Following a snowstorm and a hard freeze, we are back in the warm, sunny days and crisp, cool nights of mid autumn, the classic "Indian Summer" that outdoor enthusiasts relish; here along the Front Range, we expect highs in the upper 60s and 70s (F) over the next few days. Now that most pesky insects have been killed, hiking, birding and other outdoor activities are especially pleasant.
Defined as the warm period following the first hard freeze, Indian Summer sets the stage for at least six months of similar weather patterns along the Front Range urban corridor. This undulating cycle of mild sunny days following a brief period of cold and snow tends to occur from October to early May; in essence, we experience a continuous series of Indian Summers.
Unlike most regions of the country, the Colorado Front Range climate is not characterized by four distinct seasons. Rather, we have summer and winter, battling for dominance for much of the year; while plant life cycles, the changing angle of solar radiation, astronomical events, mammalian ruts and bird migrations offer some justification for identifying spring and fall in Colorado, the weather itself is usually summer-like or winter-like. Indeed, layered clothing is a must for outdoor adventure here since we often experience both summer and winter in the same day!
Defined as the warm period following the first hard freeze, Indian Summer sets the stage for at least six months of similar weather patterns along the Front Range urban corridor. This undulating cycle of mild sunny days following a brief period of cold and snow tends to occur from October to early May; in essence, we experience a continuous series of Indian Summers.
Unlike most regions of the country, the Colorado Front Range climate is not characterized by four distinct seasons. Rather, we have summer and winter, battling for dominance for much of the year; while plant life cycles, the changing angle of solar radiation, astronomical events, mammalian ruts and bird migrations offer some justification for identifying spring and fall in Colorado, the weather itself is usually summer-like or winter-like. Indeed, layered clothing is a must for outdoor adventure here since we often experience both summer and winter in the same day!
