as two sessions at Front Range Community College were added for next week.

Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado – from blizzards to tornadoes we can and do see it all.  Each year the weather is responsible for claiming lives in our state and across the nation and the threat is very real.  Storm spotter training allows you to learn how to protect yourself and your family while providing a public service.

Education is key to knowing how to protect you and your family.  Whether you want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather, storm spotter training can provide you an incredible opportunity to learn.

The National Weather Service Denver / Boulder office has announced a series of storm spotter training dates for Colorado for the 2011 season.

The storm spotter program is a nationwide program with more than 280,000 trained spotters.  These volunteers report weather hazards to their local National Weather Service office providing vital information when severe strikes.  Data from spotters include severe wind, rain, snow measurements, thunderstorms and hail and of course tornadoes.

Storm spotters are part of the ranks of citizens who form the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. There can be no finer reward than to know that their efforts have given communities the precious gift of time–seconds and minutes that can help save lives.

By completing one of these training classes you can become an official storm spotter.  When severe weather strikes, you can report it by calling a special toll free number or submit your report via the National Weather Service’s website.

These are great sessions for anyone wanting to learn more about the severe weather we experience in Colorado, whether you want to be an official spotter or not.  All training is free.  Topics include:

  • Basics of thunderstorm development
  • Fundamentals of storm structure
  • Identifying potential severe weather features
  • Information to report
  • How to report information
  • Basic severe weather safety

To learn more about the program, see here: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/awebphp/spotter.php

Below are the dates, times and locations announced thus far with the first occurring today.  At the current time only one is in the north metro area but more may be added. We will try to keep this updated but you can click here for any new dates on the National Weather Service website.

March, 2011 – Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
14 Castle Rock, CO
(Douglas County)		 6:30pm MDT Black Feather Condominium Club House 403 Black Feather Loop Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104
Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com
15 Westminster, CO
(Adams County)		 3:30pm MDT Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
15 Centennial, CO
(Arapahoe County)		 6:30pm MDT Arapahoe County Sheriff Dept. 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO
Contact Information: CStelter@co.arapahoe.co.us
15 Westminster, CO
(Adms County)		 7:00pm MDT Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room B1101…note room change. Westminster, CO 80031
Contact Information: Rachel.Humphrey@Colorado.EDU
21 Sedgwick, CO
(Sedgwick County)		 6:30pm MDT Sedgwick Fire Department on US 138 on east side of town
Contact Information: sedgwickoem@yahoo.com
22 Holyoke, CO
(Phillips County)		 1:00pm MDT Phillips County Fairgrounds Event Center Holyoke, CO
Contact Information: philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop
22 Haxtun, CO
(Phillips County)		 6:30pm MDT Haxtun Volunteer Fire Dept.
Contact Information: Robert.glancy@noaa.gov
29 Akron, CO
(Washington County)		 6:30pm MDT Washington County Events Center, Washington County Fairgrounds
Contact Information: mmccaleb@co.washington.co.us
31 Greeley, CO
(Weld County)		 6:30pm MDT Weld County Training center, 1104 H Street Greeley, co
Contact Information: Rrudisill@co.weld.co.us
April, 2011 – Upcoming
Day City, State Time Location
04 Sterling, CO
(Logan County)		 6:30pm MDT Sterling Public Library 425 North 5th Street Sterling, CO
Contact Information: OWENS@sterlingcolo.com
05 Fort Morgan, CO
(Morgan County)		 6:30pm MDT note location change to: American Legion Hall 121 Nelson Road Fort Morgan, CO
Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us
08 Denver, CO
(Denver County)		 6:30pm MDT Metropolitan state college of denver Tivoli Union, Room 440
Contact Information: Robert.Glancy@noaa.gov
09 Kiowa, CO
(Elbert County)		 9:00am MDT Elbert County Public Health 75 Ute Avenue, Kiowa, CO
Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov
12 Parker, CO
(Douglas County)		 7:00pm MDT South Metro Fire Parkglenn HQ 10235 Parkglenn Way Room A & B Parker, CO
Contact Information: p.lundquist@comcast.net
16 Commerce City, CO
(Adams County)		 10:00am MDT Adams County OEM 4201 East 72nd Ave (2nd floor) Commerce City, CO 80022
Contact Information: r1@rampartsar.com
20 Brush, CO
(Morgan County)		 6:30pm MDT Brush Fire Department 1220 West Edison Brush, CO
Contact Information: zach.evelyn@brushfd.com
26 Elizabeth, CO
(Elbert County)		 6:30pm MDT Elizabeth Library 651 West Beverly Elizabeth, CO 80117
Contact Information: cory.stark@elbertcounty-co.gov
30 Fort Collins, CO
(Larimer County)		 9:00am MDT Fort Collins Police Community Room at 2221 South Timberline Road, Fort Collins
Contact Information: n7dq@comcast.net
Colorado Weather

NASA satellite captures image of what may become the next national park in Colorado

Leave a comment

National parks are some of the nation’s most valuable and beautiful areas.  Colorado is home to four of them and NASA satellites recently captured images of what may become our next one.

