From drizzle to downpours, driving in the rain could be difficult and dangerous if you are not careful. According to U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, over 3,400 people are killed and over 357,300 people are injured in rainfall-related crashes.
What You Need To Know
Over 357,000 people are injured in rainfall-related crashes
AAA says wet pavements contribute to more than one million traffic crashes each year
Check the maintenance of your car before you drive in the rain
Hydroplaning happens when your vehicle glides on top of a thin film of water and your tires lose contact with the ground
We want you to understand the hazards of driving in the rain and how you can drive defensively in the elements. AAA says wet pavement contributes to more than one million traffic crashes each year.
Before driving in the rain
Before you drive in the rain, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is prepared. You want to check your windshield wipers and make sure they don’t leave streaks and clear any rain on a single swipe.
Plus, you want to check if all your headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are working as well.
Next, you want to check your tire tread depth. The tire tread and inflation of your tires are important in maintaining traction on wet roads.
You can check the tread by using a quarter. If you turn it upside down and dip it into the tread of a tire and you can see the entire head of the president, that means you need to replace them.
You also need to check the tire pressure, as well.
Driving in the elements
When driving in the rain, it’s important to leave room between vehicles. Safety experts suggest following the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you. In addition, the National Weather Service (NWS) suggests adding an extra two-seconds when you’re driving in heavy rain.
The NWS also say to be careful during the first half hour of rainfall because grime and oil on the road could mix with water to make them slippery. Check out our “Weather Explained: Slick roads after a dry spell” for more information.
According to AAA, “with as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road.” To navigate driving in the rain, it’s best to stay toward the middle lanes, since water pools in the outside lanes. Plus, drive at the speed to correspond to the amount of rain on the roads.
Beware of hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is one risk of driving in the rain. Hydroplaning happens when your vehicle glides on top of a thin film of water and your tires lose contact with the ground.
It only happens in a few seconds, but it can feel like your vehicle is veering on its own. You should avoid hard braking and sharp turns. AAA says pressing the breaks will make hydroplaning worse and cause you to swerve out of your lane.
To reduce your risk of hydroplaning, slow down, turn off cruise control and don’t panic.
If you feel like your hydroplaning, ease your foot off the gas to regain control of the vehicle and pull over and park your car until the rainfall lightens.
If you feel your card is skidding, don’t panic and avoid hard braking. Just look and steer in the direction you want your car to go.
Turn Around, Don’t Drown®
Now, if water is over the road because of heavy rain, you should never drive through it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over half of all flood-related drownings happen when a vehicle has driven into flood water.
The NWS says it takes 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks.
An empty vehicle is surrounded by floodwaters on a road in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
So it’s important to beware and drive defensively in the rain and avoid any hazards if you can.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Winter just began, and the coldest days of the season are on the horizon. Through much of the country, many will reach to their thermostats to crank up the heat… some places more than others.
It’s important to know what options work best when it comes to heating your home.
What You Need To Know
A large portion of the country needs to heat their homes in the winter
Most American homes are heated by a furnace, boiler or heat pump
Electricity and natural gas are the most common fuel sources
The methods of how we heat our homes range from clean and green to the kind that literally cause smoke to rise out of a chimney.
However, the most sustainable and cost-effective way to heat a home is subjective. The answer varies from one place to another and comes down to what type of fuel sources are most accessible in that location.
Weather and climate play a role, too. Colder regions favor certain methods over others and vice versa.
It all stems from the fuel source
Electricity and natural gas are, by far, the most common heating fuel sources in the U.S. Other sources include propane, wood and oil.
Of course, it’s hard to pin down exact amounts, since energy prices vary by location and fluctuate over time.
Electric heating is more suitable across the southern U.S., where winters are usually milder and the demand for heating isn’t as high. Using this fuel source across the northern half of the country where it gets and stays colder for longer can send electricity bills soaring.
Even though it might come with a slightly bigger carbon footprint, natural gas is far more cost-effective for many Americans, especially for those living in colder climates such as the Midwest and Northeast.
(American Gas Association)
The American Gas Association (AGA) claims that annual energy costs for an all-electric home using a cold-climate heat pump can be roughly 37% higher than a home using natural gas as its source of heating, cooking and drying clothes.
A home heating oil delivery truck climbs a snow-covered road in the Northeast on Feb. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
On the national scale, oil is not nearly as common as natural gas or electricity. Yet, it was once the most popular fuel in the Northeast, where it is still used in roughly 20% of homes. However, this source of heating is not as environmentally friendly and is often more expensive than electric and natural gas heat.
The most common heating systems
The DOE says that most Americans use either a furnace or boiler to heat their home. Both systems can be fueled by natural gas, oil or electricity, but differ in how they provide heat to dwellings.
The biggest difference between the two is that furnaces heat air, while boilers heat water.
Over the years, these systems have been improved to be more energy efficient. To see how efficient each furnace or boiler is, the DOE examines its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE).
The AFUE is essentially a percentage measuring how much fuel gets converted to heat. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the furnace or boiler is.
1.) Furnaces:
Most modern homes use a central furnace, which burns a fuel source (either oil or gas) to heat air.
Technician works on a furnace. (Photo by Natalie Sopyla)
The heated air then flows through a series of ducts, where it is released through vents in each room. Cooler air in the room is then sucked back through a return vent, then it goes back into the furnace to be reheated.
This method of heating is fast and energy efficient, which is why most households use it.
2.) Boilers:
Radiators and baseboard heaters in older homes provide heat via a boiler. Hot water or steam travels through pipes in the home. When the hot water reaches the radiator or baseboard unit in each room, it releases its heat. The cooled water then flows back to the boiler to be reheated.
(Pexels)
Since water takes longer to heat than air, this method can take longer for a home to reach the desired temperature, and might not be seen as the most efficient way to heat a home.
That aside, boilers are usually better for people who suffer from indoor allergies, as furnace or forced air systems can blow around dust and pollen particles.
3.) Heat pumps:
Heat pumps are becoming more common and provide heat to the majority of homes in the Southeast. This system runs on electricity and does not require a fuel source to provide heat, which can significantly cut electricity costs compared to an electric furnace or boiler.
