I grew up in Texas where we had to battle hurricanes close to the coast and tornadoes in North Texas. But the high winds we experience in Huerfano county are enough to make the hair stand up on your arms!
High winds are frightening, and they do cause damage. Neighbors have lost fences, potting sheds and gates to their property. They have had their composition roofs damaged. They have flipped cars and trucks and blown away just about anything not tied down.
Even if they don’t do damage, just listening to the wind howl around and through your house sounds sometimes like a freight train. I always cringe at the possibility of my roof being peeled off one metal piece at a time.
“The windier part of the year in southern Colorado lasts for 6.8 months, from November 11 to June 6. The windiest day of the year is April 1, with an average hourly wind speed sometime measuring as much as 70 mph. The calmer time of year lasts for 5.2 months, from June 6 to November 1.” Www.weatherspark.com
So, what sort of weather pattern causes these winds here in southeastern Colorado?
The two main causes of high winds in Colorado during the cold season are the air pressure difference between strong low pressure and cold high pressure systems, and Chinook winds developing across the Front Range and other eastern mountain ranges.
A strong, cold high pressure system moving from the north and setting up west of the Rockies can generate a damaging wind down the leeward slopes of the mountains, known as a bora. These episodes feature widespread high winds from the west or northwest into the adjacent plains at speeds which can exceed 100 mph. Much more rare are those episodes when low pressure is across the Rockies, and strong, cold high pressure is across the great plains. The result is damaging winds from the east across the western slopes of mountain ranges and adjacent valleys.
Winter Weather Education SeriesIntroWinter Weather Preparedness WeekPart 1Winter travel safetyPart 2Watches…warnings…and advisoriesPart 3High windsPart 4Wind chill temperatures and hypothermiaPart 5Avalanche safetyReviewWinter Weather Preparedness Week review
Mid and upper level winds over Colorado are much stronger in the winter than in the warm season, because of the huge difference in temperature from north to south across North America. West winds, under certain conditions, can bring warm, dry chinook winds plowing down the slopes of the eastern mountains. These winds can exceed 100 mph in extreme cases, bringing the potential for widespread damage. Winds of 60 to near 100 mph will occur in and near the foothills in areas such as Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Westcliffe, Walsenburg, La Veta, Cuchara and Trinidad areas. The areas around Boulder and Westcliffe are especially prone to these extreme wind episodes.
Dangers from high winds include flying debris, reduced visibility due to dust, damaged or destroyed structures, downed power lines, and overturned vehicles. The national weather service will issue a high wind watch when there is around a 50 percent chance for high winds to develop during the next day or two. When the threat becomes more certain in a specific area, a high wind warning will be issued. Cold strong winds can also bring dangerously low wind chill values, prompting a wind chill advisory or wind chill warning.
If high winds are forecast for your area, you should bring lightweight objects indoors, or tie them down outdoors, or move them so they do not become dangerous missiles. Any downed power lines should not be approached. Instead call the utility company. Stay clear from buildings under construction during high winds, as they can easily collapse. Traveling on north – south roads near the mountains along the Front Range during a high wind episode can also be dangerous. If you drive a lightweight or high profile vehicle, you may want to wait until the high winds die down.
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