Colorado National Monument sits southwest of Grand Junction and contains extraordinarily beautiful and rugged terrain.  In 1907, John Otto wrote of the area saying, “I came here last year and found these canyons, and they feel like the heart of the world to me. I’m going to stay and build trails and promote this place, because it should be a national park.”

Otto would not see his dream realized.  Instead, in 1911, President William Howard Taft established the Colorado National Monument through a Presidential Proclamation.

Senator Mark Udall has recently revived the push to turn this area into a national park.  While this would take an Act of Congress, it could be done and Colorado National Monument could become the state’s fifth national park.

NASA’s Landsat 7 flew over the area on March 6th and captured the image from its perch 438 miles above the Earth.

March 6, 2011 - Colorado National Monument as seen by NASA's Landsat 7 satellite.
March 6, 2011 - Colorado National Monument as seen by NASA's Landsat 7 satellite.

Continue reading NASA satellite captures image of what may become the next national park in Colorado →

Weather History

March 6 to March 12 – This Week in Denver Weather History

Leave a comment
March 6 to March 12 - This Week in Denver Weather History
March 6 to March 12 - This Week in Denver Weather History

March is Denver’s snowiest month and it is not unusual for us to receive heavy, wet snows during this time. Our look back at this week in Denver weather history highlights many such events.

From the National Weather Service:

4-6

In 1931…a cold front with north winds gusting to 35 mph on the evening of the 4th brought snowfall on the 5th into the early morning of the 6th. Heavy snowfall totaled 6.2 inches. Temperatures plunged from a high of 58 degrees on the 4th to a low of only 22 degrees by midnight…which was also the high reading on the 5th.

In 1983…a slow moving moisture laden storm produced heavy snow and rain. Two to three feet of snow fell in the foothills at Wondervu and Nederland. The southern portion of metro Denver was buried with 26 inches of snow in southeast Aurora…25 inches at Franktown…and 19 inches at Littleton. Snowfall totaled 18.7 inches at Stapleton International Airport with most of the snow…18.0 inches… Falling on the 5th. Brighton received only 11 inches of new snow. Boulder was drenched by rain and received no snow. Precipitation from the storm totaled 3.06 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 28 mph. The heavy wet snow snapped many tree limbs…which fell on power and phone lines causing many outages. Numerous highways were closed. Two thousand travelers were stranded at Stapleton International Airport where only one runway was open for a time. Many flights were canceled. One home in Denver was severely damaged when its roof collapsed under the weight of the heavy snow. The 2.68 inches of precipitation on the 5th was the greatest calendar day precipitation ever recorded in the city during March. The 2.79 inches of precipitation on the 4th and 5th was the greatest 24 hour precipitation ever measured during March.

5-6

In 1935…3.0 inches of snow fell in downtown Denver. This was the only measurable snow of the month. Northwest winds gusted to 29 mph on the 5th.

In 1940…heavy snowfall totaled 9.1 inches over downtown Denver. North winds gusted to 22 mph.

In 2000…high winds developed in and near the foothills just prior to the passage of an upper level storm system moving in from the west. Peak gusts from the windstorm included: 88 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research near Boulder…82 mph in Boulder…80 mph at the national wind technology center south of Boulder…79 mph on Rocky Flats…and 71 mph in Golden Gate Canyon. Several power lines were downed causing a few brief outages. Thunderstorms produced southeast wind gusts to 51 mph at Denver International Airport on the 5th.

In 2003…high winds spread from the mountains down the eastern slopes. The highest wind gusts were 85 mph atop the Gamow Tower on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder and 70 mph at the national wind technology center on Rocky Flats west of Broomfield. West winds gusted to 44 mph at Denver International Airport on the 6th.

Continue reading March 6 to March 12 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s February weather wrap – Cooler and drier than normal

Leave a comment

Denver's February 2011 weather reviewFebruary 2011 in the Mile High City was a relatively uneventful one.  Temperatures were below normal and we received less snow and precipitation than what is typical for the month.