Serving as both an air conditioning system and a heating system, heat pumps move warm air out and allow cooler air to flow back into a home during the summer. These systems work in reverse when it gets cold outside, and cooler air is pumped out and warmer air pumped in.
While heat pumps are energy efficient and work well in milder climates, they are not the best option for areas that experience frequently temperatures below 40 degrees. They simply will struggle to provide enough heat, requiring the need for a secondary heating system.
Secondary sources of heat
Residences in colder climates will sometimes need a secondary source to generate heat, especially those that rely on heat pumps as their main system.
To raise the temperatures up a few degrees, some people use space heaters or wood-burning stoves or fireplaces.
(Pexels)
These options are good at providing supplemental heat, but aren’t the best and most sustainable choices to heat a home by themselves.
Each may be enough to heat one room, but you would need multiple fireplaces, wood-burning stoves or electric space heaters to heat an entire home. If the home is large, you could even need more than one in each room!
Along with the additional costs associated with plugging in multiple space heaters or purchasing wood to burn, these methods come with fire hazards and can increase indoor pollutants, possibly outweighing their benefits.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
AUSTIN, TX – Austin Pets Alive!
is ringing in the new year with an adoption special for the dogs and
cats in the shelter’s care. Adoption fees are lowered to $24 for the
first week of January 2024. This includes kittens, puppies, and animals
in foster homes.
Austin Pets Alive!
(APA!) pioneers innovative lifesaving programs designed to save the
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Everyone has experienced it. You’re in the middle of your flight, and all of a sudden, you feel the plane shake or jolt.
The pilot comes on the intercom and announces you’re experiencing turbulence and to buckle up.
But what exactly is turbulence?
What You Need To Know
Turbulence is the unsteady movement of air
Many things can cause turbulence, including fronts, thunderstorms and mountains
Most turbulence is harmless, and engineers designed and built planes to handle it
Turbulence is the unsteady movement of air resulting from eddies and vertical currents. There are many types of turbulence. Let’s explore some.
Convective turbulence
(NWS)
When the sun heats the Earth’s surface, it’s usually uneven because different surface types heat up differently, and this can lead to turbulence.
The heat then rises, and the cool air descends, leading to bumpy rides. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), turbulence is found from the base to the top of where the air stops rising, usually up to the clouds. Above this layer of turbulent air, you’ll find smooth conditions, usually above clouds.
On days where pilots expect convective turbulence, they’ll travel in the morning or evening when heating is not so intense.
Frontal turbulence
(NWS)
Frontal turbulence occurs when warm air meets cold air.
The warm air will lift over the cold air, creating friction between the two air masses and producing turbulence.
Wind shear
Wind shear is the change in wind direction and/or wind speed over a horizontal or vertical distance. It can also cause turbulence, especially when the change is large.
Wind shear often exists in areas of temperature inversions, along troughs and lows and around jet streams.
The atmospheric temperature profile usually goes from warm (the ground) to cold (higher in the atmosphere). In a temperature inversion, that profile goes from cold to warm.
Turbulence will often occur at the top of the inversion since that is where the warm, unstable air sits.
We usually associate lows and troughs with wind shear. This change in wind speed and direction creates turbulence.
The NWS states that a jet stream is a horizontal wind that follows a wave pattern, usually located where there are large horizontal differences in temperature between warm and cold air masses. Turbulence usually occurs where there is a large difference in horizontal wind speeds over a short distance.
Turbulence from obstructions
(NWS)
When wind flows around an obstacle, it can break off and form into an eddy. The NWS defines eddies as gusts with sudden changes in speed and direction, and the size of an object and velocity of the wind can determine the eddy’s intensity.
The NWS says this type of turbulence can cause dangerous impacts when flying. Aircraft can fail to gain enough altitude to clear low objects. When landing, aircraft can experience drops.
Wind around bigger objects, such as mountains, is more noticeable. The wind moving up the windward side helps planes and other aircraft get over the peak.
But on the leeward side, the wind blowing down can cause problems for pilots. The downdraft can push an aircraft into the mountain or cause the pilot to not clear the peak.
Pilots often will gain enough altitude in advance to prevent this.
Your next trip on an airplane
I hope this information will help you relax the next time you fly.
If you experience turbulence, you’ll now know that it’s just wind, and your pilot knows how to manage it.
Engineers also designed and built your airplane to handle it.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
December’s full moon is appropriately called the “Full Cold Moon,” although that name isn’t quite as relevant this year, considering the lack of bitter air around the country.
What You Need To Know
December’s full moon is the “Cold Moon”
It’s also sometimes called the Moon Before Yule
The moon is fullest Tuesday evening
The constellations Gemini and Orion are near the moon all night
The moon will become its fullest at 7:33 p.m. ET/4:33 p.m. PT on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
December’s full moon is also sometimes called the Moon Before Yule, since it happens near the ancient celebration around the winter solstice. Native American names include the Long Night Moon–also because it falls near the winter solstice and the longest night of the year–and Big Winter Moon.
No matter the name, you can use the moon to find a couple of constellations. In the evening, it’ll appear right above Gemini and left of Orion. In the morning, Gemini is left of the moon and Orion is below.
Simulated view of the eastern sky the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 26. (Adapted from Stellarium)
You can also see the Big Dipper and Little Dipper in the northern sky throughout the night.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
It is one of the most mysterious places on Earth, where only a handful of people have visited and an unspecified number of elves and reindeer may live.
It is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, but you won’t find much water here.
It is the home to only one sunrise and one sunset every year.
You may think you know about the North Pole, but there are a lot of interesting facts to share.
What You Need To Know
The North Pole has a multitude of meanings
The ice cover at the North Pole varies by season
The legend of Santa and the North Pole dates to 1866
Where is the North Pole?
Before we answer that question, we have to ask another: Which North Pole are you trying to find? The geographic North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth. It has no time zone, and no matter what direction you are pointing, it is south of where you are standing.
