Dust In and Warmth Out

Cold Winds Filled with Dust on November 10

By now, the view of dust clouds moving into our area from over the plains is a familiar sight. This past Monday, November 10,  was especially significant as it also marked the end of the warm temperatures southeast Colorado has enjoyed for a period through the fall.

Dust Cloud Approaching off Airport Road

The term Polar Vortex was not as evident this time on national network or statewide television for this fast moving cold front as it was last winter. It could have been.  Cold is cold, no matter what it’s called.

The dust and winds were visible from the west shortly after 12 noon and it took only a few minutes to blot out the sky, rustle up all the unraked leaves from the neighborhoods and motivated local residents to shut their windows from the dust and approaching freeze.

The daytime high for downtown Lamar according to the National Weather Service was 79 degrees shortly before noon with northwesterly winds at 10-12 mph. One hour later we had dropped to 55 degrees, visibility went from ten miles to 1.75 and winds had increased to 33mph with gusts to 48.  Hourly temperature readings showed an hourly decrease to 49, down to 45, down to 38 by almost 4pm and homeward bound citizens were shivering with 5pm temperatures at just below freezing with 31 degrees on the thermometer.

The weather events weren’t over yet, as the rapid descent of temperatures that effected nine states throughout the west continued to plummet, a snow squall swept through portions of southeast Colorado, leaving a dusting of snow on area roadways. Temperatures overnight dipped in the upper teens, leaving area residents with a reminder of how quickly the weather and our daily routines are closely tied together.

By Russ Baldwin