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November Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

November was one for the record books in terms of snowfall, and the good news is that the above average snowfall occurred over both mountains and plains regions. High temperatures were well below normal for the month, while low temperatures were right at normal. There were no significant Arctic air outbreaks, but instead plenty of snow on the ground helped to keep things relatively cool.

Of course, this was quite a change after our record warm October, but this is what makes living on the Palmer Divide so much fun. The weather is never the same for very long, and we get to experience all the seasons during the year, sometimes on the same day.

The additional good news was that the mountains also received copious amounts of snow, with many locations receiving 50-100 inches during November. This got us off to a great start to the snow season in the high country that we will hopefully continue to build on into spring.

The month started the same as October ended, with dry and mild conditions on the 1st and 2nd. But of course, that was about to change in a big way. The first sign of change was associated with moisture that moved in during the evening of the 3rd. There was no strong cold front with this, but instead upslope flow and moisture combined to produce 1-3 inches of snowfall from the evening of the 3rd through the morning of the 4th. But this was just the “primer” for a historic storm that was developing over the Four Corners region.

The 5th started off quietly as an area of low pressure, which was cut off from the main steering current, was slowly moving through the Four Corners region. At the same time, colder air was filtering south over eastern Colorado. The final ingredient which made this storm unique was the low-level wind flow around an area of high pressure to our northeast and the low developing event over the Four Corners. This allowed the low-level wind field to tap into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. All the ingredients came together perfectly over the region: a slow-moving area of low pressure producing upslope flow and upper-level divergence, slow movement of the low pressure systems, cold air, and deep moisture throughout all levels of the atmosphere.

Snow began to develop during the late afternoon and early evening hours, with 4-6 inches accumulating before midnight. This initial burst of heavy snow continued into the early afternoon hours of the 6th, with another 6-12 inches accumulating. The heaviest snow took a break for the next 24 hours or so with only 3-6 inches of new snow accumulating.

However, the storm wasn’t finished. Heavy snow picked up again during the morning hours of 8th. This continued through the early morning hours of the 9th. During the period, another 8-16 inches of snow fell. Overall, the Palmer Divide picked up 24-36 inches of snow, but areas just to our northeast in Elbert County received over 40 inches and areas along the Colorado and New Mexico border picked up nearly 60 inches. Definitely a great way to start the snow season.

There is an excellent writeup on this storm from both the Denver and Pueblo National Weather Service offices if you would like to dig deeper in the details: https://www.weather.gov/pub/November2024WinterStorm and https://www.weather.gov/bou/HistoricSnowfallNovember2024

Once this storm departed, things quieted down for the next two weeks with dry conditions. Temperatures fluctuated between below and above normal levels. The coolest temperatures were on the 19th and 20th, quickly followed by well above normal temperatures on the 22nd and 23rd. But these warmer temperatures were ahead of the final storm system of the month. This change was first noticed with light snow during the morning of the 25th, then a stronger push of cold air and moisture on the 27th, when 2-5 inches of snow fell. The month ended with lots of sunshine and relatively cold temperatures.

A look ahead

December can be cold around the region, with daytime highs often staying below freezing and overnight lows that can drop well below zero. But, as noted previously, we can experience a wide variety of weather, with westerly winds producing mild conditions. The month is generally dry but with several light, fluffy snowfalls. Gusty winds are also a common nuisance during the month, especially west of I-25. The chance for a White Christmas is common for the area, with most areas having some snow on the ground, and if we are lucky, fresh snow fall on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

November Weather Statistics

Average High 46.4° (-3.0°); 100-year return frequency value max 55.5° min 38.5°

Average Low 22.3° (+0.9°); 100-year return frequency value max 27.5° min 14.1°

Monthly Precipitation 3.03” (+2.43”); 100-year return frequency value max 3.80” min 0.16”

Monthly Snowfall 42.3” (+31.5”)

Highest Temperature 64° on the 23rd

Lowest Temperature 8° on the 29th

Season to Date Snow 45.5” (+12.3”) (the snow season is from Oct 1 to Sept 30)

Season to Date Precip. 27.48” (+6.41”) (the precipitation season, Jan 1 to Dec 31)

Heating Degree Days 984

Cooling Degree Days 0

Bill Kappel is a meteorologist and Tri-Lakes resident. He can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

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Letters to Our Community – Opposed to proposed Buc-ee’s

Concerning the proposed annexation of acreage southeast of Beacon Lite Road and Palmer Divide Road:

“Flagpole” annexation is a device used by speculators to purchase undeveloped rural land at the value of raw land and then get a municipality to “annex” the property to provide services to said property; not limited to a police, fire, road maintenance including the flagpole, and; most importantly utilities; greatly enhancing the original value of the property.