The geographic North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by ice up to 10 feet thick at times, but the exact location can change slightly, based on the Earth’s wobble on its axis.
The geographic North Pole is in a different location than the magnetic North Pole, which is the spot that guides our compasses and other navigation systems. The Earth’s iron core and magnetic field create the magnetic North Pole.
Discovered in the 1830s, the magnetic North Pole is near Ellesmere Island, Canada, about 500 miles from the geographic North Pole.
Weather at the North Pole
It doesn’t take a meteorologist to know the North Pole is cold pretty much all year round.
In the coldest part of the year, between the autumnal and vernal equinoxes (late September to late March), there is no sunlight, and temperatures average around 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
When the North Pole sees nothing but sunlight between late March and late September, temperatures average right around the freezing mark.
These temperatures are warmer than temperatures at the South Pole because the North Pole sits over water.
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
Visitors to the North Pole
While the North Pole doesn’t get many visitors outside those elves we mentioned earlier and the occasional explorer (more on that in a minute), animals are sparsely seen.
You may see a rare polar bear sighting and a flock of migrating birds.
The Arctic tern is usually spotted there and has the longest migration of any bird, traveling round trip from the North and South Poles every year!
Exploration of the North Pole
The main reason for early explorers to seek out and travel through the North Pole was to find a northwest passage or a sea route from the north Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Many expeditions took on this task with no luck, with the earliest being in 1827 by British Admiral William Parry.
A Swedish explorer even tried to reach the North Pole by hydrogen balloon.
The main debate on who reached the North Pole first is between a pair of Americans, physician Frederick Albert Cook and explorer Robert Peary and their teams. Peary’s team included Matthew Henson, the first African American Arctic explorer.
Over the years, each man called the other a fraud or claimed their expedition was the first successful trip to the Pole. The men then published accounts of their trips in the booklet “At the Pole with Cook and Peary,” which was a best-seller. The debate about the veracity of both men’s claims is still up for debate.
The first verifiable expedition to the Pole was completed in 1926 by Norwegian Roald Amundsen, who was also the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911. Instead of taking a dog-sled, his preferred method to reach the South Pole, he took a dirigible and floated over the Pole with a team of others on board.
The USS Nautilus. (AP Photo)
More fun firsts for the North Pole
The Soviet Union landed the first planes at the North Pole on April 23, 1948, while the first naval vessel, the U.S. Navy submarine USS Nautilus, reached the Pole on Aug. 3, 1958.
One of our favorite facts about the Pole was that Ralph Plaisted of Minnesota was the first to reach the North Pole by snowmobile on April 19, 1968.
Also, Ann Bancroft was the first female to reach the Pole on May 1, 1986, part of the first expedition to reach the North Pole on foot without being resupplied.
Speaking of Santa
We couldn’t end a story about the North Pole without talking about the jolly elf himself.
Stories of St. Nick date back centuries, but no one ever knew where he lived. Many credit American illustrator Thomas Nast with popularizing the idea of Santa living at the North Pole in an issue of Harper’s Weekly in 1866.
The illustration includes the title “Santa Clausville, N.P.,” and at a time when the public had a keen interest in the North Pole, readers understood the abbreviation.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
The heartwarming story of Rudolph guiding Santa through the winter snow helped guide the author to a better life.
What You Need To Know
Robert L. May created Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
He wrote the story for his daughter Barbara May Lewis
Barbara says she is Rudolph’s big sister
Rudolph has indeed gone down in history
I had no idea where the story Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer originated, so I had to do some digging.
The story was always around when I was a child, and yes, I cried when the snow monster took Rudolph over the cliff. Hey, I was four years young!
Robert (Bob) May wrote the story in 1939. A self-proclaimed outcast, he was smart for his age and skipped a couple of grades. This resulted in him being younger and smaller than his classmates.
He described himself as a nerdy kid and a loser. I think we can all relate to that sentiment at one point in our lives.
He used his opinion of himself to help his daughter navigate the challenges of growing up, telling her a bedtime tale of a misfit reindeer.
Bob always wanted to write an American Novel and eventually found work at Montgomery Ward as a catalog writer. Montgomery Ward was known for giving away free books at Christmas time to children throughout the country.
May thought Rudolph would be a good character in a book and took pen to paper. After much labor of words, May wrote Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Montgomery Ward printed two million copies that year, and Bob received hundreds of letters from children, teachers, and other store managers. It was a huge success. After 10 years, his company gave him the rights to the story.
With help from May’s brother, a songwriter, they turned the short story into a song. The song found its way to a famous cowboy, Gene Autry, and blew up the charts in 1949. The classic Christmas animation soon followed.
Rudolph forever earned Bob and his family a comfortable life.
Rudolph truly went down in history!
Our team of meteorologists dive deep into the science of weather and break down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
As the holiday season marches along, why not bake up a flurry of sweet treats with a winter theme?
What You Need To Know
Winter weather themed desserts are very popular through the holidays
Cold weather months naturally send people into a baking mood
Many winter weather themed desserts contain very few ingredients
Baking is a good way to stay cozy and warm during a snow storm
Who wants to eat a season? Apparently, some folks do exactly that as soon as December rolls around.
From snowball cookies to marshmallow snowmen, there is no telling what inspiration dessert makers create with the flurry of baking excitement.
It takes more than just a few snow flurries to get them going, as there is a version of the sugar cookie called the blizzard. The otherwise tumultuous winter storm vision is folded into a bowl with a wooden spoon and it lands on the parchment in a variety of flavors.
Although these cookies do not contain actual snow as an ingredient, it’s the combination of sugar, vanilla, butter, flour, eggs and baking powder topped with snowflake and pearl sprinkles that makes it look like a mini snow covered island.
Does this sound too basic sugar cookie for your taste? If you are looking for more oomph in your holiday snack, there are variations on the original. Take the chocolate, cream cheese and marshmallow blizzard cookie versions instead.
These recipes make up some rip roaring flavorful combinations in every single bite. What makes the blizzard theme fitting is the combination of sugar cookie ingredients combined with a few extra swirls of partially melted white, chocolate and semi-chocolate chips.
