One of the contributing factors has been the jet stream. Every spring, the jet stream starts to shift from its winter location to its summer location. During the spring, the jet stream sits right over Colorado keeping winds strong all the way down to the surface.
Why is it so windy in Colorado this spring?
The Front Range is also located underneath a strong, west-to-east oriented jet stream—a narrow band of strong wind high up in the atmosphere—directly perpendicular to the mountains. This drives fast-moving air up over the Rocky Mountains to our west, which then gains speed as it descends into Boulder, said Winters.
What is causing all this wind?
The Short Answer:
Gases move from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. And the bigger the difference between the pressures, the faster the air will move from the high to the low pressure.
What is the windiest month in Colorado Springs?
April
The windiest month of the year in Colorado Springs is April, with an average hourly wind speed of 10.0 miles per hour. The calmer time of year lasts for 5.2 months, from June 6 to November 11. The calmest month of the year in Colorado Springs is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.9 miles per hour.
Why is it so windy high up?
Surface objects such as trees, rocks, houses, etc. slow the air as it collides into them. The influence of this friction is less with height above the ground, thus the wind speed increases with height.
Is this year windier than normal?
Through April 25 of last year, we recorded 17 days with wind gusts of at least 40 mph. This year, that number increased by more than 50% to 28 days. We can say with certainty that this year, so far, has seen more windy days than 2021.
What does La Niña mean for Colorado?
But they have major impacts on the weather we experience on land. According to the Colorado Climate Center, a La Niña summer in Colorado typically leads to above-average temperatures for the eastern half of the state. Most of Colorado also tends to see slightly below-average precipitation in these conditions.
Why is it windier than it used to be?
One of the reasons for all the wind has been a large contrast between high-pressure systems and low-pressure systems. Since air flows from high to low pressure, these strong systems can create gusty winds for days at a time. Typically, the wind will decrease as we gradually transition from spring to summer.
Are average wind speeds increasing?
In less than a decade, the global average wind speed has increased from about 7 mph to about 7.4 mph. For the average wind turbine, that translates to a 17% increase in potential wind energy. That might explain about half the increase in U.S. wind power capacity since 2010, researchers say.
Is 20 mph wind strong?
Sustained wind speeds around 20 mph, or frequent gusts of 25 to 30 mph. ” No Discernable Threat to Life and Property from High Wind.” The sustain wind speeds are non-threatening; “breezy” conditions may still be present. Note: In “High Wind” conditions, small branches break off trees and loose objects are blown about.
Is Colorado Springs a good place to retire?
Senior citizens seem to be more active today than ever before. If your interests include year-round recreation opportunities, shopping, dining, and abundant days of sunshine then Colorado Springs may be the perfect retirement destination for you.
How high is Colorado Springs Wind?
Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
What is the hottest month of the year in Colorado Springs?
July
July is normally the hottest month, and December/January are the coolest. In the graph below, the dark green line represents Colorado Springs and the red line represents Pueblo, on a typical year. Light green shows the observed monthly average high in Colorado Springs for 2019.
Why is the wind so strong?
A pressure gradient is how fast atmospheric pressure changes over distance. So, when pressure changes rapidly over a small distance, the pressure gradient force is large. Strong winds almost always result from large pressure gradients.
At what height is wind the fastest?
By studying the distribution of wind power in the atmosphere, by location and time, they found that winds at altitudes around 32,000 feet have the highest wind power density.
What is the highest wind speed ever recorded?
Then, at 1:21 pm on April 12, 1934, the extreme value of 231 mph out of the southeast was recorded. This would prove to be the highest natural surface wind velocity ever officially recorded by means of an anemometer, anywhere in the world.
Are wind speeds decreasing?
And while it is not affecting the whole earth evenly, the average terrestrial wind speed has decreased by 0.5 kilometres per hour (0.3 miles per hour) every decade, according to data starting in the 1960s.
Where is the jet stream located?
Jet streams are located about five to nine miles above Earth’s surface in the mid to upper troposphere — the layer of Earth’s atmosphere where we live and breathe. Airplanes also fly in the mid to upper troposphere.
What happens during La Niña?
During La Niña events, strong winds push warm water towards Asia and upwelling increases of the west coast of the Americas. This means that cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface in the Pacific, which pushes the jet stream northward.
How much longer will La Niña last?
“Normally, La Niñas dissolve at the end of summer or early autumn,” Dr Ridder said. “This one is dissolving very slowly. The forecast at the moment is that it will be May or June before it will be back to neutral conditions.
What kind of winter is Colorado going to have?
November 2021 to October 2022. Winter will be milder than normal, with the coldest periods in mid- to late November, late December, and early and mid- to late January. Precipitation will be near to slightly above normal, with snowfall above normal in the north and below normal in the south.