Wildfires and lightning go hand in hand as half of Colorado’s blazes are ignited by lightning.

Wildfires are not strictly a weather-related threat.  The weather does however play a significant role in starting fires and in the ability of firefighters to battle them.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
500 PM MDT SAT JUNE 30 2018

Colorado Lightning Safety Week concludes today…with wildfires being the final topic.

During the past week we have presented lightning information and safety rules.  Although wildfires are not an actual weather phenomenon…wildfires are directly related to lightning and other weather elements.

Normally…the wildfire threat in Colorado increases significantly after the middle of June and usually peaks in early July…and remains high through august and early September.  Colorado averages about 2500 wildfires each year.

About half of all forest fires in Colorado are ignited by lightning. Additionally…many rangeland and wheat field fires are caused by lightning. Many of these lightning caused wildfires occur in the absence of rain and are the result of what is referred to as dry thunderstorms.

Lightning is often accompanied by strong winds from thunderstorms. These winds can quickly turn smoldering organic material into a raging fire.  Thunderstorm winds tend to be erratic in direction and speed…posing one of the greatest dangers for firefighters.

Lightning that strikes the ground is usually divided into two categories…negative and positive strikes… Depending on the ionic source region of the thunderstorm.  The negative strikes are far more common than positive strikes.  The positive strikes are more intense and have a longer duration than the negative strikes and are more likely to ignite a fire.  Lightning detection technology provides land managers and weather forecasters with the ability to identify the general location and charge category of each lightning strike.

National Weather Service forecasters help land managers and firefighters by producing fire weather zone forecasts on a daily basis.  Spot fire weather forecasts are also provided for those who work on prescribed burns or specific wildfires.  Forecasters also issue red flag warnings for use by land managers when the combination of dry vegetation and critical weather conditions will result in a high potential for the development and spread of

Wildfires.  Land managers…in turn… Typically inform the general public of the fire danger in national parks…forests… And other public lands.

During periods of extreme fire danger in forests and rangelands…

• You should avoid being in areas where you might become trapped by a wildfire.
• You should avoid the use of matches or anything else which could ignite a fire.
• Make sure that hot parts of motorized equipment…such as mufflers…are not allowed to come in contact with dry grasses or other potentially flammable material.
• If you become trapped or cut off by a wildfire seek shelter in areas with little or no fuel…such as rock slide areas or lakes.

For more information on wildfires and fire safety…please check out the following web addresses…

• http://fire.boi.noaa.gov
• http://www.nifc.gov
• http://dola.colordo.gov/dem/public_information/wildfire.htm

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

Responding quickly to lightning strike victims is key to helping them survive. (NOAA)

Knowing what to do when lightning strikes someone is critical to helping them survive.  As with many serious injuries, immediate action must be taken.  After the event, lightning strike victims oftentimes face a number of health and mental challenges.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER CO
600 AM MDT FRI Jun 29 2018

Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week continues through tomorrow. Today we discuss lightning medical issues for survivors.

The facts about lightning strike victims:

In Colorado, nearly a half million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes are documented each year. With millions of visitors and extensive outdoor activities, it is not surprising that, each year on average, three people are killed by lightning in the state of Colorado while 13 are injured. Last year, two people were killed by lightning in the Centennial State while seven were injured.

While any lightning fatality is tragic, injuries caused by lightning can be devastating to both the victim and the family. For those who have a family member or relative that suffers a significant disability from lightning, life changes forever. In addition to the physical pain and mental anguish suffered by the victim and their family, the incident may lead to a loss of income for all involved as medical expenses can drain the family’s financial resources.

If someone is struck by lightning, it is critically important that they receive the appropriate medical attention immediately. Some deaths can be prevented if the victims are attended to promptly. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to handle. First, check to see that the victim is breathing and has a pulse, and start cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, if needed. Then have someone dial 911. If possible, move the victim to a safer place. Do not let the rescuers become lightning victims. Lightning can strike the same place twice.

