Author: BoulderCAST Team (Page 5 of 42)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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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!

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.

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

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.

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April 2024 Graphical Weather Review: A warm, windy and wet month that continued the historically soggy start to 2024

Despite having a two-week-long dry stretch thrown into the mix, the month of April concluded wetter than normal for most of the Front Range. However, much of this moisture came from a soaking rainstorm (with a little snow) near the end of the month. Nonetheless, 2024 has begun as one of the all-time wettest in Boulder. We also endured an intense downslope windstorm near the beginning of April, but who could forget that? Xcel Energy customers sure wouldn’t! Here’s a quick and colorful graphical recap of our weather during April and how it relates to climatology.

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