I have to imagine that got some Leadville area residents up to change their underwear - a funnel cloud is not something you expect to see living up in the mountains.
Maybe we can all expect a lot more of this odd weather as we approach 2012
In all seriousness, Stan, can you share with us your thoughts about the "unusual" weather we're seeing over the past few years, and that seems to be getting more weird all the time?
Are these kinds of changes really "normal" and we just have a micro view of things, thanks to immediate technology?
Are these kinds of changes really "normal" and we just have a micro view of things[?]
Yes. That, and there are more people with more cameras (video and otherwise) in more places to see more things that would've gone unreported in the past.
Nice write-up Stan. Would have been interesting to see what the models would produce for the sounding and "hodo" at this time. Perhaps they would demonstrate the instability and low-level shear you had in the discussion? Maybe it is a wish on my part as it would have been way over the intended audience.
Steven, might be worth a closer look sometime...terrain may have played a role too.
Nat,
I agree with Todd in general---and an excellent point about increasing reporting (for example, tornado reports have gone way up in recent years, but strong tornadoes remained about the same, suggesting that the number of tornadoes hasnt risen, just the number of reports)
We generally have a short memory for these things, wild and unusual weather is always a hot topic for the media to cover.
On the other hand (and this may be a less popular opinion for some!) the fact is that we are seeing relatively rapid and significant change in our climate. The dissapearance of our ice shelves is incredibly dramatic. As the general circulation evolves, it has to have an impact on our weather. Individual cases of severe or extreme weather can't be attributed to "global warming", but the consensus is that climate change will cause an increase in "unusual" events.
Posted by Todd Caudle on June 15, 2010 at 12:22 AM
Then again, there are many noted meteorologists whose opinions I trust (besides Stan, of course!) who intimate that we could be heading into an extended period of slight cooling. Such is the cyclical nature of Earth's climate. When it's all said and done, weather stats are merely the average of extremes.
Super cool....I don't think I have ever seen a tornado deep in the mountains before in my 40+ years living here (doesn't mean it never happened....I just have a bad memory ). The closest one I rmemeber was in Lousiville and Boulder about 15 years ago.
Posted by Pam Colander on June 15, 2010 at 9:18 PM
I thought the topography of mountainous areas didn't allow for tornado formation...obviously not! Would've loved to see that in person.
Posted by Todd Caudle on June 16, 2010 at 12:32 AM
I know South Park is almost Great Plains-like when compared to the upper Ark Valley near Leadville, but just a few years ago a tornado came through the Antero Reservoir area, sending campers/picnickers scattering for cover. Seems like it leveled some RVs or something, too, and maybe injured a few people. Cripple Creek's been visited by funnel clouds many times, too. Still, what an awesome sight to see one hanging over Mt. Massive like that!
There was a tornado in Woodland Park a few years ago. I thought I was safe living up in the mountains, but apparently once in a blue moon even the mountains aren't safe from funnels.
Discussion
14 repliesMt. Massive cold-air funnel (YouTube)
HERE
(courtesy, me
I have to imagine that got some Leadville area residents up to change their underwear - a funnel cloud is not something you expect to see living up in the mountains.
In all seriousness, Stan, can you share with us your thoughts about the "unusual" weather we're seeing over the past few years, and that seems to be getting more weird all the time?
Are these kinds of changes really "normal" and we just have a micro view of things, thanks to immediate technology?
Yes. That, and there are more people with more cameras (video and otherwise) in more places to see more things that would've gone unreported in the past.
Nice write-up Stan. Would have been interesting to see what the models would produce for the sounding and "hodo" at this time. Perhaps they would demonstrate the instability and low-level shear you had in the discussion? Maybe it is a wish on my part as it would have been way over the intended audience.
Nat,
I agree with Todd in general---and an excellent point about increasing reporting (for example, tornado reports have gone way up in recent years, but strong tornadoes remained about the same, suggesting that the number of tornadoes hasnt risen, just the number of reports)
We generally have a short memory for these things, wild and unusual weather is always a hot topic for the media to cover.
On the other hand (and this may be a less popular opinion for some!) the fact is that we are seeing relatively rapid and significant change in our climate. The dissapearance of our ice shelves is incredibly dramatic. As the general circulation evolves, it has to have an impact on our weather. Individual cases of severe or extreme weather can't be attributed to "global warming", but the consensus is that climate change will cause an increase in "unusual" events.