WEATHER WATCH - Northern Colorado Rocketry

This topic has 31 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by MikeS.

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October 4, 2011 at 5:17 pm #41371
Jeffrey Joe Hinton
Moderator
Not time to panic – Yet – but please keep a close eye on the weather….
this email from Jon Halverson w/USFS

“I know you stay up on this pretty well on your own but just FYI, with Oktoberfest coming up this weekend.

As specified in NCR’s permit, rocket launches are not permitted when a Red Flag Warning (RFW) or Fire Weather Watch (FWW) is in effect.

There is a Red Flag Warning in effect for Weld County, which includes the Pawnee NG, for today till 1800. Things are expected to be hot, dry and windy out there.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that the weather forecast I just got from our dispatch center shows temps expected to get cooler, humidities to get higher and winds to lessen over the next several days and through the weekend.

Those conditions would SUGGEST (nothing is definite at this stage, of course) that there will NOT be a RFW or FWW in effect by Fri, the first day of flights for Oktoberfest. Obviously, you folks will need to exercise caution – like always – but it looks like conditions should be good enough to allow the event to proceed as scheduled.

If I get further info, I’ll pass it on.”
October 4, 2011 at 5:20 pm #54817
Bret Packard
Participant
Seems like a good guy. Nice of him to give the heads up rather than just dropping a hammer at the last minute if weather conditions aren’t good.
October 4, 2011 at 10:50 pm #54818
John A. Wilke
Participant
Major fire burning west of Ft. Collins as I type this – it is one of the bigger fires I’ve witnessed from my office. Not good.

I’ll miss O’Fest, everyone have a great time!
October 4, 2011 at 11:48 pm #54819
Jeffrey Joe Hinton
Moderator
A heavy column of smoke visible directly west of Fort Collins is coming from a planned and controlled burn on 21 acres at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space.

Larimer County officials are managing and monitoring the fire, which was intentionally set to improve forest health, increase understory plant diversity and return fire to a natural area that benefits from low-intensity fires.

The burn is part of a fuels-management project in Horsetooth Mountain Park. Residents are asked to not call 911 about the smoke.
October 5, 2011 at 10:55 pm #54820
greywolves
Hey guys,
Did we get any new updates?, turns out I should leave by noon on thursday.
October 6, 2011 at 12:05 am #54821
edward
Moderator
I see the weather Saturday by NOAA is saying 60% rain. Is there a reason that Oktoberfest the 2nd weekend? It seems like if we are hosting a multi-day event we’d want to move it a couple weeks earlier to try and stack the weather deck more in our favor.

Edward
October 6, 2011 at 12:44 am #54822
BEAR
I see the chance of rain on Saturday is increasing. It was only 40% this morning. Of course, if this sees reality, it certainly does cut down on the fire danger and Sunday is laible to be real busy!

I thought the date of Oktoberfest was designed to coincide with the Columbus Day Holiday, where the post office, and banks, and the stock market are all closed here in the U.S. That is this Monday, the 10th.

Any body have a big wall tent where we can have a party, share building tips, and have a good time (or at least, stay warm) on Saturday? (I’ll bring some wood for a fire) I guess I can build a rocket or work on the ones I bring on Saturday while we wait for it to clear up. Neither rain, or snow, or dark of night can deter the Northern Colorado Rocketeers. Who knows, we might even get snow Friday night, even though it is not in the forecast. (yet) 🙄
October 6, 2011 at 12:52 am #54823
edward
Moderator
I think that was the plan, but there are not a lot of people who have it off anymore. I know that Poudre, Big Thompson, Greeley and Denver school districts don’t have it off. I guess I’d rather have 3 days of a chance of nicer late September weather than a chance of 4 days of October weather.

Also, when it rains out there the road in can get nasty, as evidenced by the Sunday of this year’s MHM.

Edward
October 6, 2011 at 12:58 am #54824
BEAR
Once I get there, I plan on just waiting it out. Sit in my tent and read a book while sipping on a cup of Earl Grey unless something more interesting comes along. I do know what you mean about the road, but it should dry rather quickly unless it is absolutely saturated, which would mean the prairie is not running off. Then I would expect to see a large ark and the animals gathering, two by two. 🙂
October 6, 2011 at 2:22 am #54825
MikeS
Moderator
Me tooooo. I will be there in the day, all four days. I may
leave early afternoon Saturday. ???? If raining that is.

I figure a few launches are better than none. We can
get many hundred launched on a two day launch. Three
out of the four days look good. The rain Saturday will
make for a good Sunday/Monday.

I sleep well during wet days. That is probably what will
end up for me. Can’t help it…it just happens. 😯
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