October 14 to October 20: This week in Denver weather history

The further we get in October the chances for snow increase and our look at this week in Denver weather history shows many significant snowstorms. Arguably the most notable was the infamous “Bronco Blizzard” of 1984 which dumped snow on the Mile High City while the Broncos faced off against the Green Bay Packers.

From the National Weather Service:

12-14

In 1969…record breaking extremely cold temperatures for so early in the season occurred. The high temperature of 26 degrees on the 13th was two degrees lower than the previous record minimum temperature of 28 degrees for the date set in 1885. The high temperature of 24 degrees on the 12th exceeded the record low temperature (22 degrees set in 1885) for the date by only 2 degrees. In addition… 3 new record low temperatures for the dates were set. The low temperature dipped to 10 degrees on the 12th breaking the old record (22 degrees in 1885) by 12 degrees. On the 13th the mercury plunged to a low of 3 degrees breaking the old record (28 degrees in 1885) by 25 degrees. On the 14th the temperature reached a minimum of 4 degrees breaking the old record (25 degrees in 1966) by 21 degrees.

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In 1910…light smoke from nearby forest fires drifted over the city.

In 1966…the first measurable snow of the season caused widespread damage to trees and shrubs. The heavy wet snow totaled 6.9 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north-northwest winds sustained at 20 to 25 mph and gusting to 45 mph caused much blowing and drifting snow. South and east of Denver…up to a foot of snow fell. Heavy wet snow accumulations followed by freezing temperatures and strong winds resulted in extensive damage to trees…cars… And utility lines by falling limbs. A woman was killed by a falling snow laden tree limb in Denver. Several other people received minor injuries from falling tree limbs.

In 1987…rain drenched metro Denver. The South Platte canyon area southwest of Denver received the most with 1.11 inches at Kassler and 1.49 inches upstream at Strontia Springs. At Stapleton International Airport…0.62 inch of rain was measured…northwest winds gusted to 29 mph…and thunder was heard.

In 2007…a new 24-hour record of 2.65 inches of precipitation was set at Denver International Airport for the month of October; breaking the previous record of 2.58 inches set in 1892.

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In 1873…smoke from several large forest fires in the mountains made the air very hazy in the city.

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In 1952…the first measurable snowfall of the season left 1.2 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport. North winds gusted to 38 mph.

In 1974…rain changed to snow early in the day…but snowfall totaled only 1.0 inch at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 20 mph.

15

In 1871…a terrible wind occurred during a snow storm in the foothills above Boulder. Damage was minor.

In 1878…high winds reached sustained speeds of 60 mph at times.

In 1911…post-frontal northwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts to 43 mph.

In 1948…strong winds struck the Boulder area. Winds averaged 50 mph at Valmont just east of Boulder. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were recorded at the Boulder airport. Wind gusts to 40 mph briefly reduced the visibility to 1 1/2 miles in blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.

In 1980…a rare October tornado touched down in Boulder… Damaging a vocational training building and throwing three nearby cars together damaging them extensively. A mile and half away several camper vehicles were thrown 200 feet. The storm also produced 1 inch diameter hail in the Boulder area.

15-16

In 1928…a thunderstorm produced hail shortly after midnight on the 15th. Rain changed to snow by evening. Through the afternoon of the 16th…the heavy snowfall totaled 7.3 inches in the city. North winds were sustained to 23 mph on the 15th.

In 1984…the heaviest October snowstorm in several years hit eastern Colorado with a vengeance. The storm was known as the “Bronco Blizzard” since it occurred during a nationally televised Monday Night Football game in Denver. One to two feet of snow fell near the foothills in west metro Denver with 2 to 3 feet in the foothills. Wind gusts up to 55 mph whipped the snow into drifts as high as 4 feet. The storm closed schools…roads…and airports. I-70 was closed both east and west of Denver. I-25 was closed south to Colorado Springs. Flights were delayed for several hours at Stapleton International Airport. Power outages were widespread. Snowfall totaled 9.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusting as high as 40 mph caused frequent surface visibilities of 1/4 to 1/2 mile in moderate to heavy snow and blowing snow overnight. The high temperature of only 35 degrees on the 15th was a record low maximum for the date.

» Click here to read the rest of October 14 to October 20: This week in Denver weather history

A bit of a mixed bag of weather for us over the three day period. Friday and Saturday, while remaining cooler than normal, will be dry and see our warmest temps of recent days. Then, a significant system will move in bringing cold and snow Saturday night into Sunday.

We start things off on Friday with some clouds early then those will depart leading to sunny skies by mid-morning and lasting through the rest of the day. Temperatures will top out in the low 60s, still below normal but far warmer than recent days. Friday night skies will remain clear with lows in the mid-30s.

Saturday starts out sunny with a bit of an increase in cloud cover through the day as the next system gets closer. Highs will be near the 60 degree mark. Look for some breezy winds in the afternoon. By the evening, it will be mostly cloudy with the arrival of the cold front and storm system.

