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National Weather

That’s a big chunk of ice! South Dakota hailstone sets world records

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A massive hailstone with a diameter of 8 inches will likely set the record as the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight. (NWS)
A massive hailstone that fell in South Dakota on July 23rd set world records for diameter and weight. (NWS)

The massive hailstone that fell over rural South Dakota last week has officially set world records for its weight and diameter. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the chunk of ice easily eclipsed the previous record setter.

On Friday, July 23rd, severe weather rolled through northeastern South Dakota and Stanley, Jones, and Lyman counties. With it was massive hail so big it left holes in the ground the size of coffee cans. Les Scott, a ranch hand, recovered the now record setting stone afterwards.

NOAA’s National Climate Extremes Committee determined that the huge chunk of ice from the sky officially measured 8.0 inches in diameter and weighed 1.9375 pounds (1 pound, 15 ounces) setting records for both. It also measured 18.62 inches in circumference falling just short of breaking the record for that measurement.

The previous record holding hailstone in terms of weight fell on September 3, 1970 in Coffeyville, Kansas and weighed 1.67 pounds.

The stone that previously held the record for diameter measured 7 inches and fell in Aurora, Nebraska on June 22, 2003. That stone still holds the record for circumference having measured 18.75 inches.

While Scott froze it immediately, David Hintz, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Aberdeen weather forecast office, said in a statement some melting had probably occurred resulting in the official measurements being smaller than what the stone was when it first fell.

“Mr. Scott told me the area was littered with large hailstones and the largest had a greater diameter when he first found it. He immediately stored it and several others in his freezer, but a power outage caused some melting,” Hintz said.

Severe Weather, Thornton Weather

South Dakota hail stone measures 8 inches in diameter – likely world record

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A massive hailstone with a diameter of 8 inches will likely set the record as the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight. (NWS)
A massive hailstone with a diameter of 8 inches will likely set the record as the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight. (NWS)

Hail is one of the most damaging weather events capable of doing thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes and vehicles and utterly shredding crops. Last week in South Dakota the mother of all hail stones appears to have fallen – a beast weighing nearly two pounds and measuring 8 inches in diameter.

On the evening of July 23rd severe weather rolled through the northeastern corner of South Dakota bringing with it a great deal of hail and some tornadoes. Near Vivian in Faulk County, the hail grew to proportions likely not seen anywhere else.

Ranch hand Les Scott watched the drama unfold as the hail pummeled the surrounding land. The stones were large enough that holes the size of coffee cans were left in the ground.

One particular hailstone caught Scott’s eye due to its sheer size. After retrieving it, he stuck it in his freezer. Word soon traveled about the massive chunk of ice and National Weather Service personnel made preliminary measurements placing the diameter at 8 inches with a circumference over 18 ½ inches.

Yesterday, the service returned to Vivian to transport the stone to the closest certified scale at the local post office to have it weighed. The scale tipped at an amazing 1.9375 pounds. It also had lost a bit in size dropping to 17 inches around.

Scott said the hailstone was quite a bit larger when he first found it, possibly as large as 11 inches in diameter. However, power was out in the area for six hours Friday and after he pulled it out to show various people, it lost some of its mass.

Continue reading South Dakota hail stone measures 8 inches in diameter – likely world record →

Thornton Weather

Eastlake grain elevator added to the National Register of Historic Places

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The Eastlake grain elevator, built not long after the turn of the last century, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The Eastlake grain elevator, built not long after the turn of the last century, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. (ThorntonWeather.com)

The city of Thornton was founded in the 1950’s but it traces its roots much farther back than that.  In fact, one could go back to the late 1800’s / early 1900’s and the Eastlake area to find some of the first ‘settlers’ of where modern day Thornton sits.  Now, one of the original buildings from those early days has been named to a very auspicious list.

The old Eastlake grain elevator at 126th Ave and Claude Court was built around 1914 not long after the Post Office and was followed by schools, churches and other buildings that were part of a growing town. 

The grain elevator is one of the few remaining buildings from those early days and it has recently been named to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.  

