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• Mount Evans tornado almost breaks a national record

  July 29, 2012 6:19 PM

  A tornado that touched down near Mount Evans at 11,900 feet elevation is a record breaker in Colorado, and it's close to the national record. Those with the National Weather Service tell us they did find one that touched down a little higher, around 12,000 feet. That was in... more »

• 2 killed in violent thunderstorms

  July 6, 2012 6:51 AM

  TOWNSEND, Tenn. (AP) - At least two people have been killed as a violent thunderstorm struck the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park spokeswoman Melissa Cobern says a man on a motorcycle was killed as was a 41-year-old woman who was struck by a falling tree. The names of the... more »

• Is Colorado "prettier" than others?

  June 17, 2012 6:44 PM

  Is it possible that Colorado is "prettier" than other states? Many of you who live here definitely say yes. A Headwaters Economics study done recently says the outdoor quality of life in Colorado leads people to move here, find jobs here, and stay here. Its attractive advantage over other states... more »

• Remains of missing hiker found

  May 27, 2012 6:26 AM

  MINTURN, Colo. (AP) - Authorities have discovered human remains near a campsite believed to have been used by a hiker from Chicago who has been missing since October 2010. James Nelson was reported missing when he failed to return from a five day, 25-mile hike in the Holy Cross Wilderness... more »

• High country search crews seek survivors after Colo small-plane crash

  December 4, 2011 1:57 PM

  SILVERTON, Colo. (AP) - Authorities say four people were aboard a single-engine plane that crashed in the southwest Colorado mountains, but more than 18 hours after the crash there was still no word on whether anyone survived. San Juan County officials say a search team was headed to the... more »

• Ski season still in full swing

  May 29, 2011 12:20 AM

  ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Aspen Mountain is reopening for skiing with a bigger base of snow than it had on New Year's Day. The Aspen Skiing Co. is reopening the mountain Saturday through Monday, Memorial Day. The Aspen Times reports the base snow depth is around 70 inches at the... more »

• Grand Junction area prepares for flooding

  May 26, 2011 12:07 PM

  GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A slow melting snowpack that is the largest in more than a decade has Mesa County officials preparing for flooding. Authorities are also warning novice river runners to stay off the water. A report by the Colorado River Basin Forecast Center predicts the chances... more »

• The flurries are flying

  May 11, 2011 7:56 AM

  A spring snow storm brought a mix of rain and snow to communities across Southern Colorado Wednesday morning. Rain, snow and thunder are expected throughout the day with the heaviest snow falling in the mountains and higher elevations. Despite the storm, the National Weather Service says we still need... more »

• On the edge of Tornado Alley

  April 28, 2011 11:30 PM

  Watching images of destruction from tornadoes in the Southeast United States can make you wonder; could a major tornado happen here? The damage they can do is devastating. Every year tornadoes pop up in Colorado. "We're right on the edge of Tornado Alley," says News First 5 Meteorologist... more »

• Colorado now has above average snowpack

  March 3, 2011 2:44 PM

  DENVER (AP) - February's snowstorms helped boost snowpack across the state as the trend of above-average conditions continued. The Natural Resources Conservation Service said the snowpack statewide on Tuesday was 115 percent of average. February's storms ended up being the most significant of the year. This year's snowpack totals... more »

• Search teams looking for missing aircraft in Sangre de Cristo Mountains

  January 9, 2011 6:54 PM

  The Custer County Sheriff's Office and the Civil Air Patrol are gathering a search team to look for a small aircraft that was lost on radar in the Blueberry Peak Area of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Civil Air Patrol tells News First 5 the aircraft was coming... more »

• Mountain snowpack highest in over 10 years

  January 6, 2011 11:25 AM

  It might be dry around here, but that is not the case in the high country. Higher-than-normal snowfall in the mountains has boosted the snowpack in most parts of the state. Colorado's overall snowpack was 136 percent of average as of the first of the year, the highest reading for... more »

• Mountain snowstorm winds down

  December 23, 2010 6:41 PM

  DENVER (AP) - A nearly weeklong snow storm that brought over 6 feet of heavy, wet snow to parts of Colorado is winding down. A winter storm warning was in effect through 5 p.m. Thursday in much of western Colorado and then colder and drier air is expected to move... more »

• "Epic" snowfall expected in Western Colorado

  December 20, 2010 6:22 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Forecasters are predicting snowfall of "epic proportions" in parts of western Colorado. The National Weather Service says the top of the Grand Mesa and areas around Crested Butte above 9,000 feet could have 6 to 8 feet of snow by Thursday afternoon. A winter storm warning... more »

• Snow forecast: up to two feet in mountains

  October 26, 2010 10:10 AM

  DENVER (AP) - Snow is still in the forecast in parts of Colorado's high country and the storm could leave up to two feet of new snow. The National Weather Service says between 14 and 24 inches of snow could fall by Tuesday afternoon in the Gore Range and... more »

• High fire danger this afternoon

  September 20, 2010 11:54 AM

  The National Weather Service says conditions are right for dry lighting across much of Colorado today, which raises the threat of wildfire. A Red Flag Warning is in effect along the Continental Divide from New Mexico to Wyoming until 9 p.m. The area includes Colorado Springs and Denver and... more »

• Snowmass balloon and wine festival this weekend

  September 17, 2010 5:02 PM

  If you're looking for an excuse to go to the high country this weekend--here it is. Snowmass is holding its annual Balloon and Wine Festival. Snowmass touts its festival as the highest altitude hot air balloon event in the country. More than 30 balloons are expected to attend. Snowmass... more »

