Climate: NOAA offers warm and dry spring outlook

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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The three-month temperature outlook from NOAA indicates warmer than average temperatures across much of the contiguous U.S.

Drought expected to persist across the middle of the country

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Although March has been cold and snowy across large parts of the U.S., NOAA forecasters say the chances are better than even that temperatures will rebound to above average across much of the continental United States, including drought-stricken areas of Texas, the Southwest and the Great Plains, with little drought relief for those areas. Florida is expected to stay dry as well, but river flooding is possible in some areas, especially North Dakota.

“This outlook reminds us of the climate diversity and weather extremes we experience in North America, where one state prepares for flooding while neighboring states are parched, with no drought relief in sight,” said Laura Furgione, deputy director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “We produce this outlook to help communities prepare for what’s likely to come in the next few months and minimize weather’s impacts on lives and livelihoods. A Weather-Ready Nation hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst.” (more…)

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Colorado: Storm rolling in …

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Forecaster still uncertain for high country snow totals

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A big Pacific trough is working its way inland, bringing snow to much of Colorado.

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By Summit Voice

FRISCO — A winter storm rolling out of the Four Corners toward Colorado is billed as having the potential to drop several feet of snow in parts of the state, but even late Friday night, forecast models were still not in complete agreement as to where the heaviest snow will fall Saturday through Sunday.

National Weather Service forecasters have issues winter storm watches and warnings, as well as blizzard watches for almost the entire state, but the Denver-based forecasters warned that, “Summit County could very well get sheltered again in this Front Range storm.” The forecasters also said the upper low might eject farther south than previously anticipated, which would push the heavier snow amounts farther south. Click here for the latest updates and links to all the warnings. (more…)

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February snowfall near average in Summit County

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Temps run well below normal at Dillon weather station

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A satellite photo from the NASA Earth Observatory collection shows extensive snow cover prevailed across parts of Colorado after storms in late January and early February. Click here to learn more about this image.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — Temperatures in at least parts of Summit County ran well below average in February, while snowfall totals were near average for the month at the two official National Weather Service reporting sites in Breckenridge and Dillon.

In Breckenridge, long-time weather observer Rick Bly said he tallied 25.4 inches of snow for the month. The long-term average is 23.5 inches. The snow-water equivalent was also slightly above average, at 1.88 inches compared to 1.71 inches.

The snowfall, combined with cool temperatures, helped maintain the snowpack but didn’t make much of a dent in the seasonal deficit. For the year to-date (starting Oct. 1), snowfall is still about 30 percent below average, at 69,5 inches. The average, based on records going back to the late 1800s, is 101.5 inches. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, seasons, Snow and weather, Summit County snow and weather | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

NOAA flights to track winter storm breeding grounds

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
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Flying out of Hawaii, a NOAA jet will measure winter storm development in the Pacific.

New data could help improve Colorado snow forecasts

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Winter weather forecasts for the Colorado high country could get a little better the next few years, after meteorologists have a chance to evaluate data collected over the north Pacific Ocean the next two months.

NOAA said it’s deploying a twin-engine Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft, typically used to study hurricanes, to measure wind speed and direction, pressure, temperature and humidity in areas of the Pacific where North American storms breed and where taking measurements is difficult and data is sparse. (more…)

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Colorado: Winter weather and wind warnings hoisted

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

‘A swift river of moist Pacific air …’

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Pacific moisture and Arctic cold are headed for Colorado.

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State snowpack could use a boost.

By Bob Berwyn

FRISCO — National Weather Service forecasters generally don’t wax poetic in their forecasts, but the latest update from the Denver-Boulder office includes phrases that will ring musically in the ears of snow-starved Colorado skiers and water managers.

In short, it’s going to be cold, snowy and windy — conditions we haven’t seen in the high country for about nine months, since sometime last February. Ahead of the storm, forecasters have issued a high wind warning for Summit County and the northern Front Range for 11 p.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Saturday evening. Winds of 50 to 60 mph are expected, with near-hurricane force gusts up to 80 mph possible after midnight. (more…)

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NOAA: 2012 Atlantic hurricane season above average

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

10 hurricanes, 19 named storm in Atlantic Basin in 2012

SUMMIT COUNTY — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has classified 2012 as an above-average year for hurricanes, based on the combined number, intensity, and duration of all tropical storms and hurricanes.

