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October Weather Wrap

By Bill Kappel

October was again warmer than average with below-normal precipitation. Almost the entire month saw quiet and dry weather, with exceptions at the beginning and end. Overall for the year, we are still above normal from a precipitation perspective, so hopefully that will continue through the winter and spring. And given that we have an El Niño pattern set up in the Pacific, there is a higher-than-normal chance of above-normal snowfall, especially later into winter and through the spring. Let’s hope this pattern plays out.

The other nice aspect of the quiet weather most of the month was that the sunny skies, warm days, and cool nights were perfect for the development of fall colors. This resulted in a nice progression of fall colors as we moved through the month and no storms or strong winds coming through to freeze the leaves or blow them away too quickly.

The month started off mild with highs in the mid-70s on the 1st and 2nd. This warmth also helped to produce some last remnants of summer-type weather, with thunderstorms developing during the late afternoon and early evening of the 2nd. These produced some quick rainfall accumulations of nearly a half inch in spots. However, for most of us, this was our last measurable precipitation for several weeks until the 28th. The only exception were some showers of both rain and snow at times from the afternoon of the 11th off and on through the morning of the 13th. This was an extended dry period even for a time of the year when quiet weather conditions are common.

The quiet pattern was finally broken starting on the 26th and continuing through the 29th. The first change was signified by a cold front that blew through during the late afternoon of the 26th bringing cooler air, low clouds, fog, and a few flurries. After this initial push, cool and quiet weather took hold on the 27th before a stronger push of cold air and moisture moved in on the 28th. This second, stronger cold front was overrun by moisture and lifted aloft. This allowed the atmosphere to moisten up and, when combined with the upslope flow, produced widespread snow from the 28th through the afternoon of the 29th.

Temperatures were well below normal as well with highs dropping from the low 70s on the 26th to the low 40s on the 27th and low 30s on the 28th. Bands of snow began to develop during the afternoon of the 28th and continued off and on through the 29th. This system was different than our typical snow events because it was driven by strong winds and rising motion high in the atmosphere combined with cold air at the surface. This resulted in a wide range of snowfall totals over relatively short distances. Temperatures were coldest on the 29th through the morning of the 30th, as highs struggled to reach 20 degrees and morning lows dipped all the way to the single digits above and below on the 30th. Sunshine returned to end the month, but the clear skies and lingering snow meant a cold start to each day, and also kept afternoon temperatures below average through Halloween.

A look ahead

November is generally dry and cool around the region. We usually get several light snowfalls interspersed with sunny skies. Gusty winds commonly develop on a couple of days as the jet stream becomes more active and directly affects Colorado. High temperatures average in the upper 40s early in the month to low 40s by the end with overnight lows often dipping into the teens and single digits.

October 2023 Weather Statistics

Average High 62.0° (+2.5°) 100-year return frequency value max 67.7° min 50.7°

Average Low 31.2° (+1.9°) 100-year return frequency value max 36.8° min 26.4°

Monthly Precipitation 0.41” (-1.12”) 100-year return frequency value max 4.63” min 0.18”

Monthly Snowfall 3.6” (-7.4”)

Highest Temperature 78° on the 20th

Lowest Temperature -1° on the 30th

Season to Date Snow 3.6” (-7.4”) (the snow season, Oct 1 to Sept 30)

Season to Date Precip. 24.26” (+2.74”) (the precipitation season, Jan 1 to Dec 31)

Heating Degree Days 570

Cooling Degree Days 0

Bill Kappel can be reached at billkappel@ocn.me.

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Letters to Our Community – Tom Olmstead? No thanks

I am very concerned about Tom Olmstead’s candidacy for the D38 school board. Olmstead’s appearance at the KOAA forum revealed a lack of qualifications and understanding, and an obsessed focus on personal grievances. I will not be voting for him.

