Tornadoes... (Denver, Parker, Windsor: buying, earthquakes, living in)

[ramanboy33]

Originally Posted by DenverAztec

Was this Denver, TX or Denver, KS? There has never been a 'huge' twister that struck near Denver, CO. We have funnel clouds that have hopped and skipped within the city and knock over a few trees, caused roof damage and are usually accompanied by hail. I would worry more about hail and then lightning then tornados. Sirens do go off as a warning for sever fast moving spring and summer storms.

There is such a thing called the Denver Cyclone therory, which is when cold air mixes with the hot air on the ground. Toss in the ability for the winds along the foothills to create their own wind patterns and you can easily see funnel clouds over the city, which almost never touch land. They will hit higher gound and well away from the city. DIA heading east, east of I-225, is the beginning of the tornado belt. When the clouds have a light green huge to them, it is usually because the ice in them is significant and reflecting light, this eventually will fall as hail.

I would recommend getting someplace that has a carport or a garage to park in, home and work. Every car I have owned, sans the current one, has had hail damage and it really bites.

Several tornadoes touched down in Denver (proper, not Metro) on June 15, 1988. The largest was an F3 (158–206 mph winds). It injured 7 people and caused over $15 million in damage.

I vividly remember that tornado. I watched it form, and it (the storm) tore up a huge tree from our yard in Aurora. From my memory (I was only 6 though), I certainly would describe it as huge.

[DenverAztec]

You are correct ramanboy33, there were five tornados all F2, with one on the low end of F3. Thanks for pointing that out. First recorded F3 in Aurora since recording began and out by the airport.

This is very rare, but not impossible, however, I would not worry as they can hit any state within the US and have. Again, I would worry more about hail and lightening then a funnel cloud or tornado.

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by mczabe

About two weeks after we moved here, we came out of the Safeway to see many people just staring to the south. We looked and indeed there was a funnel cloud (the one the went through Parker last summer). It was cool. I called my mom to tell her what I was looking at and she started screaming at me for just standing there like an idiot with her grandkids. I just can't explain it - it just wasn't in the least bit concerning at the time.

Definitely NOT a reason to NOT move here.

Agreed. Bolded comment is hilarious.

Avoiding CO because of tornadoes is *almost* like avoiding Chicago because of hurricanes or avoiding Dallas because of blizzards. There really isn't much to worry about.

However, I could see somebody not wanting to live here because of snow. Their loss.

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bckr

You appear to have a tornado fobia. You have a greater chance of being run over by a blue bus than even seeing a tornado. Don't worry about it.

I guess I need to keep an eye out for blue buses as there was a tornado that touched down in the Castle Rock/Parker area. I think it was considered to be Parker. I believe it was 8/24/08 - the Sunday that started the DNC.

My wife and I were on our back patio taking pictures. I'll post some when I get home later tonight.

I don't want to scare the OP, just want to advise that it is not out of the realm of possibility.

[vfrpilot]

I took this picture last August from the back of our home looking north into Douglas County. The twister only lasted a few minutes and didn't look much worse than 'dust devils' I experienced in AZ.

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

I'm a day late but here are some pics of the funnel cloud that touched down in Parker. We were probably 7-10 miles away - as the crow flies.

[edesign]

Cool pics...but RedSox, how often have you actually seen them? Nobody here has suggested they are impossible, we merely said they are a rarity and when they do occur they are generally quite weak and not likely to flatten your house and send your cows on a wild ride.

[SheridanL]

Great pics!! Seems a lot closer than 7-10 miles.
Nice neighborhood too!!

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

Originally Posted by edesign

Cool pics...but RedSox, how often have you actually seen them? Nobody here has suggested they are impossible, we merely said they are a rarity and when they do occur they are generally quite weak and not likely to flatten your house and send your cows on a wild ride.

Actually, someone said that there was a better chance of getting hit by a bus than actually SEEING a tornado and I mentioned the tornado in Parker and that I had pics.

I don't recall ever saying anything about the frequency of tornadoes. And for me, it is the least of my concerns living in CO or anywhere for that matter.

Tell the folks in Windsor that they are "generally quite weak."

[2Below]

This was several years ago in Parker...