Some evening rain will be possible with a change over to snow after dark. Snow will continue overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning with low temps into the low 20s.

Sunday morning snow will ease with only a few flurries in the afternoon. We could see a few inches total accumulation from the event. Sunday temperatures will be quite chilly with highs only in the mid-20s. Overnight Sunday night into Monday morning, the mercury will drop to near 10 degrees.

Enjoy the initial warmth and be ready for the cold to come.

After three days in a row with temperatures that failed to climb even above 40 degrees, we see some improvement in the mercury readings today. There will still however be a good bit of cloud cover and some chances for showers.

Cloudy skies start things off then to be followed by a bit of clearing later this morning. By this afternoon and particularly as we head toward evening we should see some sun peeking out.

Light showers will be possible from late morning through the evening with the best chances coming in the afternoon. Temperatures will warm to the mid-40s.

Tonight, any showers will come to an end before midnight with mostly cloudy skies above. Overnight lows will dip to the low to mid-30s.

October 7 to October 13: This week in Denver weather history

While fall has barely just begun, our look back at this week in Denver weather history is most notable for winter-like conditions. Numerous noteworthy storms have struck the Mile High City during this week in our past including a major one just seven years ago.

From the National Weather Service:

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In 1903…north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph.

In 1917…post-frontal northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts to 52 mph. Rain was mixed with a trace of snow…the first of the season. Precipitation totaled 0.22 inch and included the occurrence of hail… Even though no thunder was heard.

In 1950…strong winds caused a power outage in Boulder. This was the heaviest windstorm since January. Damage was minor. Northwest winds gusted to only 35 mph at Stapleton Airport.

In 1985…strong Chinook winds buffeted the Front Range foothills. Wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph were reported in Boulder and atop squaw mountain west of Denver. Southwest winds gusted to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

7-8

In 1990…the season’s first snow occurred. Snowfall amounts varied from 3 to 7 inches across metro Denver. Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 29 mph.

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In 1923…southeast winds were sustained to 44 mph with gusts to 47 mph. The strong winds persisted through the afternoon. The high temperature of 77 degrees was the warmest of the month that year.

In 1975…a wind gust to near 100 mph was recorded in Boulder. Frequent wind gusts to 60 mph were reported along the foothills causing only minor damage. West winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

9

In 1910…light smoke from forest fires in the mountains was sighted over the city.

In 1982…northwest winds gusted to 49 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

9-10

In 2005…a major winter storm brought heavy…wet snowfall to the Front Range mountains…eastern foothills…portions of metro Denver…and the Palmer Divide. Snow accumulations ranged from 8 to 26 inches with drifts from 3 to 4 feet in places. The heaviest snow occurred to the east and southeast of the city…closing most major highways in that area…including I-70 from Denver to Limon. The Red Cross opened four shelters for people who were stranded along I-70 in eastern Colorado. Since many trees had not yet shed their leaves…the storm caused significant tree damage. One woman in Denver was killed when a tree branch… 8 to 10 inches in diameter…snapped under the weight of the heavy…wet snow and struck her as she was shoveling her driveway. Xcel Energy reported power outages to about 35 thousand customers. Several incoming flights were delayed at Denver International Airport. Snow totals included: 16 inches in the foothills near Boulder…12 inches at Genesee and near Golden…22 inches near Watkins…19 inches near Bennett…17 inches southeast of Aurora…14 inches near Parker…13 inches near Castle Rock…12 inches in Centennial… 11 inches in Parker…and 10 inches at Denver International Airport and in Littleton. While many areas of metro Denver received heavy snow…others experienced almost entirely rain. This included west and northwest metro Denver…Boulder…and Longmont. Rainfall amounts were significant as storm totals ranged between 1.50 and 2.50 inches. The steady rainfall triggered 3 rockslides in foothills canyons. Two of the slides occurred on State Highway 119 in Boulder Canyon and the longest slide…7 feet in length…on State Highway 74 in Bear Creek Canyon at Idledale. North winds were sustained to around 23 mph with gusts to 31 mph at Denver International Airport on the 9th. The high temperature of only 34 degrees on the 10th was a record low maximum for the date. The low temperature on both days was 32 degrees.

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In 1901…an evening thunderstorm produced east winds to 43 mph with gusts to 48 mph.

In 1949…strong winds believed to be the worst in Boulder’s history at the time caused over 100 thousand dollars damage in the city. Peak winds were estimated to 85 mph at Valmont…just east of Boulder. High winds also occurred over most of metro Denver and caused damage to trees…window glass…and utility lines. The damage was most pronounced over the northwest metro area…including north Denver and Lakewood. Falling tree branches caused damage to parked autos and houses. Wind gusts to 70 mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport.

