While these winds bring warmer temperatures along the Front Range during the winter months, they can often be devastating with sustained, severely turbulent winds and gusts sometimes reaching 70 miles an hour or more. Temperatures of streams and lakes fluctuate less from day to day than air or soil temperatures. In early summer, water is on average colder than the air or soil, but by late summer it is warmer. The seasonal rise in daily temperatures creates snowmelt and runoff, beginning first with the lower elevations and south facing slopes Doesken, ; Lukas et al.
Temperature has significant effects on the following:. The warming spring temperatures, coupled with lower snow-water equivalent SWE since and enhanced solar absorption from dust-on-snow, have been identified by researchers as the driving forces behind a shift in the timing of snowmelt and peak runoff of one to four weeks earlier in the spring within the past 30 years. Additionally, researchers have identified a trend toward more frequent soil moisture drought conditions in the state over the past 30 years Lukas, et al.
As long as humans continue to emit greenhouse gases, this warming trend will continue. And once humans stop emitting greenhouse gases, the warming reached at that time will be locked in for approximately 10, years Clark et al, According to climate models, under a medium-low emissions scenario the statewide average annual temperature is expected to increase by 2. Table 2. Projected water-related impacts from climate change in different areas and sectors of Colorado. Adapted from Lukas et al.
Climate change is affecting and will continue to affect the demand for Colorado water and the ways in which it is used within and across basins and economic sectors. Addressing climate change will require a concerted effort by Coloradoans and involve a two-pronged approach: greenhouse gas reductions mitigation and adaptation State of Colorado, While it is of necessity that Colorado reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions, a warming climate cannot be entirely avoided, and therefore, the state must adapt.
The SYR, therefore, is a comprehensive up-to-date compilation of assessments dealing with climate change, based on the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic literature in the field.
It focuses on observed climate trends, climate modeling, and projections of temperature, precipitation, snowpack, and streamflow. Climate projections are reported for the midst century because this time frame is the focus of adaptation strategies being developed by the State of Colorado and other water entities.
The purpose of the study is to provide state agencies, local governments, and others with background for preparedness planning. In this plan, the major sectors of the state government are addressed, specific actions are called for, and policy recommendations are made. Colorado Climate Preparedness Project Final Report by the Western Water Assessment for the State of Colorado Using documents and information obtained through a series of 22 structured interviews, the Colorado Climate Preparedness Project provides a catalog of climate impacts and adaptation activities and options in five climate-sensitive sectors in the state of Colorado: water; wildlife, ecosystems and forests; electricity; agriculture; and outdoor recreation.
Global Change Research Program An interagency guide that provides a framework and essential principles for formal and informal education about climate change.
Colorado Climate Center This website maintains recent climate data, publications and other Colorado climate resources. In a similar vein is the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network , a volunteer network of citizens gathering climate data.
The Center seeks to increase use and availability of climate data in the High Plains regions by providing climate services, developing climate data and information products, and engaging stakeholders. A team of more than experts guided by a member Federal Advisory Committee produced the report, which was extensively reviewed by the public and experts, including federal agencies and a panel of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Center works with states and tribal governments across the U. The NDMC also maintains an extensive website with resources for monitoring, assessing impacts, planning and K education. NOAA Climate. United States Climate Page Find plots of mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall for selected cities and towns in the U. Hint: Try the fast lane—the state maps are great! The site provides current forecasts and weather conditions for Denver, Colorado, and the United States.
It also links to other weather related information. Climate Resilience Toolkit The U. Climate Resilience Toolkit provides scientific tools, information, and expertise to help people manage their climate-related risks and opportunities, and improve their resilience to extreme events. The site is designed to serve interested citizens, communities, businesses, resource managers, planners and policy leaders at all levels of government.
The Center serves as a focal point for coordination of applied climate activities in the West and conducts applied research on climate issues affecting the West. Western Water Assessment Dashboard The Western Water Assessment is a university-based applied research program that addresses societal vulnerabilities to climate variability and climate change, particularly those related to water resources.
Clark, P. Consequences of twenty-first-century policy for multi-millennial climate and sea-level change. Nature Climate Change, 6, Collins, D. Colorado Floods and Droughts. Paulson, E. Chase, R. Moody Eds. Washington, D.
Colorado Climate Center. These winds are sometimes referred to as chinook winds when they warm and bora winds when they are associated with a strong cold frontal passage downslope off the mountains. Colorado is best known for its mountains. They occupy less area of the state than many realize, but they profoundly impact the climate of the entire region.
The main feature of the mountainous area of central and western Colorado is the dramatic differences in climate over short distances. With elevations ranging from below 7, feet in the lower mountain valleys to more than 14, feet on the highest peaks, all aspects of the climate are affected: temperature, humidity, precipitation and, of course, wind.