The season produced 19 named storms; 10 became hurricanes and one became a major hurricane.  The number of named storms is well above the average of 12. The number of hurricanes is also above the average of six, but the number of major hurricanes is below the average of three.

2012 was the second consecutive year that the mid-Atlantic and Northeast suffered devastating impacts from a named storm. Sandy, and Irene last year, caused fatalities, injuries, and tremendous destruction from coastal storm surge, heavy rainfall, inland flooding, and wind. Storms struck many parts of the country this year, including tropical storms Beryl and Debby in Florida, Hurricane Isaac in Louisiana, and Post-tropical Cyclone Sandy in New Jersey. (more…)

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Colorado snowpack off to a poor start

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Precipitation lagging behind last year

Last year’s line is green; this year’s is orange.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — It’s still early in the season, but so far, this year’s snow pack in Colorado is running behind even last year’s meager totals for this time of year, as the little bit of snow that fell last month melted away some of the SNOTEL sites.

The Copper Mountain SNOTEL site was reporting 4 inches of snow a few weeks ago, but is now back to zero, for example, and numerous other SNOTEL sites are also reporting at zero.

Exceptions are in the far north, where the Tower site is reporting 5 inches on the ground, and the Never Summer site, leading the state with 10 inches. Grizzly Peak is reporting 3 inches, while Fremont Pass is at 4 inches. (more…)

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Activists claim Hurricane Sandy is product of global warming

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Storm expected to have widespread impacts on East Coast

A satellite view of Sandy spinning near the southern tip of the Florida peninsula.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A summer that started with a powerful and destructive Derecho across large parts of the eastern U.S. could end with a monster hybrid storm slamming the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, putting a punctuation mark on six months of extraordinary record-breaking weather, including heat waves and drought.

Hurricane Sandy, generating winds of 75 mph, is heading northward from the Caribbean and could make landfall early next week, bringing devastating winds and flooding to wide swath of the Eastern Seaboard, according to the National Weather Service.

Many forecasters are calling the storm and unprecedented event, while others are comparing it to the so-called perfect storm of 1991, when another tropical weather system merged with an early winter system from the north, sinking the Andrea Gail, a long-line swordfish boat. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, global warming, tropical storms and hurricanes | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Colorado: Winter weather ahead

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A storm approaching from the Pacific Northwest should bring a first blast of wintry weather to Colorado high country.

Parts of the high country should see some good snowfall

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — An advancing cold front associated with moist, cold air should bring widespread snow to northwestern Colorado the second half of the week, especially Wednesday night when the front crosses the area.

For now, the National Weather Service has hoisted a winter weather advisory for the north-central mountains from the Wyoming border down through Vail and Aspen, where four to eight inches are possible across the higher terrain.

Snow should start to pick up Wednesday afternoon and into the night before easing up Thursday as  drier air moves back into the region, though a strong north to northwest flow could keep orographic showers going over the peaks.

The National Weather Service is predicting the heaviest snowfall for the Elkhead Range, but says significant accumulations could also spread to the Park and Gore ranges.

Temperatures will also drop drastically across the mountains the next few days, by up to 20 degrees from the unseasonably warm 50s. Thursday’s and Friday’s highs are only forecast to reach the low 30s.

Nightime lows will drop to winter levels and linger in the low to mid-teens through the weekend.

Much drier conditions expected Friday, but the cold temperatures persist through the weekend, perhaps climbing back to the upper 30s by Sunday.

 

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Colorado: Weather action stays east of the Divide

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Western Colorado expecting coolish, quiet conditions on the weekend

Active weather developing in the Pacific could lead to some snow late next week.

Seasonal weather across the West Slope, with an early taste of winter east of the Divide.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Most of the weather action will be east of the Continental Divide the next few days, with a serious push of cold Arctic air dominating the Front Range and plains, but we’ll get a little taste of winter Saturday especially, when temperatures will be hard-pressed to climb above 40 degrees.

Friday saw temps along the Front Range much chiller than in western Colorado, where Delta, Cortez and Grand Junction all climbed into the mid-70s.

The forecast high of 38 degrees would be 16 degrees below the average high (for Frisco) of 54 degrees for this date, and forecast lows in the high teens are flirting with record levels. The coldest temperature on record for Oct. 6 is 19 degrees, set in 1986. The record high is 69 degrees, set in 1997. (more…)

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