Atmos 3200/Geog 3280

Instructor: Dr. Dave WhitemanAtmospheric Sciences Department

dave.whiteman@utah.eduINSCC 486 / 585-1414

Guest Lecturer: Maura HahnenbergerMaura.Hahnenberger@utah.edu

Mountain Weather and Climate

Photo: Megan Dever

Atmospheric Sciences 3200/Geography 3280Mountain Weather and Climate

Friday, August 24

Applications of Mountain Meteorology:

Avalanche ForecastingFire Weather Forecasting

Who else cares about Mountain Meteorology?

Urban Planning Wildfire Forecasting Avalanche Forecasting Recreation Industry Air Pollution Scientists Energy Industry Water Use/Hydrologists River Forecasting Snowpack Scientists ..... and many more!

Photo: KSL.com Brady Harris

Avalanche & Fire Triangles

Avalanche Triangle

Fire Triangle

What weather factors impactAvalanche Forecasting?

What weather factors impact Avalanche Forecasting? Precipitation

– Type– Amount– Rate

Wind– Direction– Speed– Duration

Temperature– Trend– Radiation– > or < 0 º Celsius– Gradient

Components of a Slab Avalanche

Bed Surface Weak Layer Slab Steep Slope Trigger

A Dozen More Turns Part 1

http://www.lifeonterra.com/ Check out Parts 2 & 3 online

– HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!!!!

While watching note how mountain weather led to this avalanche incident

What weather factors impactFire Weather Forecasting?

What weather factors impact Fire Weather Forecasting? Precipitation

– Rate– Duration– Lightning

Wind– Direction– Speed– Duration

Temperature Moisture

– Relative Humidity

Fire Danger Forecasting

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Fire Danger Forecasting

HIGH

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Fire Danger Forecasting

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Fire Danger Forecasting

LOW

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Fire Danger Forecasting

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Fire Danger Forecasting

HIGH

© 2002 Regents of the University of Minnesota

Seasonal weather impacts on Fire Weather Forecasting

Temperature Humidity Wet/Dry Season

Drought!!!

US Drought Monitor/Fire Weather Forecast

DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER

NORMAN OK 0354 AM CDT TUE AUG 21 2007 VALID 211200Z - 221200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR

SRN WY... ...SYNOPSIS... RELATIVELY COOL BUT

WINDY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE NRN ROCKIES/PLAINS UNDER BROAD UPPER TROUGH WHILE VERY WARM CONDITIONS CONTINUE FROM THE GREAT BASIN/DESERT SW EWD ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS INTO THE SERN STATES. COMBINATION OF LOW RH AND STRONG WINDS WILL RESULT IN LOCALLY CRITICAL CONDITIONS OVER PORTIONS OF WY...WITH DROUGHT...HOT TEMPERATURES AND LOW RH NEARING CRITICAL LEVELS OVER THE CAROLINAS AND GA.

US Drought Monitor/Fire Weather Forecast

DAY 1 FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER

NORMAN OK 0443 AM CDT SUN JUN 24 2007 VALID 241200Z - 251200Z ...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR

ERN SIERRA/NV/UT/WRN WY/WRN CO/NRN AZ...

...SYNOPSIS... CLOSED UPPER LOW NOW OFF PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WILL MOVE INLAND TODAY AND WILL BE LOCATED OVER SRN BC BY EARLY MONDAY. STRONG MID LEVEL FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN WITH SPEEDS OF 40-50 KT LIKELY. SFC BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL EXTEND FROM ND THROUGH WRN WY AND CNTRL NV BY LATE AFTN. AHEAD OF FRONT...STRONG W/SW WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY VALUES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE GREAT BASIN/UT/AZ/WY. TSTMS ARE NOT EXPECTED ACROSS THE CRITICAL FIRE AREA.

2007 Tahoe Wildfire Flare-Up: News Coverage

Fire Began Sunday June 24, 2007

News Coverage from Wednesday morning June 27

Contained on July 2, 2007

While watching note how mountain weather impacted this wildfire

Fire claims 100 acres near Columbia

By MICHAEL R. SHEA

The Modesto Bee

Last Updated: August 24, 2007, 05:00:56 AM PDT COLUMBIA -- Roughly 100 acres of Tuolumne County mountain

country burned Thursday after a marijuana farm nestled in the canyons northeast of Columbia State Park caught fire and the flames spread toward nearby homes. Flames were first seen around 11 p.m. Wednesday night and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection issued a voluntary evacuation for 30 homes along Yankee Hill and Mountain Boy Mine roads early Thursday morning.

The fire was contained by 5:20 Thursday evening. The marijuana growers fled as the fire grew, leaving behind

bundles of harvested crop and firearms, said Cal Fire spokeswoman Nancy Longmore.