The flagpole consists in most cases of including a road to and past the property. Then the object is to get a municipality to annex the property and the roads, thereby satisfying the requirement that one-sixth of the property is next to the Town of Palmer lake. The essence of the planning requirement is that annexation should be an organic part of natural expansion. This is, of course, not the case requiring the gimmick of flagpole annexing half of the Palmer Divide Road that is in El Paso County and Beacon Lite Road. The method is obviously to skirt annexation requirements described in Item 2 of the Annexation Ordinance that endeavor to provide orderly growth; questionable at best but certainly dishonest. I also don’t see compliance with Item 8 stating that all of a street must be annexed.

Anyone paying attention knows that Colorado Springs and Monument have each rejected flagpoles!

A Buc-ee’s representative, Mr. Beard, states that impact to Palmer Lake would be non-existent, offering up neighbors next to the behemoth as sacrificial lambs.

Donn Hume

Other Letters to Our Community

Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal

Letters to Our Community – Lodging tax issue rebuttal

In the November issue of OCN, a Letter to Our Community was printed from “Warren James” containing only uninformed, untrue statements. Here are the facts:

  • Paragraph 1 presented figures from Sept. 3. These were projected numbers presented in advance of anything catastrophic (contrary to the implications in James’ letter) and used for discussion.
  • Paragraph 2 suggests that the police budget was to be raided to compensate for shortfalls. The Police Fund is composed of two components, General Fund plus 2F dollars that can only be spent for what the ballot initiative outlined. Neither of these sources was or is in jeopardy and there was never any conversation to that effect. Ask the police chief.
  • Paragraph 3 says that Council (previous Trustees) only recently has the right to make monetary changes only when that does not violate previously approved ballot initiatives (2A Water Fund and 2F Police Fund are restricted). No, the Council can not defund the police nor do they wish to do so.
  • This year’s ballot initiative (2A) was a lodging tax earmarked exclusively for previously unfunded parks with the tax paid only when lodging occurred. The current Council budgeted substantial dollars for the improvements made to Limbach. Spend a few minutes watching the children (of all abilities) play on the new equipment. This was the lodging tax destination.
  • There was no shell game and never any intent to deceive; however, “Warren James” is spewing untruths and, unfortunately, it must have worked because the measure was defeated—too bad for Monument children.

In the future, suggest if they/them want the facts, they/them consider attending meetings and/or listening to the recordings and/or asking questions of staff and/or Council directly rather than lurking in the shadows with a poison pen to punish the innocent.

Laura Kronick
Monument councilmember

Other Letters to Our Community

Between the Covers at Covered Treasures Bookstore – Great gift ideas

By the staff at Covered Treasures

“Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers”—Kahlil Gibran

Here are some books that would make wonderful winter reading (or a gift) for yourself or someone else!

Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessment from Washington to Biden

By Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard (St. Martin’s Press) $35

From Washington to Jefferson, Lincoln to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Kennedy to Nixon, Reagan to Obama and Biden, the 45 United States presidents have left lasting impacts on our nation. Some of their legacies continue today, some are justly forgotten, and some have changed as America has changed. Whether famous, infamous, or obscure, all the presidents shaped our nation in unexpected ways. The authors’ extensive research has uncovered never before seen historical facts based on private correspondence and newly discovered documentation.

Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science

By Dava Sobel (Atlantic Monthly Press) $30

A luminous chronicle of the life and work of the most famous woman in the history of science, and the untold story of the many young women trained in her laboratory that were launched into stellar scientific careers of their own. Sobel approaches Marie Curie from a unique angle, narrating her remarkable life of discovery and fame alongside the women who became her legacy.

The Grey Wolf (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel #19)

By Louise Penny (Minotaur Books) $30

Though the tiny Québec village of Three Pines is impossible to find on any map, someone has managed to track down Armand Gamache, head of homicide at the Sûreté, as he sits with his wife in their back garden. There is a missing coat, an intruder alarm, a note for Gamache reading “this might interest you,” a puzzling scrap of paper with a mysterious list and then a murder. All propel Chief Inspector Gamache and his team toward a terrible realization.

