Brrrr! Thanksgiving and Black Friday will be cold!

Snow on the way!Big changes from recent weather to say the least! Monday we were near 80 degrees but by Wednesday we dropped to a “high” temperature of 28. Tuesday we recorded 2.6″ of snow which brings some desperately needed moisture to the area. Look for the cold to stay with us until Sunday when we will return to the 50’s.

Note: The National Weather Service has been experiencing some problems with their website and that is impacting some of the data shown here on ThorntonWeather.com – particularly the forecasts. To obtain a current forecast manually, please click here.

Looking at today’s forecast it doesn’t look so bad but…. Big changes are coming.

Snow on the way!We’ll reach a high near 50 around mid-day today but clouds will be increasing and the temp will drop quickly after that (see chart below). Tonight expect to see the temperatures drop into the upper teens / low 20’s. The snow has been delayed a bit and most likely won’t arrive till after dark. Accumulations will be light – expect 1 – 3″ in Thornton.

November 20 Forecast Chart
Temperature Forecast – 9:00am Tuesday to 6:00am Wednesday

Wednesday we may not even reach freezing (brrrrr!) with the chance for a bit more snow but it won’t be much, if any. Wednesday night we’ll again be down to the teens and Thanksgiving is looking to be another cold one! Holiday travelers should keep an eye on the developing conditions, particularly if you are driving south on I-25. Be sure to monitor CDOT’s website (http://www.cotrip.org) to get the latest on road conditions.

As always, keep checking back with ThorntonWeather.com for the latest weather conditions and forecasts.

Snow probably. Cold yes. Big weather changes coming Tuesday!

Snow on the way!The storm we’ve been keeping an eye on is heading our way and there will definitely be a big change in temperatures. This will bring an end to the very mild weather we have been experiencing and by mid-day Tuesday the front will arrive and the mercury will drop quickly – expect Tuesday’s high temperature to arrive mid-morning and drop from there.

By Tuesday’s afternoon rush hour snow should be falling although unfortunately it doesn’t look like there will be a lot of accumulation. Flurries will continue through Tuesday night into Wednesday with modest accumulations. Heading into Wednesday our high temp will be near freezing and will stay there through most of the holiday weekend. Thanksgiving will definitely be a cold one and anyone heading out on “Black Friday” to get started on Christmas shopping better be bundled up!

Stay tuned to ThorntonWeather.com for more information on this developing system as it becomes available.

United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Releases New Report. Calls impact of global warming, “so severe and so sweeping that only urgent, global action will do.”

Global warmingThis latest report continues the warnings by some in the scientific community that the world is heading for dire consequences from climatic change:

“As early as 2020, 75 million to 250 million people in Africa will suffer water shortages, residents of Asia’s megacities will be at great risk of river and coastal flooding, Europeans can expect extensive species loss, and North Americans will experience longer and hotter heat waves and greater competition for water…”

It is interesting to note that there was a great bit of debate within the panel about the wording of the report, just like there has been within the past. The IPCC issues these reports as if they are fact when in reality the conclusions they reach are done so by consensus. That is significant as just because a majority believe something doesn’t necessarily make it true. There are many experts who doubt man’s impact on the global environment although you would never know it as their voices tend to be drowned out. This debate will continue to rage and critical thinking by everyone should be exercised before making any judgments.

NOAA Still Sees Above Average Temperatures for Most of the U.S. and Below Normal Precipitation Across the South. Colorado Expected to be Warmer, Average Precipitation.

WinterNOAA released its final 90 day winter forecast and little changed from earlier predictions. For Colorado that means the likelihood of warmer than normal temperatures, particularly in the southern part of the state. In terms of precipitation, they foresee equal chances for normal, above and below normal moisture while southern Colorado remains dry.

“Although we are expecting a warmer than normal winter, we do believe there will be fluctuations of warm weather and typical winter weather throughout the season,” said Edward O’Lenic, chief, forecast operations, NOAA Climate Prediction Center. “We encourage people to review winter weather risks for their particular area and information available online to help keep them safe when events do occur.”

Temperature map
Winter temperature outlook.
Click for larger image.

Precipitation map
Winter precipitation outlook.
Click for larger image.

Click here to read the complete report from NOAA.

Snow on the way? Looks like a good chance!

Snow on the way!The metro area is going through a bit of a dry spell with it having been 25 days (and counting) since our last measurable precipitation. Relief may be on the way toward the middle of next week. The National Weather Service’s outlook says:

“The jet stream will switch from a westerly flow to a northerly flow Tuesday. This flow will persist into next weekend. This will bring much cooler temperatures and a good chance for snow. There is still quite a bit of uncertainty when the periods of snow will occur. Currently the best chance for snow will be Tuesday night and Wednesday.

Of course forecasting a weather event like this four or five days away is pretty hard. Current indications show the storm arriving around midday Tuesday and hanging around through Wednesday morning. Computer models are saying less than 6″ of snow is expected across northeastern Colorado while the majority of the precipitation heads southeast onto the plains. Stay tuned for more information as it gets closer!

The Weather Channel founder calls global warming the “greatest scam in history.”

Global WarmingJohn Coleman let his feelings be known on a blog recently and made it clear he didn’t buy into the hype over man-made climate change. Among his comments:

It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create an allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the research to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus.

Environmental extremists, notable politicians among them, then teamed up with movie, media and other liberal, environmentalist journalists to create this wild scientific scenario of the civilization threatening environmental consequences from Global Warming unless we adhere to their radical agenda. Now their ridiculous manipulated science has been accepted as fact and become a cornerstone issue for CNN, CBS, NBC, the Democratic Political Party, the Governor of California, school teachers and, in many cases, well informed but very gullible environmentally conscientious citizens. Only one reporter at ABC has been allowed to counter the Global Warming frenzy with one 15 minute documentary segment.

Wow! Pretty strong stuff but I do think it highlights that despite the media’s portrayal, there isn’t really a consensus on how much man impacts the climate. You can read the rest of his comments here.

Look for ThorntonWeather.com on YourHub!

NewsThis week we posted “our story” to the site as well as the November weather outlook. We hope to make regular postings to let more folks know about ThorntonWeather.com and to perhaps provide some weather education as well. As always, if you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Wrong again? Despite predictions, 2007 may rank as most inactive hurricane season in the last 30 years.

HurricaneThis marks the second year in a row forecasters predicted above normal hurricane activity only to have it be the opposite. Despite the “sky is falling” predictions about how global warming is the cause of all sorts of disasters, including an increased threat of hurricanes, we find the opposite is actually occurring. For more information see this page from the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.