Olmstead’s forum performance was marked by a stunning lack of preparedness. He seemed unfamiliar with the initiatives of the school district and offered only third-hand anecdotes to support his vague goals. It’s clear he put minimal effort into understanding the responsibilities of the board, or even how meetings function (it seemed like he’s never attended one). Rather than addressing concrete issues, his focus was railing against perceived issues such as “indoctrination” by teachers’ unions or gender issues, deeply divisive stances that detract from real issues at hand.

When Olmstead cited a student suicide, he admitted he didn’t know any details, and he didn’t connect it to any concrete proposal. When he referred to a rumored incident of a student’s sexual misconduct, he suggested that elected board members should be involved in disciplining individual students (completely inappropriate) and—despite not knowing any of the details—put the involved students’ safety and privacy at risk. This level of ignorance and carelessness is unacceptable for someone seeking to influence the inner workings of our schools.

Tom Olmstead’s candidacy falls far short of our community’s needs, and what I want for schools I send my children to. The role of a school board member requires a deep commitment to education, a solid understanding of the challenges facing our district, and a proactive approach to policymaking. Unfortunately, Tom Olmstead has not demonstrated any of these qualities and appears more interested in settling personal grievances and promoting divisive ideologies. I urge my neighbors against a vote for Tom Olmstead.

Jeremy Borgia

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Letters to Our Community – Vote for Tom Olmstead

In an effort to reach anyone interested in finding out the truth about Tom Olmstead—who is running for the D38 school board—please read carefully.

I am a regular member of a group that sits at Serrano’s coffee shop (several times a week) with Tom. I and the members of that group (roughly 10-12 people) have known Tom for several years now and will attest to the fact that what has been published in OCN and Nextdoor by his competition is absolutely not accurate!

If you would consider getting to know Tom for yourself, please stop by Serrano’s any weekday around 8:30 or 9 in the morning and learn for a fact what type of person he is and what positive new blood he would bring to the school board.

He will be happy to converse and answer questions about the issues facing the board and will not become involved in the character defamation approach being used by his opponents for the position on the board.

In my opinion, anyone affected by the D38 school board would benefit greatly from a face-to-face meeting with Tom.

Michael A. Graczyk

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Letters to Our Community – Protesting no parking signs at Pike National Forest

I live in unincorporated Monument and have been walking daily in the Pike National Forest, which is administrated by the U.S. Forest Service. The entrance to this is on Sunburst Drive. Due to my health issues (and that of many other disabled and veterans that use these paths), I have driven to the entrance and parked out front, off the road as did most of the people. Users (and there were hundreds) walked, biked and some had their dogs “walk” them. Anyway, some nut job just ordered No Parking signs installed in front, with a statement that violators would be towed. There is plenty of room between the paved road and the fenced park. That area is primarily gravel, but there is some grass, which is mowed.

This is a small area, maybe 10 acres. The no parking is in front now but not on the other three sides. When I questioned the logic of this, I received 6,600 views on Nextdoor, the local online posting site. I have been told that a hot car might ignite the dry grass. Problem is that these trails are over 50 years old, and there has never been a fire. Worse, now we park around the corner, where there is tall, dry grass—I agree that is a problem. I don’t know what the No Parking signs costs, but the solution, supposedly, is to put down gravel. For the area I am speaking of, this can’t be more than a few hundred dollars. Shouldn’t common sense prevail?

Kent Jarnig

100% VA disabled

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Letters to Our Community – Tom Olmstead has my vote

Thank God one of our school board candidates is out and about in our community meeting people! Tom Olmstead has my vote as he’s directly been engaging the public about his ideas and drive to make D38 a great experience for all our children.

Tom makes no bones that he believes parents have the right to what their children see and learn in the district and is driven by his law enforcement background to keep our schools safe. He understands that not every student wants to go to college, and he supports trade schools as a positive alternative to college. Tom is not in favor of tax hikes—particularly for the people in Monument who are on a fixed income. But he also supports teacher pay raises and believes we’ve not given enough attention to innovative ideas to make that happen.

D38 needs a person who wants to see this community thrive! Tom Olmstead has my vote.

Sherry E. MacDonald

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