A series of weak disturbances will be moving through beginning today bringing a bit of a change from our recent weather. Cooler temperatures will be the main feature and, unfortunately, no precipitation is expected.

The first disturbance moves through Friday. Increased moisture aloft will bring a good bit of cloud cover but we will remain dry. Highs will top out around the 50 degree mark. Tonight, mostly cloudy skies will be above with overnight lows dropping to the upper 20s.

Saturday starts out with a good bit of cloud cover but that will ease as the day progresses. Highs will once again be near 50 degrees with calm conditions. Saturday night into Sunday morning, mostly clear skies will be above with overnight lows in the mid-20s.

We close out the weekend on Sunday with sunny skies and calm conditions. Highs will again be near 50 degrees.

Have a great weekend!

A little bit of a cool down today as a result of a system passing to our north. Its impact will be limited though and mercury readings will continue to be well above normal.

Sunny to mostly sunny skies are going to above throughout the day. Winds will be relatively light, conditions dry. Highs will top out in the mid-60s, well above the average high of 50 degrees for the date.

Tonight, lows will dip to near freezing under partly clear skies.

Looking ahead, the cooling trend will continue and we have just a slight chance for some precipitation Saturday. Check out the extended forecast for details.

Thornton will enjoy another day with temperatures well above normal. There will, however, be some cloud cover limiting the enjoyment of the mild temps.

Mostly cloudy skies start off the day and will be with us throughout as a result of a passing system. Winds will be a bit breezy, particularly around mid-day. High temperatures will top out near the 70 degree mark.

Tonight, skies will remain mostly cloudy until the pre-dawn hours tomorrow. Overnight lows will be in the low 40s.

A fine looking fall day ahead for us. Look for lots of sun and temperatures well above normal.

Sunny skies will be the rule throughout the day, maybe a cloud or two late. Winds will be light, conditions calm and dry. Highs today will come close to topping out at the 70 degree mark.

Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with overnight lows around 40 degrees.

Enjoy!

Mother Nature is giving us a nice day to start off the workweek with lots of sun and warmer than normal temperatures. In fact, similar conditions will be with us for most of the week.

For today, sunny skies are going to be the rule throughout. Winds will be light, conditions calm and dry. Highs today will top out in the low to mid-60s. Tonight, temperatures will drop to near freezing under mostly clear skies.

Looking ahead, we’ll see temps continue to warm up over the next couple of days then cool down for the latter part of the week. This weekend looks to bring colder temperatures and a chance for precipitation. Have a look at the extended weather forecast here.

Any week in Denver weather history is filled with numerous notable weather events and this week is no different.  We have everything from major snowstorms to damaging winds and much more.  However, one item is particularly notable and historic.  It was on the 20th of November in 1871 that the first, official weather observation took place in Denver.  Henry Fenton, Observer Sergeant of the United States Army Signal Service, made the report at 5:43 am.  The office was located on the 2nd floor of a building at the corner of Larimer and G Streets, now 16th Street.  Scroll down to see what the report said.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 12th to the 15th:

In 1909…light snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown Denver over the 4 days.  This was the first measurable snowfall of the season.  Northeast winds were sustained to 15 mph on the 12th.

From the 14th to the 15th:

In 1917…overnight rainfall was 0.03 inch.  This was the only measurable precipitation of the month…making it the 5th driest November on record.

In 1985…3 to 6 inches of snow fell across metro Denver. Snowfall totaled 3.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to only 13 mph.

In 2005…a winter storm that brought heavy snow to the mountains also spread heavy snow into the foothills to the west of Denver.  Snowfall totals included:  14 inches at Aspen Springs…13 inches near Pinecliffe…and 12 inches near Nederland.  Interstate 70 along with U.S. Highway 40 had to be closed near Idaho Springs due to snow…poor visibility in blowing snow…numerous accidents…and an increased avalanche danger.  High winds were recorded in the foothills on the 14th.  Winds gusted to 89 mph at Georgetown and to 91 mph on Sugarloaf Mountain west of Boulder.  Strong microburst winds associated with a dissipating rain shower gusted to 61 mph at Denver International Airport on the 14th.