Lightning strike victims may face many mental challenges that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. When the brain is affected by a lightning strike, the person often has difficulty with many of the mental processes that most people take for granted. The person may suffer from short-term memory loss, and may have difficulty remembering new information and accessing old information. Victims may often find it very difficult to carry on more than one task at a time, and may be easily distracted. Their personality may change and they may become easily irritated.

Lightning strike victims often become easily fatigued and may become exhausted after only a few hours of work. This may be because mental tasks that were once automatic may now require intense concentration to accomplish. Although some victims may sleep excessively at first, after a few weeks many find it difficult to sleep more than two or three hours at a time.

Another common long-term problem for survivors is pain.

Medically, pain is difficult to quantify. Lightning strike victims often suffer irreparable nerve damage that causes intense pain that affects the ability to function. Many survivors complain of chronic headaches, some of which are very intense and debilitating.

Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International is a support group for individuals and families that are struggling with life after a lightning injury. Helpful information is available at their web address: www.lightning-strike.org

In addition, NOAA’s lightning website contains abundant information on lightning safety and can be found at: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning information specific for the State of Colorado can be found at: www.weather.gov/pub/lightning

The lightning topic for tomorrow will be lightning caused fires.

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

Lightning can cause injury and even death indoors. (Wikipedia)

Certainly the dangers of lightning are most prevalent outdoors and being indoors is the safest place to be when thunder is heard. Even inside your home or business lightning can be damaging and cause significant injury.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GOODLAND KS
600 AM MDT THU JUN 28 2018

Statistics tell us that we are much less likely to become a lightning strike victim if we are inside a substantial structure such as a home or office building. In 2016, thirty eight people in the United States were killed by lightning, and all of these fatalities occurred outdoors. While nearly all people who are injured or killed by lightning were outdoors, a small percentage of people are injured by lightning while indoors. Therefore, it is important to discuss lightning safety while indoors.

The dangerous electrical current associated with a lightning strike typically enters a structure through wires, cables or pipes that connect to the building from the outside. Lightning can also directly enter into a structure through an open window, door or garage door. Once in a structure, the dangerous current can travel through the electrical, phone, cable and plumbing systems and through metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

Corded electronic devices are the leading cause of indoor lightning injuries in the United States. These include personal computer keyboards, game consoles, and corded phones. Other injuries have occurred when people were close by to televisions which connect to an outside cable or satellite system. Open windows, doors and garage doors allow for a direct strike to enter a home, so make sure all windows and doors are closed when lightning is occurring. Never watch a lightning storm from a porch or open garage door. There are several You-Tube videos that show people being injured by lightning while they were recording lightning from their porch or open garage door.

It is very important to stay away from any plumbing when lightning is occurring outside. This includes sinks, bathtubs and showers. When lightning is occurring, do not hand wash dishes, do not give kids a bath, and do not take a shower. It is best to wait to do laundry until after the storm goes by as washers and dryers are connected to both the electrical and plumbing systems.

People have also been injured while leaning and standing near concrete in their homes and offices. This is due to metal rebar which is in the concrete, and this metal acts as a conductor when lightning hits the building.

A house or other substantial building offers the best protection from lightning. In contrast, many small shelters such as bullpens, picnic shelters, sheds or tents (no matter what the size) offer no protection from lightning, and should be avoided at all cost.

Here is a summary of lightning safety tips for inside the home:

1. Avoid corded electronics and electrical equipment.
2. Avoid contact with plumbing, such as taking a shower, bathing, hand washing dishes or doing laundry.
3. Stay away from windows, doors, garages and porches.
4. Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.
5. If a substantial building is not nearby, an enclosed car or truck offers excellent protection from lightning.

Below are a couple of web sites that contain additional lightning information:

NOAA’s lightning website which contains abundant information on lightning safety can be found at: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning information specific for the State of Colorado can be found at: www.weather.gov/pub/lightning

The lightning topic for tomorrow will be lightning medical issues for survivors.

