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A windstorm in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico on Wednesday, with gusts surpassing a reported 100 miles per hour in various locations.
More than 50,000 residents in the metro Denver area lost electricity due to downed power lines, and winds multiple semi trucks along Interstate 25.
Perhaps the most catastrophic damage occurred , where 103-mph winds tore down buildings, overturned cars, and to declare a state of emergency. More damage occurred near Taos Ski Valley, where gusts toppled thousands of trees.
According to one eyewitness, the winds completely reshaped the forest in the valley below 13,167-foot Wheeler Peak. Bowe Ellis, 45, a Taos-based engineer, went hiking in the area on Thursday,聽 and described the scene to 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别.听
鈥淭he entire forest past the ski resort looked like it had been laid flat,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he trees looked like matchsticks, and many of the trees had blown down on the main road.鈥
Ellis said the trees near the resort鈥檚 Kachina lift were also decimated. Ellis took photos of the damage, which you can see below.
Taos Ski Valley stopped lifts and cleared skiers from the slopes during Wednesday鈥檚 windstorm but reopened for regular service on Thursday and Friday.
鈥淥perations are normal today,鈥 read a statement from the resort on Friday. 鈥淎cross the entire region many trees were damaged or fell, including at the resort. Taos Ski Valley鈥檚 operations team is working with the Carson National Forest to clear the trees and examine all structures for any wind-related damage.鈥
Climate Change Helps Poison Oak in California
Poison oak was bad enough already鈥攏ow the itch-inducing plant could be set to spread across California.
Reporters at SFGate , a revegetation specialist with the state鈥檚 department of transportation, who believes the warming climate will increase the plant鈥檚 habitat. Poison oak thrives in warmer and drier locations, and it鈥檚 common in low-lying areas. With聽California recording hotter and drier summers, the plant is likely to spread to places that are currently too wet or too cold for it.
鈥淚n 20 years, it鈥檚 very likely vegetation that thrives in hot and dry conditions, like poison oak, will see its growing range expand at the expense of plants that have an affinity for wetter, more sheltered site conditions,鈥 Lee said.
To quote the iconic R&B group The Coasters: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion.鈥
Slip-Riding Away
The crew at shot these fat bikers riding the ice at Star Lake near Lake Tahoe. No word on who has the Strava KOM for this segment.
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