This is a great step in helping to preserve our quickly fading past and ThorntonWeather.com is excited the city is working to ensure the elevator remains as a visible reminder of our history. 

This past winter, we took some photos in the Eastlake area just after a fresh snowfall, some of which included the Eastlake grain elevator.  You can view them in the slideshow below.

Severe Weather

Tornado that struck the Bronx rated an EF-1 with 100mph winds

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A tornado that struck the Bronx in New York was rated an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. (ThorntonWeather.com)
A tornado that struck the Bronx in New York was rated an EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. (ThorntonWeather.com)

A common myth is that tornadoes don’t strike cities. That myth was dispelled again this past Sunday when a twister packing 100 mph struck the Bronx in New York.

The tornado, rated an EF-1 by the National Weather Service (NWS), struck at 2:55pm. The service said that at its biggest the twister was 100 yards wide.

Initially touching down on the grounds of the Hebrew Home for the Aged on the east bank of the Hudson River, the tornado tore a path one half mile long. Seven people were injured by the storm and a variety of damage was documented by survey teams.

A flagpole was toppled as were numerous trees. Some large trees were stripped of their leaves.On West 254th Street across Netherlands and Arlington Streets “significant damage occurred.” One residential home sustained roof damage.

The National Weather Service this was only the second tornado to strike the Bronx since 1950. The first occurred on September 2, 1974.

From the National Weather Service:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
216 PM EDT TUE JUL 27 2010

…TORNADO CONFIRMED NEAR NORTH RIVERDALE IN BRONX COUNTY NY…

LOCATION…NORTH RIVERDALE IN BRONX COUNTY NY
DATE…JULY 25 2010
ESTIMATED TIME…255 PM TO 300 PM EDT
MAXIMUM EF- SCALE RATING…EF1
ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WIND SPEED…100 MPH
MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH…100 YARDS
PATH LENGTH…0.6 MILES
BEGINNING LAT/LON…40.91N / 73.91W
ENDING LAT/LON…40.90N / 73.90W
* FATALITIES…0
* INJURIES…7

Weather History

July 25 to July 31 – This week in Denver weather history

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July 25 to July 31 - This week in Denver weather history
July 25 to July 31 - This week in Denver weather history

Colorado’s unofficial severe weather season is during the months of May and June.  However, as we look back in Denver weather history, we see that July can oftentimes hold its own.  Many occurrences of flooding, scorching heat, and even tornadoes have been recorded.  Most notably, this week marks the 24th anniversary of the Big Thompson Flood – Colorado’s deadliest weather disaster ever.

7-25 

In 1934…a streak of 15 consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 5th on the list of hot streaks.  The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

13-5 

In 2008…a streak of 24 consecutive days of 90 degrees shattered the previous record of 18 consecutive days established in 1901 and 1874.   Ironically…no new single day record high temperatures were set in the month of July. In August however…a record of 104 degrees was set on the 1st…and another record of 103 degrees was set on the 2nd. In addition…a record low min of 70 degrees was set on August 2nd.

18-2 

In 1987…a streak of 16 consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 4th on the list of hot streaks.  The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

20-25

In 1965…heavy showers and thunderstorms doused metro Denver with significant rain each day.  Rainfall for the six days totaled 5.16 inches at Stapleton International Airport. Massive rainfall occurred on the 20th…21st…and 25th… Flooding streets and basements and causing streams to overflow.  The heaviest rainfall…2.05 inches…at Stapleton International Airport occurred on the 25th.

24-25

In 2003…maximum temperature of 100 degrees on the 24th was a record high for the date.  Low temperature of 73 degrees on the 25th was a record high minimum for the date.

25   

In 1875…brief heavy rain and hail lasted only 5 minutes… But the 1/4 inch diameter hail covered the ground to a depth of 1/2 inch and made the streets look like there had been snowfall.  There was much crop damage…especially to corn…and some sheep were killed.  Precipitation totaled 0.51 inch in the city.
 
