Rocky Mountain Discussion

[Chinook]

FWIW, the new GFS has shown a distinct warm bias in the 4-8 day range.

OK, lets's see

Aug 15 12z 12.4

Aug 16 00z 16.2

Aug 16 12z 13.6

Aug 17 00z 11.8

Aug 17 12z 14.8

Aug 18 00z 16.6

Aug 18 12z 16.0

Aug 19 00z 18.4

Aug 19 12z 17.0

Aug 20 00z 15.0

Aug 20 12z 12.8

Aug 21 00z 14.4

Aug 21 12z 14.4

Aug 22 00z 15.4

Aug 22 12z 15.6

Aug 23 00z 17.2 (recent)

Denver F6 climate form for Aug 11 to yesterday

11  96  60  78   4   0  13 0.00 
12  87  58  73  -1   0   8 0.00  
13  89  56  73   0   0   8 0.00  
14  92  63  78   5   0  13    T 
15  92  64  78   5   0  13 0.00  
16  90  57  74   1   0   9 0.02  
17  94  57  76   3   0  11 0.00  
18  98  64  81   9   0  16 0.00  
19  87  60  74   2   0   9    T  
20  89  55  72   0   0   7 0.01  
21  94  61  78   6   0  13 0.00  
================================

today (Aug 22nd) 8 degrees above normal!!

Fort Collins/Loveland airport highs

Aug 14 93.2

Aug 15 91.4

Aug 16 89.6

Aug 17 95

Aug 18 98.6

Aug 19 82.4

Aug 20 87.8

Aug 21 91.4

Aug 22 93.2

[marsman]

USGS Reporting a Magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Trinidad. http://earthquake.us...z/us/index.html I knew small earthquakes occaisionally appear up and down the Front Range, but didn't know that area was that active. There's been several small rumblings since 1990. Anyone feel it?

[tacoman25]

OK, lets's see

Aug 15 12z 12.4

Aug 16 00z 16.2

Aug 16 12z 13.6

Aug 17 00z 11.8

Aug 17 12z 14.8

Aug 18 00z 16.6

Aug 18 12z 16.0

Aug 19 00z 18.4

Aug 19 12z 17.0

Aug 20 00z 15.0

Aug 20 12z 12.8

Aug 21 00z 14.4

Aug 21 12z 14.4

Aug 22 00z 15.4

Aug 22 12z 15.6

Aug 23 00z 17.2 (recent)

Denver F6 climate form for Aug 11 to yesterday

11  96  60  78   4   0  13 0.00 
12  87  58  73  -1   0   8 0.00  
13  89  56  73   0   0   8 0.00  
14  92  63  78   5   0  13    T 
15  92  64  78   5   0  13 0.00  
16  90  57  74   1   0   9 0.02  
17  94  57  76   3   0  11 0.00  
18  98  64  81   9   0  16 0.00  
19  87  60  74   2   0   9    T  
20  89  55  72   0   0   7 0.01  
21  94  61  78   6   0  13 0.00  
================================

today (Aug 22nd) 8 degrees above normal!!

DEN has over-achieved compared to most metro area stations. And unfortunately, their "above normal" readings are kind of a joke...the new airport site gets hotter than the previous one (further west) did.

Other metro area highs the past 7 days, compared to DEN.

Broomfield

Aug 16: 84 (-6 below DEN)

Aug 17: 89 (-5 below DEN)

Aug 18: 98 (same as DEN)

Aug 19: 84 (-3 below DEN)

Aug 20: 86 (-3 below DEN)

Aug 21: 89 (-5 below DEN)

Aug 22: 93 (-4 below DEN)

Aurora

Aug 16: 87 (-3)

Aug 17: 93 (-1)

Aug 18: 95 (-3)

Aug 19: 82 (-5)

Aug 20: 87 (-2)

Aug 21: 91 (-3)

Aug 22: 93 (-4)

Centennial

Aug 16: 88 (-2)

Aug 17: 91 (-3)

Aug 18: 95 (-3)

Aug 19: 86 (-1)

Aug 20: 88 (-1)

Aug 21: 91 (-3)

Aug 22: 93 (-4)

[Chinook]

Well, we can say it has been at least 2 to 3 F above normal, but nothing sensational. I originally said 2 to 4 C above normal over a week ago (based on upper air temperatures in Celsius) and 2 to 3 F is 1 to 1.5C.

