Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Storm spotter training gets started this coming week

February 28, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Want to be an official storm spotter or maybe just want to learn more about severe weather? Here’s your chance!

We have written before about the great opportunity the National Weather Service provides by giving storm spotter training during the start of the severe weather season. That time is now here and training sessions start in the coming week and new sessions have been added since we last reported on the topic.

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.

Don’t think tornadoes can hit Thornton? Click here for a look back at the June 3, 1981 twister that hit the city!

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

Here are the dates, times and locations announced thus far (click here to go to the NWS site for the latest).


March, 2009 – Upcoming
Day	City, State	Time	Location
05	Greeley, CO (Weld County)	6:30pm MST	Weld County Training Facility 1104 H Street Greeley, CO
	Contact Information: rrudisill@co.weld.co.us
19	Westminster, CO (Adams County)	6:30pm MDT	Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room C0804 Westminster, CO 80031
	Contact Information: Ryan.Girard@frontrange.edu
23	Julesburg, CO (Sedgwick County)	6:30pm MDT	Julesburg Fire Hall
	Contact Information: ptsports57@yahoo.com
24	Holyoke, CO (Phillips County)	9:00am MDT	location to be determined.
	Contact Information: Philcoadmin@pctelcom.coop
24	Haxtun, CO (Phillips County)	6:30pm MDT	location to be determined
	Contact Information: fix5@haxtuntel.net
30	Westminster, CO (Adams County)	2:30pm MDT	Front Range Community College 3645 West 112th Ave. room C0804 Westminster, CO 80031
	Contact Information: Ryan.Girard@frontrange.edu
31	Sterling, CO (Logan County)	6:30pm MDT	Sterling Fire Hall Community room, 420 S. Oak Street
	Contact Information: OWENS@sterlingcolo.com

April, 2009 – Upcoming
Day	City, State	Time	Location
02	Loveland, CO (Larimer County)	9:00am MDT	Rialto Theater 228 East 4th Street Loveland, CO 80537
	Contact Information: mialyp@ci.loveland.co.us
02	Fort Collins, CO (Larimer County)	7:00pm MDT	City Council Chambers 300 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins, CO
	Contact Information: nilssoed@co.larimer.co.us
06	Brush, CO (Morgan County)	7:00pm MDT	Morgan County Fairgrounds Ellsworth Street, Brush
	Contact Information: senfante@co.morgan.co.us
14	Commerce City, CO (Adams County)	1:00pm MDT	Adams County Sheriff’s Dept. 4201 East 72nd Avenue Commerce City, CO 80022
	Contact Information: JSchwarz@co.adams.co.us
22	Akron, CO (Washington County)	6:30pm MDT	Washington County Fairgrounds Event Center, Akron
	Contact Information: mmcaleb@co.washington.co.us
23	Parker, CO (Douglas County)	7:00pm MDT	Parker Fire District HQ 10235 Parkglenn Way Parker, CO
	Contact Information: kc0mht@msn.com

May, 2009 – Upcoming
Day	City, State	Time	Location
02	Denver, CO (Denver County)	9:00am MDT	Denver Police Station 3 1625 South University, Denver
	Contact Information: Mike.Rappe@denvergov.org

Climatology, Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Denver and Thornton’s March 2009 climatological preview

February 28, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

March in Denver typically means frequent and rapid weather changes. The days grow longer and we start enjoying more sunshine and sometimes summer-like weather. However, on occasion arctic air masses can still force their way south into Colorado dropping temperatures quickly and markedly.

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.

Get all the details in our March 2009 climatological preview here.

Thornton Weather

Red Flag Warning for most of Colorado highlights extreme fire danger

February 6, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

The entire eastern half of Colorado is under a Red Flag Warning through Friday evening.

The National Weather Service has updated the Red Flag Warning and it will now go into effect at 9:00am today and run through 9:00pm. Further, the warning now covers the entire eastern half of the state of Colorado and in fact extends to the south and east into parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. This of course covers the entire Denver metro area and the Front Range.

The extension and widening of the warning should serve to really drive home how dry things are and how serious the fire conditions are. Please be sure to take appropriate precautions as we certainly would like to avoid any wildfires.