• 2nd marijuana grow site found in Colo. mountains

  September 1, 2010 8:19 AM

  Authorities say a second suspected illegal marijuana growing site has been found in the mountains north of Boulder. Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Rick Brough says the second site found Tuesday is larger than one found nearby Monday that had about 3,500 marijuana plants, estimated to be worth a half... more »

• 3,000 pot plants found in Colorado mountains

  August 31, 2010 10:24 AM

  Authorities say about 3,000 marijuana plants have been found in a suspected illegal growing operation in the mountains north of Boulder. Officers plan to return the area Tuesday near the town of Raymond to recover the plants, estimated to be worth half a million dollars. The area is... more »

• Marijuana found growing in Colorado forest

  August 30, 2010 3:59 PM

  Authorities are investigating a suspected illegal marijuana growing operation in the mountains north of Boulder. The Boulder County sheriff's office said a man fled the area when investigators arrived to do surveillance on Monday. Three SWAT teams and the U.S. Forest Service have been called in to help in... more »

• Wilderness plan could close area to recreation

  August 12, 2010 8:15 AM

  U.S. Rep. Jared Polis has released a draft proposal that would designate nearly 90,000 acres in western Colorado as new federal wilderness areas and another 80,000 acres as special management areas or additions. The Colorado Democrat says he hopes to introduce a bill in the fall to preserve the... more »

• Lance Armstrong brings pro cycling to Colorado

  August 4, 2010 11:56 AM

  Lance Armstrong is teaming with Denver-based Quiznos to bring a major international pro-cycling stage race to Colorado next summer. Armstrong hopes to ride in the weeklong race, titled the Quiznos Pro Challenge. The exact route of the Aug. 22-28, 2011, race has not been mapped out yet, but it... more »

• 2 Americans among 152 dead in plane crash

  July 28, 2010 8:41 AM

  All 152 people aboard a Pakistani jet died when the passenger plane crashed into hills as it tried to land on Wednesday, an official told NBC News. The head of Pakistan's civil defense body told NBC News that no one travelling aboard the Airblue flight had survived. Earlier... more »

• California wildfire destroys 30 homes

  July 28, 2010 8:10 AM

  Two wildfires that erupted and spread quickly in Southern California have destroyed dozens of homes and forced evacuations in remote areas of the state's Kern County. The most destructive of the fires was burning about 10 miles southeast of Tehachapi, a city located in a mountainous area between Bakersfield... more »

• Hot weather heats up business in cool mountains

  July 23, 2010 8:34 AM

  Business is heating up in Colorado's mountains as the temperatures keep rising at the lower elevations. The Frisco/Copper Visitor Information Center has been getting in between 30 and 50 people an hour, the kind of numbers not seen since the recession. The center expects to set a record this... more »

• Bear season safety tips

  June 28, 2010 12:46 AM

  Two bears ravaged a camp ground near The Broadmoor on Sunday afternoon. It's not quite what you may think. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo puts on this simulation to show what could happen if you don't take the proper precautions when out in the wilderness or even your back yard. The... more »

• Sand Dunes fire up to 3,000 acres

  June 18, 2010 11:22 AM

  More warm weather is expected at the scene of a 3,000-acre wildfire burning on the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in south-central Colorado. Park spokeswoman Carol Sperling says the fire isn't threatening park facilities, but is heading toward the San Isabel National Forest. More crews are expected... more »

• Wind adds to fire danger

  June 17, 2010 11:35 AM

  A Red Flag Warning for high fire danger is in effect for much of Thursday in Colorado. High winds and warm, dry air will increase the chance of fire and make any fires difficult to extinguish. The Red Flag Warning is in effect Thursday afternoon and evening from Deckers,... more »

• 20th body found in Arkansas flooding disaster

  June 14, 2010 12:43 PM

  Searchers found the 20th victim from last week's flash flooding at a southwest Arkansas campground, state police said Monday. Spokesman Bill Sadler did not say whether it was an adult or a child. Eighteen of the 20 victims have been identified. Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Gov. Mike... more »

• Colorado snowpack melting faster than usual

  June 4, 2010 12:42 PM

  The Colorado snowpack is melting more quickly than usual, boosting reservoir storage above average across the state. The latest surveys conducted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service show snowpack totals are below average across the state. However, they still remain higher than last year's. In May, stormy... more »

• Don't bring firewood on a camping trip

  May 26, 2010 4:27 PM

  When camping, the Colorado Department of Agriculture reminds outdoor enthusiasts to leave their firewood at home. "Moving firewood across the state can contribute to tree mortality," said John Kaltenbach, CDA's cooperative agricultural pest survey coordinator. "Insects and diseases can be transported with the wood and can hurt or even... more »

• Paying for the peaks: hiking charges considered

  May 17, 2010 8:24 AM

  Hikers who tackle some of Colorado's highest peaks could soon face a toll beyond the physical. The federal government is considering charging hikers up to $20 to access popular mountaintops. The U.S. Forest Service says it will consider permit fees to cover trail improvements at some of Colorado "fourteeners"... more »

• Nepal search for missing Colorado hiker continues

  May 13, 2010 8:34 AM

  Police are scouring a remote region in the Himalayan mountains of northern Nepal for Aubrey Sacco, who was reported missing by her family after she failed to check in following a solo hike. The police chief for the area says teams are searching the trekking route and interviewing inn owners... more »