The Games Gods Plays (Crucible #1)

By Abigail Owen (Entangled: Red Tower Books) $30

The gods love to play with us mere mortals. And every hundred years, we let them. For the first time ever, the ruthless, mercurial King of the Underworld has entered the Crucible—the deadly contest the gods hold to determine a new ruler to sit on the throne of Olympus. But instead of fighting their own battles, the gods name mortals to compete in their stead.

Water, Water: Poems

By Billy Collins (Random House) $27

In this collection of 60 new poems, Billy Collins writes about the beauties and ironies of everyday experiences. In Water, Water, Collins combines his vigilant attention and respect for the peripheral to create moments of delight. Common and uncommon events are captured here with equal fascination, be it a cat leaning to drink from a swimming pool, a nurse calling a name in a waiting room, or an astronaut reciting Emily Dickinson from outer space. With lyrical informality, Collins asks us to slow down and glimpse the elevated in the ordinary, the odd in the familiar.

The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook: 125 Ridiculously Good for You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day

By Monique Volz (Clarkson Potter Publishers) $35

Millions of readers know Monique Volz’s website, Ambitious Kitchen, as a go-to resource for inventive, flavorful recipes that are full of nutrition, comfort, and personality. Now, in her debut cookbook, Monique wants others to find their own Ambitious Kitchen and discover their own version of health, bold flavors, and above all, the unique happiness that food can bring to your life. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping dish to bring to a gathering, a new home-cooked tradition, or a nourishing meal everyone will love, this cookbook has the answers.

Farther than the Moon

By Lindsay Lackey (Roaring Book Press) $18

This is a heartfelt story about two brothers who want to become astronauts. When 13-year-old Houston is accepted to the Junior Astronaut Recruitment Program, he realizes that his younger brother Robbie’s dream may not be achievable due to his cerebral palsy and epilepsy, so he makes a new plan that shoots for the stars. This is an enchanting story about brotherly love and big dreams.

Merry Christmas! And until next year, happy reading!

The staff at Covered Treasures can be reached at books@ocn.me.

Other Book Review articles

December Library Events – Adult discussion group, children’s programs, schedule changes

By Harriet Halbig

Many Monument Library programs for all ages will continue during December. Please come to participate and feel free to bring out-of-town guests.

A conversation group for intermediate and advanced German speakers meets each Monday from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Monument Library. Registration is not required.

Socrates Café is an adult discussion group which covers many subjects including philosophy, religions, politics, morality, and the general human condition. All are welcome to attend this well-moderated and thought-provoking group. In December, Socrates Café will meet each Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. except for Dec. 24.

Paws to Read offers an opportunity for kids to read aloud to a lovable therapy dog. The program is open to kids up to age 5 and meets on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. except for Dec. 24 and 31.

Toddler Time at the Monument Library is held on Wednesdays at 9:30 and 10 a.m. This program is designed for children 1 and 2 years old with a favorite adult. Participate in nursery rhymes, music, and movement and listen to a few short books. Toddler Time builds on familiar experiences to introduce new vocabulary and sounds and lasts about 20 to 25 minutes. Toddler Time will meet each Wednesday in December except for Dec. 25.

Palmer Lake Library hosts the weekly Storytime for children ages 3 to 7 with a favorite adult. Storytime will be offered each Friday in December from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

The Monumental Bookworms book club sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Friends of PPLD will meet from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Monument Library. All are welcome. The December book selection is Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero by Christopher McDougall.

The Monumental Readers book club sponsored by the Tri-Lakes Friends of PPLD will meet from 10:30 to 12:30 on Friday, Dec. 20. The December selection is West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge.

Monument Library will host a LEGO Idea Lab on Friday, Dec. 20 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Engineering your best LEGO creation, completing LEGO challenges, and producing LEGO art are some of the possibilities at this open-ended LEGO program using PPLD’s LEGO resources. This program is for ages 5 through 12.

Community members are also encouraged to go to the library website, ppld.org, to take advantage of such virtual program as Genealogy Basics, Ancestry Basics, and author visits.

Please note the following schedule changes for all PPLD facilities: The libraries will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25, close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31, and remain closed on Jan. 1, 2025.

Happy holidays from your library!

Harriet Halbig may be reached at harriethalbig@ocn.me.

Other Pikes Peak Library District articles