RED FLAG WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
456 AM MST FRI FEB 6 2009

…Dry and windy conditions across the plains and lower foothills today…

Very dry air will combine with strong winds to produce increased fire danger over the foothills and plains of northeast Colorado today. Winds will gust as high as 40 mph on the plains this afternoon with gusts to 50 mph in the foothills. Minimum humidities will range from 10 to 15 percent. Conditions will improve on the plains around sunset…with warm and breezy conditions lingering in and near the foothills through the early evening hours.

…Red Flag Warning now in effect from 9 am this morning to 9 pm mst this evening for gusty winds and low humidities…

The Red Flag Warning is now in effect from 9 am this morning to 9 pm mst this evening. A Red Flag Warning is now in effect for all of the plains and foothills areas of eastern Colorado… Including fire weather zones 235…236…and 238 through 251.

West winds of 20 to 35 mph will become widespread in and near the southern Front Range foothills this morning…and spread across the plains by afternoon. Gusts as high as 50 mph are possible in the foothills. Relative humidities will drop into the 8 to 15 percent range. The combination of the gusty winds…low humidities and dry fuels will create very high fire danger. The gusty winds will decrease and the relative humidities will increase this evening.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent. Please advise the appropriate officials and fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning.

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

The weather is nice but what Denver needs is moisture

February 5, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

The Denver weather has been nice but we are extremely dry and in need of some moisture.

This week we have had some extraordinarily nice weather and it has been great. The mountains are certainly having a great year for snow with all of the major basins exceeding 100% of average for snowpack. However, here along the Front Range and the plains, we are bone dry and well below normal for snowfall.

As of today, Denver has received only half of its normal amount of snow for this point in the snow season which runs from July through June. By the first of February, we normally should have received 33.3 inches. To date for the 2008 – 2009 season we have received a mere 16.9 inches of snow as measured at Denver International Airport. Closer to the central part of the city, Stapleton has been even drier with only 13.1 inches of the white stuff to date.

For a complete look at how bleak the moisture has been along the Front Range, check out the details in our Examiner.com story.

For all the details, read the rest of this story on our Denver Weather Examiner page.

Examiner.com - Get inside Denver weather

Thornton Weather

Red Flag Warning in effect for Denver and the Front Range

January 22, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Denver and the Front Range Thursday from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

While we have all enjoyed the record January warmth of recent days but that does come at a price. The warm temperatures, dry wind and very low humidity have dried much of the area out to a dangerous state.

Today we have one more warm day before we return to more seasonable weather. With temperatures climbing into the 60’s, humidity as low as 5 percent and a west wind that will pick up later today, the fire danger is very real. As we saw a couple weeks ago with the Olde Stage Road Fire, it doesn’t take much beyond a spark to set off a fire that can spread very quickly with as dry as it is.

The potentially dangerous conditions have caused the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning that will be in effect from 11:00am today through 6:00pm this evening.

Red Flag Warning
National Weather Service, Denver
544 am MST THU JAN 22 2009

……Red Flag Warning today from 1100 to 1800 MST…for Front Range foothill zones 215 and 216 below 8000 feet…and for the I-25 urban corridor zones 238..239..240 and 241 in northeast Colorado…

One more day of unseasonably warm and very dry conditions will be accompanied by periods of gusty Chinook winds resulting in critical wildland fire conditions in and near the front range foothills in northern Colorado. Minimum relative humidities will range from 5 to 15 percent with maximum temperatures in the 60 to 70 degree range. This is as much as 25 degrees above average for the date. Furthermore west winds in and near the foothills are expected to increase later the morning…with gusts this afternoon to 40 mph in the foothills and to 30 mph on the nearby plains.

Fuels are also quite dry in the area with no precipitation in the area for some time. These critical wildland fire conditions are expected to improve this evening with dry downslope winds subsiding…and a shift to a more humid east wind overnight with a weak cold front backing into northeast Colorado.

…Red Flag Warning in effect from 11 am this morning to 6 pm MST this afternoon…

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Red Flag Warning…which is in effect from 11 am this morning to 6 pm MST this afternoon.