This gives the cookie a marble coloring that adds the vision of windy or whirling snow within the scrumptious treat.
If you want to bring back an original snow ball shaped holiday confection, why not go for the pecan-filled snow ball cookies recipe? This recipe contains only a handful of ingredients you may already have on hand in your pantry. Pecans, flour, salt, sugar, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar, to be exact.
If you are looking for more fun and easy winter dessert recipes, check here. Or you can just search winter inspired desserts or snowflake cookies and you’ll be blown away at the possibilities.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
So, you’re dreaming of a white Christmas? In some cities, a white Christmas is quite a treat!
In 2004, a freak storm delivered a white Christmas to the residents of Brownsville, TX. It was the first white Christmas for the community, which hasn’t seen measurable snow since 1899.
If you want to plan your travels next year to increase your odds of a white Christmas, your best bet is somewhere north and in the mountains.
Aspen, Colorado, for example, has a white Christmas nearly every single year! Why? Not only is it much colder at their elevation (8,000 ft), but the community is farther north and away from large bodies of water.
Watch the video above to learn more about the best places to have a white Christmas, and keep up with your forecast to see what Christmas looks like for you!
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Torrential rain flooded homes and streets in Southern California’s coastal cities Thursday, stranding some drivers in typically idyllic Santa Barbara and compounding holiday travel headaches.
The downpours targeted Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles County overnight, swamping areas in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Santa Barbara, where a police detective carried a woman on his back after the SUV she was riding in got stuck in knee-deep floodwaters.
Rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) an hour unleashed flash flooding about 1:30 a.m. in Ventura County, the National Weather Service said. Later in the morning, streets began filling with water in parts of Santa Barbara as the storm delivered another deluge. By midday, the rain and wind had eased and residents ventured outside to look at the damage.
Sven Dybdahl, owner of olive oil and vinegar store Viva Oliva in downtown Santa Barbara, said he had trouble finding dry routes to work Thursday morning, but most of the heavy rains and flooding had receded shortly before 11 a.m. He said he was grateful that the weather is only expected to be an issue for a few days at the tail end of the holiday shopping season, otherwise he’d be worried about how the rains would affect his store’s bottom line.
“It will have an impact but thankfully it’s happening quite late,” he said.
The city of Port Hueneme issued evacuation orders for residences on four streets and warned of potential evacuations on four other streets. About 60 houses were affected by the orders, all in a senior citizen community, said Firefighter Andy VanSciver, a Ventura County fire spokesperson. An evacuation center was set up at a college gymnasium.
Three people from the senior community were taken to hospitals out of an abundance of caution, and there were multiple rescues of drivers from flooded vehicles, he said.
The city of Oxnard said in a social media post that many streets and intersections were heavily impacted. “Please stay off the city streets for the next several hours until the water recedes,” the post said.
“This is a genuinely dramatic storm,” climate scientist Daniel Swain, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said in an online briefing. “In Oxnard, particularly, overnight there were downpours that preliminary data suggests were probably the heaviest downpours ever observed in that part of Southern California.”
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Oxnard and the city of Ventura at 1:28 a.m. due to a high-intensity thunderstorm, but no tornado activity was immediately observed, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.
Hours later at Heritage Coffee and Gifts in downtown Oxnard, manager Carlos Larios said the storm hadn’t made a dent in their Thursday morning rush despite “gloomy” skies.
“People are still coming in to get coffee, which is surprising,” he said. “I don’t think the rain is going to stop many people from being out and about.”
Pedestrians walk on a flooded sidewalk as rain comes down, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 in Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)
The storm swept through Northern California earlier in the week as the center of the low-pressure system slowly moved south off the coast. Forecasters described it as a “cutoff low,” a storm that is cut off from the general west-to-east flow and can linger for days, increasing the amount of rainfall.
The system was producing hit-and-miss bands of precipitation rather than generalized widespread rainfall. Forecasters said the low would wobble slightly away from the coast on Thursday, drawing moisture away and allowing some sunshine, but will return.
The San Diego-area weather office warned that rather than fizzling, the storm was gathering energy and its main core would move through that region overnight through Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Californians were gearing up for holiday travel and finishing preparations for Christmas. The Automobile Club of Southern California predicted 9.5 million people in the region would travel during the year-end holiday period.
The Northeast was hit with an unexpectedly strong storm earlier this week, and some parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont were still digging out from rain and wind damage. Parts of Maine along the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers were hit especially hard.
Floodwaters were receding throughout northern New England, though some localized areas were still in the flood stage, said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Flood warnings were also still in effect in parts of Maine and New Hampshire, he said.
At least four people died in Maine as a result of the storm.
The storm cut power to 400,000 customers in Maine, and restoration was still underway Thursday morning.
—-
Antczak reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press reporters Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles and Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.
It’s December, there’s a chill in the air, and more places are seeing snow. With the days getting shorter and the nights longer, the transition to winter is apparent.
The winter solstice marks the official start of winter, which will take place on Thursday this year.
What You Need To Know
The winter solstice is a time and not a day
This year, the solstice will occur at 10:27 p.m. ET on Dec. 21
The solstice is when the Northern Hemisphere’s tilt away from the sun is at its maximum
The tilt of the Earth
The tilt of the Earth to the sun is the reason we have our seasons. Believe it or not, the Earth is closer to the sun during our winter.
It’s Earth’s tilt that gives us our season.
During the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun, putting the sun at a lower elevation.
We also get the shortest day and longest night of the year on the winter solstice.
This year, our winter solstice occurs at 10:27 p.m. ET on Dec. 21.
If you’re not a fan of the shorter days, don’t worry. After Dec. 21, the days gradually get longer until the summer solstice on June 20, 2024.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright! And Austin Subaru’s Share the Love campaign fits right into that aesthetic. A fundraiser that supports pets in need makes the staff, volunteers and pets of APA! so merry because it helps ensure a bright year ahead for our lifesaving programs.
