Potential Economic and Social Value of Short-Range Forecasts of Boulder Windstorms
Abstract Severe downslope windstorms are an outstanding feature of the winter weather in Boulder, Colo., and property damage associated with these storms averages about $1 million each year. Recently, efforts to develop a numerical model capable of forecasting downslope windstorms have yielded encouraging results. The possibility that short-term forecasts of these storms might become available on an operational basis led to a study of the societal impact of improved windstorm forecasts in the Boulder area, and this paper describes the results of that study. Surveys were conducted of selected samples of Boulder residents and businesses concerning the potential economic and social benefits and disbenefits of improvements in downslope windstorm forecasts. The survey questions concerned five basic topics: 1) perception of the windstorm hazard; 2) the desire for improved windstorm forecasts; 3) the use of windstorm forecasts; 4) the value of improved forecasts; and 5) possible forecast dissemination techniques...