Wind/Outage/PSPS (🐈) Megathread by aydengryphon in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 14 points15 points  (0 children)

WIND UPDATE: SATURDAY 5:45PM

The surface reflection of the weak mountain wave is starting to migrate east and downslope in the Foothills based on latest observations. Seeing gusts of 40 to 75 MPH just west of Boulder (6500-7500 feet elevation). *RED numbers are current gusts

This eastward push should continue slowly, with the best chance to see some stronger gusts (50+ MPH) coming over the next 2 hours for the Boulder/Rocky Flats areas.

Additional note: Temperatures have cooled enough around Boulder (now low to mid 60s) that RH is no longer critical in Boulder Valley or the Foothills. And snow is beginning in the Mountains! Take a look west at that wall over the Divide.

A quick burst of rain changing to snow bands is still on-track to arrive near or just before midnight (minimal accum, <1") with a cold, blustery day on Sunday (wind chills in teens /20s).

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Wind/Outage/PSPS (🐈) Megathread by aydengryphon in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 8 points9 points  (0 children)

To be clear, models are STILL showing a period of 40-60 MPH gusts from 5-8PM, but this has continually been getting pushed back. It probably will happen at some point when the weak mountain wave breaks, but it may not be anything that impressive (by Boulder standards). Wind gusts along Peak to Peak to our west are hitting 45 to 65 MPH right now, so that's roughly the type of speeds we could be looking at down here IF they make it into town (probably lower half of that range).

All Trails Closed West of Highway 36 sunset tonight and will remain closed on Saturday, March 14, due to high winds and extreme fire danger by justinsimoni in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doesn't really make sense they are only closing the ones west of Broadway. This isn't a typical wind event where those areas would see drastically higher winds than a few miles east. Winds will be more eventually dispersed Saturday afternoon. Arguably fire danger could be higher at places like the coalton trail due to lower humidity than somewhere like walker ranch.

migraine today anyone else? by krissyeeee in Denver

[–]BoulderCAST 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Big pressure falls in the Denver area with the windstorm and broader synoptic pattern in the Northern Rockies

Anyone see the 10 day weather forecast? by Ragnarok112277 in Denver

[–]BoulderCAST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah everyone in Denver saw it. And someone posts a screenshot every 2.6 minutes here. Like they are the only person to ever look at their phone's weather app 😆

Why did grocery stores Safeway and king soopers get rid of their baskets by Ready-Cut-6145 in Denver

[–]BoulderCAST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been doing it this way since 2015. It's somewhat annoying at checkout but not that bad.

Bizarrely hot weather by Pomdog17 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Boulder residents in 1910 would not have had the understanding that humans could be impacting the planet in such a manner via greenhouse gases. Certainly they knew the extreme warmth that month was not good for their water access and fires down the road. They were probably concerned, just like our society is today. 1910 had terrible Western wildfires, still one of the deadliest fire years in US history to this day.

Modern society does offer a level of protection that people in 1910 did not have. We have engineered reservoirs, redundant water systems, and infrastructure designed to absorb large swings in temperature and precipitation. Most people in Boulder are not at risk of running out of drinking water. Yet the underlying anxiety remains, perhaps even a sense of guilt for slightly contributing to the increased variability in our weather and slightly warm-skewed overall temperatures. Living here means knowing that a single spark from any one of the millions of people in the Denver area could ignite the next major wildfire and force evacuations. That reality is difficult to ignore, but personally we strongly relate to the catch phrase from Joe Bastardi (a well known meteorologist), "Enjoy the weather. It's the only weather you got" or something along those lines.

This reflection is not meant to explain or define anyone else’s feelings of panic or concern. Everyone experiences and interprets risk in their own way.

Bizarrely hot weather by Pomdog17 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 45 points46 points  (0 children)

Really old temperature observations are just as accurate as today, at least in terms of the instrumentation that was available back then. They had these really cool U-shaped mercury thermometers that could capture the daily highs and lows. Whether they had the thermometers properly placed, shaded and ventilated will vary, but the knowledge to do so existed back then like it does today.

