Anyone else sick and tired of the wind? (Colorado Springs: home, neighborhood)

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by Kar54

To your point, another downside of these high winds is not only dust but smoke from western wildfires. For example yesterday, we had sustained winds of 30 mph out of the WSW. I assume a lot of that haze was from the wildfires north of Flagstaff. During the summer months, we get the smoky haze from local fires as well as the Great Basin, California and the PNW. On cold winter days we usually have unparalleled blue, clear, clean skies. Too bad that doesn’t last all year. Praying for moisture. Living in Mountain Shadows, don’t want to go through another Waldo Canyon. Once was more than enough for a lifetime.

I'll never forget how weird it was to be evacuated at 1:00 a.m. Neighbors all milling around in the dark, it looked like a zombie movie. I was not prepared ... it was awful.

All I have to do is get a whiff of smoke, and it brings it all back. I don't want to go through that again either. Here's hoping for less wind and some rain, soon.

[Hebrews12]

Originally Posted by mtngigi

I'll never forget how weird it was to be evacuated at 1:00 a.m. Neighbors all milling around in the dark, it looked like a zombie movie. I was not prepared ... it was awful.

All I have to do is get a whiff of smoke, and it brings it all back. I don't want to go through that again either. Here's hoping for less wind and some rain, soon.

Speaking of fire risk. I realize that virtually anywhere in CoS is at risk for fire. But can you tell me if this map is accurate?
https://co-pub.coloradoforestatlas.org/#/

[otowi]

Originally Posted by Hebrews12

Speaking of fire risk. I realize that virtually anywhere in CoS is at risk for fire. But can you tell me if this map is accurate?
https://co-pub.coloradoforestatlas.org/#/

It is as accurate as anything available.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Hebrews12

Speaking of fire risk. I realize that virtually anywhere in CoS is at risk for fire. But can you tell me if this map is accurate?
https://co-pub.coloradoforestatlas.org/#/

I think the answer is no from this perspective. The map is showing the risk of wildfire essentially 'in the woods', so to speak, not the risk of fire that could sweep into populated areas with the wind.

[WY_high_dry]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

We are currently traveling, and it might make you guys happy (or maybe not) to know that the wind is really bad elsewhere right now, too. It was awful in New Mexico, and it's been bad in Texas for the last several days. I'm not sure why, but it is indeed annoying.

While we're used to wind up here in Cody WY, the wind over the past several months has been relentless. As much as I enjoy living in the inter-mountain west, the nearly constant wind of late has made it a challenge to enjoy outdoor activities. From the looks of the comments on here, it appears to be a region-wide phenomenon.

[Mike from back east]

Our western states are the Saudi Arabia of wind, wish we could tap a lot more of it. (FYI: Enough sunlight falls here on Arizona to power the whole nation, the issue is transmitting it without voltage drop.)

Saw something today on the news that wind power now exceeds coal or nuclear power in the USA.

[Hebrews12]

I'm very concerned about this summer's fire risk.

[Colorado Rambler]

Here in the SW corner of the state I am resigned to this summer's fire risk. Everything is dry, dry, dry and somehow this relentless wind has managed to suck even more moisture out of vegetation that was already desiccated to begin with. The air here is all too often a combination of dust and smoke from all those bad fires just due south of us. I sure hope that this wind is not going to join the ranks of climate/weather events that have become the "new normal."

[pikabike]

It’s not even that desert-y YET.

As we drove through Tuba City recently, the high winds blasted red dust and sand constantly. I had never been in a dust storm that bad. There was almost no vegetation to hold it down. Breathing it was getting nasty.

I said to my husband, “This makes me think of the Saharan desert! And just think: not too far into the future, SW CO might look like this.”

[mtngigi]

I've pretty much had it with the wind. Getting tired of picking up all the debris it carries. Plus, it's making it very difficult to be outside doing the usual clean-up and gardening stuff I like to do this time of year. I don't even want to be outside.