High Winds are a Major Threat in Colorado During the Winter
HIGH WINDS ARE A MAJOR THREAT IN COLORADO DURING THE WINTER.
GOVERNOR BILL RITTER HAS PROCLAIMED THIS WEEK THROUGH OCTOBER 25TH
AS WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN COLORADO. THIS IS
AN EXCELLENT TIME FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS...FAMILIES...BUSINESSES...
SCHOOLS...AND RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS TO REVIEW THEIR WINTER
WEATHER PREPAREDNESS PLANS.
TWO MAIN CAUSES OF HIGH WINDS IN COLORADO DURING THE COLD SEASON
ARE THE AIR PRESSURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRONG LOW PRESSURE AND
COLD HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS...AND CHINOOK WINDS DEVELOPING ALONG THE
FRONT RANGE AND MOUNTAINS IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE STATE.
A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN COLORADO...COUPLED WITH A HIGH
PRESSURE SYSTEM TO THE WEST...CAN SEND A COLD WIND...CALLED A BORA...
THROUGH THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE AND DOWN THE SLOPES OF THE
EASTERN MOUNTAINS. THE RESULT CAN BE A CASCADE OF HIGH WINDS FROM
THE WEST OR NORTHWEST INTO THE ADJACENT PLAINS AT SPEEDS OVER 100 MPH.
THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS EVENT CAN POTENTIALLY BE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD
THAN THAT CAUSED BY A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN THE WARM SEASON.
JET STREAM WINDS OVER COLORADO ARE MUCH STRONGER IN THE WINTER
THAN IN THE WARM SEASON...BECAUSE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN
TEMPERATURE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. VERY SWIFT
WEST WINDS...UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS...CAN BRING WARM...DRY
CHINOOK WINDS PLOWING DOWN THE SLOPES OF THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS.
THESE WINDS CAN ALSO EXCEED 100 MPH IN EXTREME CASES...AGAIN BRINGING
THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. WINDS OF 60 TO NEAR 100 MPH ARE
POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS IN THE FORT COLLINS...BOULDER...
DENVER...COLORADO SPRINGS...CANON CITY...WESTCLIFFE...WALSENBURG AND
TRINIDAD AREAS. THE AREA AROUND BOULDER IS ESPECIALLY PRONE TO THESE
EXTREME WIND EVENTS.
DANGERS FROM HIGH WINDS INCLUDE FLYING DEBRIS...COLLAPSED
STRUCTURES...AND OVERTURNED VEHICLES. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL ISSUE A HIGH WIND WATCH WHEN THERE IS A 50 PERCENT OR
GREATER CHANCE FOR HIGH WINDS TO DEVELOP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WHEN
THE THREAT BECOMES MORE CERTAIN IN A SPECIFIC AREA...A HIGH WIND
WARNING WILL BE ISSUED. COLD STRONG WINDS CAN ALSO BRING DANGEROUSLY
LOW WIND CHILL VALUES...PROMPTING A WIND CHILL ADVISORY OR WIND CHILL
WARNING.
IF HIGH WINDS ARE FORECAST FOR YOUR AREA...IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO
BRING LIGHTWEIGHT BELONGINGS INDOORS...OR TIE THEM DOWN OR MOVE THEM
SO THEY DO NOT BECOME DANGEROUS MISSILES. ANY DOWNED POWER LINES
SHOULD NOT BE APPROACHED...INSTEAD CALL THE UTILITY COMPANY.
STAY CLEAR FROM BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION DURING HIGH WINDS.
THEY CAN EASILY COLLAPSE. TRAVELING ON NORTH SOUTH ROADS NEAR THE
MOUNTAINS DURING A HIGH WIND EVENT CAN ALSO BE DANGEROUS. IF YOU
DRIVE A LIGHTWEIGHT OR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE...YOU MAY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL
THE HIGH WINDS SUBSIDE.
