Flooding in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. Rising waters prompted one government officials to call it 'a disaster of biblical proportions.' (Flickr / Michael Jefferies) Click the image for more photos of the Australian flooding on Examiner.com.
Residents of Australia’s state of Queensland are facing an extraordinary deluge following record-setting rain. In recent weeks an unusually heavy rainy season coupled with Tropical Storm Tasha has affected an area of land bigger than France and Germany combined.
Queensland’s state treasurer Andrew Fraser told media last week, “It is a disaster of biblical proportions.”
NASA satellite measurements of the rainfall indicated from 10 to 16 inches of rain fell within a week. Many rivers have overrun their banks including the Fitzroy River which is sending water into the city of Rockhampton.
Disaster declarations have been made for an area encompassing 366,000 square miles and 41 of Queensland’s 73 municipalities. An estimated 200,000 residents are affected by the floods and tens of thousands have been evacuated.
Government officials said 22 towns were either entirely flooded or isolated by flood waters. At least 10 deaths have been attributed to the flooding and rivers have yet to crest.
The housing areas of Fort Leonard Wood were devastated by a New Year's Eve tornado. View more images in the slideshow below. (4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)
An unusual New Year’s Eve tornado outbreak brought on twisters across Arkansas and Missouri causing widespread destruction. Seven lives have been reported lost and one tornado struck Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army base in northwestern Missouri.
Strong thunderstorms spawned the tornado outbreak that included 44 tornado reports although the actual number of twisters is likely much lower once duplicates are removed. Three fatalities were recorded in Arkansas, four in Missouri.
Preliminary damage assessments from the National Weather Service indicate the two most significant tornadoes were EF-3 twisters packing winds as high as 150 mph.
Slideshow: Fort Leonard Wood Army base devastated by New Year's Eve tornado
At the Army post in Pulaski County, images show extensive damage to structures at the base, many of which were part of the base housing and training areas. Officials said that only four minor injuries were sustained at the base.
View images of the destruction at Fort Leonard Wood in the slideshow to the right. For more on this story, visit the Natural Disasters Examiner and these stories:
Like any other month in Denver January can yield a wide variety of conditions. The month is pretty consistently our coldest but by the end of the month we do start to see temperatures slowly start to climb. Big time snow can and does happen but more often than not the month is quite dry – in fact it is our second driest month of the year.
The real story in January is oftentimes the wind. Warm but potentially damaging Chinook winds appear with greater frequency and can be a blessing and a curse. Conversely, cold Bora winds bring dangerous wind chills during the month.
January 2 to January 8 - This week in Denver weather history
Certainly cold and snow are to be expected in Denver in January and our look back at this week in Denver weather history has plenty notable events with those conditions. However, as we pointed out in our January weather preview, oftentimes it is the wind that is the real story. Powerful Chinook winds appear during the month and we see the damaging – and sometimes deadly – results when we look back in time.
31-6
In 1973…the 31st marked the start of a protracted cold spell that extended into January of 1974 when temperatures dipped below zero on 7 consecutive days. Record daily minimum readings occurred on the 3rd and 5th when the temperature plunged to 17 degrees below zero on both days. A record low daily maximum temperature of only 4 degrees occurred on the 5th.
31-7
In 1941…a protracted cold spell through January 7…1942… Produced below zero low temperatures on 7 of the 8 days. A low temperature of 2 degrees on the 3rd prevented a string of 8 days below zero. The coldest days during the period were the 1st with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 9 degrees below zero…the 4th with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 11 degrees below zero…and the 5th with a high of 26 degrees and a low of 12 degrees below zero.
1-2
In 1896…warm Chinook winds on the 1st became cold Bora winds on the 2nd. Southwest winds sustained to 60 mph with gusts as high as 66 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees on the 1st. Northwest winds sustained to 54 mph with gusts to 60 mph resulted in snowfall of 0.3 inch and a high temperature of only 31 degrees on the 2nd.
1-5
In 1940…the first days of the month were characterized by a mixture of drizzle…light snow…and fog. Fog occurred on each day. On the 4th and 5th considerable glazing resulted from freezing drizzle. All objects were coated with a glaze on the windward side. This resulted in very slippery streets…which caused several minor traffic accidents. The glaze was not heavy enough to damage wires and cables.
With drought conditions beginning to set in across northeastern Colorado, the end of year snowstorm brought at least a little bit of relief. Thornton recorded just over 3 inches of snow while Denver officialy records 2.9 inches out at Denver International Airport.
Our east webcam captured the event and we put together a time lapse video compressing 24 hours from 8:00am on December 30th to 8:00am on December 31st. It is fun to watch but we find ourselves wishing there was more of it!