In 1964…lightning struck and killed a 13-year-old boy…while he was riding his bicycle along a tree-lined residential street in south Denver. Apparent microburst winds gusted to 54 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

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In 1986…the first significant snowstorm of the season produced 2 to 5 inches of snow over metro Denver with 5 to 10 inches in the foothills west of Denver. Wondervu recorded the most snow from the storm…13 inches. The heavy wet snow caused numerous power outages. The storm was accompanied by strong north winds with gusts to 41 mph recorded on the 10th. The first snowfall of the season totaled 3.1 inches at Stapleton International Airport with only one inch on the ground due to melting. The strong cold front accompanying the storm cooled the temperature from a high of 73 degrees on the 10th to a high of only 33 degrees on the 11th…which was a record low maximum for the date.

10-12

In 1969…the second heavy snowstorm in less than a week dumped nearly a foot of snow across metro Denver and plunged the area into extremely cold temperatures for so early in the season. Snowfall totaled 11.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusting to 26 mph produced drifts up to 2 feet deep. Temperatures dipped from a high of 52 degrees on the 10th to a record low for the date of 10 degrees on the 12th. There was additional damage to trees and power and telephone lines from heavy snow accumulations and icing. Travel was restricted or blocked by drifting snow in both the mountains and on the plains east of Denver.

» Click here to read the rest of October 7 to October 13: This week in Denver weather history

Not a lot of improvement in Thornton’s weather for today as well below normal temps coupled with drizzle and light rain will remain. By the end of the day though, we may see just a bit of sun start to peek out.

Cloudy skies start things off and will persist through the morning and early afternoon. After that, a few breaks in the coverage may be seen although not a lot.

Drizzle and light rain will continue to occur off and on into mid to late afternoon. A little bit of snow may get mixed in there but with only minimal accumulations if any at all.

Temperatures will push close to the 40 degree mark, still well below what we would expect to see this time of year.

Tonight, mostly cloudy skies will be above with lows dipping toward the freezing mark.

Keep an eye on the thermometer here.

Not much change in our weather today versus yesterday although overall we expect less precipitation. Temperatures will remain well below normal and tonight we could see that first hard freeze of the season.

Cloudy skies are going to be the rule today and we don’t see any real chance for a break in the cloud cover. Drizzle and fog will be seen early then look for a return of drizzle / showers in the afternoon and evening. Highs today will top out in the low 40s, this in comparison to the average high for the date of 68 degrees.

Tonight, cloudy skies will be above with just a bit of clearing after midnight. We may see some snow mix in with the overnight showers but without any accumulation. Lows will dip to near the 30 degree mark although with the cloud cover we may fail to see that freezing reading.

A Freeze Warning has been issued just in case and is in effect from 6:00pm this evening to 10:00am tomorrow.

Stay warm and dry!

Mother Nature is set to bring us a pretty significant change in the weather. Today will see temps well below normal with rain for much of the day and then tonight we are expecting our first freeze of the season and perhaps some snow.

Cloudy skies are going to be the rule through today and tonight. Light rain will be seen throughout much of the day before easing in the late afternoon. A few flakes of snow may get into the mix but nothing that will accumulate.

Temperatures will remain steady and in the mid to upper 30s during the daytime hours. As temperatures drop this evening and overnight tonight, some snow may get into the mix but we aren’t expecting any accumulations.

Overnight lows tonight will dip to 30 degrees or so. This has prompted a Freeze Watch to be issued and appropriate precautions should be taken. Be sure your hoses are disconnected from the house, swamp coolers and sprinklers are disconnected and drained and any sensitive vegetation is covered or brought inside.

Stay warm today!

A series of disturbances is going to give this weekend’s weather a distinctly fall feel to it. It starts out relatively nice Friday morning but from there temperatures cool and we will see chances for showers.

For today, mostly sunny skies kick things off but cloud cover will be increasing as the day progresses and a cold front approaches. Highs will top out in the mid to upper 60s but be cooling by mid-afternoon. Some light showers may be seen this afternoon and evening into tonight. Overnight tonight, mostly cloudy skies will be above with lows dipping to the mid to upper 30s.

On Saturday we will be feeling the effects of colder air from the north. Highs will be in the mid-50s under mostly cloudy skies. We should remain dry though. Overnight Saturday night into Sunday morning, skies will remain mostly cloudy with lows dipping to around 40 degrees.

Sunday will be most unsettled day of the period. Mostly cloudy skies will be above throughout. A few sprinkles of rain will be possible in the morning with coverage spreading in the afternoon and evening. Highs will be in the mid-50s.

While we enjoyed a nice day today with temperatures a good bit above normal, it might be time to start thinking about snow and cold. While we don’t have any freezing temps or any of the white stuff in the immediate forecast, history shows us it could happen any time now. You may start thinking about getting those sprinklers blown out, swamp coolers put away and other winterization tasks done.

With the first full month of fall here, October usually brings one of the quietest weather months in the Denver area with plenty of mild, sunny days and clear, cool nights.

October is historically the second sunniest month and conditions are generally calm.

However we also will usually see our first taste of winter during the month with the first freeze and first snowfall of the season.

Temperatures as well will start to drop and by the end of the month the average nighttime lows are below freezing.

For complete details on our historical October weather and what we can expect in the coming month, read our complete October weather preview here.

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