Today

Mostly sunny, cool, highs near 50 degrees

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, lows by morning in the upper 20’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, milder, low-to-mid 50’s

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, cold, near 30

Wednesday

Partly sunny, mild, near 50

Thursday

Mostly sunny, mild, low-to-mid 50’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, quite mild, upper 50’s

Saturday

Mostly sunny, mild, mid 50’s

Discussion

An upper level ridge will build into the region this week and this will generate a warming trend with downsloping flow that will keep us above normal “temperature-wise” for much of the week.

Today

Mostly sunny, warm, highs in the upper 50’s

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, lows by morning in the low 30’s

Saturday

Partly sunny, breezy, not quite as mild, low 50’s

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, cold, maybe a few snow showers, low 20’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, colder, upper 30’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, milder, upper 40’s

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, even milder, mid 50’s

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, mild, low 50’s

Discussion

An upper level trough will move overhead today causing breezy and milder conditions in the region. A weak disturbance from the Pacific Northwest will push a cold front across the area this weekend and temperatures by Sunday will be down considerably than where they will end the work week later this afternoon.

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssP47o-nFlA

Discussion

Morale was low, hope for winning the war was diminishing, and the cause for independence was fading in December of 1776. The Continental Army led by George Washington was thinning in numbers after many battles lost to the British. December began with lots of rain and muddy travel conditions for the men which did not help with their spirits. After retreating through New Jersey, they set up camp in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where the army was met with very cold weather that led to plenty of ice on the Delaware River. All in all, things were not looking good for Washington's army.

However, George Washington devised a plan that would change the course of the war and the history of our nation. With only a week before his soldiers' enlistments expired, Washington had to do something fast. He decided he would attack Trenton, New Jersey, which the Hessians (German soldiers fighting with the British) controlled. He planned to cross the Delaware River on Christmas Day and invade Trenton before sunrise on December 26th. Washington thought this action could catch the Hessians off guard and create a better possibility of victory, thereby boosting the morale of his army.

So the day came, Christmas 1776. The weather was actually quite tranquil for most of the day. The morning started off with a mixture of sun and clouds, very cold temperatures in the upper teens, and light northerly winds. By the afternoon, clouds started to increase with temperatures now peaking in the upper 20s. These clouds were associated with a powerful nor’easter that was rapidly strengthening off the coast. This storm brought freezing rain to the Delaware Valley that then changed to sleet and snow. The crossing of the river began at 5pm on the 25th with temperatures in the upper 20s. As the 2,400 soldiers, 18 cannons, and 75-100 horses crossed the Delaware, they had to deal with the icy river conditions. During the crossing, one of the soldiers described the weather conditions as a “violent storm of rain, hail, and snow [the nor’easter] coupled with the ice flows and high winds, slowed operations.” Meanwhile, George Washington patiently watched his soldiers implementing his dramatic plan in these extreme conditions. One of his officers wrote, “He [Washington] stands on the bank of the stream, wrapped in his cloak, superintending the landing of his troops. He is calm and collected, but very determined. The storm is changing to sleet and cuts like a knife.” All the men finished crossing the river at 3am on the 26th, 3 hours behind schedule due to the weather and sheets of ice on the river. The plans to attack under cover of darkness were ruined, but Washington and his men marched to Trenton anyway, undeterred by the conditions.

Temperatures were now in the low 20s with wind driven snow and sleet coming down as the march continued to Trenton. Many soldiers were suffering and one even froze to death during the 9 mile trek. At 8 AM, hidden by heavy snow, the surprise attack on the Hessians began. Although the sleet and snow provided cover, it also made many of the muskets misfire, so cannons and bayonets were used by Washington’s forces. Washington’s plan had worked and the American army captured 900 Hessians with only a few revolutionary troops wounded. Trenton had been taken and the fight for Independence would survive.

In the end, Washington and his army endured the extreme weather conditions and the weather conditions helped with the surprise attack since the Hessians did not expect an assault in such weather. This is now thought of as the turning point in the American Revolution and another example of how weather influenced history.