Unseasonably warm temperatures…gusty west winds and very low relative humidities will combine with very dry fuels to produce critical wildland fire conditions in and near the Front Range foothills late this morning through this afternoon. Foothill areas below 8000 feet and lower elevations west of I-25 are more likely to see these conditions develop.

Get more local news and weather information on Examiner.com.

This article and many more are posted to the Denver Weather Examiner site.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or imminent. Please advise the appropriate officials and fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning.

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

Denver officially breaks high temperature record for this date

January 21, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Denver officially broke the record high temperature for January 21st, reaching 71 degrees.

It’s official. As reported earlier this morning on our Examiner.com pages, we had a decent shot at breaking the all time record high temperature for this date and we have done it. At 1:28pm today the temperature at Denver International Airport reached 71 degrees, breaking the old record of 70 degrees set in 1950. Here in Thoronton we didn’t get quite that warm, “only” reaching a high of 69 degrees.

Thursday we will be a bit cooler and “only” reach 65 degrees – still 20 degrees above normal though. Enjoy the next 36 hours or so though as Friday bring change – see our Examiner.com morning forecast here for details.

Get more local news and weather information on Examiner.com.

This article and many more are posted to the Denver Weather Examiner site.

Visit Examiner.com for more local Denver news and weather.

Local News, Thornton Weather

Thornton needs snowbusters!

January 13, 2009 Thornton Weather 1 Comment

The City of Thornton is looking for snowbusters to help remove snow for seniors and disabled residents.

Editor’s comment – This is a great way to ‘give back’ to the community and help those who truly need it. From the City of Thornton:

Winter is coming: Snowbusters needed
Snowbuster volunteers help dig out neighbors in need

THORNTON, CO…Winter is on the way, and while the snow isn’t here yet, Snowbuster volunteers are needed now. Snowbusters is a snow removal program that helps fixed-income seniors and disabled residents who can’t remove snow from their sidewalks. Snowbuster volunteers are paired-up with a neighbor in their area, and when it snows, the Snowbuster goes into action clearing their neighbor’s sidewalk. “These Snowbuster volunteers make a valuable difference in the lives of those in need,” says Thornton Arts and Volunteer Specialist Heather Kailey. “Their work is really appreciated.”

After each storm, Snowbuster volunteers:

have 36 hours to shovel their partner’s sidewalks
have 48 hours to clear the snow If more than eight inches fall
don’t have to worry about driveways, they are not included in this volunteer service

“Snow removal not only provides safe sidewalks for residents, but also for delivery persons and Meals on Wheels staff,” says Kailey. “It’s just a great service for those in need, and it really doesn’t take that much effort from the Snowbuster volunteer.”

Click here for more information.

* ThorntonWeather.com is not endorsed by or an official website of the City of Thornton.

Thornton Weather

Winter Weather Advisory issued for the Front Range

January 12, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Current ThorntonWeather.com webcam image.

Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow. Areas under the advisory include the Denver metro area and areas south to Castle Rock as well as some of the mountain areas (see advisory map below). The storm seems to be lingering over the Front Range longer than expected but the snowfall is still expected to end quickly late this morning.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
757 AM MST MON JAN 12 2009

..Winter weather advisory in effect until 11 am MST Tuesday…

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow and areas of blowing snow…which is in effect until 11 am MST Tuesday.

Snow…heavy at times…will continue within the greater Denver metro area…the southern Front Range foothills and the palmer divide south of Denver. A band of moderate to heavy snow now over the Denver metro area will continue to move south over the palmer divide south of Denver within the next hour. In addition to snowfall…areas of blowing snow will significantly reduce visibilities at times.

Snowfall is expected to taper off rather quickly later this morning…first over the northern Denver metro area and then eventually over the palmer divide and southern foothills by early this afternoon.

Additional snow accumulations by noon today will range from 1 of 3 inches in Boulder and across the northern Denver suburbs to another 3 to
6 inches in the southern Denver and over the palmer divide.

In addition…north winds of 15 to 25 mph will produce areas of blowing snow and very poor visibilities especially over the higher terrain south and southeast of Denver.

A winter weather advisory means that snow…blowing snow…or freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities…and use caution while driving.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the Front Range until 11:00am Monday.

