Winter in Colorado, 2012-2013 (Pueblo, Boulder: city hall, stores, lessons)

[jim9251]

I hate to interfere with this love fest between you two, but:

Significant Winter Storm to Continue into Monday*** The combination of a cold front along the UT/CO border and an upper low lifting out of northern AZ, will bring periods of snow to much of the region today and tonight. Snow will be heavy at times especially over the mountains and higher valleys. A secondary disturbance diving southeastward out of British Columbia will keep snow going Sunday into Monday.

Snow totals overnight:

Coal Bank Pass - 8"
Paonia - 1"
Molas Pass - 7.5"
Cedaredge - 1.5"
Red Mountain Pass - 5"
Telluride - 3"
Ouray - 2.4"
Black Canyon - 3.9"
Delta - 0
Ridgway - 4"

[Josseppie]

I want snow but this is what I get:

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
428 AM MST SAT FEB 9 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PUEBLO HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM MST THIS EVENING.

* AFFECTED AREA... PUEBLO...OTERO...BENT...BACA AND PROWERS COUNTIES...AS WELL AS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF LAS ANIMAS COUNTY...

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 13 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS...RAPID GROWTH RATES AND ERRATIC FIRE BEHAVIOR WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY FIRE STARTS.

At least the mountains are getting snow!

[DOUBLE H]

Well, the first phase of this front went through somewhat unnoticed at my place. 1/2 inch of snow this morning and the temps right now are 40 with partial clearing. We'll see if part two is a little more productive regarding precipitation.

And regarding Josseppie's observation- "We don't need no stinking fires!"

[jazzlover]

Happily, it is snowing in some places in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Nothing spectacular, but nothing spectacular is better than nothing at all.

One thing that is pretty telling, though, is how we now see weather warnings and endless drivel in the broadcast news media about winter storm events that used to be considered normal and non-newsworthy. I about spewed some chunks last evening when one of the "weather dweebs" on the Weather Channel was reporting on the "major NE winter storm" in New York City, where--horrors!--there was about 4" of slush in the street gutters. He busied himself showing how, if someone stepped into the gutter, they might get their foot wet all the way up over their ankle.

Compare that to the 1949 blizzard in the Great Plains, where tens of thousands of cattle and sheep perished, dozens of people died, and transportation was snarled over an area covering over 1/3 of the land area of the US for many days. That was real news. Now we talk about people getting their ankle wet because of some slush--on a national TV network. We have become a nation of couch-potato wusses.

As of a few minutes ago, up to 3 feet of snow has been reported in places in the NE. That is a record-setter in some places, and worthy of news coverage. Still, in a normal winter, there are places that I travel to and from frequently in Colorado and northern New Mexico that see that much snow out of a single storm several times a winter. One town in particular usually doesn't see any undue disruption of normal life until the snow gets to over about 5' deep on the level. And it's not even a ski resort.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

One thing that is pretty telling, though, is how we now see weather warnings and endless drivel in the broadcast news media about winter storm events that used to be considered normal and non-newsworthy. I about spewed some chunks last evening when one of the "weather dweebs" on the Weather Channel was reporting on the "major NE winter storm" in New York City, where--horrors!--there was about 4" of slush in the street gutters. He busied himself showing how, if someone stepped into the gutter, they might get their foot wet all the way up over their ankle.

I remember growing up in the 80's and 90's and when storms hit Colorado they were just a big news events as they are today. This is nothing new.

[jim9251]

jazz you fail to understand today's society. If someone would have stepped into that slushy gutter and caught a cold, without being warned first, they would have sued.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

I remember growing up in the 80's and 90's and when storms hit Colorado they were just a big news events as they are today. This is nothing new.

In other words, you grew up with cable TV and the Weather Channel. Damn kids.

[Josseppie]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

In other words, you grew up with cable TV and the Weather Channel. Damn kids.

I was referring to the local stations. KOAA Pueblo/ Colorado Springs and KCNC Denver were the two stations I watched the most.

[JMM64]

Ahh, heavy snow now in the Front Range! I hope it does this all weekend!

[JMM64]

Originally Posted by JMM64

Ahh, heavy snow now in the Front Range! I hope it does this all weekend!

I spoke way too soon, the snow has stopped