Thornton Weather

Tornado Watch issued for all of eastern Colorado including Thornton

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A Tornado Watch is in effect for eastern Colorado through 9:00pm Tuesday night. (NWS)
A Tornado Watch is in effect for eastern Colorado through 9:00pm Tuesday night. (NWS)

Update, 7:10pm – Most of the ‘action’ has shifted north of the metro area into Weld County. Multiple tornadoes have been spotted. Residents of Greely, Lockbuie, Fort Morgan and surrounding areas need to be aware of these severe weather conditions.

For the metro area, things have settled down a bit. However, a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 9:00pm. There remains a chance of an isolated thunderstorm moving off the foothills with severe wind, rain, hail and possibly tornadoes.

Have pictures of the severe weather? Email them to info@thorntonweather.com and we will post them!

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You can monitor the weather situation closely with these pages on ThorntonWeather.com:

Update, 5:05pm – The Severe Thunderstorm Warning that covered parts of the metro area has expired. However, a Tornado Watch remains in effect until 9:00pm for all of eastern Colorado including Denver.

Thus far the Front Range has been spared any tornadoes but there has been activity elsewhere in the state. One tornado was reported two miles east of Rockport in Weld County and another one mile east of the rest area near the Wyoming border, also in Weld County. No damage has been reported.

Update, 4:10pm – The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for western Adams, northeastern Denver and south central Weld County.  Radar indicates a severe thunderstorm that could produce one inch diameter hail over northern Denver and moving north at 25 mph.

Areas under this warning include Lochbuie, Brighton, Denver International Airport, northeastern Denver, eastern Thornton, Commerce City and northwestern Aurora.  The warning will remain in effect until 4:45pm.

If severe weather approaches your area, go inside to sturdy shelter and stay away form flood-prone areas.  Remember that a severe thunderstorm can produce damaging hail, winds in excess of 58 mph, deadly lightning and heavy rain. 

The Tornado Watch that covers all of eastern Colorado continues until 9:00pm.

Original story, 1:20pm: The stage is set for the first significant severe weather threat of the season to the Mile High City. Thunderstorms have quickly built as they moved off the foothills south of Denver and they are expected to increase in intensity as the afternoon progresses.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for all of eastern Colorado through 9:00pm tonight. This includes the Denver metro area and the entire Front Range.

Remember that a Tornado Watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Residents in the areas under the watch should take appropriate precautions and stay tuned to media outlets for updates to the rapidly worsening conditions.

The biggest threat from these storms will be hail, damaging wind, dangerous lightning and tornadoes. The main area of focus for the worst of this is going to be over the Palmer Divide and areas east. However, it is entirely possible that more widespread severe weather will occur, including over the main part of the Denver area.

We will be updating this page throughout the afternoon and evening as long as the severe weather threat remains.

Natural Disasters

Mount St. Helens – 30 years since the deadliest volcanic eruption in American history

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30 years ago today, Mount St Helens erupted in what would become the most expensive and deadliest volcanic event in the history of the United States. (USGS)
30 years ago today, Mount St Helens erupted in what would become the most expensive and deadliest volcanic event in the history of the United States. (USGS)

The morning of May 18, 1980 started as a quiet one with bright blue skies over the Cascade Mountains in Washington. That however quickly changed at 8:32am when Mount St. Helens came to life erupting in what would become the deadliest volcanic event in the history of the United States.

The eruption wasn’t entirely a surprise – volcanologists and geologists had been closely monitoring the mountain in the weeks leading up to the eruption. A magnitude 4.2 earthquake on March 20th provided a clue of what was to come. Over the next two months, the side of the mountain began to bulge until May 18th when a magnitude 5.1 temblor triggered a landslide that led to the eruption.

In an instant, the side of Mount St. Helens exploded with a ferocity that had not been seen in United States history before. The result was astounding – and devastating.

The eruption sent ash 80,000 feet into the atmosphere depositing ash across 11 states. In neighboring Yakima, 5 inches of ash fell and areas as far east as Spokane were blanketed in darkness from the cloud. The ash took less than two hours to reach Yellowstone National Park and a day to reach Denver, Colorado.

230 square miles around the mountain was obliterated – all vegetation and manmade structures were destroyed within the area. 250 homes were leveled and 47 bridges and 185 miles of highway were destroyed. What was Washington’s fifth largest mountain was reduced from 9,677 ft tall to a height of 8,365 ft.

