Following on a drier and slightly warmer than normal August, the month of September arrives and one can’t help but wonder if an early fall lies in wait. The month can bring our first snow of the season but more often than not, it is one of the most pleasant along the Colorado Front Range.
As temperatures start to drop, September usually reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.
The month can bring extremes however. We will of course forever remember last year’s devastating floods brought on by record-setting rain. Longtime residents might remember September 1971 which brought over 17 inches of snowfall.
High pressure was the dominant feature across much of Colorado during the month of August 2015. This helped keep temperatures quite warm and while there were occasional storms, they failed to deliver much in the way of precipitation.
We started out the month very warm and dry. This was interrupted on the 9th when a series of disturbances finally brought some measurable precipitation. Dry weather returned for a few days but then a strong cold front moved bring much cooler temperatures from the 17th to the 19th. The break was short-lived and warmer mercury readings and drier conditions dominated the balance of the month.
Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 71.8 degrees, not far off Denver’s long term average for August of 72.5 degrees. Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, it was much warmer with an average of 74.0 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 98.1 degrees on the 15th down to a low of 45.3 degrees on the morning of the 19th. Denver’s maximum reading of 98 degrees came on the 15th as well and its lowest reading of 43 degrees came on the 23rd.
We saw 18 days with high temperature readings above the 90 degree mark. Denver saw one more than that.
Two daily high temperature records were tied in Denver during the month, those coming on the 18th and 26th with readings of 98 and 97 degrees respectively. Additionally, two mornings in a row fell to record lows. The record low temperature for the 18th (47 degrees) was tied and the following day a new record low of 47 degrees was set.
In terms of precipitation, a paltry 0.87 inches fell in Thornton’s rain bucket. Out at the airport, Denver recorded 1.18 inches. Both were well below Denver’s long term average of 1.69 inches for August.
Thornton, Colorado’s August 2015 temperatur?e summary. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)Thornton, Colorado’s August 2015 precipitat?ion summary. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
244 AM MDT TUE SEP 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 105 08/08/1878
LOW 40 08/26/1910
08/25/1910
08/24/1910
HIGHEST 98 08/15 105 -7 91 08/19
08/17
LOWEST 43 08/23 40 3 52 08/31
08/30
08/25
AVG. MAXIMUM 89.8 87.2 2.6 83.8
AVG. MINIMUM 58.3 57.9 0.4 57.4
MEAN 74.0 72.5 1.5 70.6
DAYS MAX >= 90 19 11.5 7.5 4
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 5.85 1979
MINIMUM 0.02 1924
TOTALS 1.18 1.69 -0.51 2.73
DAILY AVG. 0.04 0.05 -0.01 0.09
DAYS >= .01 9 8.6 0.4 13
DAYS >= .10 4 4.3 -0.3 5
DAYS >= .50 1 1.2 -0.2 3
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.68 08/11 TO 08/11 08/25 TO 08/26
08/10 TO 08/11 08/31 TO 08/31
08/11 TO 08/11 08/31 TO 08/31
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 08/26(00) TO 08/26(00)
08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1
08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 13 10 3 2
SINCE 7/1 18 16 2 7
COOLING TOTAL 304 244 60 182
SINCE 1/1 713 688 25 613
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/189
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 38/260 DATE 08/31
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 47/340 DATE 08/09
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 23
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 45
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 15 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 4
LIGHT RAIN 12 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 5
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 4 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 8
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
August 30 to September 5: This week in Denver weather history
As always, when looking at weather history we are reminded of the varied and sometimes dangerous weather conditions we have here in Colorado. Our look this week we see high temperatures soaring to 97 degrees but also we see the earliest snowfall on record.
From the National Weather Service:
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
30
In 1981…60 mph winds were reported in Boulder.
In 2004…a severe thunderstorm produced hail as large as 1 inch in diameter in south Aurora near Cherry Creek.
31
In 1951…hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter caused an estimated 300 thousand dollars damage in metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter was measured at Stapleton Airport.
In 1978…strong thunderstorm winds tore the roof off an apartment building in Aurora…downed trees…and damaged windows in Denver. A microburst wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1985…a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph was clocked at Buckley Field in Aurora.
In 1997…hail to 1 1/4 inches in diameter was measured in Aurora.
In 2006…a female postal worker was struck and injured by lightning while delivering mail in Westminster.
In 2008…lightning struck a home in Brighton…damaging the roof and a bedroom. The damaged totaled 20 thousand dollars.
1
In 1951…large hail pounded Boulder…causing thousands of dollars in damage to roofs and automobiles. Heavy thunderstorm rainfall flooded basements and produced widespread street flooding.
In 1966…severe thunderstorms caused local flooding in areas from Denver to the north and east. There was scattered damage from hail and lightning. Streets were flooded in Boulder…and streets and basements were flooded in several areas of metro Denver. The public reported 1 inch diameter hail in Aurora and near Cheery Creek Reservoir. Thunderstorm rainfall totaled only 0.39 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1985…severe thunderstorms dumped heavy rain and hail at many locations along the Front Range from Denver south. The southern and eastern suburbs of metro Denver were especially hard hit. Rainfall from 1 1/2 to 3 inches caused extensive street flooding in Aurora where two creeks rose out of their banks. Two homes in the city suffered minor lightning damage. Almost 4 inches of rain fell in the Parker area. Hail up to ping-pong ball size piled up to a foot deep and closed a road in Evergreen. Hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter was reported 8 miles northeast of Deckers. Wind gusts to 65 mph were estimated in southeast Aurora.
