July 26, 2007 12:43 AM UTC

Feeling the Heat in Colorado

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• by: EnvironmentColorado

Yesterday, Environment Colorado released a report called “Feeling the Heat” which showed that temperatures are rising across the US and especially in Colorado due to global warming.  The temperatures are higher in Colorado due to the elevation and also the inland location of the state. 

Key Findings on Colorado were:
• In 2006, the average temperature was 3.8°F above average in Denver.  Nationally, the average 2006 temperature was at least 0.5°F above normal at 87% of the locations studied.
• Over the course of 2006, Grand Junction experienced 75 days where the temperature hit at least 90°F, 11 days more than the historical average.  Heat waves have serious implications for human health, causing heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and even death.
• Colorado Springs experienced average minimum temperatures — the lowest temperatures recorded on a given day, usually at night — of 2.4°F above normal in 2006 and 3.9°F above normal during the 2006 summer.  Warmer nighttime temperatures exacerbate the public health effects of heat waves, since people need cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from excessive heat exposure during the day.

The data was obtained from the National Climatic Data Center collected from 255 weather stations across the US.  This rise in temperature is something that we can expect to see in the future if we don’t take action against global warming.  2007 is already predicted to be one of the hottest years on record.  Let’s reduce global warming pollution before it’s too hot to enjoy Colorado!