Weather History

August 21 to September 3 – This Week in Denver Weather History

Leave a comment
August 21 to September 3 - This Week in Denver Weather History
August 21 to September 3 - This Week in Denver Weather History

So who is ready for some snow? Along with many other notable weather events, it was this week in Denver history when we received our earliest snowfall on record!

From the National Weather Service:

19-30

In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.

27-28

In 2004…a brief chilly spell resulted in three temperature records. The high temperature of 55 degrees on the 27th was a record low maximum for the date. The low temperature of 48 degrees on the 27th equaled the record minimum for the date. The low temperature of 42 degrees on the 28th was a record minimum for the date.

28

In 1887…a dry thunderstorm produced north winds to 48 mph but only a trace of rainfall.

In 1968…one man was seriously injured by lightning while riding on a roller coaster at a Denver amusement park. An airline employee was injured when lightning struck a jetliner he was servicing at Stapleton International Airport. A lightning-caused fire did extensive damage to one house and minor damage to several others in the city of Denver.

In 1970…a microburst wind gust to 53 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.

In 2002…a severe thunderstorm produced 3/4 inch diameter hail near Parker.

In 2005…lightning sparked a small fire near Jamestown. The blaze was quickly contained and consumed less than an acre.

29

In 1876…after the passage of a gentle rain shower to the east during the late evening hours…the moon shone brightly and a remarkably bright lunar rainbow appeared.

In 1910…an apparent cold front produced sustained northeast winds to 40 mph.

In 1946…the high temperature warmed to only 55 degrees…the record low maximum for the month.

In 1989…a spectacular lightning display knocked out power to 300 blocks in southeast Denver. One bolt started a fire in a lumber yard in the northeast part of the city…and the attic of a home in the same area was set ablaze by a lightning bolt.

In 1996…3/4 inch diameter hail was measured in Parker.

In 2000…lightning struck two homes in Thornton. The extent of damage was unknown.

In 2002…two small tornadoes caused damage in southeast metro Denver. The first tornado…associated with a multi-vortex storm…touched down briefly near E-470 and South Jordan Road. Some fences were damaged…and a few trees were blown down. A few of the homes also sustained minor roof damage. Damage from this storm totaled 100 thousand dollars. The second tornado associated with the storm touched down in a subdivision that was under construction at Gartrell and Arapahoe roads. Four large condominiums under construction were destroyed. The most heavily damaged portions of the structures were still in the framing stages. Adjacent sections where enclosed walls were in place were not destroyed. A man suffered 4 broken ribs and several cuts and bruises when the trailer he sought shelter in was flipped three times and torn apart by the twister. Damage from this storm totaled 6 million dollars. A severe thunderstorm produced 1 inch diameter hail near Evergreen.

In 2006…severe thunderstorms produced large hail in the foothills west of Denver. Hail to 1 inch in diameter fell near Blackhawk. Hail as large as 7/8 inch was measured near Idaho Springs…along with 3/4 inch hail near Nederland and conifer.

Continue reading August 21 to September 3 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Thornton Weather

In two days Denver ties on temperature record, breaks another

Leave a comment
One high temperature record was tied and another broken over the past two days.
One high temperature record was tied and another broken over the past two days.

If you thought with the kids heading back to school summer was coming to an end Mother Nature has other plans.  The hot weather continues and in the past two days it has reached record setting heights.

Yesterday, August 23rd, Denver hit a high temperature of 98 degrees as measured at Denver International Airport.  This tied the previous record high for the date last set in 2009 and previous years.  Thornton fared a bit cooler as we ‘only’ reached 96 degrees.

Despite forecasts calling for cooler temperatures today, the mercury just kept on climbing and topped out at 98 degrees at 3:17pm.  This broke the old record high temperature of the date of 97 degrees set 75 years ago in 1936.  Mercifully, Thornton again was cooler with a high of 95 degrees.

As with all Denver records since 1995 when the National Weather Service moved the city’s official monitoring station to DIA, the records come with an asterisk.  That move of 12 miles has resulted in consistently higher temperatures than what is seen at the historical site at Stapleton or closer to downtown.

Another official station, located at Denver City Park, provides evidence of this over the last two days.  The station is much closer to where historical records were taken and thus can be more accurately used to compare to the past.

