Devastating Weather Smacks Colorado Front Range

As of around 5pm mst, it has been estimated that 11,700 people have been evacuated, 18,000 homes damaged, 1502 homes destroyed, 6 people have been confirmed dead and 1253 people are unaccounted for.
Many roads have been damaged and in parts, washed away and sinkholes appearing. At least 30 bridges have been destroyed and at least another 20 badly damaged.
The Colorado National Guard has been called to help with evacuations and a Fort Carson Air division has sent many helicopters to the north of Denver.

A summer's day in Dorset (August 18th 2011)

Striped Icebergs

Icebergs in Lake Michigan sometimes have stripes, formed by
layers of snow that react to different conditions.

Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet
fills up with melt water and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.

When an iceberg falls into the lake, a layer of water can
freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a
green stripe.

Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up
when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the lake.

Frozen Wave Pixs - Nature is amazing!

The water froze the instant the wave broke through the
ice. That's what it is like in Lake Michigan where it is the
coldest weather in decades. Water freezes the instant
it comes in contact with the air. The temperature of the
water is already some degrees below freezing.

Just look at how the wave froze in mid-air!!!

Britain in Deep Freeze

Britain freezes as temperatures plunge below -21 celcius

The mercury sank to minus 21.2C (minus 6.2F) in parts of the Scottish Highlands, considerably colder than some home freezers, with bitterly cold temperatures everywhere else.

Icy conditions have again left roads in a treacherous state and caused delays and cancellations for rail and air passengers. EasyJet has already cancelled around 30 flights to and from airports including Gatwick, Liverpool, Belfast and Stansted. British Airways is also advising customers to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.

On the roads, some councils have been forced to ration their gritting, due to pressure on supplies of rock salt.

Hundreds of schools are also shut again, resulting in a full week of closure for some children.

Dozens of big companies are having their gas rationed after domestic demand soared to record levels.

There will be little respite during the day, with more snow for eastern England and temperatures likely to be pegged at or below freezing in all parts. The wintry conditions are also expected to last well into next week as the coldest spell for more than 30 years grinds on.

The death toll caused by the big freeze rose after the body of 45-year-old Philip Hughes from Slough was recovered from beneath the ice in a frozen lake in Frimley Green, Surrey. At least 22 people have died since before Christmas in incidents thought to have been related to the weather.

The Chiller

Colorado Springs

During the night, an arctic front arrived in our area. Winds initially were averaging 40mph+, but fortunately have calmed down now. The temperature here in the Springs has plummeted and is currently 6f (-14c) at 11am.

It is supposed to get up to 14f (-10c), but it doesn't look like it will.

Although Denver hasn't started getting the snow fall that the Springs is getting now, they have the cold too, currently at 14f (-10c).








South Denver


The current forecast shows we will not see temperatures go above freezing (in the day!) until the end of the week.

Is it March or May?

A dusting of snow covered much of the Rockies and the Front Range late last night.

Monument Hill, I-25 looking South

Front Range, view from Denver

Divide, I-70 at Eisenhower Tunnel

A Spring Day in Colorado

Home, 7th May 07

Monument Hill, 7th May 07

Winter returns for Easter in Colorado