Photographer Reid Blackburn's car was buried under ash 10 miles from the site of the eruption. (USGS)The human toll was equally devastating as 57 people died as a result of the eruption.
Arguably the first to lose their life was volcanologist Dave Johnston who was stationed near Coldwater Ridge. Johnston radioed, “Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!” and was never heard from again.

Perhaps more famous was Harry Randall Truman who lived on the mountain and was the owner of the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake. Leading up to the eruption, the 83-year-old Truman refused to evacuate believing the claims of an impending eruption were exaggerated. He would pay for his decision not to leave with his life.

The mountain would continue to remain very active for the next five months producing five more explosive eruptions. Since that time, the volcano has built a new lava dome and periodically releases steam and ash as the unrest beneath continues to this day.

The area continues its recovery, allowed to do so on its own. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan established Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument setting the area aside for research and recreation.

Slideshow of images from the 1980 Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption

Weather History

May 16 to May 22 – This week in Denver weather history

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May 16 to May 22 - This week in Denver weather history
May 16 to May 22 - This week in Denver weather history

Late spring typically brings some of the most eventful weather Denver sees throughout the year and our look back at this week in Denver weather history shows that.  There are many typical events we would expect to see such as hail, heavy rain and flooding, and even tornadoes.  Most notably, this week marks the two year anniversary of the Windsor tornado.  And, for those that think the snow is done, we can see that in 1983 a snowstorm struck the city forcing the closure of Stapleton International Airport.

14-18

In 1996…a period of unusually warm weather resulted in 4 record maximum temperatures in 5 days.  The record high temperatures were 87 degrees on the 14th…89 degrees on the 15th…and 93 degrees on both the 16th and 18th.  The temperature climbed to only 81 degrees on the 17th which was not a record.

15-16

In 1957…heavy snowfall totaled 8.8 inches at Stapleton Airport. The greatest amount on the ground was 3 inches.
 
In 1986…a spring storm dumped 1 to 2 inches of rain over metro Denver…but 2.71 inches fell at Buckley Field in Aurora.  Rainfall only totaled 0.84 inch at Stapleton International Airport.  Snow fell in the foothills with 7 inches recorded in Coal Creek Canyon southwest of Boulder.

16

In 1875…a heavy hail storm turned into heavy rain during the afternoon.  Rainfall totaled 0.86 inch in just 37 minutes…while the temperature dropped 22 degrees in 22 minutes.  Precipitation totaled 0.90 inch.
 
In 1894…west winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts to 56 mph.
 
In 1949…a tornado was observed for 16 minutes…20 miles to the southeast of Stapleton Airport.  The tornado moved 5 miles to the northeast before dissipating.  No damage was reported.
 
In 1963…intense lightning started several forest fires in the foothills southwest of Denver near Deckers and Cheeseman Lake.  Little precipitation fell from the storms to alleviate the unusual dry conditions so early in the season.
 
In 1978…thunderstorm winds caused damage in southeast Aurora.  Winds of 60 to 80 mph blew down numerous fences and damaged several homes under construction.  High winds tore docks loose at Cheery Creek Reservoir…sinking 3 or 4 boats and damaging about 15 others.  At Stapleton International Airport where winds gusted to 60 mph…a 727 jet suffered 15 hundred dollars damage when wind toppled a runway light onto it.  The public reported an unconfirmed tornado 7 miles south-southwest of Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1990…a line of thunderstorms moving across metro Denver uprooted a large ash tree…which fell and blocked the outside doors to a Denver elementary school…briefly trapping the students inside.  Thunderstorm wind gusts to 69 mph were reported at Jefferson County Airport. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1991…two tornadoes touched down briefly in Castle Rock… But no injuries or damage were recorded.  Heavy thunderstorm rains of 0.50 to 1.10 inches in a couple of hours caused Lena Gulch near Golden to flood.  No damage was reported.
 
In 1996…dry microburst winds of unknown strength overturned a trailer and damaged storage sheds in Strasburg east of Denver.

Continue reading May 16 to May 22 – This week in Denver weather history →

Local News

Thornton gets last chance to see the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Atlantis

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The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched yesterday bound for the International Space Station. This weekend affords a chance to see the pair above for the last time. (NASA)
The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched yesterday bound for the International Space Station. This weekend affords a chance to see the pair above for the last time. (NASA)

The Space Shuttle Atlantis rocketed from Kennedy Space Center yesterday on its way to its final rendezvous with the International Space Station. This will be Atlantis’ final flight as NASA prepares to retire the Space Shuttle fleet and it affords Earth-bound viewers their final chances to see the pair from the ground.