That station recorded a high of 97 degrees yesterday and 95 degrees today.  Neither of these would be records had Denver’s station not made the move to a different microclimate at DIA.

Read more about this problem with Denver’s climate records on Examiner.com: The fallacy of Denver’s climate records: Weather station move skews data

Natural Disasters

A whole lotta shakin’ going on: Earthquakes rattle southern Colorado

Leave a comment
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was the largest of 11 temblors to hit southern Colorado in the past 24 hours. (USGS)
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was the largest of 11 temblors to hit southern Colorado in the past 24 hours. (USGS) Click the image for more maps of the recent quakes on Examiner.com.

Nearly a dozen earthquakes have hit southern Colorado in the past 24 hours including a strong magnitude 5.3 temblor, the largest in the state since 1973.  The quakes are occurring nearly 10 years ago to the date that a similar earthquake swarm struck the same area near Trinidad.

Yesterday morning a minor magnitude 2.9 quake struck but that was merely a warm up for what was to follow.  A magnitude 4.6 quake then struck in the evening followed by the magnitude 5.3 quake just before midnight.

The USGS reports that the most powerful quake was felt as far away as the Denver metro area.  Some homes and highways were damaged in the area of the quake.

For the complete story on the quake, be sure to read the story on Examiner.com: Earthquake swarm strikes Colorado; Strong magnitude 5.3 biggest of 11 temblors

You can also monitor earthquake activity in Colorado on our earthquake page here.

Weather History

August 21 to August 27 – This Week in Denver Weather History

Leave a comment
August 21 to August 27 - This Week in Denver Weather History
August 21 to August 27 - This Week in Denver Weather History

Denver’s weather is not often boring. Lightning, hail, tornadoes and even swarms of grasshoppers have made appearances this week in Denver weather history.

From the National Weather Service:

19-30

In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.

21

In 1876…heavy thunderstorm rain and hail struck the city. Hail stones as large as partridge eggs accumulated to a depth of 1 1/2 feet over eastern portions of the city. The heavy rainfall flooded streets and gutters. However… No significant damage was reported. Rainfall totaled 0.85 inch in central Denver.

In 1903…a thunderstorm produced west winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 48 mph.

In 1957…heavy thunderstorm rainfall and hail over the bear creek basin flooded portions of State Highway 8 in and near Morrison. There was also minor property damage in Morrison.

In 1995…a 68-year-old woman was struck by lightning while standing near a tree in Brighton.

In 2006…a severe thunderstorm produced 7/8 inch diameter hail in Franktown.

22

In 1898…an apparent thunderstorm produced southwest sustained winds to 40 mph with gusts to 43 mph.

In 1903…a late afternoon thunderstorm produced rain…hail… And east winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 44 mph.

In 1904…the lowest recorded temperature in August…40 degrees…occurred. The same temperature also occurred on three consecutive days…August 24…25…and 26 in 1910.

In 1965…heavy rain and hail caused some damage from flooding over northern Douglas County from Castle Rock to Franktown.

In 1981…thunderstorms moved across metro Denver. At least 5 funnel cloud sightings were reported. Funnel clouds were seen at 96th Ave. and Sheridan Blvd. And at 92nd Ave. and Federal Blvd. in Westminster and 7 miles north of Stapleton International Airport. Lightning injured two people in Boulder. A quarter inch of rain fell in just 5 minutes in Brighton. Up to 3/4 inch of rain doused Parker in 30 minutes.

In 1983…3/4 inch diameter hail was reported at Kittredge… Along with 0.60 inch of rain in 25 minutes.

In 1984…a thunderstorm dumped 4 inches of rain on Brighton in 90 minutes…causing extensive street flooding in the downtown area.

In 1987…over an inch of rain fell in 24 hours throughout most of metro Denver. A public library suffered water damage to the ceiling…carpet…and a few books. Rainfall was 0.76 inch at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1990…lightning knocked out power to about 2500 homes in Lakewood for about an hour.

In 1991…National Weather Service personnel at Stapleton International Airport sighted an apparent tornado briefly on the ground 3 miles west-northwest of the airport. No damage was reported.

In 1995…lightning struck 3 electrical power substations in Louisville. Residences of more than 4500 people were without power from 30 minutes to more than an hour.