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

One simple phrase provides the most important safety tip for lightning – When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors. (NOAA)

Statistics provide insight into the dangers of severe weather and lightning is one of the most deadly.  Over the past decade Colorado has been the second deadliest state for lightning and many of these fatalities could have been avoided if the victims had remembered one key phrase: When thunder roars, go indoors.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
600 AM MDT WED JUNE 27 2018

Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week continues through Saturday. Yesterday we discussed the science of lightning. Today we will cover outdoor lightning safety.

Outdoors is the most dangerous place to be during a thunderstorm.

Each year…nearly all people in the United States who are injured or killed by lightning were involved in an outdoor activity. They were struck while working outside…were at or participating at an outdoor sporting event…were boating or fishing. They were struck while hiking…mowing the lawn or simply going to or from their car.   Quite a few were on their own property when they were struck.

Unfortunately…there is no place outside that is safe from lightning. The only safe place to be when lightning is occurring is either inside a substantial building…or an enclosed automobile.

Here are some important things to remember before venturing outdoors…

An informed decision will help you avoid being in an area where lightning is expected to occur.  Before heading out…get an updated forecast. Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio…check national weather service web sites…or access your favorite weather apps on your cell phone for the latest forecast.

In Colorado…it is important to remember that thunderstorms typically develop in the mountains after 11 am.  So it is best to plan your climbing or hiking trip so that you are coming down the mountain by late morning.

If thunderstorms are in the forecast…consider planning an alternate indoor activity or make plans which will allow you to quickly get into a safe shelter.

Once you are outside…keep up-to-date on the weather via your smart phone or portable NOAA weather radio receiver. Check for updated forecasts. Check if storms are near you by checking the latest radar imagery on your cell phone. There are now several smart phone apps you can purchase that show you real-time lightning activity in your area. Do not forget to simply look around you to make sure storms are not developing in your vicinity.

We will now discuss two outdoor scenarios. The first is what to do if you are outdoors and a safe location is nearby…while the second scenario is what to do if you are outdoors and no safe location is nearby.

If you are outside…such as a park…a lake…or an outdoor sporting event…know where the nearest safe location is located at.

A safe location is any substantial building…such as a business…a home…or a church. Any enclosed hard topped automobile also offers excellent protection from lightning. Once you hear thunder or see lightning…immediately stop what you are doing and quickly get to the safe shelter. Do not wait until the rain starts to seek safe shelter. Once inside a safe shelter…it is recommended you stay there for 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.

Past history has shown that most people who were outdoors and were injured or killed by lightning had access to a safe shelter nearby.

Do not wait to seek safe shelter when lightning threatens. When you hear thunder or see lightning…it is important for you…and your family…to act quickly.

It is critically important to avoid shelters that are not safe from lightning…including picnic shelters…bullpens…tents and any other small buildings that are open to the elements.

Never…never…get under a tree to seek shelter from lightning.

It is important that all sports leagues and other outdoor groups have a lightning response plan that is understood and consistently applied for the safety of the participants. Part of the plan would include a designated weather watcher at each outdoor event with the authority to postpone or cancel the event due to the threat of lightning. It is also important that people know where to seek safe shelter if a storm threatens. As we have seen recently…the NCAA…the NFL and MLB now delay games when lightning is in the area.

Our second scenario involves what you can do to reduce your chances of being injured or killed by lighting if no safe shelter is nearby.

This situation typically occurs to people who are hiking or camping in the backcountry. Unfortunately…in this scenario…there is not much you can do to reduce your risk from being struck by lightning.

The best thing to do is move away from tall isolated objects…such as trees. Stay away from wide open areas. Stay as low as possible with your feet close together if lightning is nearby. If you are with a group of people…spread out…that way if someone is struck by lightning…the others can offer first aid. If camping in the backcountry…place your tent in a low area away from tall isolated trees.

Remember…when thunder roars…go indoors!

There are a couple of web sites that contain additional lightning information.