[tacoman25]

Well, we can say it has been at least 2 to 3 F above normal, but nothing sensational. I originally said 2 to 4 C above normal over a week ago (based on upper air temperatures in Celsius) and 2 to 3 F is 1 to 1.5C.

I would agree with that. DEN's readings just really skew the perception on how hot it has actually been in Denver, unfortunately.

[Chinook]

This afternoon, it is (within the last hour,)

96.6 at the Fort Collins CSU station

97.8 at CSU Christman Field

97 at Fort Collins-Loveland Airport

[RIC Airport]

Today was the 37th 90-degree day of 2011 for COS. The record for greatest number of such days within a single year was broken yesterday when it hit day 36. The previous record was 35 days set in 1980. Also, another record high 2nd day in a row with a 95 degrees today. It has indeed been an extremely warm summer.

BTW, did not feel the earthquakes last night. Maybe next time, haha.

[tacoman25]

Today was the 37th 90-degree day of 2011 for COS. The record for greatest number of such days within a single year was broken yesterday when it hit day 36. The previous record was 35 days set in 1980. Also, another record high 2nd day in a row with a 95 degrees today. It has indeed been an extremely warm summer.

BTW, did not feel the earthquakes last night. Maybe next time, haha.

2008 definitely seemed warmer up here. Certainly a lot drier...this summer at least had a nice, very wet monsoon period which kept things cooler for awhile up here. 2008 also had more extreme heat, at least up here. I had like 10 95+ days that summer and 2 100+, while this year I have had 6 95+ and none over 100.

[Chinook]

I think I counted 43 90-degree days at Denver this summer. I don't know what the record is.

Edit: Fort Collins broke a record yesterday with 98. So I guess it is sensational now.

[tacoman25]

I think I counted 43 90-degree days at Denver this summer. I don't know what the record is.

The record is 60 from 2000. Five of the top six years have come since the airport moved east...it makes a big difference. There have been a ton of days where most of the metro area is 86-89, but DEN gets up to 90-91. Being further east, the afternoon convection/clouds takes longer to reach them, which allows them to get a little warmer many summer afternoons.

[Chinook]

RECORD HIGH FOR DENVER IS 96 SO THAT SHOULD BE BKN

[tacoman25]

Certainly have seen quite a few 90+ days since mid July. I'm up to 30 total on the year. High of 95 today before afternoon convection moved in.

Since 2006 I have lived here in the NW metro area, and here are the number of 90+ days I have seen each summer.

2007: 26

2008: 34

2009: 9

2010: 22

[Chinook]

Denver got up to 99 yesterday, and broke a record

Fort Collins- CSU 93.0

Fort Collins- Christman 97.2

FNL: broken!

GXY; 36 Celsius

Arapahoe: 34.4 Celsius

Buckley: 35 celsius

Cold Front!!!! in 180 hours (I can't wait)

[tacoman25]

Today wasn't bad at all, topped out at 89 at my house.

[Chinook]

Fort Collins-CSU: 92.8

Fort Collins-Christman 93.3

Denver: 96 (record value: 98)

Greeley: 36C

Arapahoe (APA): 34.4C

Buckley (BKF): 34C

Fort Collins-Loveland: broken

[mayjawintastawm]

low this am of only 67 at DIA- very likely Denver will break the all time hottest August record. I think we only need to get to 90 (96 predicted). Ready for a change!!!

[tacoman25]

low this am of only 67 at DIA- very likely Denver will break the all time hottest August record. I think we only need to get to 90 (96 predicted). Ready for a change!!!

I'm seeing a low of 64 for DEN this morning. Will be interesting to see if other locations with longterm records in the same location (like Boulder) also record a record warm August. My guess is most won't.

I'm definitely ready for fall to get here as well. Looks like much cooler weather this weekend, and then the 0z Euro had near record-breaking cold late next week, but that is probably overdone.

[mayjawintastawm]

I'm seeing a low of 64 for DEN this morning. Will be interesting to see if other locations with longterm records in the same location (like Boulder) also record a record warm August. My guess is most won't.