In 1996…between 1 and 3 inches of rain fell across metro Denver. As a result…several low lying areas were flooded. A bicyclist was swept into a fast moving creek when he tried to cross a flooded bike path. The man was washed downstream about 15 feet before getting snagged by a tree stump. He and a man who tried to rescue him received minor injuries. The heavy rain caused numerous power outages…false fire alarms…and traffic accidents. In Lakewood…telephone service to around 60 thousand residents was knocked out when a switching center was flooded. Funnel clouds were sighted near Chatfield Reservoir and Highlands Ranch.

In 2000…lightning sparked a blaze which gutted a 10-unit apartment building in Highlands Ranch. Twenty-eight people were left homeless. Damage was estimated at 2 million dollars.

In 2007…severe thunderstorms produced large hail…up to 1 1/4 inches in diameter…in the vicinities of Castle Rock… Elizabeth and Franktown.

Continue reading August 21 to August 27 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Thornton Weather

Video captures stage collapse in powerful winds at Indiana State Fair

Leave a comment
This video screen capture shows the stage at the Indianapolis State Fair as it collapsed. (YouTube / JSilas7)
This video screen capture shows the stage at the Indianapolis State Fair as it collapsed. Watch the video below. (YouTube / JSilas7)

Winds alone are not normally associated with the loss of life but a sad reminder of the dangers was seen at the Indianapolis State Fair on Saturday.  Powerful thunderstorm winds downed a stage killing five people and injuring dozens while officials appeared to ignore warnings of the impending danger.

The Natural Disasters Examiner wrote in a story on Monday that the warning signs for severe weather in central Indiana were readily apparent as early as two days before the storm.

The National Weather Service discussed the thunderstorm and high wind dangers in its Hazardous Weather Outlook multiple times.  A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued hours before and a Warning 10 minutes before.

Despite this, officials at the fair failed to make a timely decision to cancel the Sugarland concert.  When the winds, estimated at 50 to 70mph struck, it only took a matter of seconds for the stage’s rigging to collapse.  Five people died and more than 40 were injured due to their failure.

The tragedy should serve as a reminder to everyone to pay attention to changing weather.  Do not ignore weather watches and warnings, no matter what others are doing.  The life you save may be your own.

The video below captures the event with shocking clarity.  It may be disturbing for some so viewer discretion is advised.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected by the tragedy.

Astronomy

As seen from space: Space station astronauts capture image of Perseid meteor shower

Leave a comment

Once a year the nighttime sky is lit up with fragments of Comet Swift-Tuttle.  The Perseid meteor shower peaked last week and while a bright full moon limited viewing on Earth, astronauts on the International Space Station captured stunning imagery of the event.

Every 133 years Comet Swift-Tuttle makes a pass through the inner solar system spewing dust and gravel behind it. According to NASA, the debris zone is so wide that the Earth spends weeks inside of it.

The fragments from the comet slam into our atmosphere at an astounding 144,000 miles per hour and light up the night sky as they burn up. Most of these meteoroids are the size of grains of sand but some can be as large as marbles.

Called Perseids because they seem to fly out of the constellation Perseus in the northeast August sky, the end result is a bevy of shooting stars across the night sky.  This past Saturday, the ISS crew was able to grab an image of a meteoroid shooting into the atmosphere as the station passed over China.

Image taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station on August 13, 2011.
Image taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station on August 13, 2011. (NASA)

From NASA:

Many people have spent time outdoors under a dark sky, watching for “shooting stars” to streak across the firmament. In some cultures, this event is an occasion to make a wish; in others it is viewed as a herald of important events, such as the birth of a future ruler. While not actual stars, “shooting stars” do come from outer space, in the form of meteoroids entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Meteoroids are small objects moving through the solar system that are attracted to the Earth by its gravitational pull. These small objects—typically fragments of asteroids or comets, though they can also originate from the Moon or Mars—begin to heat and burn up as they collide with air molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, creating a bright vapor trail or streak. At this point, the object is known as a meteor. If any remnant of the object survives to impact the Earth’s surface, it becomes known as a meteorite. While most meteorites are natural in origin, on occasion manmade space debris can reenter the atmosphere and also become a meteor or even a meteorite!

This astronaut photograph, taken from the International Space Station while over China (approximately 400 kilometers to the northwest of Beijing), provides the unusual perspective of looking down on a meteor as it passes through the atmosphere. The image was taken on August 13, 2011, during the Perseid Meteor Shower that occurs every August. The Perseid meteors are particles that originate from Comet Swift-Tuttle; the comet’s orbit is close enough for these particles to be swept up by the Earth’s gravitational field every year—leading to one of the most dependable meteor shower displays.

