Lifestyle

It’s December, it’s snowing in Denver and records are falling


It was 224 consecutive days (and continuing) since it snowed in measurable amounts in Denver, and it just broke the record for the closest first day of snowfall – a record that has been held since the record for snowfall. Falling began in 1882. During that time, Denver never entered December without measurable snow.

This prolonged dry period has an impact on the state’s prolonged drought, dwindling water supplies and a population that wants to climb steeply.

“Everywhere across the state is experiencing some sort of drought conditions,” Ayesha Wilkinson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told CNN. For example, “Denver just recorded their second-least snowy November”, no measurable amount of snow was observed – meaning they had some snowfall, but nothing accumulated. This November is second only to 1949 when “not a single piece fell from the sky” literally.

Colorado also seems to represent the rest of the country, with the onset of meteorological winter on December 1, and only 11.1% of the United States is covered with snow.

Ski resorts closed on opening day

While the state suffers one of the the driest and warmest period In modern record keeping, its impact on ski resorts cannot be ignored.
Statewide snow parity remains below average as of January 21, 2012.
As Telluride, some ski resorts have been forced to delay their opening dates until after Thanksgiving, reducing revenue from the extended holiday weekend.

Ski resorts have had to make artificial snow to cover the shortfall and help skiers get back to the mountains safely. The weather hasn’t really played the ball yet, though.

“Normally at this time of year we’re about to hit 300 hours of snow, and this year we’re just over 100,” explains Loryn Duke, Steamboat Ski Resort communications director. “And those 100 hours just happened last week. Our snowmakers are literally filling Mother Nature.”

Optimal snowmaking conditions involve “a combination of low temperature and low humidity”, also known as wet bulb. Conditions inside the mountain must remain at or below freezing both at night and during the day to help maximize the base snow cover.

“We have all the tools in our kit to support Mother Nature and once Mother Nature arrives, we are ready to welcome her,” Duke said.

Snow in Colorado isn’t just important to The $5 billion ski industry, but it is also required for access to fresh water in the state.

Droughts Get Worse Across Colorado

More than two-thirds of Colorado’s water supply comes from snow and ice, according to Center for the Environment at the University of Colorado Boulder. Less snow means less water, which is bad news for everyone, consider prolonged drought disturbing the western United States.
The Colorado River Basin, whose source originates in the western part of the state, provides drinking water for more than 40 million Americans. ONE lack of water was published for the first time, partly because of climate change.

Colorado’s specific drought situation is getting worse once again. After some brief improvement in the spring and summer, the statewide rate of moderate dryness was 77% last week and now stands at 88%, with no rain in the forecast until next week.

Wilkinson told CNN it was “the 3rd warmest November on record”. The heat wave continued into December when record highs were again challenged, coupled with below-average rainfall, consistent with the ongoing drought. “So far, Denver has only received 12.37 inches of liquid precipitation when we would normally have 14.14 inches,” explains Wilkinson.

Winter conditions can make a comeback

Just because winter is off to a slow start, doesn’t mean the rest of winter will catch up. December has historically been known to produce some heavy snowfall in Denver, with an average of 8 inches for the month. This often equates to the foothills of snow in the mountains, where skiers greet it with open arms.

Joel Gratz, snow forecaster for ski resorts and founding meteorologist OpenSnow, told CNN Weather, “Several feet of snow can help many mountains open up a lot of terrain. One to three storms can bring this much snow, so things can change quickly.”
Colorado ski enthusiasts look for storms that come from the southwest, as they bring with them abundant moisture from the Pacific Ocean that can equate to several feet of snow in the mountains. Another favorable route for blizzards coming from the northwest, where lighter and finer snow is trademarked by Steamboat Ski Resort is Champagne powder.

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