Chris_Tomer's Blog

Cold Summits: Winter Hiking
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer
11/8/2008

     Hiking Colorado's highest peaks in Winter is a different animal.  Snow, ice, high wind, and of course bitter cold pose significant risks.   On a recent trip to the summit of Torrey's Peak via Kelso ridge I encountered mixed conditions requiring ice axe, crampons, and a healthy dose of common sense.

 Summit temperature: 10F

Some interesting low clouds hugging the terrain...

Snow on Halloween?
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer
10/24/2008

      It's a widely held belief that it 'usually' snows on Halloween in Denver.  54 years of weather records point to something different.  Measurable snow occurs 1 out of every 7 Halloween's on average.  Measurable snow is defined as an inch or more as measured at the old Stapleton Airport.
      Will it snow measurably this Halloween?  Stay tuned.

     The last measurable Halloween occurred back in 2004 when about two inches accumulated!

-CT

October: Dates to Remember
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer

     Winter weather starts creeping into our forecasts in October.  Some dates to keep in mind:

Along the Front Range.....
Average First Freeze: October 7
Average First Measurable Snow: October 19

You can extend the life of your garden if you keep a close eye on forecasts and overnight lows.

Chris

Fall Color Locations: Where To Go
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer
9/18/2008

    As I presented on Good Day Colorado on 9/17/2008 here are several proven locations to view "Colorado Gold" late September & early October 2008:

     Rabbit Ears Pass
     Estes Park & Rocky Mountain National Park
     Guanella Pass
     Cottonwood Pass 
     Monarch Pass
     Kenosha Pass
     Kebler Pass - "West Elk Loop"
     The Grand Mesa
     Tennessee Pass
      Independence Pass


-Chris

Fall Color 2008 Update
9/16/2008

     Fall color in the mountains of Colorado is one week BEHIND schedule this year.  Forecast: The peak of color looks to occur during the last week of September and the first week of October - rather than the normal mid to late September.  Why?  Heavy winter snow and ample summer moisture.

    Fall color at the lower elevations of Colorado is two weeks AHEAD of schedule this year.  Forecast:  The peak of color looks to occur late September - rather than early to mid October.  Why?  Drier than normal conditions this summer.

   Some of this information is courtesy Tony Hahn of Swingle Tree Company.

Chris

Montana's Highest Mountain: Granite Peak
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer

     Joined my best friend Jon Kedrowski for a climb up Montana's highest mountain Granite Peak at 12,799 feet.  Granite is located in the Absaroke-Beartooth Wilderness in southwest Montana.  We climbed the 26-mile roundtrip mountain using one overnight basecamp at Mystic Lake.  Montana offers some of the most pristine and wild wilderness in the lower 48. 

Mystic Lake


Granite Peak using "Froze-to-Death Plateau" approach


Me at the "Snow Bridge" halfway to the summit.


The technical ridge leading to the summit.


Jon and me on the summt:  12,799 feet.


The descent....back through Class-4 & 5 chimney's. 


Jon descending.....


A strong thunderstorm loaded with cool, dense air enveloped Granite's summit as we departed.

Angel of Shavano
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer

   Climbed the "Angel of Shavano" with my great friend Jon Kedrowski recently.  During the months of May and June the snow on Mount Shavano (a 14er) melts in a certain way revealing an "angel".  Adventurous folks can ascend the snow angel using crampons and appropriate winter gear.  You can then exit the snow angel and trek to the summit of Mount Shavano.

Heading up the snow angel....

 
Good friend Jon Kedrowski at top of snow angel.....


Summit of Shavano......a chipmunk joined us!!!

-Chris Tomer

5/26/2008
Meteorologist Chris Tomer

   Windsor, CO Tornado damage was surveyed by the National Weather Service and their findings indicate an EF-2 or EF-3 tornado was/is responsible.  EF-3 tornadoes generate winds up to 165-mph.  Typical EF-3 tornadoes knock down farm houses, out-buildings, partially tears masonry walls down, and knocks down power lines and power polls, blows windows out, and blows down wood frame walls as well as tears roofs off.

  Below is a Doppler Radar Image of the actual Tornado Vortex Signature (TVS) snapped at 11:35am as the tornado rolled through Windsor.  Notice what is also called a "hook echo" as the storm produces a hook on the southeast side of the storm.  This is abnormal.  Normally, tornadic storms produce the hook echo on the southwest side of the storm cell.  Also abnormal was the northwest movement of this storm cell.  Typical tornadic storm cells move northeast.

  If you have any further questions feel free to email me:  chris.tomer@foxtv.com

Chris Tomer

April 2008: 5th Windiest in 14 Years
By Meteorologist Chris Tomer    
5/5/2008

     Are you sick of the wind this winter?  After crunching the numbers, April 2008 was the windiest month of 2008 so far and the 5th windiest April in 14 years.  Get this: Average wind speeds were in the double digits 60% of the time last month.

April 2008 Stats:

Average Wind Speed: 12 MPH
Peak Denver Gust: 52 MPH

     Looking Ahead, May traditionally ranks as our 3rd windiest month of the year.

--Chris Tomer

Windy Winter
By Meteorologist Chris Tomer
2/17/2008

     50 years worth of weather records indicate that this is and has been a windy winter.  Wind speeds in Denver are averaging faster than 50-year averages taken from Stapleton and Denver International Airport.  In fact, this winter is so windy that even our extremely complex weather models are failing to include accurate wind speeds in their forecast output.

     Here are a few photos from whiteout conditions during a recent satellite live shot at Eldora Ski Area.  I clocked wind speeds at 60mph.

-Chris Tomer

Never-Ending Mountain Snow
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer

     The San Juan and Sangre De Cristo Mountain Ranges are pushing 200% of normal snowpack depths.  Here's an example: Wolf Creek Ski area has received 415" of snow already this winter season - and it's only mid February!  March is our snowiest month.

     If you're curious about what the FOX-31 Weather Team is forecasting for the Front Range and Eastern Plains during the months of March, April, and May then watch our FOX-31 Weather Special at 930pm on February 22nd.  We're working on a detailed long-range winter and early spring outlook.

 All this snow becomes our water supply come Spring and Summer. 

-Chris

Photo from the Blizzard of 2006.  Taken by Chris Tomer on the old FOX-31 Weather Deck.  Man with shovel: Dave Stampfl. 

Georgetown Ice Racing with "Our Gang" Ice Racers, 12/28/2007
Chris Tomer

Here are some photos from a recent live shot in Georgetown where Dan Daru and myself went ice racing!

Chris Tomer

Odds of A White Christmas in Denver
by Meteorologist Chris Tomer

A "White Christmas" depends on your personal definition.  Do you want snow falling from the sky or just old snow on the ground?

The percentages are interesting.  There's a 12% chance of having at least a tenth of an inch of snow falling from the sky on Christmas Day.  There's a 36% chance of having at least an inch of old snow on the ground on Christmas Day. 

How do we know these percentages are accurate?  We look back at historical records dating back to 1900. 

Will we challenge the 12% probability this Christmas?  Or, will it be the 36% probability?  Or, maybe neither?

Stay tuned over the next five days to either Good Day Colorado or FOX-31 News at 9 O'Clock for our latest forecasts.

Chris

5-Day Snow Totals:

Silverton Mountain Ski: 90"  <-New Record!
Crested Butte: 80"
Monarch Ski: 72"
Wolf Creek Ski: 67"

14-Day Snow Totals at these areas: 10 Feet
Statewide Snowpack: 110% of Normal  (3 weeks ago: 36%)

Chris Tomer
Fox-31 Meteorologist