Just Wait A Second

You know, I really hate the expression "If you don't like the weather in _____, what a second." It seems that every time I meet someone from some state, they say that like it's the secret thing to say about their home state. If you don't like the weather in Colorado ... bah bah ... but with that said ... * ahem * ... what a change is in store for us here in Colorado!

First, let me talk a little about the warm weather here in the West. We've had a persistent ridge for the past week or so, bring unseasonably warm temperatures (and giving those nice Santa Ana winds in California that the fires love). There was some wonder as to whether Denver would set its all-time record November high yesterday (the 18th). We did set a record ... but were a couple shy of the all time:

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
415 AM MST WED NOV 19 2008

...TWO RECORD TEMPERATURES SET IN DENVER FOR NOVEMBER 18TH...

AT 242 PM MST THE TEMPERATURE AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REACHED 78 DEGREES. THIS ESTABLISHES A NEW RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THIS DATE EXCEEDING THE OLD RECORD OF 74 DEGREES SET IN 1995.

THE LOW TEMPERATURE ON TUESDAY WAS 47 DEGREES. THIS IS A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE 18TH. THE OLD RECORD WAS 43 SET IN 1949 AND PREVIOUS YEARS.

Also, in Butte, Montana, we saw record "heat" (yes, I'm pretty much focused on Denver and Butte as far as records are concerned.)

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA, MT
1240 AM MST TUE NOV 19 2008

...RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES SET AT BUTTE AND KALISPELL MT...

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 62 DEGREES WAS SET AT BUTTE MT YESTERDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 61 SET IN 1949.


A cold front pushed through here in Denver today. Winds switched to the east and while it didn't cool down immediately, it sure has tonight. We're sitting at 37ºF at my apartment at about 10PM and that temperature should drop below freezing by early morning. Now, the surface high distant to our northeast could get amped up tonight and give us some shallow upslope. Moisture is finally starting to increase here and the prediction of freezing drizzle seems possible. Guess we'll see tomorrow morning when I'm driving to work.


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I'd also like to say that I really enjoyed the Wild Western Weather Seminar last night. I'm not trying to be nice or suck up, but I thought Tony Laubach's "what if" scenario on the Windsor tornado moving through the Denver area was very well though out and interesting.

Also, I got to watch Lubacca 2008 Brilliant last night. The May 22nd footage is fantastic and had me on the edge of my seat! I would recommend purchasing it from Tony's website when it's available!!

Dann.