NOAA’s lightning website which contains abundant information on lightning safety can be found at…

WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV

Lightning information specific for the state of Colorado can be found at…

WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PUB/LIGHTNING

The lightning topic for tomorrow will be on indoor lightning safety.

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

High pressure is building and creating a ridge that will lock in the heat and keep moisture at bay. The result will be four days with temperatures well above normal before relief arrives this weekend.

For today, we start out under clear skies and will enjoy lots of sun through the morning. The afternoon will bring just a few clouds.

Overall conditions will be calm and winds light. As for temperatures, we will warm quickly once the sun comes up with readings near 90 by noon and on our way to an afternoon high in the mid-90s.

Tonight, skies will be partly cloudy with lows in the low to mid-60s.

Looking ahead, we will follow up our heat today with hotter readings Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday may bring our first 100 degree reading of the day. Friday cools only slightly then the weekend should see the mercury return to near normal levels.

Use our live weather gauges to keep an eye on the temps.

Lightning produced by thunderstorms presents a very real danger to Colorado residents. Image courtesy VORTEX2 / NSSL.

Thunderstorms and their associated hazards frequently make appearances in Colorado during the spring and summer months.  Lightning presents one of the damaging – and deadly – aspects of these storms and knowing more about the science behind the phenomena helps us to better protect ourselves.

As part of Lightning and Wildfire Safety Awareness Week, this installment from the National Weather Service gives more information on the science behind these bolts of electricity.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER CO
600 AM MDT TUE Jun 26 2018

…UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING…

Every thunderstorm produces lightning. Lightning is a giant spark that moves within the cloud…between clouds…or between the cloud and the ground. As lightning passes through the air…it heats the air rapidly to a temperature of about fifty thousand degrees Fahrenheit. This causes a rapid expansion of the air near the lightning channel. This rapid expansion causes a shock wave that we hear as thunder.

Thunderstorms will form if there is enough moisture and instability in the atmosphere. As the sun warms the air near the ground…pockets of warmer air begin to rise and cool. Condensation of water vapor causes cumulus clouds to form. Continued heating can cause these clouds to continue to grow upward into the atmosphere. Towering cumulus clouds may be one of the first indications of a developing thunderstorm. The mature thunderstorm has both an updraft of rising motion and a downdraft of sinking cool air accompanied by rain and sometimes hail.

Thunderstorms grow tens of thousands of feet into the atmosphere. In the cloud…precipitation forms as ice crystals…hail…and rain. Collisions between ice particles cause a charge separation…and positively charged ice crystals are carried by the updraft high in the thunderstorm. The heavier hail gathers a negative charge and falls toward the lower part of the storm. The top of the cloud becomes positively charged and the lower part of the storm becomes negatively charged.

Due to the pool of negative charges in the lower part of the storm…a pool of positive charges will develop along the ground and follow the cloud like a shadow. Farther away from the cloud base…but under the positively charged anvil…a strong negative charge may be induced.

Cloud-to-ground lightning can either be a negatively charged flash or a positively charged flash. The negative flash usually occurs between the negative charges in the lower part of the storm and the positive charges on the ground under and near the cloud base. Positive flashes usually occur between the positively-charged upper levels of the storm and the negatively-charged area surrounding the storm.

In the negative cloud-to-ground flash…an invisible…negatively-charged step leader forms near the cloud base and surges downward toward the ground. As this step leader approaches the ground… streamers of positive charge move upward from trees…buildings…and other objects on the ground. When these streamers meet the step leader…the connection is completed…and the result is lightning. The entire process takes place in fractions of a second.

If you are under a thunderstorm and your hair rises…you are in an area where the positive charges are rising up objects towards the storm. It is a dangerous location…because lightning may be about to strike.

The process for a positive flash is similar except that a positive channel usually originates in the anvil of the storm and surges downward. In this case…streamers of negative charge shoot up to meet the positively-charged channel as it approaches the ground. When a connection is made…a positive flash of lightning occurs.

