Renewable Energy and Weather
Peter Goble A recent email query about renewable power got me thinking about where we produce renewable power and why. The reasons are complicated. However, the weather is critical in determining where…
Mid-August Colorado drought update: exceptional drought returns to the state for the first time since 2023
Allie Mazurek The latest US Drought Monitor (released August 14) highlights big changes to the current drought situation in western Colorado, including the introduction of “exceptional” or “D4” conditions to some locations.…
Colorado’s peak flash flood season
Russ Schumacher It’s been called the “summer of flash flooding” in the US. The worst was the tragic flooding in Texas Hill Country on July 4, which took over 135 lives. But…
Heat and Humidity
Frog in a rain gauge with condensation. Photo credit: Chris Johns. Stop me if you have heard this one before: “Last summer I visited . It was 98 degrees and…
The changing drought landscape after a big storm and May heat
This week’s US Drought Monitor shows big changes across Colorado. The southeastern plains got some much-needed moisture from a big spring storm last week. This led to improvements in the…
No good news in the snowpack and water supply numbers
The peak in mountain snowpack (the amount of water stored in the snow) is typically in early April in Colorado’s southern mountains, and later in April in the north. Looking…
What Season is it Anyway?
Thursday, March 20th marks the spring equinox – the first day of spring according to most calendars. But does spring really start on March 20th? I would argue the answer…
End-of-February snowpack check-in: ok in the north, bleak in the south (plus, a message about our federal government partners)
By the time March rolls around, we have a lot of information about how the snowpack accumulation in Colorado’s mountains is going to turn out. For those familiar with statistics,…
A heatwave in winter? Early February featured record-breaking warmth
While the last few days have been cold and snowy (with more on the way!), early February brought widespread heat across the state, including the Front Range, West Slope, and…
Light and Heat: A Love Story
Happy Valentine’s Day! Every mid-February we take a day to let our romantic partners know how much they mean to us, or perhaps more cynically, to give money to Hallmark.…