What is Happening to Our Weather?

Nolan DoeskenNolan DoeskenState ClimatologistState Climatologist

Colorado Climate CenterAtmospheric Science Department

Prepared by Odie Bliss

Presented 2007 Arkansas River BasinPresented 2007 Arkansas River BasinWater Forum, April 13Water Forum, April 13--14, 2007, 14, 2007,

Rocky Ford, ColoradoRocky Ford, Colorado

What has happened since our last gathering?

From: http://www.arbwf.org/Listening.JPG

April-June 2006 Drought

June 2006 – Hot!

• Coagmet graph

Avondale COAGMET

Lamar COAGMET

July – Heavy Rains – it actually turned Green!

Rocky Ford2006 Water Year

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OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

Acc

umul

ated

Pre

cipi

tatio

n (In

ches

)

30 Year Averages-1971-2000 Max Year - 1999 Min Year - 2002Period of Record Average - 1889-2002 2006 Water Year Accumulated

Fall – Cool and Wet (still a little green)

November – Nice Weather!

December 2006 – Big Snow!

Winter Precipitation (Dec-Feb)

• Prism map

Jan-Feb 2007So-so in the mountains, so cold in the Valley

Water Year 2007 Temperature Departures

-10.0

-8.0

-6.0

-4.0

-2.0

0.0

2.0

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6.0

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

Tem

pera

ture

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artu

re (d

eg F

)

Eastern Plains Foothills Mountains Western Valleys

Temperature Departures from Average

-16

-12

-8

-4

0

4

8

Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Feb-07

Tem

pera

ture

(deg

F)

Rocky Ford Lamar Las Animas Holly

SE Colorado Snowpack –The snow that wouldn’t leave….

As of January 7, 2007

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_BSRN_BAO_Boulder

As of February 15, 2007

Colorado Snowcover

http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_BSRN_BAO_Boulder

Water in the Snowpack during early February and the Total Precipitation for the months of December and January

Yellow - water equivalent measured by coring/melting as reported by Cooperative ObserversLight Blue - water equivalent measured by coring/weighing as reported by NWS employeesBoxed - total precipitation for December and January as reported by Cooperative Observers

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=pub&storyid=5870&source=0

The March Melt

March 4, 2007

March 13, 2007

A Very Bad Day – Holly TornadoMarch 28, 2007

A Cold EasterRocky Ford COAGMET

Rocky Ford COAGMET

Easter

Today! A great day in Rocky Ford

Independence PassApril 1 Snow Course and Snotel

Independence Pass, CO (Elevation 10,600') April 1 SWE

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1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

SWE

(in)

Snow Course April 1 SWE (in)Snotel April 1 SWE (in)

Independence Pass Water Year 2007

Porphyry CreekApril 1 Snow Course and Snotel

Porphyry Creek, CO (Elevation 10,760') April 1 SWE (in)

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SWE

(in)

Snow Course April 1 SWE (in)Snotel April 1 SWE (in)

COAGMET Station Map

Colorado Agricultural METeorological Network

Rocky Ford

CoCoRAHS – We Never Stop Begging!

CoCoRaHS – July 3, 2006 Storm in Fremont County

CoCoRaHS – Pueblo County Storm in August 27, 2006

CoCoRaHS – Snow Depth Summary for Las Animas

County, December 31, 2007

Trinidad

La Junta

Walsenburg

We are delighted with what we’ve accomplished and what we’re

learning, but we could sure use a few more volunteers!

Join CoCoRaHS!

http://www.cocorahs.org

So, What Comes Next?

Rocky Ford Precipitation Rocky Ford Annual Precipitation

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1880

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Prec

ipita

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(inch

es)

Pueblo EvaporationPueblo WSO

May through Sept Pan Evaporation

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Evap

orat

ion

(In)

El Nino Status and

Projections

Apr-Jun Temperature

Apr-Jun Precipitation

Jul-Sep Temperature

Jul-Sep Precipitation

Oct-Dec Temperatures

Oct-Dec Precipitation

For More Information, Visit the CoCoRaHS Web Site

Support for this project provided by NOAA Environmental Literacy Program andmany local charter sponsors.

http://www.cocorahs.org

Colorado Climate CenterData and Power Point Presentations available for downloading

http://ccc.atmos.colostate.edu– click on “Drought”– then click on “Presentations”