While both negative and positive flashes of lightning can be deadly…the positive flashes generally are more destructive as they typically deliver more overall electrical charge to the ground…and they remain in contact with the ground surface for a longer period of time as compared to a negative cloud-to-ground flash.

The best advice in order to minimize your risk of becoming a lightning strike victim is to get indoors into a substantial shelter the second you hear thunder…and to remain there for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.  In general…when thunder roars…go indoors. An enclosed hard topped automobile is also a safe place to be during thunderstorms.

For additional information about lightning or lightning safety…visit NOAA’s Lightning Safety Awareness web site at (in lower case):

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

Lightning fatalities by state, 1959-2007. (Vaisala)

Colorado has the rather unenviable distinction of ranking fourth in the United States for lightning-related fatalities.  During the spring and summer the nice weather finds many residents outside and while clear skies are the norm, storms oftentimes loom and present a very real hazard to residents.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
600 AM MDT MON JUN 25 2018

Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week continues through Saturday. Today we discuss the lightning threat across the Centennial State.

In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes per year, and each one is a potential threat to both life and property. During the past thirty years, 44 people have been killed each year by lightning on average, while during the last ten years this number is 27. Last year, 16 people were killed by lightning, while many others were injured. All of the people who were killed by lightning in 2017 were involved in outdoor activities.

In Colorado last year, lightning killed 2 people and injured 2. During the past thirty seven years, on average, Colorado has had 3 lightning fatalities and 12 injuries per year.

Since 1980, El Paso County, including the Colorado Springs metro area, has had the dubious distinction of having the most lightning casualties, with 10 fatalities and 84 injuries. Larimer County has had 10 fatalities and 75 injuries, while Jefferson County has had 9 fatalities and 38 injuries.

Because it usually affects one or two victims at a time, and does not cause the destruction left in the wake of tornadoes or hurricanes, lightning generally receives less attention.

Many people do not act in a timely manner to protect their lives, and the lives of others, simply because they do not understand all the dangers associated with thunderstorms and lightning.

You need to become aware of the situations that put you at a greater risk of being struck by lightning, and what you can do to reduce that risk. While nearly all people take some protective actions when rain, hail and wind are occurring with thunderstorms, many leave themselves vulnerable to being struck by lightning as thunderstorms approach, move overhead and move away.

Lightning can strike more than 10 miles from the rain area of a thunderstorm. That distance is about as far as you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you could be in danger of being struck by lightning. When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Most lightning deaths and injuries in Colorado occur during the afternoon when lightning is most likely to develop, and when people are more likely to be outside. Quite a few lightning fatalities occur when little or no rain is falling.

The chance that you will be struck by lightning in the United States is about 1 in 960 thousand for each year of your life. However, your chance of being struck will depend on whether you consistently practice all the lightning safety rules.

Lightning starts around half of the forest and rangeland wildfires across the state. Colorado averages around 2500 wildfires each year. Many of these lightning caused fires occur with very little or no rain. These storms often generate gusty winds, which can fan the flames of the fire.

During this Lightning Safety Awareness Week, the National Weather Service will provide a variety of information on lightning in Colorado.

On Tuesday, the science of lightning will be discussed.

On Wednesday, the topic of the day is outdoor lightning risk reduction. On Thursday, we will have information on indoor lightning safety.

On Friday, information for lightning strike survivors will be provided. On Saturday, lightning and wildfire information will be available.

When planning outdoor activities, check out the hazardous weather outlook and the latest forecast, which include thunderstorm and lightning potential. Make sure you get the specific forecast information of the location you will be visiting. The web sites for National Weather Service offices which cover Colorado and issue these products are…

Denver/Boulder…www.weather.gov/den Grand Junction….www.weather.gov/gjt Pueblo……………www.weather.gov/pub Goodland…………www.weather.gov/gld

NOAA’s lightning website which contains abundant information on lightning safety can be found at:

www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning information specific for the State of Colorado can be found at: www.weather.gov/pub/lightning

The lightning topic for tomorrow will be the science of lightning.

Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Series:

• Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week Introduction
• Lightning and wildfire safety overview
• The science of thunderstorms and lightning
• Outdoor lightning safety – When thunder roars, go indoors
• Indoor lightning safety – Staying safe in your home or office
• When lightning strikes – Rendering aid and the lasting effects of a strike
• Lightning and wildfires – Hand in hand hazards

We have a fine looking start to the workweek today with pleasant conditions and temps right near normal. After today though, the heat is going to arrive and warm things up significantly for much of the rest of the week.

Today starts out under sunny skies and we can expect lots of blue above throughout. The mid-afternoon will bring a few clouds but nothing intrusive. Winds will be relatively light, changing directions throughout the day. Temperatures will slowly climb toward a high right near the average high for today’s date of 86 degrees.

Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with lows in the mid to upper 50s.

An upper level ridge is going to settle in and that is going to help push the mercury higher. Temperatures in the mid to upper 90s, perhaps even a 100 degree reading will be seen Tuesday through Thursday. Get a complete look in the extended weather forecast here.

June 24 to June 30: This week in Denver weather history

This year the weather in June has been most notable for its heat. That however is far less common than severe weather conditions with lightning, tornadoes and hail. All of these we see in our look back at this week in Denver weather history.

From the National Weather Service:

22-26

In 2012…the maximum temperature exceeded 100 degrees for five consecutive days. Two of the high temperatures on the 25th and 26th peaked at 105 degrees…which set the all time record for the month of June and tied the all time maximum temperature for Denver.

24

In 1873…there was a great deal of smoke from a fire in the mountains to the southwest of the city during the late afternoon.

In 1875…smoke from forest fires in the mountains to the southwest could plainly be seen from the city.

In 1958…a strong cold front produced a north wind gust to 55 mph at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 1 mile.

In 1982…one inch diameter hail pelted west Denver. A half inch of rain drenched the suburb of Englewood in 10 minutes. Hail piled up to 5 inches deep…snarling rush hour traffic and damaging some stores in a shopping center when the roof started leaking.

In 1988…lightning destroyed the chimney of a house near Evergreen. Another bolt demolished a radio transmitter in the area.

In 1989…golf ball size hail cut a swath 2 1/2 miles wide through open country 14 miles southwest of Bennett. The storm also dropped 1.75 inches of rain on the area. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter damaged the car of a storm chaser just south of Bennett.

In 1996…a funnel cloud was sighted near Hudson where hail up to 1 3/4 inch diameter fell. Lightning struck a home in Littleton…which sparked a small fire on the roof. Thunderstorm wind gusts to 64 mph were recorded in Castle Rock.

In 2005…severe thunderstorms produced large hail across metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter fell near Castle Rock and Thornton. Hail to 3/4 inch was measured near Northglenn and Fort Lupton.

In 2006…severe thunderstorms raked metro Denver. Hail as large as 2 1/2 inches in diameter shattered automobile windshields in and near Boulder. Hail to 1 3/4 inches pounded areas in and near Lakewood and Morrison. Hail to 1 inch was measured in Wheat Ridge along with 7/8 inch hail in Arvada. Severe thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to 69 mph snapped power lines for a distance of one quarter mile near Castle Rock. Severe thunderstorm winds were measured to 60 mph in Sedalia. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter fell near Evergreen and Castle Rock. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter was reported in Louviers and near Conifer.

In 2014…damaging hail…from 1 to 2 inches in diameter…caused extensive damage to homes and automobiles over parts of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties including areas in and near: Aurora-Cherry Creek…Buckley Air Force Base…Denver International Airport and Parker. Officially…0.06 inches of rain fell at Denver International Airport…with a peak wind gust of 33 mph from the southeast.

