Been a COLD summer in Colorado

[RockyMtnRay]

If you're planning to visit the Colorado Mountains this year be prepared for downright chilly weather. I just got back from a camping trip to Turquoise Lake near Leadville...temps last night were in the upper 30s and even at 10 this morning (7/27/04), it was still only 48. Even by my standards, where 60 is "short sleeve weather", it was cool. As I pulled out of the campground, I noticed a lot of new snow (yeah, snow) on the top 2000 feet of Mt Elbert and Mt Massive (both are 14ers).

And this isn't an isolated situation...at the end of June at Lake Dillon I spent a day in the TM because it was pouring cold rain (~35 degrees). Two weeks ago, I spent another day in the trailer at Lake Grandby because it was pouring cold rain (~38 degrees). The following mornings I noticed a lot of new snow on the surrounding peaks. The roads (even the Interstate) were temporarily closed due to icy conditions and blizzard conditions.

Even down here in the lowlands at Colorado Springs, the high last Thursday was a rather cool 58 degrees.

I'm not sure if our 5 year drought is over yet but we've definitely had a lot more rain & snow this summer than in a long time. I do know that I've gone through 2 tanks of propane since the beginning of June and almost all of it was to run the furnace in the TM. And the last time I even thought about using the AC was back in May.

Yeah, we could suddenly get a hot spell in August. But if you're planning a visit to Colorado in the next month or so, I'd strongly suggest packing the really warm clothing along with the shorts! ;D

[RockyMtnRay]

[quote author=Texas_Camper link=board=18;threadid=2174;start=msg15091#msg1509 1 date=1090980835]
Thanks for the info, RMR,
A friend of mine called the county extension agent today inquiring about making some cuttings of some plants. The agent said it would be OK as long as they were kept inside during the winter. The almanac forcasts a very cold winter this year, according to the county agent....
It has only reached 100 one time so far here in North Central Texas, and it's almost August... Very unusual
[/quote]

Well, being a skiier and snowshoer, the concept of a long, cold and snowy Winter sounds pretty good. ;D It also would help a lot toward replenishing some pretty darned empty lakes in this state. Lake Grandby was down 45 feet when I was there and the "lakeside" campsites at the Araphoe Bay campground were pretty bleak since the entire bay (about a half mile across) was bone dry!

But this summer has been ridiculous...the normal rhythm for mountain camping is an intense but short (under half hour) early afternoon thunderstorm every couple of days...and then pleasant (60 ish) temps and sunshine in the late afternoon/evening. This summer, we've had a lot of all day storms and even when it's nice in the morning, the afternoon storms often linger until well after nightfall. In past years, I could count on being able to grill a steak outside at least one evening of a two day get-away. But with chilly (below 45 degrees) and rainy afternoons/evenings now a nearly daily event, I'm now also bringing along food suitable for baking in the oven...items like Pot Pies and Lasagna. The heat coming off the oven does a nice job of keeping the trailer comfortable (around 65 inside). I am sooooo glad I have a real oven in my TM!

[Cateye]

Its been unusually cold and rainy this year here on the western slope of Colorado. Normally we are well into the 100's this time of year (Grand Junction is high desert country) but instead, we have experienced temperatures in the mid to high 80's. It has rained on every outing we have taken this year! We are headed for a week long jeeping event (All-4-Fun) in Georgetown and are praying that the weather will improve. Jeeping in mud, rain and snow is not much fun and it gets mighty cold on the high mountain jeep trails.

Ray & Cateye,

I think Washington State got your hot summer weather! Eastern Washington is frequently in the 80's or 90's thru the summer, and spikes into triple digits are not rare. This summer, however, the triple digits have been more persistent and oddly coupled with humidity - it's usually bone dry there. Trust me, an outdoor wedding in July in Spokane is always a gamble (hot vs. thunderstorm), but 96 degrees with humid air made a 4 pm wedding a sweat bath.

Western Washington, where I live, is usually very pleasant in the summer - temps in the 70's and low 80's, with occasional higher bumps on the thermometer. This year, I broke down and bought an air conditioner for the bedroom after sweating thru 80 & 90 degree days one after another! It is still in the low-mid 80's, and believe it or not it has not rained in Seattle in weeks.

Do you want the heat back? I'd gladly send it! :-)