Weather, Climate, and Climate Change in Colorado

Colorado has a diverse and fascinating climate, owing to our location at the intersection of the mountains and plains, and our position in the mid-latitudes that is regularly traversed by weather systems. Colorado is also no stranger to droughts, floods, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, and other hazards. We also know that Colorado, like the rest of the planet, is warming, and that this is already causing changes to our weather and climate. We'll be joined by Russ Schumacher, Colorado State Climatologist, who will outline the history of weather and climate observations in Colorado, what they tell us about the climate of our state, and how a warming climate is expected to affect Coloradans. ABOUT OUR SPEAKER: Dr. Russ Schumacher is a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University and serves as the Colorado State Climatologist and Director of the Colorado Climate Center. He received his M.S. in 2003 and Ph.D. in 2008 in Atmospheric Science at CSU. His research and teaching interests include extreme precipitation, weather prediction, the climatology of precipitation, and Colorado’s weather and climate. He serves as a Councilor of the American Meteorological Society and is president-elect of the American Association of State Climatologists. The program was hosted by Peter Eberle, CRES Chair and NCRES Program Manager. A question-and-answer session followed the presentation. TIMELINE: 0:00 Welcome and announcements - Peter Eberle 2:34 Presentation - Russ Schumacher 46:32 Q&A This program was organized by the Northern Colorado chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society and was recorded at their March 24, 2026, meeting. Contact us at [email protected] or visit us online at https://www.cres-energy.org/. CREDITS: Video production by Brian Beinlich, https://brianbeinlich.com. Intro/outro credits: Video by EJ Merl via Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/video/stunning... Music: “Solar Flare” by I Think I Can Help You via the YouTube Audio Library. ABOUT CRES: Now in its 30th year, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) and its local chapters have provided education, policy advocacy, and community engagement to accelerate Colorado's transition to a 100% renewable energy future. CRES is a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c) (3) membership organization that drives environmental, social, and economic benefits for our communities by promoting all forms of renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, high-performance buildings, and other low- or zero-carbon solutions. CRES features several local monthly speaker series throughout the state, provides speakers, experts, and workshops, and weighs in on state energy policy. Learn more about CRES, membership, and how you can sign up to become a speaker or volunteer by visiting our website at https://cres-energy.org.