Yup, guess I got up and posted too early... bumped down a bit right around sunrise.

I'm definitely ready for fall to get here as well. Looks like much cooler weather this weekend, and then the 0z Euro had near record-breaking cold late next week, but that is probably overdone.

I'm all for it but don't believe it either.

[RIC Airport]

low this am of only 67 at DIA- very likely Denver will break the all time hottest August record. I think we only need to get to 90 (96 predicted). Ready for a change!!!

Same here as my house (just 3 years old) was not built with A/C. I'm ready for cooler temps, but I do not want a quick change to below normal cold....haha.

Anyway, I'm looking forward for the weekend. I'll be spending a lot of time in Denver and may even take another trip to the mountains.

[Chinook]

Denver broke a record high with 98 degrees

Fort Collins broke a record high with 97 degrees

40mph wind gusts with a dying thunderstorm this evening. Just a couple of drops of rain.

[tacoman25]

Denver broke a record high with 98 degrees

Fort Collins broke a record high with 97 degrees

40mph wind gusts with a dying thunderstorm this evening. Just a couple of drops of rain.

They actually tied the record high from 1960 of 98.

Of course, the airport was once again easily hotter than anywhere else in the metro area yesterday:

Centennial: 95

Aurora: 93

Denver: 93

Broomfield: 95

[Chinook]

The preliminary data says that Denver had the hottest August ever. It was 77.0 and the record was 76.8.

[mayjawintastawm]

Same here as my house (just 3 years old) was not built with A/C. I'm ready for cooler temps, but I do not want a quick change to below normal cold....haha.

Anyway, I'm looking forward for the weekend. I'll be spending a lot of time in Denver and may even take another trip to the mountains.

Think about a swamp cooler- saves $, increases humidity a bit, and you can get a rebate from Excel from what I hear. Our underpowered A/C just costs us too much money.

[Vandy]

Swamp coolers work amazingly in this state. I had never even seen one living back in Pennsylvania.

[Chinook]

We got cold front #2 today. It is 67 at my house. I took out the air conditioner. I don't think we'll set records for coldness this week.

[Chinook]

From the assistant state climatologist:

[Fort Collins] Mean Temperature was 74.3 which is 4.1 degrees above the normal for the month.

This ranks as the warmest in the 123 year record (1889-2011). Second place is 1983 with an average monthly temperature of 73.7 degrees F.

Total monthly precipitation was only 0.16” and was 1.43” below the normal for the month (10% of normal). This ranks as the 5th driest in the 123 year record (1889-2011) tied with 1900. The last August this dry or drier was 1974 with 0.12”

[marsman]

From The Denver Post:

Snow is already beginning to take its seasonal toll on Colorado's high country, as the final five miles of road to the summit of Mount Evans​ in Clear Creek County closed this morning because of snow.

It's by no means a blizzard, but snow in locations above 12,000 feet is starting to pile up, according to the National Weather Service​.

The lower nine miles of Colorado 5, the 14-mile scenic route to the top of Denver's nearest 14er, will close in about a month because of the weather, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

http://www.denverpos...ews/ci_18837529

[marsman]

Swamp coolers work amazingly in this state. I had never even seen one living back in Pennsylvania.

I have one in downtown Denver, but I'd rather have A/C. While it keeps the downstairs and basement cool, it gets too damp and doesn't quite get to my comfort level. If I go for a run or do yardwork, I come inside and sweat instantly forms on my skin. However, if I'm in a room on the northern side of the house and do nothing all day, it's ok.

I think because of the urban environment and slightly higher humidity in the valley, I'd go for A/C if the budget permitted. I'll add that I absolutely despise the hot weather.

[tacoman25]

High of just 61 today at DEN, coldest high temperature since May 24.

[mayjawintastawm]

From The Denver Post:

http://www.denverpos...ews/ci_18837529

Whoa! I have a great view of Mt E from my neighborhood, and it's been socked in x 48 hours (at least until I had to go to work at 7:30 this AM). Can't wait to see it... it really hasn't been completely snow-free yet this year, though very close. Last year it closed the day after Labor Day but not really because of snow... the first snow there was around the 10th IIRC.