In 2015…two colliding outflow boundaries merged over east Denver and northwest Aurora at the height of rush hour. The collision quickly spawned a severe thunderstorm that produced an EF1 tornado…damaging hail…torrential rain and flash flooding. The tornado touched down in east Denver and west Aurora. The tornado first touched down near Quebec and 6th Avenue. It then moved east northeast across the Lowry Campus into the west part of Aurora. The tornado then lifted near Mount Nebo Memorial Park. Some homes had minor roof damage with one former apartment building on the Lowry Campus had more significant roof damage. The tornado and intense thunderstorm winds uprooted trees…damaging vehicles and blocking roads. The storm produced torrential rain…2 to 2.5 inches…much of which fell in less than 30 minutes and resulted in flooded intersections and power outages. Flash flooding forced the evacuation of a theater at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center…where drifts of hail formed in the parking lot…and flooding set off alarms at the University of Denver`s Ritchie Center. Numerous water rescues were reported as vehicles stalled flooded intersections. Many stoplights were knocked out. The water was reportedly 3 feet deep on the South Broadway ramp to Interstate 25. The bike path along Cherry Creek was inundated with several feet of water at the height of the storm. Ironically…it was “Bike to Work Day”…which made for a long commute home for many. The South Platte River crested above flood stage for one hour. Employees still at work were urged to stay inside but others waded across flooded intersections downtown. About 30 flights had to be diverted from Denver International Airport. At Denver International Airport… only 0.05 inches of rain fell. A peak wind gust to 47 mph was observed from the southeast.

25

In 1873…forest fires produced a great deal of smoke in the mountains to the southwest of the city.

In 1958…an unusually cold day for summer set two temperature records for the date. Under cloudy skies with occasional drizzle…a record low maximum temperature of 55 degrees was established along with a record minimum temperature of 42 degrees.

In 1959…a waitress…working at a kitchen sink…was injured by a bolt of lightning…which struck the rear of a tavern in Denver. She was hospitalized.

In 1971…a tornado touched down briefly at a high school football field in Brighton…but caused no damage.

In 1981…3/4 inch hail pelted wheat ridge and hail to 1 1/4 inches fell in Louisville. A brief funnel cloud was sighted by national weather service personnel 4 miles east of Stapleton International Airport.

In 1982…a bolt of lightning struck a cabin in the foothills west of Denver. The resulting fire totally destroyed the cabin.

In 1987…golf ball size hail fell near Bennett.

In 1988…a tornado touched down 1 mile south of Watkins and was on the ground for 4 minutes. Another tornado was spotted just southeast of Barr Lake and was on the ground for 5 minutes. No damage was reported from either tornado. Lightning struck two rock climbers near Eldorado Springs. A 25-year-old man was killed…and a 21-year-old man suffered extensive injuries. Thunderstorm winds knocked over two elm trees near downtown Denver. One fell on a house destroying most of it. A nearby building was unroofed…and two cars were damaged. A truck that had been severely damaged by one of the Denver tornadoes 10 days before was hit again. Thunderstorm wind gusts to 51 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1991…the temperature reached a high of 100 degrees… Setting a new record for the date.

In 1997…one inch diameter hail fell in Arvada and 1 1/2 inch hail in Boulder. Hail as large as 3/4 inches fell in Denver…Louisville…Westminster…and near Broomfield.

In 1999…thunderstorm winds gusted to 58 mph near Fort Lupton toppling an oil rig. A 37-year-old man was killed when he fell 55 feet from the derrick of the rig.

In 2001…four golfers and one construction worker received minor injuries from a nearby lightning strike on the Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.

In 2002…hail to 1 inch in diameter was measured in greenwood village.

In 2005…hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell near Bennett and Roggen. A thunderstorm wind gust to 61 mph was recorded near Golden.

In 2009…lightning struck the Darlington prismatic electric fountain in City Park’s lake. The damage was estimated to be approximately $25000.

In 2010…wind gusts associated with a dry microburst downed several trees in the vicinity of 14th and federal…and near Bayaud St. and Clarkson St. in Denver. At Denver International Airport…a peak wind gust to 45 mph was observed from the southwest.