Continue reading July 25 to July 31 – This week in Denver weather history →

Weather History

July 11 to July 17 – This week in Denver weather history

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July 11 to July 17 - This week in Denver weather history
July 11 to July 17 - This week in Denver weather history

As we move further into summer, we see a decrease in traditional things associated with severe weather like tornadoes.  However, there is a corresponding increase in heavy rain as Colorado gets closer to its monsoon season.  We see many occurences of dangerous flooding as well as damaging hail, deadly lightning and more as we look back at this week in Denver weather history.

1-18 

In 1874…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak that was later set in the summer of 1901. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

6-23 

In 1901…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak set in the summer of 1874. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

7-25 

In 1934…a streak of 15 consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 5th on the list of hot streaks.  The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

11

In 1872…heavy rainfall started at 4:00 pm and continued into the night.  The heavy rainfall damaged homes and buildings in all parts of the city.  Rainfall totaled 1.64 inches.
 
In 1888…the temperature reached 100 degrees in downtown Denver.
 
In 1954…the high temperature climbed to 102 degrees at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1970…a girl walking in a park in southeast Denver received eye and facial injuries when lightning struck nearby.  Lightning also caused numerous power outages and heavy rainfall produced local flooding at several locations across metro Denver.
 
In 1974…large hail up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter fell in Thornton.
 
In 1990…the worst hailstorm in American history in terms of dollar damage at the time battered metro Denver.  Storm damage totaled 605 million dollars…as it cut a 5-to 10-mile wide swath from just southeast of Estes Park to northeast of Colorado springs.  Hail as large as baseballs (2.75 inches) pounded metro Denver.  Hardest hit areas were southeast Boulder County…the Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield… Arvada…east Wheat Ridge…southwest and south-central Westminster…west Thornton…northwest…west-central and downtown Denver…northeast and east-central Lakewood…just east of Littleton…portions of Arapahoe County west of I-25… And northern and central Douglas County near Castle Rock and franktown.  Golf ball to baseball size hail severely damaged roofs on thousands of homes and buildings…battered tens of thousands of automobiles…windows…signs…street lights…and traffic signals…stripped paint…awnings…and trim from buildings…punched holes in the roofs of two homes in Arvada…knocked out power and telephone service to thousands of homes and businesses…defoliated thousands of trees…ripped up greens and fairways on a number of golf courses…and severely damaged several aircraft tied down at Jefferson County Airport.  Hail the size of baseballs fell for several minutes in old town Arvada.  Later…golf ball size hail and heavy rain pummeled two northwest Denver amusement parks.  Hardest hit was Elitch Gardens amusement park where 47 people were injured and received treatment for bumps…cuts…and bruises at local hospitals.  Many of the injured were stranded on rides during the storm when power failed.  Hail clogged storm sewers…causing rain water to back up 3 to 6 feet deep on some roads and intersections in Arvada.  Several basements were flooded.  In some places hail was washed into drifts several feet deep.  In addition… The storm spawned 2 small tornadoes.  One touched down briefly in Lakewood near 6th avenue and Kipling Blvd….but did no damage.  In Castle Rock…a tornado (f1) did heavy damage to some homes and vehicles in the Founders Village development near Ridge Road.
 
In 2001…lightning struck two homes in Thornton.  Most of the damage was confined to the attics of both homes.  Hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell in Keenesburg…Longmont… And near Boulder.

Continue reading July 11 to July 17 – This week in Denver weather history →

Natural Disasters

South-central Alaska struck with magnitude 5.0 earthquake

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A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck north of Anchorage, Alaska on Wednesday evening. (USGS)
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck north of Anchorage, Alaska on Wednesday evening. (USGS)

Alaska is one of the most seismically active parts of the United States and early Thursday morning residents near Anchorage received a reminder of that fact. A magnitude 5.0 temblor stuck in the evening hours on Wednesday and was felt across the south-central area of the state.

Centered 50 miles north-northwest of Anchorage, the quake struck at 07:15pm and according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was at a depth of 12.9 miles below the surface.

