Author: BoulderCAST Team (Page 2 of 39)

This post had major contributions from at least two members of our team. The more meteorologists the better, right?

When will our first snow occur? Enter your prediction for a chance to win! ❄️☃️

October 2, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

10th Annual BoulderCAST First Snowfall Contest

Are you eager for the first snowball fight of the season? Have you already waxed your skis and purchased your overpriced Epic Pass? Did you swap on your snow tires far too early again? The Front Range’s first big snow could be right around the corner! Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc on this contest recently — within just the last four years we’ve had our latest AND earliest snowfalls on record! What’s in store for 2024? We provide a brief overview of Boulder’s first snowfall climatology and then pose the question…“When will Boulder’s first measurable snow occur this year?” Submit your guess for a chance to win an assortment of prizes. Those who get closest to the date and amount of our first snow win.

*Sorry but the contest is now closed to entries*

September 2024 Graphical Weather Review: Yet another warm & dry month with further drought expansion in the Front Range

October 2, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

September was an exceptionally warm month in the Front Range, with most areas landing more than four degrees above average. This was our fourth consecutive month that finished on the north side of normal. Outside of a single soaking rain event, the month was also extremely dry with drought expanding further across the area. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during September and how it relates to climatology.

August 2024 Graphical Weather Review: A surprising late-season surge in the monsoon brought slight drought improvement to the Front Range

September 4, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

August brought welcomed change to the Front Range with the elusive American Southwest Monsoon finally making a late appearance. While much of the area ended with below normal rainfall in August, it was notably wetter than months prior leading to a slight improvement in the regional drought. It was also hot in August, with overall temperatures and the number of 90-degree days landing above normal. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during August and how it relates to climatology.

July 2024 Graphical Weather Review: After months of extremely dry weather, it was inevitable that wildfires would ignite across the Front Range

August 10, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

After three months with barely any rainfall, our parched vegetation unfortunately ignited at the end of July with several large wildfires taking off in the Front Range burning more than 12,000 acres combined. Unsurprisingly, drought further expanded in July and numerous jurisdictions enacting fire bans. Overall temperatures during the month were close to normal following several periods of ups and downs. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during July and how it relates to climatology.

Heatwave & Wildfire Update: Exceptionally hot, dry and smoky conditions will remain across the Front Range at least through Monday with slow fire growth

August 1, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

Between the extreme heat, thick smoke and new wildfire ignitions, this week has been quite the disaster in the Front Range! Our fuels have been primed for weeks now and our team has been vocal regarding this inevitable outcome, but things unravelled much quicker than even we expected this week with something like ten wildland fires in the Front Range just since Monday, in total burning more than 9,000 acres of forest! The weekend unfortunately won’t offer much reprieve from the heat, fire or drought, but we are tracking a potential shift next week towards wetter and cooler conditions. We provide an update on the local fires, the ongoing heatwave, the widespread smoke, and when actual raindrops may return to the forecast.

2024 Colorado Summer Monsoon Outlook: Drought is back in the Front Range and this year’s monsoon won’t offer any help

July 10, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

The North American Monsoon is responsible for pumping subtropical moisture into the southwestern United States every summer, moisture which ultimately supplies the fuel for Colorado’s daily summertime thunderstorms — rain we desperately need in the Front Range right now following months scarce precipitation and worsening drought. However, the arrival and intensity of the summer monsoon varies substantially from year to year, especially in our area. In this long-range outlook, we discuss the developing dire drought situation, the current state of the monsoon, what’s happening with El Niño, and what to expect for weather in the coming months across Front Range Colorado.

May 2024 Graphical Weather Review: Boulder’s driest May in 50 years, a once-in-a-lifetime northern lights display and yet another billion-dollar Denver hailstorm!

June 2, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

2024 began very soggy across the Front Range, but the month of May did a complete one-eighty concluding as Boulder’s driest in 50 years and 2nd driest since record-keeping began in the late 1800s. Other notable weather events during the month include the once-in-a-lifetime northern lights display visible across almost the entire United States and also what is likely to be yet another “billion-dollar hailstorm” which slammed parts of the Denver Metro area on May 30th. Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during May and how it relates to climatology.

Denver Hailstorm Recap: Unexpected, nocturnal supercells pummeled parts of the Denver area with baseball-sized hail Thursday night!

May 31, 2024 / BoulderCAST Team

A pair of severe, supercell thunderstorms exploded across the northern Front Range late Thursday evening with very little advanced notice for residents. Hail larger than baseballs caused significant property damage on the northern and northeastern Metro area — roofing, siding, car windows and gardens stood no chance against the onslaught. The hail repair and insurance scammers are probably already knocking on doors this morning or making cold calls! We take a look at where the largest hail fell and why the forecast was so poor.