The March 2003 blizzard that buried Thornton in snow was ranked as the top weather event of the past 10 years. (ThorntonWeather.com)
There is a lot that can be said about the weather in Colorado but ‘boring’ is not usually a term associated with it. Anyone who has lived in the Centennial State for very long quickly experiences a weather-related event that will give them memories for a lifetime.
From major snowstorms and blizzards to tornadoes, wildfires, scorching heat and damaging hail storms Colorado weather can and does bring it all to the table. The Denver office of the National Weather Service has released a list of what local meteorologists rank as the top 10 weather events of the past 10 years.
For some it may be a blizzard that buried the Mile High City in a heavy blanket of snow and brought everything to a standstill. Others will remember the heavy smoke from fires burning in the mountains destroying hundreds of thousands of acres. The tragedy tornadoes bring to Colorado in terms of destruction and loss of life may be what others remember.
Over the past 10 years many memorable weather events have occurred that fully display the sheer variety of weather Colorado receives. A team of meteorologists serving Colorado analyzed these events and ranked them based on meteorological intensity and their human and economic impact.
A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing snow will be in effect for Thornton. Click the image to view our Winter Weather Briefing page. (National Weather Service)
Update, 1:10pm – A lull in the storm. Snow will taper off for just a little bit this afternoon before picking back up before rush hour.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect and the National Weather Service is forecasting 5 to 10 inches total accumulation of snow. In Thornton we have recorded 1/2 inch so far and in the end we will likely be at the lower end of the forecast range. Click here to view the latest storm reports.
As expected the real story is the temperatures. Thornton hit its high temperature today of 32.5 degrees at 1:52am and it has all been downhill from there. With winds around 10 mph gusting to 20 mph wind chills have now dipped into the single digits.
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Original story, 7:25am – The snow and cold are running a bit behind but they are on their way. Thornton and the rest of the Denver metro are set to get our first winter storm of the season and a Winter Storm Warning has been issued.
A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing snow will go into effect for the Denver metro area at 9:00am and run through 6:00am on Friday. The storm system is pushing its way through northeastern Colorado and as it does temperatures will plummet and snow will begin to fall.
Look for the snow to gradually start this morning with the heaviest period being late this afternoon and into tonight. Total snow accumulations in Denver are forecast to be in the 5 to 10 inch range. Here in Thornton we will likely be on the lighter side of that range. The Front Range foothills and Palmer Divide may see up to a foot.
The snow that initially falls will likely melt due to the warm ground however as temperatures drop roads will become icy and slick. Extreme caution should be used, particularly late this afternoon and into tonight.
While we are looking at a decent bit of snowfall, there isn’t a lot of moisture in this system. As a result look for the snow to be light and fluffy. This will make it easy to shovel but when winds pick up it creates a blowing snow hazard and visibility may be impacted.
This sets the stage for near blizzard conditions, particularly in open areas to the northeast. The National Weather Service has indicated a Blizzard Warning may be issued in some areas later today if conditions warrant.
Temperatures are the other big aspect of this storm system. The mercury will be dropping throughout the day and by 5:00pm it will be down to 14 degrees with overnight lows approaching zero.
The winds, coupled with the bitter Arctic cold, will create dangerous wind chill conditions. Late afternoon will see wind chills near zero and overnight they will dip to near 15 degrees below zero.
Anyone planning outdoor activities or traveling needs to be prepared. Ensure you have adequate clothing and emergency supplies. For more information be sure to check out our Winter Weather Preparedness links below.
Airlines and Colorado Department of Transportation prepare for storm
At Denver International Airport (DIA) airlines began waiving fees for passengers wanting to change their travel plans. Continental, United and Frontier all said they were expecting delays and possibly cancellations from the storm and were operating accordingly. Our Airport & Flight Status page has details.
A Winter Storm Warning will go into effect Thursday morning. Thornton may see 5 to 10 inches of snow out of the system.
The National Weather Service has upgraded what was a Winter Storm Watch to a warning and is now forecasting 5 to 10 inches of snow. Everything seems to be aligning for Thornton and the rest of the Denver metro area to see its first winter storm of the season.
Most of the computers models are coming together with a solution that will pass a low pressure system across southern Colorado. This solution sets things up for a significant winter weather event with accumulating snow across most of northeastern Colorado.
The Winter Storm Warning will go into effect at 9:00am Thursday and run through 6:00am Friday and is for snow and blowing snow. Snow will gradually start Thursday morning in the pre-dawn hours and then increase in intensity before noon. Throughout the day and into early morning Friday the snow will continue.