The service said it had received reports of the temblor being felt as far away as Palmer and Valdez to the east and Skwentna to the west. Residents of Anchorage and Seward to the south also felt the shaking.

Being along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Alaska regularly experiences earthquakes although most are small and not felt. The boundary of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates that runs through south-central Alaska and the Aleutian Islands is where most of the activity occurs.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center (AEIC) says that the state receives from 50 to 100 earthquakes a day. Three of the 10 largest earthquakes recorded in the world, all larger than magnitude 7.9, have been recorded in Alaska.

For all the latest on earthquakes as well as other natural disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and more, please visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

National Weather, Thornton Weather

While the east roasts, the west chills – Record temperatures of both extremes in the U.S.

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Record heat strikes the northeastern U.S. while southern California sees record low maximums. Denver may see its own temperature record today. (Examiner.com)
Record heat strikes the northeastern U.S. while southern California sees record low maximums. Denver may see its own temperature record today. (Examiner.com)

Triple digit heat broiled the northeastern United States on Tuesday while record setting cool weather struck southern California. Denver may be next to see cool temperatures for the record books as the United States experiencing a wide variety of temperatures.

On the East Coast, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees struck from Virginia north to Massachusetts. Many of the temperatures recorded set new high temperature records for the date including:

  • Allentown, PA – 101 degrees (old record 100 degrees set in 1999)
  • Atlantic City, NJ – 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)
  • Baltimore, MD – 105 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
  • Newark, NJ – 103 degrees (old record 102 degrees set in 1999)
  • New York City, NY (Central Park) – 103 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
  • Philadelphia, PA – 102 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
  • Warwick, RI – 102 degrees (old record 97 degrees set in 1999)
  • Wilmington, DE – 103 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
  • Windsor Locks, CT – 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)

On the opposite coast of the nation, record low maximum temperatures were recorded from San Diego up to Riverside. Low pressure and a thick marine layer of clouds held temperatures down and residents that would normally be wearing shorts and tank tops traded that clothing for jeans and sweatshirts.

Among the tied or broken record low maximums recorded in southern California on Tuesday were:

  • Escondido – 69 degrees (old record 78 set in 1987)
  • Laguna Beach – 62 degrees (old record 68 set in 1968)
  • Newport Beach – 66 degrees (tied record of 66 last set in 1995)
  • Oceanside Harbor – 62 degrees (old record 65 set in 2002)
  • Riverside – 79 degrees (old record 80 set in 1969)
  • San Diego – 65 degrees (tied record of 65 last set in 1912)

On Wednesday, both the northeastern United States and southern California may see those record-setting temperature trends continue.

Denver also stands a chance to see a record setting low maximum today. The forecast for Denver International Airport where Denver’s official temperature measurements are now taken is for a high of 63 degrees today. The current record low maximum is 65 degrees last set in 1952.  Here in Thornton we will see similar temperatures.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver records its wettest 4th of July ever; Record draws attention to climate data problems

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According to the National Weather Service, record-setting rain fell in Denver on the 4th of July. But is it accurate to say that? (ThorntonWeather.com)
According to the National Weather Service, record-setting rain fell in Denver on the 4th of July. But is it accurate to say that? (ThorntonWeather.com)

Heavy rain showers put a damper on a lot of Independence Day celebrations yesterday.  Thunderstorms moved across the Front Range dumping rain and hail across northeastern Colorado with enough rain falling to set a record for the 4th of July.

At Denver International Airport (DIA), 1.84 inches of rain was recorded.  This easily eclipses the old 4th of July record dating back to 1909 when 1.44 inches fell. 

Here in Thornton we weren’t nearly as wet having recorded 0.81 inches for the storms that moved through.  Some of the other rainfall totals from across the metro area:

  • Arvada: 0.89 inch
  • Aurora: 0.86 inch
  • Broomfield: 0.57 inch
  • Castle Rock: 0.71 inch
  • Conifer: 0.31 inch
  • Centennial:  1.01 inches
  • Denver (north): 0.51 inch
  • Littleton: 0.26 inch
  • Longmont: 0.43 inch

Denver, we have a problem

The rain totals at DIA were impressive however comparing them to the other amounts recorded at stations across the metro area once again highlights problems with Denver’s climate records.  As we have discussed before on Examiner.com, moving Denver’s official monitoring station to DIA is forever altering climate records. 

