Ask the Weather Guys: How common are extreme winds that fanned Colorado wildfire?
Q: How common are extreme winds in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains?
A: This winter has already delivered some notable disasters, and it is important to carefully consider the anatomy of such high impact weather events in order to, as accurately as possible, understand to what degree an event is attributable to the background climate change.
The frightening wildfire in Boulder County, Colorado, on Thursday was a conspiracy of somewhat routine and unusual circumstances. So-called “Front Range windstorms” occur in some degree nearly every year in the immediate lee of the Rockies in Colorado and, though they are not exclusively a wintertime phenomena, they are much more common in the cold season. A comprehensive list of such events dating back to the winter of 1966-67, with a host of additional statistics regarding the actual events, is available at go.madison.com/boulder.
THOMAS PEIPERT, ASSOCIATED PRESS
A burned truck in a destroyed neighborhood in Louisville, Colo., is covered with snow Sunday amid the still smoldering debris from a massive Colorado wildfire.
Last week’s event made national news because it was coupled with wildfires enabled by the notable drought that has plagued the Front Range throughout the fall and early winter. A number of locations reported wind gusts up to 115 mph, which propelled the fire forward at nearly the speed of the wind since the grasses that conveyed the flames were so unusually dry. As is widely known now, a large number of homes in the Boulder area were consumed by these flames, and thousands of people were forced to hastily evacuate with little notice.
As if to add insult to substantial injury, Friday evening into Saturday, the region received a substantial snowfall — sufficient, had it happened on Wednesday, to have completely suppressed the fire threat.
The drought contribution to this event might have a link to the changing climate — the high winds, however, almost certainly do not.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireBrittany Peterson - staff, AP
Mary Janda pauses in front of her burned home Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo. Tens of thousands of Coloradans were driven from their neighborhoods by wind-whipped wildfires.
Brittany Peterson - staff, APMary Janda pauses in front of her burned home Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo. Tens of thousands of Coloradans were driven from their neighborhoods by wind-whipped wildfires.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireDavid Zalubowski - staff, AP
Snow falls as a firefighter from the Arvada, Colo., Fire Department knocks down a smouldering fire in a church parking lot started by wildfires after they ripped through a development Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo.
David Zalubowski - staff, APSnow falls as a firefighter from the Arvada, Colo., Fire Department knocks down a smouldering fire in a church parking lot started by wildfires after they ripped through a development Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireThomas Peipert - staff, AP
A worker walks past a destroyed home in Louisville, Colo., on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
Thomas Peipert - staff, APA worker walks past a destroyed home in Louisville, Colo., on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireThomas Peipert - staff, AP
A burned out car sits in the middle of the road amidst the remnants of a wildfire in Louisville, Colo., on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
Thomas Peipert - staff, APA burned out car sits in the middle of the road amidst the remnants of a wildfire in Louisville, Colo., on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireDavid Zalubowski - staff, AP
Snow falls on a row of small businesses burned by wildfires after they ripped through a development Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo.
David Zalubowski - staff, APSnow falls on a row of small businesses burned by wildfires after they ripped through a development Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireDavid Zalubowski - staff, AP
While homes nearby were unscathed, a charred Subaru sits in a driveway of a home on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, after wildfires ripped through a development in Louisville, Colo.
David Zalubowski - staff, APWhile homes nearby were unscathed, a charred Subaru sits in a driveway of a home on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, after wildfires ripped through a development in Louisville, Colo.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A woman reacts to seeing the remains of her mother's home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA woman reacts to seeing the remains of her mother's home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
Renato D'Amario hugs neighbor Lori Peer after finding their homes destroyed, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo., after wildfires swept through the day before.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APRenato D'Amario hugs neighbor Lori Peer after finding their homes destroyed, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Louisville, Colo., after wildfires swept through the day before.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireThomas Peipert - staff, AP
David Marks, center, uses a borrowed pair of binoculars to see how his home in Superior, Colo., fared as smoke rises in the distance on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
Thomas Peipert - staff, APDavid Marks, center, uses a borrowed pair of binoculars to see how his home in Superior, Colo., fared as smoke rises in the distance on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. A wind-whipped wildfire tore through the area Thursday, and authorities fear more than 500 homes were destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
John Peer finds a couple of plates as he looks through the rubble of his fire-damaged home after the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APJohn Peer finds a couple of plates as he looks through the rubble of his fire-damaged home after the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireHart Van Denburg - pool, Colorado Public Radio
A view of a Boulder County neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire is seen from a Colorado National Guard helicopter during a flyover by Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Hart Van Denburg - pool, Colorado Public RadioA view of a Boulder County neighborhood that was destroyed by a wildfire is seen from a Colorado National Guard helicopter during a flyover by Gov. Jared Polis on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
Todd Lovrien looks over the fire damage from the Marshall Wildfire at his sisters home in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APTodd Lovrien looks over the fire damage from the Marshall Wildfire at his sisters home in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A Firefighter puts water on a hot spot after a wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA Firefighter puts water on a hot spot after a wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A woman cries as he sees the burned remains of a home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA woman cries as he sees the burned remains of a home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A burned out car sits on Mulberry Street destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA burned out car sits on Mulberry Street destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A fire still burns in a home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA fire still burns in a home destroyed by the Marshall Wildfire in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireJack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 AP
A Firefighter walks down a fire ravaged street to survey wildfire damage in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Jack Dempsey - freelancer, FR42408 APA Firefighter walks down a fire ravaged street to survey wildfire damage in Louisville, Colo., Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireBrittany Peterson - staff, AP
Cathy Glaab surveys what's left of her home after a wildfire swept through the neighborhood in Superior, Colo on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Brittany Peterson - staff, APCathy Glaab surveys what's left of her home after a wildfire swept through the neighborhood in Superior, Colo on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireBrittany Peterson - staff, AP
Cathy Glaab, left, surveys what's left of her home, accompanied by her daughter, Laura, in Superior, Colo on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
Brittany Peterson - staff, APCathy Glaab, left, surveys what's left of her home, accompanied by her daughter, Laura, in Superior, Colo on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Tens of thousands of Coloradans driven from their neighborhoods by a wind-whipped wildfire anxiously waited to learn what was left standing of their lives Friday as authorities reported more than 500 homes were feared destroyed.
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Update: Nearly 1,000 homes burned in Colorado wildfireDavid Zalubowski - staff, AP
The remains of a home lie in a pile on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, after wildfires ripped through a development in Superior, Colo.
David Zalubowski - staff, APThe remains of a home lie in a pile on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, after wildfires ripped through a development in Superior, Colo.
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