If you notice more sniffles and worsening allergy symptoms this time of year, you may suffer from “Christmas Tree Syndrome,” according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
What You Need To Know
Pine pollen may cause sneezing inside your home
Mold spores are also a possible culprit
Artificial trees can also cause allergies to flare
Some types of live trees are better than others for allergies
If you notice more allergy and asthma symptoms with a live tree in the house, pine pollen is most likely the problem. Otherwise, experts warn that mold spores could grow on your Christmas tree.
In a 2011 study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, researchers took samples from their own Christmas trees and discovered more than 50 kinds of molds.
(Pixabay)
Allergies and asthma symptoms aren’t just caused by real trees, either. Even those who opt for a fake Christmas tree could still feel ill.
If not properly stored in your basement or attic, dust and mold can accumulate or grow on the branches, aggravating symptoms.
Combating the issue
According to the American Christmas Tree Association, shaking out and hosing off real trees before bringing indoors can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms in some people. Although you’ll want to let the tree dry off before transferring indoors.
Since drying off can take a while, experts claim you can use a dry air compressor to speed up the process.
Using an air purifier and taking down the tree the day after Christmas can also reduce exposure to any mold spores that are still present on the tree.
Those who decide on an artificial tree should also thoroughly dust and wipe down its branches to remove any allergens before putting up and taking down. This can also apply to any other indoor decorations you decide to put up, too.
Once the holidays are over, place the tree and its components in an air-tight container and avoid storing it in a cardboard box. Cardboard is an ideal breeding ground for molds to grow on, which could spread to your tree.
(iStock)
Provided pollen is your biggest trigger, choosing a fake tree would probably be your best bet. However, if you are dead-set on putting up a live Christmas tree, experts recommend trying a fir, spruce, or cypress.
Two popular suggestions for those with allergies or who are sensitive to tree scents are the White Fir and Leyland Cypress.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Burl Ives sang the words “I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer”… you’re going to need the cup of cheer, because most of the country won’t wake up to a winter wonderland next Monday.
What You Need To Know
A mild pattern has kept winter storms at bay
Very few areas will have at least an inch of snow on the ground on Monday
This year’s snow coverage is relatively low compared to the long-term average
The recent mild pattern has been quite persistent and will stay that way right through the holiday. Here’s what temperatures compared to average look like through Monday.
The relative warmth is great news for travelers hoping snow and ice won’t snarl their pre-holiday trip. But for those who like seeing a white Christmas, it’s a disappointment. Here’s where one of our reliable computer models predicts at least an inch of snow will be on the ground Christmas morning (which is the definition of a white Christmas).
Snow will definitely be in short supply this year. For example, those who average three out of four Christmases being white… well, this year is that one-out-of-four.
Travel weather next week likely involves a couple of weather systems in the central and eastern U.S. that’ll produce both rain and snow. Keep up with your local forecast to see what conditions may be like in your area–rain, snow or shine.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) – The Austin Police Department is investigating a hostage situation that happened overnight, leaving one officer and two victims dead, with a second officer in stable condition at a local hospital. The suspect is deceased.
During a press briefing Saturday morning, Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson shared details on the developing story.
“This has been a very tragic day,” she said. “A very tragic incident for all involved.”
First responders received a 911 call at 2:49 a.m. coming from 9308 Bernoulli Drive.
“A caller was screaming for help,” Henderson shared. “The caller provided more details and said someone was stabbing her.”
APD Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson provides briefing on Officer-Involved Shooting that occurred at the 9300 block of Bernoulli Dr.
Officers arrived at the scene at 2:57 a.m., where they discovered there were two other people injured inside the home with the suspect. Before the officers got there, though, a third victim escaped and was taken to a local hospital.
At 3:00 a.m. officers announced and identified themselves before forcing their way into the home. That’s when the suspect started shooting at them. The officers backed out without returning fire. At 3:06 a.m., SWAT was called out to the scene—they arrived another hour later at 4:11.
The SWAT officers also forced their way into the home, at which point the suspect and officers exchanged gunfire.
At 4:15, it was communicated over radio that two officers had been shot. They were taken to a local hospital, but one of the SWAT officers died from his injuries, according to Mayor Kirk Watson’s chief of staff.
Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson identified the fallen officer as SPO Jorge Pastore.
Pastore joined APD with the 141st Cadet Class on June 24, 2019, and was commissioned as an officer on Jan. 31, 2020. He was an active member of the Honor Guard, SWAT Gold Team, CAST and SRT and patrolled in the Henry and George sectors.
My heart is heavy today. Please help me and our APD family pay tribute to SPO Jorge Pastore for his brave & heroic actions. Sir, we’ll take it from here.
Thanks for all the prayers & thoughts. Continue to keep the Pastore family and our second Officer injured in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/237uLZixS4
— Interim Chief of Police Robin Henderson (@Chief_Henderson) November 11, 2023
The second officer is in stable condition.
The two victims inside the home were pronounced dead at the scene, as was the suspect.
Mayor Watson responded to the tragedy on X saying, “My heart and the hearts of Austinites are broken this morning. This is a horrible moment for our city and those who protect us.”
My heart and the hearts of Austinites are broken this morning. This is a horrible moment for our city and those who protect us.
I’m praying for the family of our fallen officer, for our officer who was shot and in surgery and his family.
Gov. Abbott also issued a statement, saying in part, “Hearts across Texas are grieving with the family and loved ones of the Austin Police Officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty early this morning, as well as another who faces a long journey to recovery.”
Hearts across Texas grieve for the brave Austin police officer killed in the line of duty early this morning.
Join Cecilia & me in praying for this hero’s family, the injured officer undergoing surgery, & the entire Austin community.
A number of police departments offered their condolences, as well, including Richland Hills Police Department, Grand Prairie Police Department and Grapevine Police Department.
We send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to our brothers and sisters at the Austin Police Department who mourn the…
A tragic day for the Austin community. We offer our full support and condolences to @Austin_Police and their loved ones as they mourn their officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty, and a second officer injured. We also pray for the other victims killed by the suspect. pic.twitter.com/mb5PNtqIc9
A new enclave of modern estates called Five aims to raise the bar for modern living in Austin, … [+] Texas.