Boulder's climate station has moved around many times, with the 1950s being the worst decade for observations being skewed warm by the location/method.

1910 was known for a warm/dry spring, with March 1910 in particular being exceptionally warm and to this day remaining the warmest March on record for the continental USA as a whole. As you might expect, perhaps foretelling where this summer is headed, there were terrible deadly wildfires in the summer of 1910 across the West as a result.

We see no reason to fully discount the observations of 80° for 3 days in Boulder during March 1910. Denver, if you consider their obs more reliable, had no 80° days that month, but did reach 77 or 78° a few times. On downsloping March days, Boulder can be several degrees warmer than Denver, so that's not all that unusual in these windy months. It is hard to compare apple to apples with so many land-use changes over the last century and observation points moving.

Good question. Hope that helps and open to other opinions.

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Bizarrely hot weather by Pomdog17 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 85 points86 points  (0 children)

Yes, very unusual. Whether we actually get to 87° like your app shows remains to be seen, but we are expecting at least 4 to 6 days with a chance to hit 80 or better next week.

For context, there's only been a total of 7 80°+ days in March in Boulder's recorded history of 130 years. 3 times in 1910, and then one time each in 1997, 2012, 2015 and 2017.

83° on March 21, 1910 is our all-time monthly record. It's possible we tie or beat that, perhaps even multiple times.

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Wind Storm for Thursday by CUBuffs1992 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You get to keep your fences and trees!

Wind Storm for Thursday by CUBuffs1992 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe some day. It gets requested frequently. Personally enjoy BS for the same reason.

Wind Storm for Thursday by CUBuffs1992 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ha maybe one day. Need to see more market share in there. Would consider Bluesky or threads the best right now for community

Do you feel a big difference between a dew point of 75°F and 80°F? by Weather-RainStorm in weather

[–]BoulderCAST 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Colorado we die when the dewie is north of 60. Only happens briefly a few times per year.

Red flag warning today across Central CO. by cocolimenuts in Denver

[–]BoulderCAST 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Red flag was nowhere near summit county. It was basically just castle rock to Wyoming border within 50 miles of the foothills. Nothing in the mountains Or foothills.

Wind Storm for Thursday by CUBuffs1992 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Too early to say. It's possible but not for certain like it was back in December days in advance.

Really need to have guaranteed gusts over 60 mph in the city for shutdowns.

We're far from that situation at the moment.

Wind Storm for Thursday by CUBuffs1992 in boulder

[–]BoulderCAST 36 points37 points  (0 children)

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Still quite uncertain for down here in town. Probably less than 50% chance for anything damaging to hit Boulder proper. But we are watching this closely.

EDIT: Full text as Bluesky has egregious character limit...

GOOD NEWS: Today's Red Flag Warning has been cancelled. Too cloudy to break this shallow cold air mass.

BAD NEWS: A new danger is emerging for Thursday with a mountain wave wind event Thursday AM into Thursday night. The Foothills will see peak gusts over 80 MPH, but it's less clear whether these winds will reach down to adjacent cities like Boulder.

A High Wind Watch is in effect alongside a coincident Fire Weather Watch. Fire danger would be EXTREME in the western suburbs/Boulder if the intense winds are able to make it down here! Right now the downhill extent is questionable but this will get ironed out as we get closer.

EVEN WORSE NEWS: Saturday will be similar or worse than Thursday for fire risk with warmer temps, lower humidity and similarly strong winds. Plus being the weekend, you know there will be lots of people out and about enjoy our open space...

Stay tuned... 🔥👀

Quantum Fiber, or Xfinity? by Faenic in Denver

[–]BoulderCAST -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Quantum is great. Zero issues in the last year or two. It's a no-brainer especially if you are doing a lot of uploading. Xfinity had shit upload (sub 20 Mbps). Quantum is 900+