In 2009…a storm system produced heavy snow over parts of Front Range foothills…urban corridor and Palmer Divide. Storms totals in the Front Range foothills included: 13.5 inches…6 miles southwest of Evergreen and near Genesee; 13 inches…3 miles northwest of Idledale; 12 inches…3 miles north of Conifer and near Kittredge; 11 inches…12 miles southwest of Boulder and 3 miles southeast of Indian Hills and at Strontia Springs dam; 10 inches near Bailey…Bergen Park and Crow Hill; 9.5 inches near Blackhawk and 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland. Across the urban corridor and Palmer Divide storm totals included: 12 inches at Highlands Ranch…11 inches…5 miles south-southwest of Arapahoe Park and Louviers; 10 inches…4 miles south of Denver; 9 inches near Englewood…Lakewood… And Wheat Ridge; 8 inches at Aurora and 3 miles south-southwest of Castle Pines; 7.5 inches…3 miles southeast of Denver; with 7 inches 2 miles north-northeast of Commerce City. At Denver International Airport…7.3 inches of snowfall was observed.

From the 14th to the 18th:

In 1964…the first measurable snowfall of the season totaled 6.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 14th. Most of the snow…4.2 inches…fell on the 14th.  This was the only measurable snow of the month.

On the 15th:

In 1902…4.0 inches of snow fell over downtown Denver. This was the only measurable snow of the month. Northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph with gusts to 20 mph.

In 1906…strong winds howled and roared across Boulder… Causing several thousand dollars in damage.  The strong winds caused one fatality and minor injuries to others. West winds were sustained to 46 mph in downtown Denver where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 74 degrees.

In 1944…the low temperature dipped to 32 degrees.  This is the latest date of the first freeze in Denver.

In 1949…a trace of rain fell.  Another trace of rain on the 11th was the only precipitation of the month…making the month one of the driest Novembers on record and the least snowiest with no snow.  This was the first November since 1882 without snow.

In 1960…strong winds caused 2 thousand dollars damage to a new school building in Boulder where wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph.  Wind gusts to 40 mph were recorded in downtown Denver.  Damage occurred to utility lines…signs… And trees.  Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton Airport.

In 1986…strong Chinook winds howled over the Front Range foothills.  The highest wind gust…81 mph…was recorded at Table Mesa in Boulder.  West winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1987…the first measurable snow of the season was also a major snowstorm.  The snow combined with strong winds to close I-70 east of Denver and I-25 to Colorado Springs. Snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 9 inches across metro Denver with 10 to 20 inches in the foothills.  At Stapleton International Airport…6.1 inches of snow fell and north winds gusted to 47 mph reducing the visibility to as low as 1/8 mile in heavy snow.  Strong north winds at 20 to 30 mph with frequent gusts to 40 mph and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees plunged wind chill temperatures to 5 below zero.

In 1988…the season’s first snow storm hit metro Denver. The storm dumped 2 to 5 inches of snow…which caused numerous traffic snarls and accidents.  North wind gusts to 43 mph caused some blowing snow.  Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches at Stapleton International Airport.  This was the latest first snow of the season.  No traces of snow had occurred earlier in the season.

In 2010…the combination of light snow…wind… Black ice and careless driving resulted in a 34-vehicle crash along Interstate 25 north of Monument. Five tractor-trailers were involved in the pileup. Although there were no fatalities… 18 people were seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The northbound lanes of I-25 were closed for several hours…snarling the traffic between Denver and Colorado Springs.

From the 15th to the 16th:

In 1894…winds behind an apparent strong cold front were sustained to 60 mph with gusts to 75 mph on the 15th. Snowfall totaled 2.6 inches in the city.  Temperatures plunged from a high of 72 degrees on the 15th to a low of only 5 degrees on the 16th.  The high temperature on the 16th was 24 degrees…which occurred shortly after midnight.

In 1996…around a foot of new snow fell in the foothills west of Denver with 3 to 6 inches at lower elevations across metro Denver.  Some of the snowfall totals included:  15 inches at Georgetown…12 inches at Idaho Springs…10 inches at Chief Hosa…and 9 inches in Coal Creek Canyon.  Snowfall totaled 2.9 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  Northeast winds gusted to 23 mph at Denver International Airport on the 16th.

From the 15th to the 17th:

In 1991…a strong winter storm dumped heavy snow over metro Denver.  Snowfall amounts totaled 15 inches at Castle Rock and conifer…14 inches at Morrison and Parker…12 inches in southeast Aurora…and 11.6 inches at Stapleton International Airport.  Winds were light with the storm.

On the 16th: » Click here to read the rest of November 15 to November 21: This week in Denver weather history

Two out of three of the days look to be pretty decent with temperatures at or above normal. One, however, will be quite blustery and colder.