In 1990…marble size hail piled up to 2 inches deep in the foothills community of Kittredge…18 miles southwest of Denver. As much as half an inch of rain fell in just 15 minutes and caused minor road and small stream flooding. A thunderstorm dropped pea to marble size hail and brief heavy rain near ward road and 64th avenue in Arvada. Minor street and small stream flooding was reported in the area.
In 1995…a strong thunderstorm microburst with only a few drops of rain produced a recorded wind gust to 85 mph at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. The wind gust occurred at 8:30 pm MDT. The all-time highest recorded temperature in September…97 degrees… Occurred. The same temperature also occurred on September 5…1899…September 4…1960…and September 4… 1995.
1-5
In 1995…record breaking heat occurred on the first 5 days of the month when the temperature climbed into the 90’s on each day. Record high temperatures of 97 degrees on both the 1st and 4th equaled the all-time record maximum for the month. High temperature of 95 degrees on the 3rd was a record for the date. High temperatures of 94 degrees on both the 2nd and the 5th were not records. The low temperature of 64 degrees on the 4th equaled the record high minimum for the date.
1-7
In 1978…the temperature reached 90 degrees or more on seven consecutive days with the highest temperature…94 degrees… Recorded on both the 4th and 6th.
2
In 1938…heavy cloudbursts in the foothills near the top of Genesee Mountain caused flash flooding on Bear Creek at Morrison. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell just north of Morrison in 6 hours and drowned 6 people in a car between Morrison and Kittredge. Damage was estimated at nearly a half million dollars. Flash flooding also occurred on south Boulder creek in Eldorado Springs. Rainfall totaled 4.42 inches in Eldorado Springs…and rainfall was estimated to more than 6 inches in the foothills west of the town. Many buildings and residences were damaged in Eldorado Springs…and bridges were swept away. The high waters forced residents from their homes as far downstream as Erie. This was the flood of record on south Boulder Creek.
In 1973…hail to 3/4 inch diameter was reported in Boulder.
In 1987…lightning struck two men who were standing under a tree in downtown Denver. Both were seriously injured and hospitalized.
In 1996…lightning sparked a brush fire in the south buffer zone of the rocky flats environmental test facility. No structures were damaged…but the fire burned about 100 acres of grassland before being contained.
2-3
In 1892…there was a trace of rainfall each day. This… Together with a trace of rain on both the 7th and 8th…was the only rainfall of the month…making the month the driest on record. The monthly record was equaled in 1944.
3
In 1901…a thunderstorm produced rain…hail of unknown size… And south winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 43 mph.
In 1961…Labor Day snow storm is the earliest date of the first snow…trace and measurable…of the season. The heavy wet snow broke many limbs from trees that were still in full foliage. The storm produced 4.2 inches of snowfall at Stapleton Airport with nearly a foot of snow in western suburbs and in the foothills. Minimum temperature of 33 degrees was a record for the date and the coldest ever recorded so early in the season.
In 1999…severe thunderstorms dumped large hail across metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter was measured near Cherry Creek in Aurora and near Bennett. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell in the city of Denver.
In 2002…a thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 51 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2003…very heavy thunderstorm rain washed out parts of the Virginia Canyon Road above Idaho Springs. Up to 4 feet of mud reportedly washed down the road during the storm. Several vehicles were trapped on the road. In Idaho Springs…several streets…including the main street… Were also buried in mud and gravel. Some buildings in town experienced minor flooding…including the basement of the town library and the police station.
3-6 in 1909…rainfall for the 4 days accumulated to 3.97 inches in Boulder…while in Denver rainfall totaled 2.45 inches on the 4th…5th…and 6th.
A gorgeous Thornton, Colorado sunset as captured by LE Worley. Scroll down for more images in our slideshow.
As the calendar turns to August, the summertime heat begins to fade and that makes it easier to get out and enjoy all of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. From a walk in a park to afternoon thunderstorms to an abundance of wildlife, photo opportunities abound as is seen in our slideshow.
Our monsoon season typically arrives about now and that means better chances for moisture. However with limited instability, the intensity of storms are more sedate. That doesn’t mean however that the weather is any less photographic.
Slideshow updated August 30, 2015
By the end of the month some of our seasonal feathered friends will be looking to leave the state giving our last chance to see them till spring. Larger mammals are gearing up for the rut (mating season) and that can make for some intense scenes.
Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather and nature related imagery. Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted.
To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.
[flickr_set id=”72157656784854999″]
What is missing in the slideshow above? Your photo!
Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured. The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.
Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids. Whimsical, newsy, artsy. Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard. You name it, we want to see and share it!
Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State. We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.
We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.
What do you win for having your image in our slideshow? We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes. However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.
To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets. Links are provided below.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s high temperature reached 97 degrees at 2:33pm. This ties the record for the date set in 1985 and 1936.
Today, here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler topping out at 95 degrees.
The event makes it the fourth temperature record set or tied in Denver this month.
On August 15 Denver tied the record high for the date (98 degrees). This was followed by record lows on August 18 and 19 (47 degrees on both days).
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Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
Following on a drier and slightly warmer than normal August, the month of September arrives and one can’t help but wonder if an early fall lies in wait. The month can bring our first snow of the season but more often than not, it is one of the most pleasant along the Colorado Front Range.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s high temperature reached 97 degrees at 2:33pm. This ties the record for the date set in 1985 and 1936.