Climate Update. Wendy Ryan and Nolan Doesken Colorado Climate Center. Atmospheric Science Department Colorado State University

Transcription

1 Climate Update Wendy Ryan and Nolan Doesken Colorado Climate Center Atmospheric Science Department Colorado State University Presented to Water Availability Task Force June 26, 2008 Denver, CO Prepared by Odie Bliss

2 May 22, 2008 Tornado Unusual path traveled from southeast to northwest (from Platteville, CO to Laramie, WY) Hit east side of Windsor pretty hard 1 loss of life; ~800 homes damaged; numerous businesses, churches, etc. Small to Large damaging hail in the storm system

3 The Tornado also went through ARDEC (Northeast Fort Collins) and mangled the CoAgMet station and various buildings and equipment.

4 Water Year 2008 Temperature Departures Water Year 2008 Temperature Departure (deg F) Consecutive 6-month cooler than average temperatures have not occurred statewide since the early 1990s Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Eastern Plains Foothills Mountains Western Valleys

5 May Average Temperature History for Colorado (NCDC) May 2008: 51.9 deg F Rank: 46th coolest in 114 years. Period of record First below average May in eight years

6 Late spring temperatures have been only slightly below average. With alternating warmer and colder than average temperatures all spring, snow melt has been delayed and large peaks in runoff that could have caused flooding have largely been averted. Leadville Normal Temperature with Current Year Departure as Bars 60 Normal Temperature F /23/2008 4/2/2008 4/12/2008 4/22/2008 5/2/2008 5/12/2008 5/22/2008 6/1/2008 6/11/2008 6/21/2008 7/1/2008 Date

7 May 2008 Precipitation (inches)

8 May 2008 Precipitation (inches)

9 May 2008 Percent of Average (Prism)

10 May 2008 Percent of Average (Prism)

11 Climate divisions defined by Dr. Klaus Wolter of NOAA's Climate Diagnostic Center in Boulder, CO

12 Division 1 Grand Lake 1NW Grand Lake 1 NW 2008 Water Year Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip 30 Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

13 Division 1 Taylor Park Taylor Park 2008 Water Year Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip 25 Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

14 Division 2 Grand Junction Grand Junction WSFO 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated 16 Max Precip Min Precip 14 Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

15 Division 2 Collbran Collbran 2SW 2008 Water Year Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip min precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

16 Division 3 Montrose Montrose # Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

17 Division 3 Cochetopa Creek Cochetopa Creek 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

18 Division 5 Pueblo Pueblo WSO 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

19 Division 6 Cheyenne Wells Cheyenne Wells 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Max _Precip Min precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

20 Division 6 Rocky Ford Rocky Ford 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

21 Division 7 Akron Akron 4E 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated 30 Max Precip Min Precip Year of Max 25 Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

22 Division 7 Leroy Leroy 5SW 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

23 Division 8 Boulder Boulder 2008 Water Year 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

24 Division 8 Kassler Kassler 2008 Water Year 30 Year Averages Period of Record Average Water Year Accumulated Max Precip Min Precip Accumulated Precipitation (Inches) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP Months

25 Water Year 2008 (Oct 07-May 08) Prism

26 Water Year 2008 (Oct 07-May 08) Prism

27

28

29 Water Year 2008 Accumulated Precipitation for Selected Counties

30 CoCoRaHS Accumulated WY Precipitation for Selected Counties Accumulated WY Precipitation (in) Baca County WY Precip Kit Carson County WY Precip Phillips County WY Precip Burlington Normal Holyoke Normal Walsh Normal 0 8/6/2007 9/25/ /14/2007 1/3/2008 2/22/2008 4/12/2008 6/1/2008 7/21/2008 Date

31 Campo Accumulated Precipitation Deficit Campo, CO Accumulated Departure from Average 30 Accumulated Departure from Average Precipitation (in) /31/ /28/1995 7/24/1998 4/19/2001 1/14/ /10/2006 7/6/2009 Date

32

33 Summary Cool weather has continued for Colorado No prolonged spring heat waves to produce large peak flows. Delayed snowmelt generally good for water supplies. Severe weather has been a problem for parts of eastern Colorado.

34 Summary continued Western Slope drying now underway. Drought vulnerability continues over SE Colorado. Next anticipated weather change onset of North American Monsoon with increased chances of precipitation, especially over SW and Central Colorado.

35 Colorado Climate Center Data and Power Point Presentations available for downloading click on Drought then click on Presentations