Seeing today’s temperature reading makes it hard to believe it is still March. With a high temperature more like we see in early summer, Denver set two records today.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high of 85 degrees. That easily bested the previous high temperature for March 19 of 81 degrees set in 1907.
Perhaps more notably, this also breaks the all-time March record high temperature of 84 degrees set on March 26, 1971.
Here in Thornton, we were actually a hair warmer with a high of 86 degrees.
Friday looks to offer similar temperatures and Saturday threatens to have our first 90 degree reading of the year – and the earliest 90 degree reading on record.
Thornton, Colorado March Weather Preview. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The month of March in Denver is usually one that is welcomed heartily by residents. We begin to shake off the cold of winter with warmer temperatures and calmer conditions. That does not mean we are done with snow and cold by any means.
March usually offers healthy snowfall giving us an opportunity to add to our seasonal totals. While there is good snow potential in March, the month also typically brings much warmer temperatures.
March is historically Denver’s snowiest month and brings about 20% of our annual snowfall. Heavy, wet spring snow storms can oftentimes bring the entire month’s snowfall total in one monstrous snow.
We also start the transition to spring and severe weather season and the month typically brings our first thunderstorms of the year. Temperatures climb throughout the month and by the end our average daytime highs are near 60 degrees.
Thornton, Colorado’s February 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The Colorado Front Range’s mild, dry winter carried right into February. Indeed, the month offered up the warmest and driest February of the past 20 years here in Thornton.
A narrative for the month reveals there really was not much to talk about. High temperatures were above average on all but two days during the month. There was no recorded precipitation and the only snow we saw was a trace on the 20th.
Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 44.3 degrees. This was far above our 20-year running average for the month of 32.4 degrees. It was also our warmest February on record, easily besting February 2017 (40.1 degrees) as the previous record holder.
For Denver, as measured at Denver International Airport, it was a very warm month as well. The Mile High City’s average temperature for the month cam in at 42.1 degrees. This was well above their long term February average of 32.7 degrees. It put the month in the books as the third warmest February on record.
Precipitation registered a big fat zero for Thornton. This is the first time in 20 years that the month recorded nothing and well below the 0.60 inches we have averaged over that period. Our previous driest February of the past 20 years was in 2009 when we recorded 0.08 inches.
The Mile High City saw a scant 0.02 inches in their rain bucket at DIA. This was far below the long term average for Denver for February of 0.41 inches. It was the second driest February on record.
Obviously, with no precipitation recorded, Thornton saw no measurable snowfall either. We saw one day with a trace and that was it. Our 20 year running average for the month of February is 10.7 inches. This was the first February over that period that no snow was recorded.
Similarly, Denver only recorded a trace of snow at DIA. Denver’s February long term average is 7.6 inches. The month tied the Mile High City’s record for the least snowiest with February 2009.
Presidents’ Day in the Mile High City brought pleasant conditions and record-setting temperatures.
As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver’s official high for the date topped out at 68 degrees. This bested the previous record high for February 16 of 67 degrees set in 2017.
Here in Thornton, we were cooler, reaching a high of 62 degrees.
Thornton, Colorado’s January 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The start of 2026 failed to provide any relief from the mild, dry conditions of recent months on the Colorado Front Range. Temperatures were largely above average and precipitation continued to be infrequent and minimal.
The first week of the month was considerably warmer than normal and brought our warmest reading of the month, 72.4 degrees on the 4th. Only one nighttime temperature during that period dropped below freezing.
Some change came on the 8th and 9th when temperatures dropped and we recorded 2.3 inches of snowfall over the two days. Two days later, highs climbed right back to the 50s and 60s for the following week.
The latter half of the month did see three days with minor snow events. We also recorded our coldest temperature of the month, 0 degrees, on the 25th.
Overall, Thornton saw an average temperature of 35.5 degrees for the month of January 2026. This was well above our 20-year running average for the month of 30.6 degrees. It was our second warmest January recorded over that period.
Officially, as recorded at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City was a bit cooler with a monthly average temperature of 34.4 degrees. This was warmer than Denver’s long-term average for the month of 31.7 degrees.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton saw 0.26 inches of liquid precipitation, all in the form of snowmelt. That was below the running average for the month of 0.41 inches.
Denver fared better than us with 0.32 inches in their bucket at DIA. This was just shy of the Mile High City’s long-term average of 0.38 inches.
Snow continued to be minimal with Thornton recording 4.6 inches during the month. That was almost two inches below our 20-year average for the month of 6.5 inches.
Out at the airport, Denver recorded 6.6 inches of snowfall for the month. That was just a hair above their long-term average for January of 6.4 inches.
As we begin the new year the winter chill begins to set in. While January can see its share of extremes, the month historically sees stable temperatures and is usually relatively dry.
January ranks as the second coldest month in Denver next to December with average temperatures remaining virtually the same from the start to the end of the month.
In terms of snowfall, the month only ranks as the sixth snowiest and it is not uncommon for it to be quite dry.
What does January 2026 hold for us? Follow the link to find out.
Another warm month in the books and this time with readings extraordinarily far above average. And, while we did finally see our first, decent snow, there was only one.
The first five days of the month saw more typical temperatures, and indeed four of them were below average. Along with that, on the third we received a respectable 5.3 inches of snowfall.
From there, however, we warmed up and dried out. All but two of the final 26 days of the month saw above average temperatures. Twelve of those days saw record highs for their dates in the past 19 years.
On the 28th we did see one more, light snowfall (1.3 inches) but otherwise we were bone dry.
Thornton saw an overall average temperature for December 2025 of 42.1 degrees. This was far above our 19 year running average for the month of 31.5 degrees. It was also Thornton’s warmest December of the past 19 years by far. We saw our warmest temperature of 75.6 degrees on the 22nd and our coldest of 11.0 degrees on the 1st.
As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver saw an average temperature of 42.3 degrees for the month. This made the month the second warmest December ever recorded and was 11.1 degrees above their long-term December average. The city saw six high temperature records set or tied including record highs on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
In terms of precipitation, we did end up wetter than average. Thornton recorded 0.59 inches of liquid precipitation in our bucket, largely due to the snow on the 3rd. This total was above our running average for December of 0.44 inches.
Out at the airport, the Mile High City saw 0.33 inches of liquid precipitation. This was slightly below their long-term average for the month of 0.35 inches.
Thornton ended up with 6.6 inches of snowfall for the month. This was much appreciated after seeing no snow in September and October and only a minimal snow in November. It was, however, short of our 19-year average for December of 8.0 inches.
Denver matched our total with 6.6 inches of snowfall as measured at DIA as well. This was equal to the Mile High City’s 30-year average for the month.
Fall-like temperatures continue right into the holidays with Denver setting another high temperature record.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high temperature today of 71 degrees. This bests the previous record high for the date of 70 degrees set in 1955.
Here in Thornton, we were warmer with a high of 73 degrees.
While it will cool some on Christmas Day, there is the potential for us to set a record high for it as well. On December 25, 2005 we saw a high of 69 degrees.
The ridiculously warm temperatures this month have set another high temperature record.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high temperature today of 76 degrees. This breaks the previous record high for December 22 of 70 degrees set in 1955.
The reading is also the second warmest December temperature ever recorded for Denver. December 5, 1939 holds the record with a reading of 79 degrees.
Here in Thornton, we were similarly warm with a high of 76 degrees.
Another mild day, another record warm temperature.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high temperature today of 67 degrees. This ties the previous record high for December 19 last set in 1933.
Here in Thornton, we managed to stay cooler with a high of 63.7 degrees for the day.
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