Thornton’s June 2011 weather was a relatively typical one with average temperatures but also with above normal precipitation. The month also signifies the official end of the 2010 to 2011 snow season which was absolutely dismal.
In terms of temperatures Denver saw an average temperature for the month of 68.2 degrees. This was just a bit above the normal of 67.6 degrees. Temperatures ranged from a high of 96 degrees on the 28th and 29th down to a low of 45 degrees on the 10th. DIA recorded seven days with 90 degrees or higher temperatures which is one above normal. No temperature records were set for the month.
Here in Thornton we came quite close to mirroring Denver’s official temperatures. Our average temperature was 68.1 degrees with the highest mercury reading of 96.4 degrees coming on the 29th. The lowest temperature in Thornton came on the 3rd at 45.4 degrees.
Precipitation for the month was above normal as DIA’s rain bucket recorded 2.43 inches. This was 0.87 inch above the normal of 1.56 inch and the second month in a row with above normal precipitation. In all, eight days had measurable precipitation and DIA reported thunderstorms on 10 days which is average.
One precipitation record was set during the month when 1.05 inches of rain was recorded on the 20th. This beat the old record for the date of 0.50 inch set in 1939.
We were quite a bit drier in Thornton as our precipitation for the month fell below the Denver normals. We recorded 1.14 inches for the month with the majority of that, 0.87 inch, falling on the 20th.
Denver’s snow season runs from July 1 to June 30 and with the end of the 2010 to 2011 season the numbers show just how poorly we faired in terms of snowfall. The Mile High City recorded a mere 22.8 inches of the white stuff at DIA. This is a whopping 38.9 inches below the normal of 61.5 inches. The season will go into the record books as the second least snowiest snow season since Denver began keeping records in 1882.
Here in Thornton we did not fare any better than Denver on the snowfall front. Our season wrapped up with a dismal 21.2 inches.
Denver, Colorado June 2011 Climate Summary
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2011
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR'S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 104 06/26/1994
LOW 30 06/02/1951
HIGHEST 96 06/29 104 -8 99 06/25
06/28
LOWEST 45 06/10 30 15 47 06/23
06/18
06/14
06/12
AVG. MAXIMUM 83.3 82.1 1.2 84.1
AVG. MINIMUM 53.0 53.0 0.0 53.6
MEAN 68.2 67.6 0.6 68.9
DAYS MAX >= 90 7 6.3 0.7 10
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.96 1882
MINIMUM T 1890
TOTALS 2.43 1.56 0.87 1.60
DAILY AVG. 0.08 0.05 0.03 0.05
DAYS >= .01 8 8.7 -0.7 5
DAYS >= .10 4 MM MM 3
DAYS >= .50 2 MM MM 2
DAYS >= 1.00 1 MM MM 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.55 06/19 TO 06/20 1.25 06/11 TO 06/12
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.4 1919
TOTALS 0.0 T
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 26 60 -34 38
SINCE 7/1 5707 6128 -421 6441
COOLING TOTAL 126 136 -10 163
SINCE 1/1 135 161 -26 179
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.4
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/148
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 48/190 DATE 06/29
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 72/200 DATE 06/29
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 7
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 21
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 45
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 3 RAIN 2
LIGHT RAIN 10 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 4 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 6
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.