The weather here in Colorado Springs (and in Colorado as a whole) never ceases to amaze me. It categorically defies logic, and probably leaves most meteorologists scratching their heads. I thought Florida took the award for most bizarre climate, but I think it has met its match.

Take this past week, for instance. We ran the gamut from snow to fog, rain to sunshine, high winds to high clouds. I managed to get sunburned at lunch on Wednesday eating outdoors, yet Thursday the temperature plummeted 20 degrees or so, and was accompanied by freezing rain, sleet and dense fog. Absent that day was the sun. Earlier in the week we had temperatures pushing north to the 80 degree mark, yet Tuesday the mercury fell, and snow moved in. Sunday evening the winds kicked up so much that my terrace furniture reoriented itself and nearly blew off, and several strong thunderstorms dampened the evening’s plans. (My webcam actually managed to capture a bolt of lightning, and that image made its way into the timelapse. I’ll archive it for later.)

It’s astonishing how quickly conditions can change, and how often the forecasts out this way are updated. My boss likes to quip that Colorado Springs has two seasons: winter and July. At this rate, I think he’s pretty darn correct. While Florida provided a more steady approach to weather (generally in the form of water drops and lightning strikes) I’m actually enjoying the chaotic climate out here. It keeps things interesting, and it’s one of the great things I find about living in this state.