Hello from Trinidad, Colorado. Here for four days to explore the gateway area between plains and mountains. We are about 13 miles north of the New Mexico state line. The Weather Service has been warning high wind on Wednesday along the Rocky Mountain Front, almost the entire length of Colorado! So fingers crossed it won’t be too bad.
I wanted to visit Trinidad because of its unique location and two state parks. Trinidad Lake State Park is five miles west, Fishers Peak, Colorado’s newest state park, five miles south. Since Trinidad has weather typical of the plains, it is too hot for me here much of the year. December seemed like a good plan.
Trinidad was an important stopover city on the Santa Fe Trail, primarily a commercial highway between Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico, from 1821 to 1880. Of course there was a break when the Mexican-American War raged from 1846-1848. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Santa Fe Trail became a national road connecting the more settle areas of the new southwest territories. In 1880 the railroad was completed from Missouri/Kansas to Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Trail was rarely used, fading into history.
So here we are, Trinidad, Colorado, after a scenic drive from home Monday. I’m staying in a small house three blocks south of Main Street. Excited to visit the downtown area as well as the state parks.
TUESDAY: The wind is already picking up, 20+ mph as hiking around Trinidad Lake State Park. Tomorrow, however, the forecast is for steady winds WSW from 30-40 mph with gusts over 60 mph! Rain in the morning, blue sky rest of day, wind into overnight. My plan? Stay inside tomorrow so visiting both state parks today! If I have trouble walking headfirst into 20+ winds and feeling a bit beat up after hiking, it is crazy to go outside and tackle wind twice that speed! Not to mention unsafe with who knows what blowing around.
WEDNESDAY: Woke up about 6am and there was not even a breeze. Sunrise, a bit after 7 am, and the wind was blowing so hard the electric was flickering. The sky so black in every direction I could not have painted it blacker! Suddenly heavy rain, blowing in every direction at the same time. Well, my car needs a wash. 😉
Suddenly not only did the rain stop, but within minutes the sky was entirely blue except for a few clouds over the western mountains. Wind blowing but not terribly strong. Might we luck out?
Suddenly again, the sky is totally overcast, and it is a big sky! How did it happen so fast?? Strong winds, raining but not as heavy now. Then clouds dropped so low I could not see a block away.
Rain stopped and the clouds lifted with light winds. Suddenly blue sky–how can that happen SO FAST!? Is it over?
I was on the phone with a friend when I heard loud rushing wind as it shook the house. Looked outside and it was a blizzard! Temperature dropped from 46 to 28 in minutes–egads! Snow blowing everywhere for about 40 minutes in very high winds. Oh no, we totally lost power now. Could get cold in here quickly. These drastic, sudden weather changes are scary!
Just as suddenly we now have blue sky and the strongest winds so far. Thank goodness there are no trees near my car! The prediction calls for a dust storm later emanating from San Luis Valley where the Great Sand Dunes are. That’s about 60 miles west beyond those 11,000 ft mountains. Hope they are wrong!
Yeah, we have power again.
These sudden changes from blue sky to severe storms lasted until about noon when blue sky ruled the rest of the day. Winds didn’t diminish much until about 4pm, but still 20+ mph when I retired for the night.
I have NEVER in my life experienced such sudden and drastic weather changes! Neither have locals. What climate change?
THURSDAY: Heading home today along scenic CO Highway 12. Checked the weather in the Springs to see what I missed. They had higher winds than we did in Trinidad, and Trinidad is typically a windy location–scary!
Back home, through the US-24 cut in the mountains, the wind was 101 mph damaging the town of Manitou Springs and downtown Colorado Springs. In my apartment complex shingles were flying as well as the decorative exterior window shutters. YIKES, so was my Christmas wreath! Luckily my neighbor grabbed it before it flew too far. That could have really hurt someone.
Other area peak wind speeds:
Lamar (about 2 hours northeast from Trinidad) was the record–107 mph
Colorado Springs Airport–92 mph
Trinidad–76 mph
Garden of the Gods (2 miles west of my home)–92 mph
Denver International Airport (all flights on hold most of day)–60 mph
Oh, the dust storm never hit us in Trinidad, happily. It did hit towns/cities from 30 to 85 miles north along I-25 and it was severe, blinding drivers for some time. It also showed up so fast there was no escape. Stay inside wherever you are!
The drive home was windy, but nothing like yesterday. Along I-25 they were uprighting semi’s that blew over and clearing all sizes of tree pieces that didn’t make it.
What a day, but we made it safe and sound!
Until next time my friend . . . hold onto your hat and . . .
Yikes, blustery and bone chilling. Glad you made it home safe and sound. Enjoyed your blog!