Good sighting opportunities to view the ISS and Atlantis will be available across much of the continental United States this weekend and they will occur at times in the late evening that will make it easy for everyone. The weekend and the first part of next week all hold chances for many areas if the skies are clear.

Here in Thornton, on Saturday night the two spacecraft will be at their highest elevation. However, we will unfortunately have a good deal of cloud cover at the appointed time making it difficult. If you can catch a glimpse tonight though, it will be interesting because the pair will not have docked yet and you will be able to see both flying separately overhead.

We have a better chance to see the ISS and Atlantis on Sunday. While they won’t be as high above the horizon, the skies should be a clearer. By then they will have docked and so you will see one bright unit as it moves across the nighttime sky.

To find out when to turn your gaze skyward and where to look, check out our ISS / Space Station viewing page.  For viewing opportunities in other places in the nation, visit this page on NASA’s website.

To see what the cloud cover will be at the viewing times, check out our Thornton point forecast graphics.

Climate Change

Scientists’ open letter on climate change features fake photo, non-climate scientists

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Is it real or Photoshopped? Some scientists apparently can't tell. (©iStockphoto.com/Jan Will)
Is it real or Photoshopped? Some scientists apparently can't tell. (©iStockphoto.com/Jan Will)

Last week 255 scientists released a letter in the scientific journal Science decrying ‘assaults on climate science.’  It seemed like a powerful statement in an effort to stand up for climate scientists under siege after scandals and revelations of errors were discovered.  However, the letter itself has caused controversy as the accompanying photo was a fake and it was discovered most of the signatories don’t even work in climate science fields.

The Climate Change Examiner reported on the original letter and the Photoshopped photo as well as the resumes of the individuals that signed the letter. 

In regards to the photo, the Climate Change Examiner writes:

The photo included with the letter portrays a rather disturbing image of a lone polar bear afloat on a piece of ice in open ocean. The image provides graphical reinforcement to the many warnings the public has heard about shrinking Arctic ice.

However, it has been discovered that the image is in fact faked, a creation using Photoshop that does not portray any real situation or event. Used from istockphoto.com, the caption on that website clearly states, “This images [sic] is a Photoshop design. Polarbear, ice floe, ocean and sky are real, they were just not together in the way they are now.”

The trade magazine included no such disclaimer causing a great deal of embarrassment for an expert trade journal, its editors and the signers of the letter.

That certainly does not help climate scientists’ cause at all. 

Further adding insult to injury, the resumes of the signatories fails to stand up to scrutiny:

An investigation into the professional backgrounds of the scientists finds that many do not work in climate science and some work in fields not even remotely related to it. In fact, among the first 20 listed, none work in climate science.

Pediatric surgeons, an expert in the Maya and the Olmec civilizations, a chemist that studies bacteria, a ‘computer pioneer’ with Microsoft, an electrical engineer, the chairman of a biotechnology firm, and even an expert studying corn are but a few of the 255 ‘experts’ that signed the letter.

There are many other questionable signatories on the letter that tries to convey the message that the ‘science is sound.’ This is of course leading one to question why their statements should be leant any great deal of credence, particularly since the credentials of climate change skeptics are similarly questioned.

In the wake of the Climategate email scandal and discoveries of errors and questionable citations in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, one would expect scientists would be doing their best to play things straight.  Elementary errors such as these simply further damage their cause and show why the public is losing belief in the anthropogenic global warming theory.

Get the full story here:

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Tornadoes kill 5 in Oklahoma – Video from storm chasers

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A screenshot of video taken of a multiple=
A screenshot of video taken of a multiple vortex tornado that struck in Oklahoma on Monday, May 10, 2010. Watch the video below. (Scott Weberpal / Ryan Wichman)

It is a little known but amazing phenomenon that sometimes accompanies tornadoes – multiple vortices coming from one larger twister. Storm chasers descended on the area of yesterday’s deadly tornado outbreak and two were able to capture amazing video of what looks like small tornadoes circling a larger twister.

When witnessed from the ground, multiple vortex tornadoes are an amazing sight. The larger twister will appear no different than what one might expect, but smaller vortices will be seen rapidly circling around and through the main funnel.

These suction vortexes are usually short-lived and will die out as the main funnel moves and then new satellites will reappear. These satellite vortices are oftentimes present but not visible due to debris and clouds.

