Colorado Weather, Natural Disasters

Satellite imagery captures explosion of West Fork Complex Fire, Papoose Fire and thunderstorms

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Satellites provide an amazing eye in the sky for monitoring the weather and climate.  Their usefulness today was once again proven as they captures wildfires exploding in Colorado’s southwest and thunderstorms to the northeast.

The satellite imagery animation comes from the NOAA GOES East satellite and was assembled by Colorado State University RAMSDIS.  It covers the period from 1:55pm to 4:40pm on Friday, June 21, 2013.

The tandem West Form Fire and Papoose Fire in southwestern Colorado are seen sending massive smoke plumes into the sky.  Afternoon thunderstorms are exploding in the northeastern corner of the state.

Colorado Weather, National Weather

Internet resources for wildfire information and education

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Wildfires are a very real danger here in Colorado.
Wildfires are a very real danger here in Colorado.

As wildfires burn across much on the western United States late this summer, the Internet can be a wealth of information for residents that are affected by these blazes or for anyone else. Resources are available for everything from the latest news updates, finding out where the fires are right down to the street level, to safety and education.

This list is by no means all inclusive – if you have a wildfire related link we are missing, please post a comment and let us know and we will update our list!

Updated 6/21/2013

National Level Agencies

Fire Mapping

Weather

Wildfire Imagery

Wildfire Education & Information

Wildfire Assistance

State Agencies

Colorado Weather

Tornado at Denver International Airport rated EF1

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The tornado near DIA sent workers working on the terminal renovations scrambling. (Rob Gardner)
The tornado near DIA sent workers working on the terminal renovations scrambling. (Rob Gardner)

The tornado that struck on the grounds of Denver International Airport (DIA) on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 has been rated an EF1 with winds up to 109 mph.  The twister came within a half mile of Concourses A and B and sent workers and travelers scrambling to tornado shelters.

Scroll down to see more photos of the tornado.

From the National Weather Service:

A tornado developed on Denver International Airport (DIA) grounds on the afternoon of June 18, 2013. The tornado formed around 2:19 PM just north of 70th Avenue. The tornado then moved slowly northwest between Runway 35R and 35L, and moved to within a half mile of Concourses A and B before dissipating at 2:36 PM. The tornado moved extremely close if not over the ASOS (Automated Surface Observation System) and another low level wind shear sensor at DIA. The ASOS weather observing system reported a 97 mph wind gust at 2:27 PM, while the wind shear sensor reported a wind gust to 109 mph at the same time – indicative of an EF1 tornado. There was only minor damage noted to this equipment. The storm responsible for this tornado first developed just south of the airport, and then drift slowly northward across the eastern side of DIA. At 2:05 PM, there was weak rotation beginning to develop underneath this storm as noted by the velocity data below. This rotation then strengthened quickly between 2:10 and 2:22 PM.

Examiner.com

Military deploys firefighters, aircraft to battle exploding Colorado wildfires

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For the second year in a row tinder dry conditions have allowed explosive wildfire growth in Colorado and once again the United States military is deploying resources to assist local firefighting efforts. Among the forces being called into action are massive Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) C-130 Hercules aircraft.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com including a video update on the Black Forest Fire

Among assets the U.S. military is deploying to battle wildfires in Colorado are MAFFS C-130s. (U.S. Air Force)
Among assets the U.S. military is deploying to battle wildfires in Colorado are MAFFS C-130s. (U.S. Air Force)

 

Examiner.com

Wildfires erupt across Colorado prompting evacuations, burning homes

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As the second of two days of record-setting temperatures started to come to a close, the tinder dry landscape in Colorado erupted in flame. Tuesday afternoon multiple blazes from the state’s south border to near the north sent residents scrambling to escape the advancing flames.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

Pyrocumulus clouds from the Black Forest Fire are seen from Colorado Springs on Tuesday, June 11, 2013.
Pyrocumulus clouds from the Black Forest Fire are seen from Colorado Springs on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. (Teri & Matt Bertrand)
Examiner.com

Extreme heat shatters four temperature records in two days in Denver

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Under a stubborn area of high pressure the Mile High City has been sweltering with unseasonably hot temperatures. The past two days saw four temperature records be broken as the mercury climbed to regions more akin to the middle of summer than June.  Thornton fell just shy of 100° today reaching “only 99°.  Officially though Denver hit the mark.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com

Denver, Colorado saw record-breaking heat with temperatures more like what was expected in July than early June.

Thornton Weather

Denver breaks two temperature records for June 10

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.Under the influence of strong high pressure, the mercury soared in the Mile High City on Monday and two temperature records fell.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the mercury reached a high of 99 degrees at 2:53 p.m.  This broke the previous record high temperature for June 10 of 97 degrees set in 1952.

Here in Thornton we were hot but not quite as hot.  Our high temperature topped out at 97 degrees at 2:35 p.m.  This is the highest temperature we have seen thus far this year and the highest reading in Thornton since July 21, 2012 (97.9 degrees).

If you thought the nighttime would bring relief from the heat, you were mistaken.  Denver’s official “low” temperature on Monday was only 68 degrees.  This set a new record high minimum for the date easily besting the previous record holder of  64 degrees last set in 1990.  Thornton was just slightly cooler with a low for the date of 66.8 degrees.

There won’t be much of a break in the heat in the coming days.  While it will be cooler than today, temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to continue to be well above normal.  Get the latest forecast here.

Examiner.com

NASA satellite video showcases deadly Tornado Alley severe weather outbreak

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Severe weather season had been relatively quiet during the first four months of 2013 but with the arrival of May Mother Nature unleashed her full fury. New satellite video released by NASA yesterday captures the last week of the month when tornadoes virtually exploded across the nation’s midsection.  Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com and / or click on the image below to view the video.

A person looks at cars damaged by a powerful tornado on June 1, 2013 in El Reno, Oklahoma. The tornado ripped through the area killing at least 9 people and injuring many and destroyed homes and buildings.
A person looks at cars damaged by a powerful tornado on June 1, 2013 in El Reno, Oklahoma. The tornado ripped through the area killing at least 9 people and injuring many and destroyed homes and buildings. Click the image to view a video of NASA satellite imagery of the deadly weather.
Examiner.com

2013 hurricane season begins: Tropical Storm Andrea set to hit Florida

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The unofficial start of the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 and Mother Nature has wasted no time in delivering its first named storm. Tropical Storm Andrea has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make landfall in Florida Thursday afternoon or evening. Get the complete story with forecast track maps, video and more on Examiner.com

Tropical Storm Andrea became the first named storm of the 2013 hurricane season and will make landfall in Florida on Thursday.
Tropical Storm Andrea will hit Florida on Thursday bringing wind, rain and storm surge. Click the image to view a slideshow of the storm’s forecast track and this morning’s satellite imagery.

 

Examiner.com

WeatherNation deploys to Denver market in partnership with 9NEWS

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Denver-based WeatherNation programming will now be seen on KUSA's digital channel 9.2 and COMCAST channel 249.WeatherNation TV has long been a ‘best kept secret’ for those seeking weather news and information without the unrelated programming offered by that other weather channel. Now the company has broken into the Denver television market with a partnership with 9NEWS KUSA extending their reach in their home city.

Once upon a time there was a cable network that could be trusted for weather news but that channel has strayed far from their roots and are but a shadow of their former selves.

Now, with WeatherNation TV, there is an alternative with 24/7 weather as it should be.   ThorntonWeather.com is happy to see them arrive in the Mile High City.  Get more details on where you can watch WeatherNation TV in this story on Examiner.com.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.