Green and yellow airglow appears in thin layers above the limb of the Earth, extending from image left to the upper right. Atoms and molecules above 50 kilometers in the atmosphere are excited by sunlight during the day, and then release this energy at night, producing primarily green light that is observable from orbit. Part of a space station solar panel is visible at image upper right; behind the panel, a bright region indicates the Sun low on the horizon.

Astronaut photograph ISS028-E-24847 was acquired on August 13, 2011, with a Nikon D3S digital camera using a 22 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by the Expedition 28 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast. Lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by William L. Stefanov, Jacobs/ESCG at NASA-JSC.

Climate Change

NCAR: Arctic ice might shrink due to global warming… Or it might not

Leave a comment
Arctic sea ice has long been thought to be a harbinger of climate change. A new study indicates that it is as likely to grow as shrink in the coming years. Credit: UCAR / Carlye Calvin
Arctic sea ice has long been thought to be a harbinger of climate change. A new study indicates that it is as likely to grow as shrink in the coming years. Credit: UCAR / Carlye Calvin

Having seen many of their predictions proven false, climate change alarmists have taken on a new tact in the last couple of years – whether hot or cold, snowy or balmy, manmade climate change is to blame. A new study from NCAR continues that trend saying Arctic ice may shrink or it may grow, take your pick.

A new study by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) shows that Arctic sea ice is “as likely to expand as it is to contract for periods of up to about a decade.”

NCAR scientist Jennifer Kay, the lead author of the study said, “The computer simulations suggest that we could see a 10-year period of stable ice or even a slight increase in the extent of the ice.  Even though the observed ice loss has accelerated over the last decade, the fate of sea ice over the next decade depends not only on human activity but also on climate variability that cannot be predicted.”

Utilizing a single climate model, the study authors speculate that fluctuations in the sea ice will increase due to a warming climate and thinning ice.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases are not the only reason for the decline of the ice.

Scientists attributed half of the decline to “climate variability.”  This seems at odds with the results from the UN’s IPCC’s AR4 report which dismisses natural climate variability as a reason for increased global temperatures.

The statement from NCAR said that the computer model used by the scientists “has certain biases” however it is unclear how that would have affected the results of the modeling that was performed.  A recent study has demonstrated that computer models are significantly underestimating the Earth’s ability to dissipate heat.

Reliable sea ice measurements have only become a reality since 1979 when satellites started observations.  However, data suggests that as recently as 5,500 years ago during the Holocene Thermal Maximum the Arctic had considerably less ice than what it does today.

This story was originally published on Examiner.com.  Be sure to check out the Climate Change Examiner for the latest global warming and climate change news.

Natural Disasters

Satellites capture images of Antarctica ice shelf breaking apart from Japanese tsunami

Leave a comment
Before (left) and after (right) photos of the Sulzberger Ice Shelf illustrate the calving event associated with the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011. The icebergs have just begun to separate in the left image.
Before (left) and after (right) photos of the Sulzberger Ice Shelf illustrate the calving event associated with the Japan earthquake and resulting tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011. The icebergs have just begun to separate in the left image. Click the image for a larger view.

Nearly 8,000 miles away the power of the tsunami caused by the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake was felt in a resounding fashion. New satellite imagery released by NASA shows 50 square miles of ice from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf on the coast of Antarctica being broken off due to the waves.

Scientists have speculated that a tsunami could cause flexing of ice and result in pieces breaking off.  The quake and resultant tsunami in Japan have now proven that theory.

NASA researchers utilized imagery from the European Space Agency’s Envisat satellite.  The before and after pictures clearly show numerous icebergs having been calved from the shelf.

18 hours after the quake, the tsunami reached Antarctica.  Imagery taken just prior to the waves reaching the Sulzberger Ice Shelf show it complete intact.  Five days later, imagery shows massive icebergs floating away from the shelf.

The tsunami is estimated to have been only one foot high when it reached the Earth’s southernmost continent.  However the stress was enough to break apart the 260 foot thick shelf and calve an area of ice equal to the size of Manhattan Island in New York.

Douglas MacAyeal of the University of Chicago and one of the researchers who made the discovery said the event shows how connected the planet’s systems are.