The rain yesterday was heavy in places but nowhere in the central Denver area measured anywhere near the amount DIA recorded (see map below).   When the National Weather Service (NWS) announces a “record” like the rain yesterday, it is comparing the measurements at DIA to historical records taken at the old Stapleton International Airport from 1950 to 1995 and downtown from 1871 to 1949. 

Is it accurate to claim a weather record when the station doing the recording is 12 miles away from where historical records were made?  Of course not and this is a problem.   

Last year the NWS partially conceded to the problem and installed an official monitoring station in Denver City Park.  Denver’s official records however still come from the station at DIA. 

The National Weather Service either needs to start recording Denver’s official statistics from the new station or it needs to quit comparing data from DIA to that recorded before the move in 1995. 

Denver’s climate records are forever being altered and the public is being misled. 

The National Weather Service recorded 1.84 inches of rain at the official monitoring station at DIA on Sunday, July 4, 2010. No other station in the area recorded near this amount though. (MesoWest / ThorntonWeather.com)

World Weather

July 4 to July 10 – This week in Denver weather history

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July 4 to July 10 – This week in Denver weather history
July 4 to July 10 – This week in Denver weather history

As we pointed out in our July weather preview, the month is not only our hottest but it is also the stormiest.  Scorching summer heat is certainly evident when we look back at this week in Denver weather history.  Perhaps more notable is the severe weather we have seen with everything from hail, damaging wind, dangerous lightning and deadly flooding having occurred.

29-15

In 2000…the 29th marked the beginning of a near record hot streak for metro Denver.  The high temperatures…as recorded at Denver International Airport…exceeded the 90 degree mark for 17 consecutive days from June 29th through July 15th. The record of 24 consecutive 90 degree or above days was set from July 13th through August 5th…2008.

1-18 

In 1874…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak that was later set in the summer of 1901. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

4

In 1874…the temperature reached a high of 102 degrees in downtown Denver.  Large forest fires in the mountains from the west-northwest to the south filled the atmosphere over the city with dense smoke.
 
In 1885…a thunderstorm produced sustained winds to 44 mph with gusts to 60 mph.  A circus tent was tattered by the strong winds.
 
In 1900…a thunderstorm produced northwest winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 51 mph…but only 0.05 inch of rain.
 
In 1903…the all time lowest temperature ever recorded in July…42 degrees…occurred. The temperature also occurred on July 31…1873.
 
In 1910…thunderstorm winds were sustained to 42 mph from the southwest.
 
In 1922…thunderstorm winds were sustained to 37 mph with gusts to 48 mph.
 
In 1956…a thunderstorm wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1964…several men were knocked down by a bolt of lightning while playing golf in south metro Denver.  They got up and ran for cover when one of them was struck by a second bolt. He suffered burns and shock.
 
In 1987…a weak tornado was observed for 6 minutes…7 miles northeast of Watkins.  Hail 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter fell in southeast Aurora.
 
In 1988…lightning struck a group of people at the Jefferson County fairgrounds.  A 42-year-old woman was seriously injured and was hospitalized for 3 days.  Four other people sustained minor injuries.
 
In 1993…strong northwest winds uprooted several trees across metro Denver.  Wind gusts to 64 mph were reported at Erie north of Denver.  A west wind gust to 43 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1995…lightning struck and injured two people standing in a field in Arvada.
 
In 1998…heavy thunderstorm rain…up to 2.75 inches…and marble size hail combined to flood local roads and fields near Roggen.
 
In 2002…heavy thunderstorm rain in the Hayman Fire burn area caused flash flooding.  In Jefferson County…gulch road was washed out.  In Douglas County…high water washed out some forest access roads as well…generally to the east of a line extending from signal butte to Deckers.

Continue reading July 4 to July 10 – This week in Denver weather history →