Friday the 13th will be the warmest and most pleasant of the three day period. Sunny skies will be above and conditions calm. Highs will top out in the upper 50s.

Tonight, a front moves through and with it winds will be increasing. Partly clear skies will be above overnight with lows in the mid-30s.

Saturday will not be a particularly nice day. While we will have sun later in the day, early on there will be a slight chance for a rain or snow shower. Any precipitation though will be minimal. Most notably will be the wind which could bring gusts to 50 mph by mid-day. A High Wind Watch is posted for 8:00am to 9:00pm Saturday. Throw in chilly temperatures in the low 40s and it will not be a great day to be outside.

Overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, winds will ease and become calm. Temperatures will drop to the mid-20s.

We should see a nice rebound Sunday. Conditions will be calm and dry under mostly sunny skies. Highs will be in the mid-50s.

Have a great weekend and keep an eye on those wind speeds here.

Very little change in our weather forecast for today as compared to the last couple. We will continue to have plenty of sun above but temperatures will cool a few degrees.

Sunny to mostly sunny skies will be above through the day today. Overall conditions will be calm but just slightly breezy around mid-day. Highs temperatures will top out in the mid-40s.

Tonight, skies will be mostly clear with overnight lows around 20 degrees.

Wind is always a factor on the plains and the fall usually brings a great deal of it, especially in November.  Our look back at this week in Denver weather history shows that event and snow are quite common this time of year.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 7th to the 8th:

In 1969…wind gusts to 48 mph in downtown Boulder caused minor damage.

On the 8th:

In 1896…southwest Chinook winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 53 degrees.

In 1977 near-blizzard conditions in blowing snow caused the closure of I-70 to the west of Denver in clear creek canyon and east of Denver to Limon.  Northeast wind gusts to 46 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport where snowfall totaled only 1.1 inches.

In 1984…a rare November thunderstorm produced west winds gusting to 31 mph…but only 0.04 inch of rain at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1996…high winds gusting from 80 to 100 mph were recorded at Wondervu in the foothills southwest of Boulder.  West northwest winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2006…the temperature in Denver climbed to a high of 80 degrees.  This was the first time the temperature had ever exceeded the 70’s in November since records began in 1872. This new all-time record maximum temperature for the month of November was also a new daily record and the highest temperature ever recorded so late in the season.

From the 8th to the 9th:

In 1897…west winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts as high as 50 mph in the city.

In 1919…post-frontal heavy snowfall totaled 8.4 inches over downtown Denver.  Most of the snow…6.6 inches…fell on the 9th.  North winds were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 30 mph on the 8th.

In 1950…a major winter storm dumped 10.4 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport with the most snow…7.8 inches…falling on the 8th.  East winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton Airport on the 8th.  Snowfall totaled 8.2 inches in downtown Denver.

In 1958…strong winds caused some damage in Boulder.  West- northwest winds gusted to 40 mph at Stapleton Airport on the 8th.

In 1975…heavy snowfall hit metro Denver.  Snowfall at Stapleton International Airport totaled 8.0 inches and east winds gusted to 21 mph.  Power outages caused by the storm affected over 10 thousand people in metro Denver.  In the foothills west of Denver…10 to 15 inches of snow fell. The storm produced the greatest 24-hour precipitation…1.29 inches…ever recorded during the month of November in the city.

In 1983…metro Denver received 4 to 8 inches of snow with the heaviest amounts near the foothills.  It was the first measurable snow of the season in Denver.  Only 1.8 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 20 mph.

In 1989…strong winds hit the Front Range.  On the 9th…the wooden frame of a house under construction in Boulder was blown down.  The previous evening a power outage blackened Nederland.  Wind gusts to 95 mph were recorded 4 miles south of Rollinsville with 97 mph on fritz peak near that town.  At Stapleton International Airport…northwest winds gusted to 45 mph on the 8th and to 38 mph on the 9th.

In 1998…another upslope snow event developed in the Front Range foothills.  The heaviest snowfall occurred in west central Jefferson County where 14 inches were measured 8 miles west of conifer.  Other snowfall totals included: 10 inches at evergreen and 9 miles northwest of Bergen Park; 9 inches at Genesee…Nederland…and near the Chief Hosa exit on I-70; and 8 inches in Coal Creek Canyon.  On the 9th…snowfall was 2.6 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  North-northeast winds gusted to 30 mph at Denver International Airport on the 9th.