In 2015…severe thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon and continued in the late evening hours. The storms moved over parts of Adams…Arapahoe…Douglas and Weld Counties. The largest hail occurred near Aurora and Keenseburg…with hail up to tennis ball size or 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Elsewhere…the hail size ranged from nickel to half dollar size. At Denver International Airport…just a trace of rainfall was observed. A peak wind gust of 31 mph was also observed from the east.

25-26

In 1969…high winds raked Boulder causing one fatality and some injuries. One man was injured by a falling tree limb. At the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder… Sustained winds of 55 to 60 mph with wind gusts to 123 mph were recorded.

In downtown Boulder…winds averaged 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph. Widespread minor damage occurred… Especially in the Table Mesa area of south Boulder. Much tree damage occurred in the older areas of Boulder where several trees were uprooted. A mobile home was overturned by the winds. At Stapleton Airport…west winds gusted to 43 mph on the 25th and 37 mph on the 26th.

In 1975…strong winds damaged utility lines…buildings… Vehicles…trees…and power lines in Boulder and other communities to the north of Boulder. Microburst winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 25th.

In 1983…heavy rain fell in the foothills west of Denver with 1.50 inches in 30 minutes at Intercanyon. Heavy rain continued over metro Denver on the 26th with two-day storm totals at many locations ranging from 1.00 to 2.50 inches. Rainfall totaled 1.37 inches at Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.

In 1985…one to two inches of rain fell over metro Denver. At Stapleton International Airport…rainfall totaled 0.93 inches…thunderstorm winds gusted to 44 mph…and 7/10 inch hail was measured. The air mass was unusually cold for the season…and snow fell in the foothills above 8 thousand feet. The high temperature of only 63 degrees on the 26th equaled the record low maximum reading for the date.

In 2012…Denver broke the all-time record temperature for the month of June on the 25th when it reached 105 degrees. This also tied the all-time record maximum temperature in Denver. The maximum temperature of 105 degrees was then matched once more on the 26th. Sandwiched in between these records…the minimum temperature of 71 on the morning of the 26th…established a new record high minimum for the date.

» Click here to read the rest of June 24 to June 30: This week in Denver weather history

Protecting yourself and your family from the dangers of lightning can be summed up in one phrase: When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors

Colorado is starting its annual Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week, an important opportunity to educate residents of the dangers lightning presents.  One statistic serves to highlight the very real hazard of lightning in Colorado – the Centennial State ranks as the second deadliest state for lightning fatalities in the nation.

We oftentimes read about the results of lightning strikes in our weekly look at Denver weather history.  They spark wildfires, cause property damage and injuries and in some cases result in death.  From 2001 to 2010 26 people were killed by lightning in Colorado – second only to Florida.

Each day during the National Weather Service’s Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week a new message is publicized covering a range of topics.  From lightning safety to the science of lightning, residents can learn more about this very real danger.

The following is the introductory message from the National Weather Service for this year with links to more information.  Education is key to protecting you and your family and we encourage you to study these pages and remember – When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER CO
600 AM MDT Sun Jun 24 2018

Governor John Hickenlooper has declared the week of June 24 through June 30 as Colorado Lightning Safety Awareness Week. Lightning strikes the ground in our state over a half million times each year and with many of us participating in outdoor activities, we need to learn how to protect ourselves from lightning hazards.

Lightning is also responsible for about half of the wildfires in Colorado each year. When lightning or other conditions are conducive to a high wildfire threat, the National Weather Service will issue Fire Weather Watches or Red Flag Warnings.

During this week a series of statements will cover a variety of topics related to lightning and wildfires.

Monday…Lightning Overview for Colorado
Tuesday…The Science of Lightning
Wednesday…Outdoor lightning safety
Thursday…Indoor lightning safety
Friday…Lightning medical issues for survivors
Saturday…Lightning and wildfires

Here are a couple web sites that contain additional lightning information.

NOAA`s lightning website which contains abundant information on lightning safety can be found at:  www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

Lightning information specific for the State of Colorado can be found at: www.weather.gov/pub/lightning

Steve Hodanish
Senior Forecaster
NWS Pueblo, CO