The wildfire that erupted in the suburbs of Boulder, CO last week was driven by freakish high winds coming down the mountains. These strong, warm chinook winds, also called Föhn winds, are a regular feature of life close to the mountain ramparts. About thousand homes and building were burnt to ashes. Boulder has been in a severe drought for months. Experts warn of more intense weather related episodes as global warming changes weather patterns for the worse. The problem is compounded by developments expanding into the Rocky Mountain foothills.
The fire covered 9.4 square miles and is the most destructive in the history of the state. In 2020 the state suffered three of the largest fires in its history, consuming acres of tinder dry forests and grasslands.The worst damage occurred in the towns of Louisville and Superior. Considering how fast the fire moved, driven by winds in excess of 100mph, there fortunately few casualties. The next day temperatures dropped below freezing and it snowed. Definitely a bad day in Boulder. [Superior, CO credit: AP]