In terms of temperature, Denver officially recorded an average of 29.1 degrees during February as measured at Denver International Airport.  While this is 4.1 degrees below normal, it was not cold enough to make ‘top 10’ status.  Temperatures ranged from a high of 67 degrees on the 16th all the way down to a low of -17 on the 2nd.  Neither of these was a record.

Here in Thornton we were slightly warmer with an average temperature of 29.6 degrees.  We recorded a high of 69.3 degrees on the 16th and a low of -14.7 degrees on the 2nd.

One temperature record was set during the month and one tied.  A new record low maximum was set on the 1st when the high temperature only climbed to -1 degrees.  This broke the previous record of 2 degrees set in 1985.  On the 8th the low maximum temperature of 8 degrees tied the mark last set in 1933.

In terms of snowfall, the month saw us record 5.3 inches – 1 inch below normal for February.  This continued the trend for the snow season of below normal snowfalls and by the end of the month we were more than 20 inches below normal.  Nearly half of that snow, 2.6 inches, fell during one storm on the 7th and 8th of the month.  In all, only five days had snow and all of those were before the 9th of the month.

Precipitation was similarly below normal.  A total of 0.42 inch was recorded which was 0.07 inch below the normal 0f 0.49 inch.  Most of that was recorded during the same event that we received the biggest snow of the month mentioned above.  Precipitation was recorded on five days with two of those recording 0.10 inch or more.

Thornton matched the Denver snowfall total of 5.3 inches.  However we received much less precipitation from those snows and recorded only 0.29 inch of liquid moisture.

Below is the official Denver climate summary for February 2011.  Click here to view Thornton’s February climate report.

CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
830 PM MST TUE MAR 1 2011

...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2011...

CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2011

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR'S
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE  DATE(S)
                                          NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              77   02/28/2006
                        02/04/1890
 LOW              -25   02/01/1951
                        02/08/1936
HIGHEST            67   02/16        77     -10       52  02/27
LOWEST            -17   02/02       -25       8       -1  02/09
AVG. MAXIMUM     43.4              47.2    -3.8     39.7
AVG. MINIMUM     14.7              19.1    -4.4     18.5
MEAN             29.0              33.2    -4.2     29.1
DAYS MAX >= 90      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MAX <= 32      7               4.3     2.7        8
DAYS MIN <= 32     25              26.0    -1.0       28
DAYS MIN <= 0       6               0.3     5.7        1
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
 RECORD
  MAXIMUM         2.01   1934                                          
  MINIMUM         0.01   1970  
TOTALS           0.42              0.49   -0.07     0.30               
DAILY AVG.       0.01              0.02   -0.01     0.01               
DAYS >= .01         5               5.9    -0.9        9
DAYS >= .10         2                MM      MM        0
DAYS >= .50         0                MM      MM        0
DAYS >= 1.00        0                MM      MM        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    0.19   02/07 TO 02/08     0.10  02/07/10 TO 02/08/10
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL           22.1  1912
TOTALS            5.3               6.3     -1.0      5.8
SINCE 7/1        18.1              39.6    -21.5     46.0

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL     999               892     107      999
 SINCE 7/1       4151              4489    -338     4807
COOLING TOTAL       0                 0       0        0
 SINCE 1/1          0                 0       0        0              

FREEZE DATES
RECORD
 EARLIEST     09/08/1962
 LATEST       06/08/2007
EARLIEST                        10/07
LATEST                          05/05
.................................................................

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              10.6                     7.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   3/206                   MM
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    38/250  DATE  02/20    25/360 2/18
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    46/010  DATE  02/07    35/210 2/01

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM    * SUNSHINE DATA DISCONTINUED 10/2009

NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR            6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC             19
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY          3

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     52

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                0     RAIN                       0
LIGHT RAIN                0     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0     HAIL                       0
HEAVY SNOW                1     SNOW                       4
LIGHT SNOW                5     SLEET                      0
FOG                      11     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      5
HAZE                      5                                           

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s March 2011 weather preview – Ch-ch-changes

Leave a comment

Thornton's March weather previewColorado’s weather is notoriously fickle capable of dispensing an entire gamut of weather in a very short period of time.  The month of March typifies this as we can see everything  from major snowstorms and bitter cold to summer-like temperatures and tornadoes.

