Fierce storms for the United States by Denise Kane
Spring storms have left a trail of destruction across several southern and central areas of the United States. As many as 23 tornadoes were reported in total on the 24th April 2007 as warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, collided with cooler air streaming down from the Rockies, creating the tornadic thunderstorms.
Some of the fiercest twisters left a scene of devastation in their wake in Texas and across the Rio Grande, in north Mexico. The winds were estimated to have peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h), claiming the lives of 10 people and injuring over 70 others. Scores of people have also been left homeless.
The same storms brought a return to winter in the Rockies of Colorado. As the warm moist air surged northwards, it collided and over-rode cold surface air producing copious quantities of snow. Up to 65cm (26 inches) of snow fell at Clear Creek County, Colorado. National Guard troops were called to help scores of stranded motorist caught out by the heavy fall of snow, and school children needed rescuing after their school bus got stuck in large snow drifts.
The fresh snow however provided excellent news for the remaining ski resorts open for business in Colorado. Echo Mountain Park, just 35 miles (56 km) from Denver, reported the biggest fall of fresh powder with a little over half a metre (21 inches) of new snow, providing some excellent late season conditions for the final two weeks of the season.
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