Spring/Summer Weather Awareness
Severe Weather Watches and Warnings
Severe
Thunderstorm Watch--Means that conditions are favorable for
thunderstorms to produce wind gusts to 58 mph or stronger and hail to 3/4 inch
or larger in the watch area. These watches are normally issued for a 4 to 6 hour
time frame.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning--Means that a severe thunderstorm
has been detected by radar or a trained spotter.
Tornado Watch--Means that conditions are favorable for
tornadoes to develop. It is normally issued for 4 to 6 hours.
Tornado Warning--Means that a tornado has been detected by
radar or a trained spotter.
Flash Flood Watch--Is issued when heavy rain may develop.
Flash Flood Warning--Is issued when flash flooding has
developed or is imminent.
Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory-Is issued when local
flooding of small streams, streets, or low lying areas such as highway
underpasses is occurring or imminent.
Lightning
By definition, thunderstorms contain lightning. There are more than 40
million
lightning strikes every year in the Untied States, bringing nearly 90
fatalities.
In Colorado, lightning is the number one life threatening weather hazard. In the
the past 10 years there have been an average of 3 fatalities and 15 injuries
reported each year from lightning. The toll may be worse, as recent studies have
shown that many lightning accidents are not reported.
Lightning heats the surrounding gases in the air to around 50,000 degrees!! This
causes a rapid expansion of the air which produces thunder. A single
lightning strike also contains an enormous amount of electricity, enough to supply power
to several homes for a month. The heat and electricity pose the greatest risk to the
individual. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are
caught outdoors. Lightning also causes many grassland and forest fires in
Colorado.
Lightning Safety Tips:
If you are outside:
1. Do not stand under or near an isolated tree or small
group of trees.
2. If caught in an open area with no buildings nearby,
seek refuge in a canyon (but be alert to flash
flooding!)
3. If hiking in the mountains, go early in the day, before thunderstorms
develop. If caught in the mountains during a lightning storm, go into a cave
or canyon, or below tree line in a large group of small trees. Beware of
flash flooding.
4. If you feel your skin tingle or hair stand on end,
drop to your knees and crouch. (lying flat on the ground
will cause lightning to more easily pass through vital
organs.)
5. If you are inside a hardtop vehicle, stay inside; this
is one of the safest places to be in a thunderstorm.
6. Stay off all bodies of water.
If you are inside a building:
1. Unplug all unnecessary appliances before a
thunderstorm and lightning approaches
2. Do not stand by open windows, doors, or patios during
a thunderstorm.
3. Do not use the telephone except in emergencies,
because current can travel through the line.
4. Do not shower or bathe in a severe thunderstorm,
because lightning can feed back into the plumbing
system.
5. Stay away from indoor targets (i.e., stoves, washers,
and televisions).
Flash Floods
In Colorado there are two distinct types of flooding. When the snow begins to melt in the high
country, rivers begin to rise. Flooding along rivers and streams can occur with a very rapid snow melt,
or from thunderstorm rains combining with the runoff from melting snow.
A flash flood refers to a dangerous sudden rise in water along a creek, wash,
river or over a normally dry land area. Flash floods result from heavy
rainfall, river ice, jams and dam or levee failures. Flash floods can
occur with a few minutes or hours, and can move at surprisingly high speeds -
striking with little warning. Flash floods are quite destructive because
of the force of the moving water and the debris that accumulates in flood
waters; such as trees and boulders, which can destroy roadways, bridges and
buildings.
Flood-prone areas have been identified in 267 cities and towns and in all of the 64 counties in
Colorado.
Over 250,000 people are living in Colorado’s floodplains.
There are estimated to be 65,000 homes and 15,000
commercial, industrial, and business structures in
identified floodplains. There are likely many more
structures located within unmapped flood hazard areas. The
value of the property, structures, and contents located in
the identified floodplains is estimated to be over 11
billion dollars (1996).
Average annual flood losses in Colorado are estimated to
be $17,600,000 in property damage based on data from 1896 to
1984.
Flash Flood Safety Tips:
Inside--If
ordered to evacuate or if rising water is immediate threat, leave immediately
and get to higher ground.
Outside--Go to higher ground immediately. Stay away from small rivers or
streams, low spots, canyons.
Do not allow children to play around streams, drainage ditches or viaducts,
storm drains, or flooded areas!
In a Vehicle--Do not drive through flooded areas, even if it looks shallow
enough to cross. Water only one foot deep can displace 1500 pounds. Two feet of
water can easily carry most automobiles.
Tornadoes
While Colorado may not have the tornado activity that states like Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska has, but we have our fair share of tornadoes each
year - even in the mountainous areas of Teller County. There have been 5
documented tornadoes reported in Teller County since 1950:
July 3, 1968, 2:45 p.m. -- information not available
July 25, 1979, 5:30 p.m. -- information not available
June 28, 1983, 7:30 p.m. -- rated F1, damage path 100 yards and 3 miles long
July 12, 1996, 12:12 p.m. -- rated F1, damage path 150 yards and 1 mile long.
Located 4 miles NW of Divide
June 27, 2007, 3:35 p.m. -- rated F1, knocked down trees in the vicinity of
Forest Service Rd 357 and County Road 78, North of Woodland Park.
Tornado Safety Tips:
In Homes or Small
Buildings: Go to the basement (if available) or to an interior room on the
lowest floor, such as a closet or bathroom. Wrap yourself in overcoats or
blankets for protection from flying debris.
In Schools, Hospitals, and Shopping Centers: Go to interior rooms and halls on
the lowest floor. Stay away from glass enclosed places or areas with wide-span
roofs such as auditoriums and warehouses.
In High-Rise Buildings: Go to interior small rooms or halls. Stay away from
exterior walls or glassy areas.
Mobile Homes: Seek substantial shelter or a designated tornado shelter. If none
is nearby, lie flat in the nearest ditch (be aware of flash flood risks) or
depression and use your hands to cover your face.