In general, temperatures decrease with elevation. Air heated at elevation quickly becomes unstable, causing it to rise and be whisked away from the land surface. This puts a low upper threshold on high temperatures at elevation. Thus, the most extreme cold in the state of Colorado actually occurs in mountain valleys, not on mountain peaks. Wind patterns in the mountains are almost always controlled by topography.
Mountain-valley circulations are common, with winds often blowing up the valley from lower to higher elevations during the day, then reversing and blowing down the valleys at night. The mountains form a substantial block to regional air motion, causing winds in most valleys west of the Continental Divide to be very light—especially in fall and winter—while winds along and east of the crest of the Continental Divide are much stronger and typically blow from a westerly direction for much of the cool half of the year.
Precipitation patterns are largely controlled by mountain ranges and elevation and, to a lesser extent, the direction of prevailing airflow. When weather systems move in from the west and northwest during the winter and spring months, the peaks that first intercept the air receive the most precipitation.
These areas are the wettest areas in the state of Colorado. Buffalo Pass in the northern part of the state and Wolf Creek Pass in the southern part of the state both receive over fifty inches of precipitation and inches of snowfall annually.
Some of the high mountain valleys, which lie in the rain shadow of mountains, are the driest areas in the state and receive an average of less than ten inches of precipitation per year.
Precipitation increases with elevation both in winter and summer, but the elevation effect is greatest in midwinter, when mountaintop winds are typically strongest. High peaks and mountain ranges generally receive the majority of their precipitation during the winter months. Mountain precipitation primarily falls as snow from November through mid-May.
This creates seasonal snowpack at about 9, feet, although it is lower in some areas. Farther west in Colorado, the topography becomes slightly less extreme, with lower elevations and combinations of canyons and plateaus.
Elevation and topography remain dominant controls of local climates, but precipitation gets progressively less and temperature progressively warmer approaching the Utah border. Western Colorado winter weather is colder but calmer and less variable than weather east of the mountains. Precipitation west of the Continental Divide is more evenly distributed throughout the year than for the eastern plains.
For most of western Colorado, the greatest monthly precipitation occurs in the winter months, while June is the driest month. Near the Utah border, late summer and early autumn can be the wettest time of year, as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and tropical Eastern Pacific is funneled northward into the state, often falling as precipitation during afternoon thunderstorms.
A variety of threatening weather events are possible in Colorado. Privacy policy. Okay, thanks. Menu for this section. Student Resources: Lifestyle Covenant. Student Handbook. While the spring sees refreshing rain, the fall is the time for a dash of brilliant colors across the landscape. Summer experiences thunderstorms and an increase in tourist population, while the shoulder seasons give much-wanted space and have better weather conditions. Winter is mostly cold in Colorado with severe weather.
Winter is the worst time to visit Colorado as the majority of the state experiences severely cold weather and extreme temperatures. Snow is frequent and accumulates in vast amounts in the highlands, and the mountains experience intense cold with vast quantities of snowfall that cross " mm. Colorado experiences arctic and subarctic type of weather conditions on many of its mountaintops as the entire state lies at a high altitude.
Winter low temperatures are below freezing in many parts, the conditions are harsh, and the cold is severe - scanty rainfall has contributed to the creation of cold desert regions in a significant portion of Colorado. Colorado is vulnerable to wildfires, thunderstorms, tornadoes in late spring and summer.
Hailstorms are strong and mostly affect the Eastern Plains. The plains are also part of the Tornado Alley of America and witness flooding in spring and summer due to thunderstorms and melting of snow - the Denver Flood of and Colorado Floods of are notable examples. Wildfires of severe intensity are frequent during the summer due to lack of precipitation that contributes to dryness in the majority of the state - the Hayman Fire of was the largest wildfire in America at the time.
Colorado is also prone to frequent earthquakes of low intensity that measure 2 to 3. Snowfall is heavy in the west, and places such as Steamboat Springs and Crested Butte register approximately 40" mm.
Days are short with fading sunlight, and nights are severely cold. January is mostly dry, and rainfall scarcely registers above 1" Chinook winds help Front Range cities to maintain relatively warm conditions. Microclimates exist in Colorado that range from alpine to cold desert type, and conditions may be radically different in the space of a few miles.
Skiers and snowboarders find the thick snow fascinating in the Colorado Mountains. New Year attracts a few tourists, but overall, January is an off-season for tourism. February is a chilly winter month in Colorado as the state is in the clutches of the cold weather. The mountains experience alpine conditions and gather loads of snow. The eastern plains are also cold and accumulate an average of 5" mm to 7" Sunny days are rare in February, and it is an odd year where they number more than 10 during the month.
Humidity is low with the absence of moisture in the air. Snowstorms register occasionally but are rarely violent. Sleigh riding, snowshoeing, ice-skating and snow tubing are popular winter activities besides skiing on the mountain slopes. Daylight, though short, is sufficient to enjoy the numerous adventures on the white snowy landscape - pack the warmest winter clothes and drive carefully on the icy roads!
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