For the fourth time this month, the Mile High City set or tied a high temperature record and also recorded its first mercury reading of 100 degrees in almost a year.
As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver’s official high temperature today hit 100 degrees. This easily breaks the record high for August 18 of 98 degrees set in 2013. This was the first time Denver hit 100 degrees this year. The last time was on September 2, 2019. This also marks the 58th time Denver has seen a reading of 90 degrees or higher this year.
Here in Thornton, we matched Denver’s reading of 100 degrees and it was the second time this year we hit the mark. The first came exactly one month ago on July 18.
Looking into the history books, Denver has recorded 100 degree or higher temperatures 93 times since 1872. With the warming climate though, we have been averaging two 100 degree days per year over the past 30 years.
Many are comparing this year to the scorching hot summer of 2012. That year we saw 73 days of 90 degree or warmer temperatures and thirteen of those with 100 degree readings or higher. We also tied Denver’s all-time high of 105 degrees twice that year.
Extreme weather can occur during in month in Colorado we well know. June however is when traditional spring severe weather arrives in the state oftentimes with hail, damaging wind and tornadoes.