Thornton Weather

Batten down the hatches – here comes the wind again

January 6, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Much of the western and northern Front Range will be under a High Wind Watch starting tonight.

The relative calm of recent days is about to be replaced with high winds not unlike what we saw last week. Winds will increase tonight and continue through Wednesday east of the Continental Divide. Areas west of I-25 to the Divide and in the north and central mountain areas will be under a High Wind Watch from late tonight through Wednesday night.

Much like last week, the usual suspect areas west of I-25 are the places to watch. Fort Collins, Boulder and the western suburbs of Denver are going to get the worst of the wind. The Peak to Peak Highway, Highway 287 north of Fort Collins, the Boulder Turnpike west of Broomfield, and Highway 93 between Boulder and Golden are naturally going to be prime targets.

Wind gusts in excess of 80 mph can be expected in these areas but as we saw last week, other parts of the metro area can receive their fair share of wind as well. As usual, it is best to put away anything in your yards that could be become a missile and if you are driving in the high wind areas, particular along a north / south route, be prepared for extremely gusty conditions.

Get more local news and weather information on Examiner.com.
This article and many more are posted to the Denver Weather Examiner site.

Visit Examiner.com for more local Denver news and weather.

The good news is that the downslope winds will also bring warmer temperatures – not that you will want to be outside in the wind. Wednesday we will be well above normal with temperatures in the mid 50’s and Thursday could reach the low 60’s. There is a slight chance of snow Friday but that isn’t looking to amount to much.

Thornton Weather

Strong winds hit Thornton and the Front Range

December 30, 2008 Thornton Weather 1 Comment

High winds hit the metro area on Tuesday morning.

High winds have hit the Front Range with gusts exceeding 80mph in some areas. These winds are extremely gusty and have the potential to cause damage and can make driving conditions difficult.

A High Wind Warning remains in effect for much of the Front Range and foothills until 8:00am (see area map below). While Thornton is not in the warning area, we have received our fair share as ThorntonWeather.com recorded a 51mph gust earlier this morning. In the near term, west winds of 15 to 30 mph gusting to 45 mph are expected all along the I-25 corridor. Gusts as high as 75 mph will occur near the base of the foothills and areas in northern Jefferson County, Boulder County and Larimer County in particular will receive the highest winds.

These winds will cause blowing dust and drivers on north-south roads need to be wary as the cross winds could cause a loss of control. It would not be surprising to hear of accidents with light weight or high profile vehicles this morning. Power outages are of course a possibility as well.

From the National Weather Service, here are some of the recorded gusts across the Front Range:

05:48 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: ASOS
BROOMFIELD COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF BROOMFIELD

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 78.00 MPH ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL AIRPORT

05:48 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO – MASONVILLE

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 59.00 MPH

05:15 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF ERIE

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 77.00 MPH

04:45 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF ERIE

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH

04:20 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 69.00 MPH NCAR MESA LAB

03:28 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
WELD COUNTY, CO – 21 MILE NORTH OF NEW RAYMER

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 76.00 MPH

02:48 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO – LAKEWOOD

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH

02:10 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 1 MILE WEST OF ELDORADO SPRINGS

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 66.00 MPH

12:30 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF BOULDER

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 67.00 MPH

12:30 AM 12/30/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO – 9 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 82.00 MPH ROCKY FLATS – NATIONAL WIND TECHNOLOGY CENTER

11:15 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES NORTH OF LONGMONT

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 84.00 MPH

10:39 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO – BERTHOUD

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 91.00 MPH CARTER LAKE

09:36 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES NORTH OF LONGMONT

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 71.00 MPH

09:14 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO – ROCKY FLATS

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 78.00 MPH

09:06 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: TRAINED SPOTTER
LARIMER COUNTY, CO – BERTHOUD

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 88.00 MPH AT CARTER LAKE

07:35 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 2 MILES SOUTH OF BOULDER

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 65.00 MPH NCAR MESA LABS

07:21 PM 12/29/2008 REPORTED BY: MESONET
BOULDER COUNTY, CO – 3 MILES EAST OF GOLD HILL

NON-T-STORM WIND GUST MEASURED AT 81.00 MPH

A High Wind Warning is in effect for much of the western part of the Front Range through 8:00am Tuesday.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.