Storm chaser team Scott Weberpal and Ryan Wichman captured amazing video of a multiple vortex tornado as it tore through the Oklahoma countryside. Watch the video below.

Weather History

May 9 to May 15 – This week in Denver weather history

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May 9 to May 15 - This week in Denver weather history
May 9 to May 15 - This week in Denver weather history

As we get further into spring our look back at Denver weather history begins to show more typical severe weather.  This week in Denver weather history we see plenty of hail, heavy rainfall, a tornado or two and lightning that caused serious injuries. 

8-9  

In 1957…intense heavy rain caused flash flooding on toll gate creek in Aurora where 3 people were killed in a car. Up to 4 inches of rain fell in 5 hours in the Toll Gate Creek basin.  The rain also caused flash flooding on Sand Creek in Aurora and Denver.  Rainfall totaled 3.29 inches at Stapleton Airport with most of the rain…2.34 inches… Occurring on the 9th.

8-10 

In 1979…4.3 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where northwest winds gusted to 30 mph on the 8th. Most of the snowfall…2.3 inches…occurred on the 9th. High temperature of only 35 degrees on the 9th equaled the record low maximum for the date.

9

In 1875…a heavy windstorm swept across the city for most of the day.  West-northwest winds averaged a sustained speed of 31 mph between 6:00 am and 3:00 pm.  The peak wind was sustained to 45 mph at 9:50 am.
 
In 1918…post-frontal winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts as high as 43 mph.  Only a trace of rain fell.
 
In 1941…a tornado was noted at 2:20 pm to the northeast of downtown and was followed by another similar shaped cloud or dust roll estimated 3 miles behind.  Thick dust followed with heavy gusts of wind.  The temperature fell 15 degrees in 10 minutes following the twister.  The mild tornado did little damage except to unprotected frame structures.  Winds were sustained to 50 mph with the passing of the tornado at Stapleton Airport.  It was visible to observers for 10 minutes and was lost from sight as it traveled east into huge rolls of dust.  Hail and rain followed with a few hailstones as large as 1/2 inch in diameter downtown.  No damage was reported from the hail.  Thunderstorm winds sustained to 31 mph produced blowing dust downtown.  Precipitation was only 0.07 inch.
 
In 1983…streams swollen by recent rain and snowmelt caused an earthen dam to collapse…washing out portions of State Highway 67 near Deckers in southern Douglas County.
 
In 1992…three boys…ages 11…12…and 16…were struck by lightning while taking cover under a large tree during a thunderstorm in Jefferson County…just 7 miles northwest of Denver.  The three were seriously injured.

9-10 

In 1889…heavy rainfall totaled 2.15 inches in downtown Denver.  The cold rain was mixed with snow at times overnight.  Temperatures on the 10th ranged from a high of 38 degrees to a low of 32 degrees with north winds sustained to 22 mph.
 
In 2003…a late spring snowstorm hammered the mountains… Eastern foothills…and urban corridor.  The heaviest snowfall occurred north of interstate 70.  The heavy wet snow caused damage to trees throughout metro Denver and downed power lines.  About 40 thousand people along the urban corridor were without power.  Storm total snowfall amounts included:  11.5 inches in Louisville… 8 inches in Boulder and Broomfield; 7 inches in Thornton…Broomfield…at Denver International Airport… And at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport; and 6 inches 4 miles east of Denver.  Snowfall ranged from 4 to 9 inches across extreme southern weld County.  In the foothills…15 inches of snow fell near Jamestown…9 inches at Rollinsville and Rawah…with 8 inches at Chief Hosa and atop Lookout Mountain. The snow was accompanied by thunder on the afternoon of the 9th at Denver International Airport where west winds gusted to 25 mph on the 9th and north winds gusted to 22 mph on the 10th.

10

In 1875…a windstorm sand-blasted the city from 10:00 am until midnight.  Northwest winds sustained to 60 mph brought clouds of sand…which caused high damage to unfinished buildings.
 
Continue reading May 9 to May 15 – This week in Denver weather history →

Natural Disasters

Crew aboard the International Space Station snaps photos of Gulf oil slick

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International Space Station Expedition 23 flight engineer Soichi Noguchi photographed the tail end of the Mississippi Delta (top right) showing the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico on May 5, 2010. (NASA) See a larger image below.
International Space Station Expedition 23 flight engineer Soichi Noguchi photographed the tail end of the Mississippi Delta (top right) showing the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico on May 5, 2010. (NASA) See a larger image below.

