Tornadoes and stuff

If you've read or seen the news lately, you've likely heard about the several tornadoes that struck northeastern colorado today. Most of them, including the most destructive one, were several to a few dozen miles northeast of us here, but one was spotted south of town. It lead to a challenging day.

First, the ludicrous. The tornado closest to longmont was spotted right around noon, and sirens went off town wide. I suspect many people around town were puzzled, many knew what was going on, and many just missed it entirely. Here at denver center, though, you would think that people who work on a daily basis with constant awareness of the weather and it's impact would understand. However, when the P.A. announcement went off telling all non essential personnel to proceed to the basement, and controllers to the control room (which is, I suppose, being in the center of the building and away from windows is a safe as one can be on the ground floor), what do a sizeable majority of staffers, managers, and other non-essentials do? Head for the windows or outside to LOOK FOR THE TORNADO!. Gah!!!!!

Anyway, the tornado sighting was just the mid point of a long and difficult day. Weather started building around 930 am, which is unusual. By 1100 am, there were lines of thunderstorms across eastern colorado, western nebraska and kansas forming up, much like the slats of venetian blinds. Thus far, aircraft could make there way through, but as the weather began filling in, the planes had to deviate further and further off course to get around it.

TMU, traffic management unit, tried to keep up. Once again, they seemed to be about an hour behind the real weather situation. As a result, they had sectors west of denver aiming aircraft at holes in the line of weather that had already closed. Nothing like a 120 degree about face and 100 mile detour to eat up gas.....

By early afternoon, the line had closed up, and nothing was getting through... Except tmu kept trying pathfinders, who would fly 100 miles east of denver, then head 125 miles north or south to find a way round. Oh well. (I'm sensing a pattern, and it's not just my cynical attitude)

Anyway... We got through it. Afterward, we began getting the reports on the damage in Platteville and points north. It wasn't pretty. Guess we had it pretty easy after all.....

Getting my writing back in swing, though I mostly have just done some exercises trying to get my rhythm back. Blurbs will follow soon. I promise.

Keep those cards and letters and comments coming....

Clear skies,
Jim