Moreland Properties
A gated complex of five architecturally noteworthy homes is rising on a five-and-a-half acre site just west of Austin, Texas. Located in upscale West Lake Hills, the five-bedroom homes are priced from $12.5 to $18 million with living spaces from about 6,700 to nearly 10,000 square feet.
Described as a “private collective,” the five glass-rich contemporary residences, each set on an approximate one-acre lot, are arranged so that the homes feel “like they belong together,” say project designers. Each home’s orientation, sightlines, landscaping and partitions are positioned so that the structures look as if they interact—or even riff off each other—without sacrificing privacy.
The five-bedroom homes are priced from $12.5 to $18 million with square footage ranging from about … [+] 6,700 to nearly 10,000 square feet. Pictured is House 4, which offers about 7,900 square feet of living space.
Moreland Properties
The complex presents a rare and thoughtful synergy for what could be just another homogeneous gated community.
“There’s really nothing like this in Austin,” says Francisco Uzcategui, founder of Houston-based Unicus, a residential design-build firm spearheading the project. “It’s rare to be able to design a group of homes in five subdivided lots.”
Five, as Uzcategui modestly calls the project, broke ground in late 2021. The first home will be complete in November and the second in December. Another will be finished in April 2024 and the final two finished by early 2025. Eric Moreland of Moreland Properties holds the listing.
The homes were designed by architect David Curiel, founder of Curiel Arquitectos.
Moreland Properties
A 6-foot-tall travertine wall bisected by a gate borders the front of the development. Just beyond, the homes are positioned in a U around a broad tree-lined avenue. Entries, courtyards, gardens and views from rooms are oriented, some in juxtaposition to each other, to provide balance and symmetry. From overhead, the development resembles five giant puzzle pieces that form a cohesive whole.
“We’re not building these houses to just maximize the beauty and value of each individual home, but to augment the collective five as a whole,” Uzcategui says. All of the dwellings have pools, gyms and either three- or four-car garages. Two of the homes have walk-in wine rooms, and the others include wine storage.
The homes were designed by architect David Curiel, founder of Curiel Arquitectos, launched in 2011. The firm, with offices in Mexico City and Texas, is staffed with 40-plus architects, engineers and interior and furniture designers, among others.
Curiel points to houses No. 1 and 2, which face each other to the left of the gate. “We’ve placed a garden and patios in between, so we’re creating green spaces to control the views,” he says. “We use stone walls, and greenery covering stucco walls throughout the project, which help blend the lines between the houses.”
Each of the unique designs offers an interplay of materials, textures and colors. House No. 4, … [+] pictured, features limestone sourced from the Austin area.
Moreland Properties
House No. 2 presents a modernist assemblage of shapes clad in limestone from Mexico. The creamy white to slightly gray facade is accented by overhangs, their undersides faced with stucco applied with a brown adobe finish, a process that integrates the color into the material. The robust brown can read as nearly black in low light. Reddish tones emerge in brighter light.
That interplay of materials and colors, intersected by clerestories and walls of windows, yields a look that is studied but calming. The structure is banked by a terraced landscape leading to the entry.
The stark black wet bar provides visual contrast next to the cream-hued living room.
Moreland Properties
“Some of the home’s inspiration came from viewing Los Angeles’ older houses,” says Curiel of the 9,010-square-foot residence. “So the home has more of a midcentury kind of vibe.”
Curiel says many homeowners are never able to truly appreciate their homes from the inside because of the outward-facing architecture. Instead, Curiel turns his houses in upon themselves.
“We accomplish this through layering and the layout, the orientation of the rooms,” he says. “So if you’re standing in the dining room, you see your covered patio, the landscape, your pool, your side of the house. You get to appreciate the stone that you picked, the color.”
Skillful placement of glass walls, often used in hallways, also allows owners to view their property’s expanse. “You get the light coming through both sides, and you feel the hugeness of the lot.” Curiel says. “I think many designers envision the walls first and then put windows into them. My strategy is to create glass walls from the start.”
At 8,275 square feet, House No. 3 hasfacing wings that embrace an expansive courtyard. The space is anchored by an oak tree that’s about 130 years old, its canopy reaching 40 feet. A pool is just beyond.
Each home’s orientation, sightlines, landscaping and partitions were designed to interact with the … [+] surroundings while retaining privacy.
Moreland Properties
The U-shaped courtyard “allows you to enjoy your own house from different points within the house,” Uzcategui says. The courtyard was designed around the existing heritage tree, which was moved 10 feet for better placement.
“Moving the tree took us about six months and cost $189,000,” Uzcategui says. “We’ve also planted more than 35 mature oaks brought from offsite to create these beautiful reference points throughout the property.” The oaks are 14 to 20 years old and are 25 to 30 feet tall, helping to increase privacy.
Marble imported from Mexico covers the facade of No. 3 with both honed and acid-wash finishes. The two textures add additional appeal and interest to the home, which will be complete in December. “And we invite that same material inside on some of the walls, so it feels like the outdoors is flowing into the interior,” Uzcategui adds. “That provides a lot of warmth.”
A warm cream and tan palette gives House No. 4 a relaxed and calming feel.
Moreland Properties
No. 3 has a stately look with its extensive use of marble, but its interiors feel relaxed and even homey, partly accomplished with a warm cream and tan palette. Floors and kitchen cabinetry are Bardolino gray oak, a saw-cut wood with a vintage look.
House No. 4, slated for completion in November, is clad with limestone sourced from the Austin area. “When we started digging, we discovered the soil was a very heavy, strong limestone,” Uzcategui says. “So we’ve used that as inspiration for the home’s facade.”
An extensive overhang that stretches across the front of the 7,961-square-foot house helps to deflect the Texas heat. That structure also accentuates an eye-catching 24-by-10-foot brass entry door topped by a smaller overhang.
Along one side of the home is a dramatic two-story structure clad in stucco with a deep brown adobe finish. The ultra-modern wing is lined with expansive windows and looks incongruous in contrast to the rest of the house. Uzcategui describes the volume as “museographic,” an architectural intervention that happily intrudes, veering off the main building’sstone facade.
