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Severe Weather Hazards Severe Weather.Hazards Severe weather hazards exist year.round in Colorado. Severe winter storms -- characterized by high winds, heavy snowfall and freezing or sub-zero temperatures .. occur from late fall to early spring and can impact all regions of the state. Severe thunderstorms - marked by towering thunderheads, dark skies, light- ning, strong winds (157 mph and above), damaging hail (at least three-quarter inch diameter), and some- times tornadoes .. are strongest in the spring and summer months. Hailstorms in Colorado are most damaging to crops, but cars, roofs, windows and air- craft can also be seriously damaged. Nationwide, lightning kills more people than either tornadoes or hurricanes. Tornadoes A tornado may be the most violent phenomenon found in nature, and the consequences of human encounters with tornadoes are frequently fatal. The rotating winds of a tornado can exceed 200 miles an hour. Ac- cording to National Weather Service statistics over a 40-year period for Colorado, more than 20 tornadoes are reported by Colorado residents each year, with two-thirds occurring in the month of June. The Limon tornado in June, 1990 caused $12 million in damages. In Colorado, the tornado threat is greatest east of the Continental Divide along the Front Range and on the eastern plains. Despite their frequent occurrence, tor- nadoes in Colorado's climate tend to have a relatively short duration, moving a short distance on the ground and then rising rapidly. The emergency response to tornadoes is particularly troublesome because of the short development time, erratic movement and tre- mendous forces that characterize the tornado hazard. The addition of Doppler radar by the National Weather Service at Limon provides information about tornado development prior to the time a funnel cloud becomes visible. Whereas lightning safety measures rely on the good judgment and protective actions of individuals, pro. tecting the population from tornadoes depends on community programs that provide adequate warning and proper community storm shelters. Those at greatest risk of injury or death during a tornado are the elderly, residents of mobile homes, and people at- tempting to outrun the tornado by car. Local tornado safety programs should address the fol- lowing community needs: c adequate warning systems, c special provisions fOr elderly and disabled persons with respect to shelter access and warning and evacuation measures, and c community shelters that are accessible and of suf- ficient size to accommodate aU residents. Winter Storms Winter storms in Colorado are occasionally severe enough to overwhelm urban snow removal efforts, in- terstate transportation, livestock management and business and commercial activities in the state. Ur- ban population growth, suburban sprawl and the in- creasing complexity of providing basic public services and utilities have complicated the task of promptly and adequately responding to winter storm emergen. cies, particularly along the Front Range, where the Christmas storm of 1982 dumped more than two feet of snow and crippled the Denver metropolitan area. Farmers, ranchers, the ski industry and motorists (frequently out-of-state residents) are all potential winter storm victims. Frost and freezing are major agricultural problems that can result in high annual crop and livestock losses. In 1990.1991, severe cold weather resulted in an estimated $20 million in agricultural losses. Win. ter storms can cause widespread breaks in pipes and water lines in homes and offices and, in some cases, can affect the state economy in the form of food short. ages, layoffs and higher consumer prices. 40