These changes are due to Marches “in between” status – elements during the month have much in common with winter and spring. In addition to arctic fronts, Pacific storms frequently move across Colorado from the west and warm moist air streams up from the Gulf of Mexico northeastward into the state. When these cold fronts collide with the warmer air masses the result can be some crazy weather.

What kind of weather have we seen in March and what can we expect this year? Get the details in our complete March 2011 preview here.

Weather History

February 27 to March 5 – This Week in Denver Weather History

Leave a comment
February 27 to March 5 - This Week in Denver Weather History

As we wrap up February and head into March, our look back at this week in Denver weather history reminds us that winter weather conditions can and do still happen.  We see numerous reports of bitter Arctic cold, damaging winds, and heavy snowfall.

22-29

In 1960…heavy snowfall of 6.1 inches at Stapleton Airport on the 22nd and 23rd marked the beginning of a protracted cold spell which lasted until the end of the month.  The cloudy… Cold weather was accompanied by occasional light snow or flurries and fog.  New record low temperatures for the dates were set on the 24th thru the 29th with the lowest temperature of 11 degrees below zero on the 28th.  The seven consecutive days of low temperatures of zero or below had been exceeded in duration only 4 times previously.  New low maximum temperatures for the dates were set on the 23rd… 24th…and the 26th thru the 29th with the lowest maximum temperature of 8 degrees recorded on the 26th.

26-27

In 1893…heavy snowfall totaled 7.9 inches in downtown Denver.  Most of the snow…6.7 inches…fell on the 27th. Northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph with gusts to 30 mph behind an apparent cold front.

In 1939…heavy snowfall of 8.1 inches was the heaviest of the month in downtown Denver.  North winds sustained to 21 mph on the 26th and to 28 mph on the 27th caused much drifting.  The greatest snow depth on the ground was 7.8 inches at noon on the 27th.

In 1987…a snowstorm dropped 4 to 8 inches of snow across metro Denver…causing flight delays at Stapleton International Airport where snowfall totaled 3.8 inches and north winds gusted to 24 mph.  Both I-70 and I-25 were closed for a time to the east and south of Denver.

27

In 1896…northwest winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to 58 mph.

In 1902…northwest winds were sustained to 50 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.  The high temperature was 44 degrees.

In 1918…a post-frontal heavy snow storm developed over downtown Denver.  Snowfall totaled 8.4 inches and north winds were sustained to 30 mph with a maximum velocity to 32 mph.

In 1963…west winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton Airport.

In 1974…a wind gust to 99 mph was recorded in Boulder. West winds gusted to 43 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 2009…a strong wind gusts blew a trailer in the path of two vehicles along State Highway 36…between Boulder and Lyons.  The two vehicles were in the northbound lane when a wind gust blew a fifth-wheel trailer into their path… As it approached from the opposite lane.  The trailer left the road surface…and collided with the top left side of the first car; causing extensive damage.  A van following the first vehicle then struck the trailer. The driver of the van suffered facial injuries.

Continue reading February 27 to March 5 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Colorado Weather, National Weather, Thornton Weather

NASA satellite reveals January had fifth largest snow cover in past 45 years

Leave a comment
NASA satellite imagery reveals that at one point in January 2011 the nation saw its fifth largest snow cover extent. Click the image for a larger view. (NASA)
NASA satellite imagery reveals that at one point in January 2011 the nation saw its fifth largest snow cover extent. Click the image for a larger view. (NASA)

How much snow has fallen this season in Colorado all depends on where you are.  The high country has continued to see snowfall far in excess of normal while here on the Plains we remain mostly dry.  For the nation, a new NASA satellite image reveals that 71 percent of it was covered in snow at one point last month.

The new image (right), taken by NASA’s Terra satellite using its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), reveals a snow covered contiguous United States in January.

The image uses false colors to show the snow extent and the length of time it was on the ground.  White areas were completely covered with snow for most of the month whereas the pale green areas had snow for part of the month or were only partly snowy.

On January 12, 71 percent was covered in snow – the fifth largest amount of snow cover in the past 45 years.  In fact, 49 of the 50 states had snow thanks to a significant winter storm that pummeled the Gulf Coast states with Florida being the only hold out.

Despite the expansive snow cover, the National Climatic Data Center said that January 2011 was the ninth-driest January in the United States since 1894.  Further, while snow reached the Gulf Coast states, the southern half of the nation has been very dry with a large area from stretching Arizona to Virginia considered in various stages of drought.