Five is six miles west of downtown Austin and is a 12-minute drive from Barton Creek Habitat … [+] Preserve.
Moreland Properties
House No.1, which has been sold and will be complete in April 2024, is the smallest of the five at 6,682 square feet. House No. 5, an L-shaped structure clad in dark Italian brick, is the largest at 9,870 square feet. “It was the most fun to design, partly because it has the most glass walls,” Curiel says. The home includes a cabana and a green “eco” roof, which has sweeping views of the Texas Hill Country.
The pattern shows up in many areas of the country: development activity fills in between two metropolitan areas, typically along one or more highways that connect them. Orlando to Tampa along I-4 is another prime example, and there are dozens more around the country.
From New Braunfels to San Marcos, as well as closer-in suburbs, the stretch between Austin and San Antonio is starting to fill in, providing young families and singles with an alternative to home ownership. The map below, featuring data from CoStar and supplemented by original research by Hunter Housing Economics, shows the built-to rent (”BTR”) units that have already been built, as well as those that are under construction and proposed in that stretch. BTR housing fills the heretofore unserved set of households who want a suburban place with a yard or some small patch of private outdoor space, but who cannot afford (or choose not to buy) a single-family home.
The stretch between Austin and San Antonio is “filling in” with proposed BTR subdivisions.
Hunter Housing Economics using CoStar Data and HHE Research
A large proportion of the BTR developments now completing units in areas like San Marcos and New Braunfels are single-family detached homes, and as one gets closer to the larger cities of Austin or San Antonio, one finds more townhomes and more of the “horizontal apartment” style (also referred to by the more palatable “cottages”), which gives tenants a better living experience than typical apartments, in that they offer a ground-floor entry and usually a fully-detached home, with windows on four sides, and a small backyard. This type of rental product is just starting to take off, being met by strong demand from singles, couples, retirees, and people who own dogs. (The advantage for dog owners is that they can let the dog out the back door instead of putting them on a leash and walking them down corridors and/or elevators to get outside).
Like the cottages, built-to-rent townhomes tend to get developed closer to the major cities. Townhomes typically offer more square footage, but also more shared walls, and are commonly found in “infill” types of locations. There is evidence of market support farther away from the major metros, as long as they are in good proximity to schools and shopping. Areas south of Austin like Buda and Kyle are experiencing strong population and household growth, amplified by a continued migration of Californians looking for a lower-tax environment and lower cost of living in general. New schools are popping up there, which appeal to the new residents. Rent concessions that has been in effect a year back are now being removed, boosting effective rents. Family demand is under-served in this region. Consequently, rents on new townhomes or duplexes in this area can be as high as $2,600 per month for 3-bedroom units and $3,000 per month for 4-bedroom units, if they include well thought-out floorplans and better features and amenities than the existing homes in the area. The cost to own similar units is close to $3,200 per month.
There is a significant rent premium over individually-owned rental homes, particularly homes that are not in a master-planned community. Research by Hunter
Survey of Renters, 2023, showing the various types of premiums of new BTR over scattered SFR and … [+] apartments. Q11 asked renters of suburban apartments how much more they would pay than their current rental amount to live in a rental townhome. Q12 asked how much more they would pay if it were a NEW townhome. Q13 asked how much more if that new townhome was in a new community that offered amenities like a clubhouse and pool.
Hunter Housing Economics
Housing Economics this year quantified the premium in the southern U.S. as $265 per month. On a percentage basis, renters are willing to pay 13.3% more for a newly built rental townhome than one that is not new, according to the survey results. The premium over a rental apartment meanwhile came in at 24.3%.
In the area north of San Antonio, BTR projects such as Pradera, Village at Vickory Grove, Eschelon at Monterrey Village, and Springs at Alamo Ranch have performed well. Rents in this area can get up to $2,500 per month.
Another example of this pattern of “filling in” between major cities is in Florida, along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. This map shows the built-for-rent
The area between Tampa and Orlando is just starting to fill in, and the built-to-rent developments … [+] are coming. Although only a few have been developed in that region to-date, the years 2025 and 2026 will see more, and likely more in the subsequent years.
Hunter Housing Economics using CoStar data and HHE Original Research
developments that already exist in Tampa, extending mostly northward right now. From the other direction, spilling out of Orlando, there have been some BTR projects in Kissimmee and St. Cloud, due south of Orlando, and also to the west, mostly near Interstate-4.
Built-to-rent development activity is slowing now, and we will certainly see a sharp reduction in BTR starts next year, due to a shortage of capital. Developers who are planning projects to enter the market in 2025/2026 are likely to find a smaller number of projects opening up around them. Some of our clients are getting into position to pick up what might emerge as “distressed” BTR projects next year, when it is expected that some investors who tied up land will find themselves financially unable to close on the purchase. The lack of capital in this space could represent an opportunity for well-capitalized investors to pick up a contract or otherwise get into a deal that is not currently available. Next year should be an interesting one for BTR investors and developers.
Exceptional homes like this contemporary mansion in McLean, Virginia showcase the growing number of … [+] luxury offerings coming to smaller markets across the country.
Long & Foster Real Estate
While major markets like New York City and San Francisco encompass much of the premier real estate in the world, smaller cities and towns across the United States are by no means without their fair share of exceptional homes.
Check out these incredible properties from distinct markets around the country climbing from $5 million to $10 million:
Despite being located on three acres enclosed by natural preserves, this five-bedroom home is less … [+] than fifteen minutes away from downtown Austin.
Moreland Properties
$5.9 Million (Austin, Texas)
It’s rare to find a private property bordered on all sides by wilderness preserves and it is rarer still for that property to be located in a major metropolitan area. Such a location seems surreal, if not oxymoronic—a sprawl of land at once rustic and urban. Yet this seemingly impossible combination exists at 901 Wild Basin Ledge. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Austin, the 3-plus-acre property sits in a pocket of the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve.
The property’s serene natural beauty is paired with a prime city location.