Accumulations from 5 to 10 inches are possible with some isolated areas receiving more. The snow will be joined with gusty winds to 35 mph and bitter Arctic cold temperatures that will send wind chill temperatures plumetting.
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Tomorrow morning’s commute may be a bit messy depending on the timing of the start of the snow. The afternoon rush hour may be a doozy. The one possible consolation will be that the snow is likely to of the relatively dry type that we see this year so shoveling shouldn’t be too bad.
The cold that is accompanying this storm is the other notable aspect. Thursday will see a high temperature around 23 degrees – nearly 30 degrees cooler than today. Further that high temperature will be achieved around midnight. After that the mercury will fall to around 16 degrees by 6:00pm with wind chills into the single digits.
Overnight lows Thursday night will be near zero. Friday sees little in the way of improvement in terms of temperature with a forecast high of only 15 degrees. As the clouds clear out late Friday that will allow for even colder nighttime temperatures Friday night with the mercury likely dipping to below zero.
As this storm hits conditions will likely become hazardous for travel and residents should be prepared. For more information on what you can do to get ready and protect your family, be sure to check out the links below for our series on Winter Weather Preparedness.
Before and after pictures of the northeastern U.S. show the impact of the hurricane-looking storm. (NOAA)
From the southern United States to the mid-Atlantic and New England a major winter storm has had a wide impact in recent days. Some areas of the south recorded their first Christmas snow in decades and as the storm moved further northeast it turned into a major blizzard.
Snow fell as far south as Jacksonville, Florida over the holiday and areas further north recorded moderate snowfall. Huntsville, Alabama saw 6 inches of snow; Raleigh, North Carolina saw 8.5 inches and Gatlinburg, Tennessee recorded 8.0 inches.
Those totals are minimal however to what is being deposited on a large area from New York City to Boston. Central Park has reported 13 inches and Brooklyn 17.5 inches. In New Jersey Atlantic City reported 19.0 inches while Foxboro, Massachusetts has seen 11.5 inches.
Travel across the northeastern U.S. came to a standstill as travel by road, rail and air was impacted. Thousands of flights into and out of the area were canceled as airports in New York and New Jersey shuttered. Airlines at Denver International Airport were impacted by the storm and its ripple effect.
A furor erupted when the National Football League announced it would postpone the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings and move it to Tuesday. The league cited concerns for fan safety however many were quick to point out that it is highly unusual for the NFL to postpone a game based on snow of any amount.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell told FOX, “It’s an absolute joke. We’re becoming a nation of wussies.”
Certainly it is hard to see Denver taking similar measures in the face of a snowstorm. 🙂
We have provided complete coverage of the storm on Examiner.com – Please follow the links below for more details:
December 26 to January 1 - This week in Denver weather history
Winter wind in Colorado can be quite nasty oftentimes reaching damaging levels and we see numerous occurrences of that in our look back at this week in Denver weather history. Also notable are storm system just a few years ago in 2006 and 2007 that dumped a good amount of snow on the Denver area.
25-26
In 1904…after a warm Christmas Day with a high temperature of 50 degrees…a late day cold front plunged temperatures to a low of 7 degrees…produced northeast winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 54 mph…and produced 5.2 inches of snow overnight for a late white Christmas. The maximum temperature on the 26th was only 16 degrees.
25-31
In 1980…temperatures were unusually warm during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. High temperatures for the week ranged from the mid-50’s to the mid-70’s. Four temperature records were set. Record highs occurred on the 26th with 68 degrees…the 27th with 75 degrees…and the 30th with 71 degrees. A record high minimum temperature of 41 degrees occurred on the 27th.
26
In 1877…heavy snow fell during the early morning and totaled nearly 6 inches. Precipitation from melted snow was 0.58 inch. After the snowfall…a number of sleighs were seen on the city streets.
In 1879…after a morning low of 4 degrees below zero… The temperature climbed to a high of 57 degrees in the city.
In 1907…west winds were sustained to 40 mph. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 62 degrees.
In 1949…west winds gusted to 50 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1998…intense…but localized…downslope high winds developed near Wondervu in the foothills southwest of Boulder. Winds frequently gusted to 100 mph with a highest reported wind gust to 104 mph. West winds gusted to only 43 mph at Denver International Airport.
Like any other month in Denver January can yield a wide variety of conditions. The month is pretty consistently our coldest but by the end of the month we do start to see temperatures slowly start to climb. Big time snow can and does happen but more often than not the month is quite dry – in fact it is our second driest month of the year.