Eastern Colorado is now seeing areas of moderate to severe drought as the lack of snowfall we have seen takes its toll.  In Denver we have recorded only 18.1 inches of snow so far this season – 21.5 inches below what we would normally see through the end of February.  Thornton has barely fared better recording 18.5 inches so far.

From Examiner.com:

Related:

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Proposed National Weather Service budget cuts would impact Thornton residents

1 Comment
A proposed 30% cut in the National Weather Service's budget could lead to greater loss of life. (Examiner.com)
A proposed 30% cut in the National Weather Service's budget could lead to greater loss of life. (Examiner.com)

The National Weather Service is the nation’s frontline of defense against many forms of threats from Mother Nature.  As the sole agency responsible for issuing weather related warnings and alerts, a proposed massive cut in the budget for the service could have dire consequences.

Colorado’s weather is as varied as any state in the union.  Our true four seasons allow us to witness the entire gamut of weather from scorching hot summers to winters buried in feet of snow to springtime severe weather with damaging and deadly tornadoes.  Knowing what is going on with the weather is critical in allowing us to protect ours and families’ lives.

Budget cuts being proposed in Washington DC could severely decrease the accuracy and frequency of weather related information we receive.  A massive cut of $126 million to the National Weather Service’s budget is being proposed – a full 30% cut in funding for a service that provides information that saves lives every day.

When you view a detailed forecast on ThorntonWeather.com that is specifically for Thornton, you are viewing data provided by the National Weather Service.  Our radar imagery, weather radio, the watches and warnings that we post – all originate from the National Weather Service.

Continue reading Proposed National Weather Service budget cuts would impact Thornton residents →

Natural Disasters

New Zealand suffers ‘darkest day’ as at least 65 killed in earthquake

Leave a comment
A building's facade lies in the street after the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. (TwitPic / bebe33)
A building's facade lies in the street after the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. Click the image to view a slideshow. (TwitPic / bebe33)

Christchurch, New Zealand was struck by a powerful magnitude 6.3 earthquake on Tuesday that wreaked havoc across the nation’s second largest city.  Buildings were reduced to rubble and people buried alive in what is being called the ‘darkest day’ in the New Zealand history.

The quake, which struck at 12:51pm local time and at a shallow 3.1 mile depth, has been followed by a serious of significant aftershocks.  The seven additional temblors have ranged from magnitude 4.1 up to magnitude 5.6.

In September the area was struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake and recovery efforts from that quake were still underway when the new quake struck.  Buildings that were already weakened by last year’s quake, then the initial quake today struggled to hold up with the ongoing aftershocks.

Prime Minister John Key said, “It is just a scene of utter devastation.  We may well be witnessing New Zealand’s darkest day.”

Digging through the rubble to reach those who may yet be buried remained a priority.  At least 65 people have been confirmed killed but as rescuers continue to search collapsed buildings and they fear the toll may rise further.   Continue reading New Zealand suffers ‘darkest day’ as at least 65 killed in earthquake →

Climate Change

Aspen symposium hosts global warming cheerleader Al Gore

Leave a comment
Despite having been proven wrong in the past, at a symposium in Aspen this weekend Al Gore once again tried to tie recent severe weather to global warming.

Former Vice President Al Gore spoke at the “Forests at Risk: Climate Change and the Future of the American West” symposium in Aspen this weekend issuing a dire warning about global warming. Gore told the crowd, “It’s unprecedented and we really have to face up to it.”

The Nobel Laureate and author of the book and movie “An Inconvenient Truth” warned that the pine beetle infestation striking Colorado forests was caused by manmade climate change.  “If you love the forest and you care about what’s happening to them, the No. 1 connection that’s happening to them is warmer temperatures,” Gore told the compliant crowd.

The Denver Weather Examiner reports:

Utilizing a slideshow to demonstrate his point, Gore said, “The linkage these scientists have referred to over and over again with global warming is something some people resist but it’s a fact.”

Using the common refrain that significant weather events are related to man’s actions affecting the climate, Gore pointed to recent flooding in Brazil and Australia and last year’s flooding in his home state of Tennessee as evidence of this.

…
Gore’s attempts to draw parallels between weather and climate change have gotten him into trouble in the past.  He was forced to pull images from his popular presentation two years ago that showed an increase in natural disasters when it was found it could not be proven.  NASA’s top climate scientist Dr. James Hansen has rebuked Gore saying he needed to be more “careful” in his claims.

The claims that Gore made at the symposium have been refuted in the past but he remains undeterred.  Get more details on what the former VP said as well as counter arguments on the Denver Weather Examiner.