Today

Mostly sunny, chilly, highs in the lower 40’s

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, lows by morning in the upper 20’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, milder, near 50

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, cold, low 20’s

Wednesday

Partly sunny, cold, near 40

Thursday

Mostly sunny, milder, upper 40’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, even milder, low 50’s

Saturday

Mostly sunny, mild, low 50’s

Discussion

The next couple of days will see a slight warming trend, but then colder air returns by Wednesday (Christmas Day). The latter part of the week will feature another warm up and highs temperatures should reach the 50’s heading into the weekend.

Today

Much colder today with mostly cloudy skies and a little morning light snow and freezing drizzle, highs confined to the mid 30's

Tonight

Partly cloudy, cold, lows by morning in the low 20's

Saturday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30's

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, cold, maybe a little snow, low 20’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, milder, upper 40’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, mild, near 50

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy, colder, maybe some snow, upper 30’s

Discussion

Much colder air has returned to the region with a little light snow attached to it and it should stay moderately cold right through the weekend. Additional fast-moving disturbances could cause a little more snow at times such as during Saturday evening, but nothing is expected on the heavy side. It turns milder early next week, but that warm up will be rather short-lived as colder air is likely to return by Christmas Day (Wednesday).

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEOxvKjO3Vg

Today

Mostly cloudy, breezy and colder, highs in the low 50's

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, much colder late, chance for some snow, lows by morning near 20 degrees

Friday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, cold, low 20’s

Saturday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, milder, mid-to-upper 40’s

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, mild, upper 40’s

Discussion

Much colder air will move into the region over the next 24 hours as an upper level trough has ushered in a cold air mass to the region. Temperatures by early tomorrow will bottom out near 20 degrees and Friday’s highs are likely to hold in the upper 30’s. After a chilly weekend, moderation in temperatures will take place early next week.

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOrEaRiaObc

Today

Mainly cloudy, breezy and very mild, highs in the upper 60’s

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, turning chilly late, lows by morning in the lower 30's

Thursday

Partly sunny, colder, maybe a few rain or snow showers, near 50

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, cold, near 20

Friday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Saturday

Partly sunny, cold, upper 30’s

Sunday

Mostly sunny, cold, near 40

Monday

Mostly sunny, chilly, mid-to-upper 40’s

Discussion

One more very mild day around here and then a sharp upper level trough will usher in much colder air to the region for the latter part of the week. Temperatures today should again reach well into the 60’s throughout the southern Rockies region, but are likely to be confined to the 30’s by the end of the week.

Today

Mostly sunny, breezy, very mild, highs in the low-to-mid 60’s

Tonight

Mostly clear, windy, chilly, lows by morning near 35 degrees

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, still very mild, breezy, mid 60’s

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, chilly, mid 30’s

Thursday

Partly sunny, breezy, colder, upper 40’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, even colder, mid 30’s

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, cold, maybe some snow, mid 30’s

Sunday

Mostly sunny, cold, low 40’s

Discussion

After a couple more mild days, a sharp upper level trough will usher in much colder air to the region for the latter part of the week. Temperatures today and Wednesday should reach the 60’s in the southern Rockies, but are likely to be confined to the 30’s by the end of the week.

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3nOYOesNdo

Today

Mostly sunny, quite breezy, mild, highs in the mid-to-upper 50’s

Tonight

Mostly clear, cold, lows by morning near 30 degrees

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, even milder, low 60's

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, breezy, chilly, mid 30’s

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, mild, low-to-mid 60’s

Thursday

Mostly sunny, not as mild, mid-to-upper 40’s

Friday

Partly sunny, colder, maybe some snow, low-to-mid 30's

Saturday

Mostly sunny, cold, mid 30’s

Discussion

Dry weather will dominate during the first half of this week as northwesterly flow aloft persists in the area. Temperatures will be above normal to start the new week, but a strong cold front will bring much colder air back to the region by later this week.

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyk8wAvyWzE

Today

Mostly sunny, cooler than yesterday, highs in the mid 40’s

Tonight

Mostly clear, cold, lows by morning near 20 degrees

Saturday

Mostly sunny, chilly, low-to-mid 40’s

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, cold, low 20’s

Sunday

Mostly sunny, milder, low 50’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, mild, mid 50’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, mild, low-to-mid 50’s

Wednesday

Partly sunny, mild, low 50’s

Discussion

We’ll take a step backwards today in the temperature department, but then another warming trend this weekend will boost high temperatures into the low 50’s by Sunday afternoon and the milder trend should continue through the first half of next week.

Video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Z416O3AqA