Moreland Properties
Winding paths canopied by a density of trees lead through the private patch of land which includes two homesites. Already existing on one site is a well-maintained, five-bedroom home. The two-story residence features an array of natural accents to mirror its stunning surroundings, including a live-edge wood pillar, stone fireplace and hardwood floors. Dotted across the lush grounds are sitting areas, a garden and camping sites, making for one of the most secluded and serene estates in all of Austin.
Tucked away in a cul-de-sac and bordered by hillside and trees, this Westport home is a private … [+] sanctuary.
The Higgins Group Private Brokerage
$6.8 Million (Westport, Connecticut)
Tucked away within the quiet enclave of an appropriately named street, the residence at 2 Hidden Hill Road ensures seclusion without sacrificing size. Covering a remarkable 10,000 square feet, the hillside mansion set against a backdrop of mature trees is grand in both appearance and appointment. High-end finishes and tasteful detailing elevate the home’s classic New England design. The sizable interior allows for an array of elegant interior spaces, including multiple parlors, a formal dining room, and an open-concept kitchen.
The remarkable 10,000 square feet of interior space allows for multiple parlors and living areas.
The Higgins Group Private Brokerage
Throughout the mansion, fireplaces contribute to a warm and inviting atmosphere, adding a touch of coziness to the overall grandeur. Outlining the second story, multiple balconies, including those seen in the primary suite, overlook the lush, tree-filled surroundings. An intimate backyard houses a generous manicured lawn, terrace, and expansive swimming pool. Located mere blocks away from Compo Beach, the sophisticated mansion doubles as a seaside retreat.
Presented by Dale Sorensen Real Estate, this Mediterranean-inspired abode sits moments away from the … [+] beach.
PVmedia
$7.5 Million (Vero Beach, Florida)
While Riomar may not be a household name, to the Vero Beach community on the eastern coast of Florida, the neighborhood is synonymous with affluence. Located on a barrier island with two waterfronts, Riomar is known for its exceptional homes, like this oceanside estate at 865 Riomar Drive. Stripped to the studs in 2013, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home has undergone a series of renovations, including some as recently as this year.
A light color palette allows for an emphasis on rich wood accents.
PVmedia
The Mediterranean-inspired home features a refined color palette of soft whites accented with dark wood elements, seen in the ceiling beams, rounded-trim archways and built-in bar. Limestone floors run throughout. In addition to the main house, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house is also located on the property. Outdoor spaces are plentiful, including covered terraces, a putting green and a swimming pool and spa, all with the sounds of the beach that sits one block away.
Covering the entire corner, this La Jolla property features an array of courtyards, patios and other … [+] outdoor spaces.
John Riedy
$8.6 Million (La Jolla, California)
Matching its moniker, “Estrella del Mar,” 306 Sea Lane sits in a perched position overlooking the ocean. The landmark, Spanish-style home sits in one of the most sought-after corners of La Jolla’s historic Beach Barber Tract neighborhood, moments away from the sand. Completed in 1925 by master architect Herbert Palmer, “Estrella del Mar” received a complete renovation in 2005, although its original character remains. Wood elements dating back to its construction can be found throughout, including in the balusters and railing of the original staircase.
Multi-fold doors allow for a seamless indoor/outdoor living space.
John Riedy
Archways, mosaic tiling and iron French doors decorate the home’s intimate chef’s kitchen. Indoor/outdoor living is given priority with access from nearly every room to a courtyard, balcony or private outdoor space. Standing apart thanks to a wealth of amenities, the primary suite includes a fireplace, ocean views through a bank of west-facing windows and spa bathroom complete with a Beaumanière limestone walk-in, steam shower and a Kallista clawfoot bathtub. Other highlights include a 950-bottle wine cellar, art studio and outdoor shower.
A heated, saltwater pool with a waterfall is one of many luxury amenities found throughout the … [+] property.
Long & Foster Real Estate
$9.2 Million (McLean, Virginia)
Tucked away on the western side of the Potomac River, McLean, Virginia, has been home to the likes of Dick Cheney, Anthony Kennedy and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. As such, the area has built a reputation as one of the most exclusive and secure places to live in the country as well as the locale for exceptional homes like the contemporary masterpiece found at 410 Chain Bridge Road. Featuring a sleek, European design by architect Mark McInturff, the 8,350-square-foot home was completed in 2016. Free of traditional adornments, the front exterior is a masterclass in modern design, with a smooth stucco and concrete facade in harmony with steel beams.
Clean lines and lack of adornment give the home a modern feel.
Long & Foster Real Estate
Inside, luxury brands are enlisted to heighten an already opulent interior, including a bespoke chandelier by Manooi, custom Boffi Italian cabinetry and a maritime-themed center island by Alno. Technology is quietly implemented throughout the five-bedroom home with automated lighting, audio and video systems as well as automatic shades and roller screens and a hydronic radiant heating and geothermal system. Other notable amenities include a heated saltwater swimming pool, oak and limestone flooring and 25-foot ceilings.
Evoking luxury Scandinavian designs, the penthouse residence implements natural material accents.
Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate
$10 Million (Snowmass Village, Colorado)
With Residence 651 under contract for a record $4,932 per square foot, there is only one remaining Grand Penthouse at the brand-new luxury development, Cirque X Viceroy in Snowmass Base Village. Penthouse 664 at 130 Wood Road, also known as Grand Penthouse West, sits on a premier corner of the upcoming addition to the Viceroy Snowmass. Inspired by Scandinavian designs, the luxury ski-in/ski-out penthouse showcases clean lines and natural material accents.
Views of the mountainous landscape can be seen from almost any room in the top-floor residence.
Slifer Smith & Frampton
Infinity doors and vaulted ceilings make for a bright and airy living space. Sprawling windows are ubiquitous throughout the 2,380-square-foot residence, opening to a stunning scene of Wildcat Ridge. Future owners will have access to the resort amenities offered by the Viceroy Snowmass, including in-room dining, full-service ski valet and an on-site concierge as well as the hotel’s pools, spas and fitness center.