From the 8th to the 10th:

In 1985…Indian summer came to an abrupt end when a winter storm dumped 10 to 18 inches of snow in the Front Range foothills and 6 to 10 inches across metro Denver…snarling traffic and causing flight delays of up to 3 hours at Stapleton International Airport.  The temperature plunged from a high of 66 degrees on the 8th to a low of only 13 degrees on the 9th…after the passage of a vigorous cold front with northeast winds gusting to 32 mph.  The temperature climbed to only 19 degrees on the 10th…setting a record low maximum for the date.  Snowfall totaled 7.3 inches at Stapleton International Airport with most of the snow…7.1 inches…falling on the 9th.

On the 9th:

In 1939…a trace of snow fell over downtown Denver.  This snow…along with a trace of snow on the 2nd…was the only snow of the month…ranking it…along with other months…the second least snowiest November on record.  Precipitation of 0.01 inch was the only precipitation of the month…making this the second driest November on record.

In 1944…the first killing frost of the season occurred in the city when the low temperature dipped to 35 degrees. This is the latest date for a killing frost ever recorded in Denver.

In 1946…heavy snowfall totaled 7.7 inches over downtown Denver.  This was the second heavy snowfall in less than a week.  Northwest winds were sustained to 26 mph.

In 1995…strong downslope winds gusted between 50 and 57 mph at Erie and Boulder.  West wind gusts to 44 mph were recorded at Denver International Airport.

In 2014…a record high min of 45 degrees… Broke the previous record of 43 degrees set in 1934…and preceded several days of record cold temperatures from the 11th through the 13th.

On the 10th:

In 1897…west Chinook winds sustained to 51 mph with gusts to 60 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 64 degrees.

In 1915…southwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts as high as 44 mph.

In 1955…strong winds raked the eastern foothills.  A wind gust to 80 mph was recorded atop Rocky Flats south of Boulder where some damage occurred.

In 1995…snowfall totaled 6 to 9 inches in the foothills west of Denver…while only 2.2 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North-northeast winds gusted to 31 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 1998…strong Bora winds gusting from 70 to 92 mph coupled with blowing snow created whiteout and slick black ice conditions at the base of the foothills west of Denver. State Highway 93 between Golden and Boulder and C-470… Near the Morrison interchange were closed for several hours due to multiple car accidents.  Dozens of motorists were stranded until weather conditions improved.  A small motor home was a total loss when it caught fire after being blown on its side by strong crosswinds.  A man was injured when he was blown off a vehicle while attempting to rescue the occupants.  Wind gusts included:  92 mph atop Blue Mountain near Coal Creek Canyon…83 mph atop fritz peak near Rollinsville…and 77 mph at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield.  West winds gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2000…freezing drizzle was widespread across northeastern Colorado with the heaviest amounts near the foothills in the evening.  The freezing drizzle made many highways icy and slick…which contributed to a number of traffic accidents.  Some highways across metro Denver were closed at times…including portions of State Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont and U.S. 36 between Westminster and Boulder.  State Highway 93 between Boulder and Golden atop Rocky Flats became nearly impassable due to a coating of ice by late evening.

From the 10th to the 11th:

In 1911…a strong cold front produced snow and a cold wave. The temperature dropped 68 degrees from a high of 66 degrees at 12:40 pm on the 10th to a low of 2 degrees below zero at 7:15 am on the 11th.  The low temperature of 23 degrees at midnight on the 10th was also the high temperature on the 11th.  Northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 51 mph.  Snowfall was only 2.5 inches.

In 1982…up to 4 inches of snow fell over the higher terrain between Denver and Colorado springs.  Winds gusted to 50 mph along the foothills.  Rainfall totaled 0.27 inch with only 0.1 inch of snow on the 11th at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 39 mph. Dense fog with visibilities as low as zero persisted all day on the 10th.

» Click here to read the rest of November 8 to November 14: This week in Denver weather history

A pretty nice looking day to honor those who have sacrificed so much in service to this nation. We will enjoy lots of sun and calm conditions although temperatures will remain below normal.

Mostly sunny skies will be the rule throughout the day. Winds will be light, overall conditions calm and dry. High temperatures today will top out right near the 50 degree mark.

Tonight, lows will drop to near 20 degrees under mostly clear skies.

Thank you to nation’s veterans – we are forever in your debt!