As the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to encroach on the Gulf Coast, crewmembers of the International Space Station were able to photograph it from their perch more than 200 miles above the Earth.

The image released by NASA and taken by Expedition 23 crewmember and flight engineer Soichi Noguchi clearly show the slick approaching the Mississippi River delta. This image, along with others taken by NASA and NOAA satellites since the explosion in the Gulf of Mexico allow officials to monitor the movement of the slick.

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig has allowed 5,000 barrels per day to flow into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The original cause of the accident is still unknown however a blow-out preventer designed to stop the flow of oil in the event of an accident apparently did not activate as it should have.

As the slick continues to threaten the coast, its economic impact is already being felt. NOAA has shut down all commercial fishing in a large area between the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida.

Related (Examiner.com): NOAA and NASA satellites tasked with monitoring Gulf of Mexico oil spill

International Space Station crew captures images of Gulf Oil slick (NASA)
International Space Station crew photographs Gulf of Mexico oil slick. (NASA)

From NASA:

Image above: The Mississippi River Delta and nearby Louisiana coast appear dark in the sunglint. This phenomenon is caused by sunlight reflecting off the water surface, in a mirror-like manner, directly back towards the astronaut observer aboard the International Space Station. The sunglint improves the identification of the oil spill which is creating a different water texture (and therefore a contrast) between the smooth and rougher water of the reflective ocean surface. (NASA)

National Weather

Opryland Hotel in Nashville flooded by 10 feet of water

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The inside of the Opryland Hotel is flooded on Monday, May 3, 2010. See video of the flooding inside the hotel below. (The Tennessean)
The inside of the Opryland Hotel is flooded on Monday, May 3, 2010. See video of the flooding inside the hotel below. (The Tennessean)

With its 1,500 guests evacuated, managers and employees of the Opryland Hotel in Nashville spent Monday watching the water inside the historic hotel rise to 10 feet above floor level. Images taken in the hotel and of the surrounding area show a facility likely to face major repairs once the floodwaters recede.

As the Cumberland River rose hotel officials initially evacuated guests to a ballroom on Sunday. Once the seriousness of the situation became apparent, all 1,500 were sent to other area hotels and many to a local high school.

Video shot by the Tennessean Monday morning shows the hotel’s courtyard under water. Chairs and other debris are floating in the water while tables in water not quite as deep still have their table clothes and silverware on them.

Other famous Music City attractions have been impacted including the Country Music Hall of Fame which has water in a mechanical room and Schermerhorn Symphony Center whose basement is flooded with several feet of water.

Sports facilities in the city have been impacted by the flooding as well. LP Field, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans now has its entire field surface under water. Users on Twitter are reported that Bridgestone Arena where the NHL’s Nashville Predator’s play has flooding.

The city of Nashville received a record-setting two day rainfall Saturday and Sunday. 13.53 inches of rain was recorded between the two days, more than double the previous record.

Emergency officials expected the Cumberland crest Monday.

Natural Disasters

Satellites from NOAA and NASA capture images of Gulf of Mexico oil spill

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Satellites operated by NASA and NOAA are now training their 'eyes' on the growing oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. (NOAA) See images of the expanding oil as seen from space in the slideshow below.
Satellites operated by NASA and NOAA are now training their 'eyes' on the growing oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. (NOAA) See images of the expanding oil as seen from space in the slideshow below.

From their perch hundreds of miles in the air satellites provide an invaluable view of our Earth, most often associated with weather and disasters. With the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon well and the subsequent oil spill, these space faring tools are now tasked with monitoring the oil as it hits the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Satellites from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA began tracking the oil slick soon after the April 20th rig explosion. Since then, they have watched from above as the slick approaches Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta threatening an ecological disaster greater than the Exxon Valdez.

In 2005, NASA and NOAA satellites focused on Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Today, once again, they focus on the same area but for a different kind of disaster.

The satellite imagery provided by the services is crucial to government agencies planning their response to the spill and its clean up. The satellite imagery can provide near real time position information of the slick as it approaches the Gulf Coast ensuring resources are deployed as necessary.

As the slick continues to threaten the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida coasts in the immediate future, the satellites will continue to train their eyes in the sky on the area.

A change in wind patterns now threatens to shift the oil to the southwest toward the Florida Keys. While unlikely, if it does so and the oil enters the Gulf Stream, there is a threat the oil could impact the United States East Coast.

From the day after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig until today, government satellites have captured images of the oil slick as it expands.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.