Five-Day Local Forecast
Weather Facts
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By: USAF Capt. (Ret.) Ted Ballard
A persistent high pressure ridge over the western 1/2 to 2/3 of the U.S. is driving an upper -level clockwise flow, bringing moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico into our state. This is a typical monsoon flow pattern this time of year and tends to wax and wane in moisture content and therefore, some days have a better chance of storms than others. With the upward rise of warmer air in the afternoon, we get clouds. If the clouds show upward development, they may build into thunderstorms. To get strong thunderstorms you need rapid upward vertical growth. The afternoon sun and condensation from the monsoon moisture provides heat which triggers the upward flow of air and rises like a beach ball in a swimming pool. Locally, winds aloft with an easterly component causes upslope against the mountains, pushing the air up even faster. |
If a cooler airflow aloft is thrown into the mix,
the rising air is buoyant and moving fast, and it pushes water droplets high enough to freeze and if falling back and pushed up again and again, it turns into continually growing hail stones. If the cyclonic motion from something called the Coriolis Effect) of the thunderstorm causes a rotating wall cloud and conditions are just right, you can end up with a funnel cloud that if it touches down, is then called a tornado. This very thing happened last week around Lake DeWeese. Some useful weather websites I use are: https://www.weather.gov/pub/ https://www.goes.noaa.gov/WCIR4.html https://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=pux https://www.weather.gov/akq/MapsModels https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ - by USAF Capt. (Ret.) Ted Ballard |
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- Videos by Madeline Ballard
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- Photos by Madeline Ballard
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Monday, July 29:
10-12:30 p.m - Public meeting with Rep. Scott Tipton, U.S.P.S officials at Tony’s Mountain Pizza in Silver Cliff. 12-1 p.m - Wet Mountain Valley Rotary meets each week in the Community Room at Rancher’s Roost. The Public is invited to all meetings. 6 p.m.- Alcoholics Anonymous. 12-Step study at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church located at 3rd & Rosita in Westcliffe. For more information, please call Jim at 783- 2053. Tuesday, July 30: Noon- 1:30 p.m - at Altitude Comm. Fitness Fran’s Annual Water Games Fun “Olympic” events for kids ages 4-15. Certificates and medals will be presented for events like: bubble blowing, floating, kickboard, freestyle, back and front strokes. Adult and child relays, along with the infamous wet t- shirt race, and many more events! Beat the heat and enjoy the fun. $1 per child. Wednesday, July 31: 9 a.m - Board of County Commissioners meeting in the conference room inside the Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public 10 to 12:30 p.m - Tumbletots, sponsored by the Westcliffe Center for the Performing Arts and for ages 3-5 at Altitude Comm. Fitness. For more information, visit: www.jonestheater.com. Or call 783-3004. Thursday, August 1: 5:15 p.m - Round Mt. Water and Sanitation District board of directors will meet in the basement of their offices, located at 59000 CO-69 in Westcliffe. 783-2604. The Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church invites you all for two evenings of inspirational teaching. This community- wide revival will be held beginning this evening at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church with fellowship, music and a powerful message. Activities on Friday, August 2nd will begin at 5 p.m. with a cookout in the Fort; followed by a second session of the revival to begin at 6:30 p.m. Featured guest, David Player, dynamic speaker, and evangelist will bring a refreshing message that is certain to stir hearts and bring many closer to Christ. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn, grow, and share in the love of Jesus. For more information, you are welcome to call the church at 719-232-5372. 6:30 p.m - Open Swim for everyone at Altitude Comm. Fitness. $5 per teen includes pool, popcorn, and one soda. 8 p.m. -There will be a teen “Float In” movie and “Jaws” will be shown. This is for sixth graders and up. Bring your own floatation if you have one. There will be a limited supply available. Come out to Altitude Comm. Fitness and beat the evening heat. |