“This is an example not only of the way in which events are connected across great ranges of oceanic distance, but also how events in one kind of Earth system, i.e., the plate tectonic system, can connect with another kind of seemingly unrelated event: the calving of icebergs from Antarctica’s ice sheet,” MacAyeal said in a statement.

Satellite imagery from governments and private industry has been useful to scientists and the public in analyzing the disaster.  NASA has trained its eyes in the sky on the disaster struck region and Google has released stunning imagery from its partners.

This story was originally posted on Examiner.com for the Natural Disasters Examiner.  Be sure to check there for the latest natural disasters news.

Weather History

August 14 to August 20 – This Week in Denver Weather History

Leave a comment
August 14 to August 20 - This Week in Denver Weather History
August 14 to August 20 - This Week in Denver Weather History

Severe weather is a fact of life in Colorado during the summer months and while August is historically relatively calm, that isn’t always the case. In our look back at this week in Denver weather history we see the dangers of lightning, incidents of large hail and flooding rains and even a tornado.

From the National Weather Service:

14

In 1960…a bolt of lightning struck a man in Henderson… Causing serious burns.

In 1962…the temperature climbed to a high of 100 degrees at Stapleton Airport.

In 1968…a young man on a golf course in Denver was injured when lightning struck a tree under which he was standing. Lightning caused minor damage to a house in Denver. Heavy thunderstorm rain caused local street flooding. One inch diameter hail fell at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield.

In 1973…winds as high as 85 mph damaged 20 aircraft at the Arapahoe County airport…now centennial airport.

In 1977…three tornadoes were sighted in Bennett. A man suffered a broken leg when hit by a flying board. He was outside his camper home…which was destroyed. All windows were broken in a near-by farmhouse where some shingles were ripped off and a 2 car garage was knocked down. Several vehicles were damaged and a cat…some rabbits…and chickens were killed. A broken oar from a boat was driven into the side of a house. A mobile home was overturned. One old barn was destroyed. Half a dozen homes and several agricultural buildings were damaged just west of State Highway 79.

In 1978…high winds produced much blowing dust…causing many traffic accidents in the Denver-Boulder area. Winds gusts of 70 to 101 mph were recorded. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1980…lightning hit two power poles in Littleton…causing 400 dollars in damage. Rainfall of 1.23 inches in a short time caused minor flooding…which included damage to a ground floor apartment and partially submerging a few vehicles in water. Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.98 inch at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1983…2.10 inches of rain drenched Golden in an hour with similar amounts in Lakewood and Boulder. Over ten thousand dollars worth of plants were washed away at a nursery in Lakewood.

In 1997…twelve motorists were injured in a multi-car accident when strong microburst winds estimated to 50 mph blew blinding dust across I-70 near Bennett.

In 1998…lightning struck a hydro-electric plant in Nederland… Causing a power outage. Residents in the foothills west of Boulder…including Nederland…Ward…Eldora…Jamestown… And Gold Hill…were without power for about an hour.

In 2006…heavy thunderstorm rainfall near Deckers washed away some the banks along State Highway 67 between Deckers and Westcreek. Several driveways on both sides of the highway were also damaged.

15

In 1899…a thunderstorm produced southwest sustained winds to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph.

In 1972…a pilot reported a funnel cloud briefly touching the ground in open fields…17 miles east-northeast of Stapleton International Airport.

In 1980…thunderstorm winds gusted to 55 mph in Boulder.

In 1982…brief heavy rain and winds estimated as high as 70 mph occurred in the conifer-Evergreen area. No damage was reported.

In 1990…lightning triggered a small attic fire in a house near Sedalia…20 miles south of Denver. A furious lightning storm caused widespread power outages across southern sections of metro Denver. One lightning bolt knocked out an electrical substation…causing a 90-minute blackout in southeast Denver affecting nearly 10 thousand homes and businesses.

In 2007…severe thunderstorms produced large hail…up to 2 inches in diameter…near larkspur. Extensive damage to vehicles in the area was reported.

In Parker…lightning struck a residence. The ensuing fire damaged the attic and top floor; causing $100000 in property damage.

In 2008…at least three homes were hit by lightning during the early morning hours in Arapahoe County. Lightning also struck two homes in Castle Rock…damaging the roofs.

Continue reading August 14 to August 20 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.