12/29/2022
This is the best page to get weather forecasts from!!! ❤️👍🏽
Some thoughts from me on this storm:
- Definitely a rare December storm in terms of moisture content and warm temperatures. A storm we would typically see in March/April, NOT December! That's because it came straight out of the Pacific, and it didn't have a cold front coming out of Canada to phase together with, because no surface low developed. The dynamics of this storm were different.
- Not really surprised by snowfall totals. Pretty in line with what I expected, and the reason is because this trough had a lot of energy and cold air aloft. When it moved over the mountains, and got onto the front range/eastern plains, it strengthened. A combination of surface to 700mb frontogenesis (yes that's a real word), strong jet stream energy aloft (Bernoulli's principle), and east/northeasterly upslope provided all the right ingredients to get a moderate/heavy snowfall over a fairly short period of time.
- Many of you reported thundersnur! (thundersnow) most prevalent in El Paso County where the center of low pressure deepened/strengthened as it moved off the foothills and onto the eastern plains. This is also why portions of the Springs and southern El Paso County didn't get as much snow, and even some of you saw rain, it's because you were dry slotted!
- Your weather apps are garbage. Have I told you that yet? 😆
They're good for "nowcasting" meaning checking temperatures and radar, but that's about it.
- The news. Bless their hearts. They're doing the best they can, but when you consider time constraints, protocol, forecast model dependency, conservative caution, among other things, they're behind the 8 ball. This isn't trivial, nor is it surprising. They're bad track record of "fear sells" and "clickbait" have generated a dangerous amount of apathy, and that's what I'm working on dissolving one forecast at a time.
- In this industry, you have to be a good communicator. Especially in Colorado. People appreciate when you pull the curtain back, explain the science, explain the uncertainty, don't BS your way thru a forecast, and most importantly, take responsibility when you're wrong.
Moving forward, I know there are many of you who are brand new to my page. To you I say welcome! A few disclaimers:
- I do not work for the news. I am not a government employee. I am a freelance Meteorologist. I work for myself. The opinions I give on my page are mine and mine alone. Occasionally during high impact events, if my forecasts align with the National Weather Service, I will share their graphics to streamline information because I don't have access to some of their software to generate my own forecasts. A lot of what I produce is chicken scratch or thru PowerPoint. I do my best with what I have.
- I am a straight shooter. I have no filter. I am unintentionally offensive, and blunt. The more you complain to me, the less I care. The block button is my best friend.
- Do not get your forecast from somewhere else and then come onto my page to complain about it when it's wrong. That's like buying a moldy cheeseburger from Burger King and then walking into Carls to complain about it. That's dumb.
- I update the page EVERY SINGLE DAMN DAY. I pin updated forecasts and pertinent information at the top of the page so that you can easily access it. If for some reason you don't see it, physically go to the Denver & Front Range Weather page and simply scroll down. The posts are in chronological order. 99.9% of the questions I get asked can be answered if you simply took a couple of extra minutes and went onto the page and looked.
- I am a giant nerd/goober who loves to have fun on my page. If you don't like my quarks, or how I run my page, leave. Don't announce your departure because this isn't an airport, and you don't have wings. Your snacks probably taste like s**t too. If you message me and ask me not to say things a certain way, or act a certain way, your efforts are futile. You'd have better luck convincing a grizzly bear not to maul you to death.
- If you like being spoon fed information on demand, I am your mortal enemy.
- I am not a travel agent, or an event planner. I do not control school closures, airport delays/cancellations, or how roads are maintained. You are an adult, make your own decisions.
- I'm not here for your confirmation bias, validation, or justification of prejudice. Do not use me to make yourself look better. I willingly volunteer my time as a service to the public. Don't abuse that privilege you have access to for free.
- Speaking of free, I have amazing local business sponsors who support me financially. They are the life blood of this page and are the hearthstone of my continued success. If you have an issue with one of my sponsors, I don't care. If you have an issue with who sponsors me, I don't care. Complain to somebody who does. Never underestimate a good opportunity to shut up.
- Don't mistake my niceness for weakness, but don't also mistake my bluntness with lack of empathy or compassion. Don't gaslight me, because I am not responsible for what offends you. I recognize that certain situations arise, and I handle those on a case-by-case basis. What you're being taught are expectations and boundaries.
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Did I miss anything? Well, if I did, I'm sure my loyal followers will cover the rest in the comments. 😁
Thank you for attending my TED Talk. More updates to come.
K, great thanks bye.