Friday, August 2:
10-12;30 p.m - Power of Horses: Free Summer program for grades 4-12. Continues every Friday at the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club. For more information, contact Kim Seng at:719-989-0466, kimseng117@yahoo.com. 5 p.m - Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church Revival. Activities this evening will begin with a cookout in the Fort; followed by a second session of the revival to begin at 6:30 p.m. Featured guest, David Player, dynamic speaker, and evangelist will bring a refreshing message that is certain to stir hearts and bring many closer to Christ. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn, grow, and share in the love of Jesus. For more information, you are welcome to call the church at 719-232-5372. 6 p.m - Bingo Night at Deer Mtn. Fire Dept. Concessions open. 7 p.m.- First ball Bingo packs are $15 and includes five bingo sheets and one progressive card. Come out for an evening of fun and support the Deer Mtn. Fire Dept. They are located at 6181 County Rd. 28 9 p.m - Dark Skies Star Party at the Smokey Jack Observatory. For more information, please visit: www.wetmtndarkskies.org. Saturday, August 3: 8 a.m - Gymkhana at Sangre de Cristo Cowboy Church arena, 60260 Hwy. 69 in Westcliffe. Registration begins and event starts at 9 a.m 4 to 6 p.m - A reception will held today, and Aug. 1-26 at the 3rd Street Galley, in Westcliffe. www.sangresartguild.org. Sunday, August 4: Consider attending a house of worship. A listing of local churches is included on this page. Bring a lawn chair and come out at 2 p.m. for “The Crestone Trio” live in the Amphitheater behind the Feed Store. For more information, contact Gary Taylor at 719 371-7324. (To have an event included in the Weekly Round-Up, please email editor@thevalleybeat.net. ) |
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First Baptist Church of Westcliffe
417 6th Street Pastor Glenn Shock 783-2498, www.firstbaptistwestcliffe.com Church of Christ 818 Ohio St. Silver Cliff, CO 81252 719-783-4601 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 240 Ridgeline Dr. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pres Al Brigs 719-545-1196 1st Counselor: John Jeffress 254-434-7141 Cody Park Comm. Church 0157 County Rd. 27A Cotopaxi, CO Pastor Dave McConnell 942-3462/ 942-3526 Community United Methodist Church 202 S. 6TH St. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Yevette Christy 719-783-2511 St. Patricks Anglican Church 401 2nd St. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Sr. Warden Bill Canda 783-3242 Our Lady of Mt. Zion Catholic Church 210 S. 2nd St. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Fr. Daniel Jones 783-2491 Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Pueblo 109 S. 5th St. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Father Stephen Injoalu 783-3507 St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 3rd and Rosita Westcliffe, CO 81252 783-2477 Stlukeswestcliffe.org Hope Lutheran Church 312 S. Third St. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Rev. Lyle Stuehrenberg 783-9773 Wetmore Community Church 699 County Rd 395, Wetmore Pastor Tim Easterling 784-0596 |
Westcliffe Community Church
103 N. Adams Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Brad Reinke 719-298-7816 The 40 Church 312 3rd St, Westcliffe (Lange Hall) Pastor Steve Reiff 913-710-6141 Sangre De Cristo Seminary Chapel 6160 County Rd. 130 Pastors Dr. Dwight Zeller and Dr. Andrew Zeller 783-2447 Valley Bible Fellowship 116 Hermit Lane Silver Cliff, CO. 81252 Pastor Dean Selden 783-4505/ 783-9050 Abounding Grace Full Gospel Fellowship Altitude Community Fitness 50 E. Main St. Silver Cliff, CO 81252 Hal Crossley, 783-3347 Ron Taylor, 318-840-4799 Wetmore Baptist Church Hwy. 67 and 96 Wetmore, CO 784-4197 Pastor Brian Withrow High Country Mennonite Church Meeting at All Aboard Westcliffe 110 Rosita Ave. Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Jason Yoder 783-9045 Cotopaxi Community Church 20326 Hwy. 50 Cotopaxi, CO Pastor Jim Karg 942-4185/ 942-4339 Sangre De Cristo Cowboy Church 60260 Hwy. 69 Westcliffe, CO 81252 Pastor Mike Shields 719-232-5372 Christian Science 8 Bassick Place (next to P.O.) Sangre de Cristo Fellowship Church 120 Jerry Drive, Westcliffe Pastor Dave Schlabach 783-0903 |