Category Archives: Climatology

Denver sets record high minimum and maximum for August 21

Record High Temperature

Not only did the heat impact the daytime, it kept things quite warm in the night and morning setting two records for the date.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s low temperature for August 21 was 72 degrees. This was easily warmer than the previous record high minimum for the date of 67 degrees set in 1946 and previous years.

During the day, Denver saw an official high temperature of 99 degrees. This bested the previous record high temperature for the date of 97 degrees set in 2007 and previous years.

Here in Thornton we experienced similar conditions. Our low temperature dropped to only 70 degrees, much warmer than normal. We also were a touch warmer with a high of 100 degrees for the day.

Denver sets record high minimum for August 18

Record High Temperature

Mother Nature isn’t giving a lot of relief at night from the daytime heat and as a result Denver set a record.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s low temperature for today was only 69 degrees. This is a good bit warmer than the previous record high minimum of 67 degrees set in 2020.

Thornton virtually matched that reading with a low of 66.5 degrees.

Denver sets record low temperature for August 14

Record Cold Temperatures

Is that a chill in the air? No, not really, but it was cool enough to tie a record.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s official low temperature for the date was 49 degrees. This ties the previous record low for the date set in 1976.

Here in Thornton, we stayed warmer with a low of 54.6 degrees.

July 2023 weather recap: A warm, wet summer month

Thornton, Colorado’s July 2023 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s July 2023 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

After a couple of months of cool, damp weather, we were hoping to warm up and dry out. We did get warmer (perhaps more than we would have liked) but we also continued to see a good bit of precipitation.

The first nine days of the month trended largely toward cooler-than-normal temperatures but overall, it was relatively pleasant with only a couple of hot days. We did also see some good moisture although much fell on a single day (1.25 inches on the 4th).

The middle of the month saw things turn hotter and we recorded back-to-back 100-degree days on the 17th and 18th. Rain became less prevalent and was light.

For the final third of the month, we continued to be quite warm with only three of the final 11 days seeing temperatures at or below normal. Otherwise, the readings were a good bit above. Three days of the final 11 also delivered more than a quarter inch of rain each.

Thornton’s overall average temperature for July 2023 came in at 74.1 degrees. That is a bit above the running 17-year average for July of 73.7 degrees. Our warmest reading of 100.5 degrees came on the 25th while our coolest of 50.2 degrees came on the 1st.

In the Mile High City, at Denver International Airport where Denver’s official readings are now taken, the month was a bit cooler. They had an overall average for July of 73.9 degrees. Two 98-degree days were their warmest and their coolest was 52 degrees on the 21st.

In terms of precipitation, Thornton had quite a wet one with 3.07 inches falling in our rain bucket. That was well above the 1.96 inches 17-year average and made July 2023 the fourth wettest July of the past 17 years.

For Denver, DIA recorded 2.10 inches, right on par with the Mile High City’s July average of 2.14 inches and far below what Thornton received.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete July 2023 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado’s July 2023 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s July 2023 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

 

Thornton’s August 2023 preview: Temperatures begin to cool, fewer storms intrude

As summer vacations wind down and families prepare to send their kids back to school in August, Colorado weather also starts to settle down. The chances for severe weather decrease markedly during August and by the end of the month daytime temperatures are dropping quite a bit as well.

Find out more about what lies ahead with Thornton’s August weather here.

Denver sets daily record rainfall for May 11

Record rainfall

One heck of a good dousing! Thornton and Denver received a big shot of rain for the day and in the process, the Mile High City set a record.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the city received 2.92 inches of rain. This easily bests the previous record rainfall for May 11 of 1.55 inches set in 2011.

Here in Thornton we received less but still a very generous amount. We measured 2.38 inches in our bucket, our wettest day of the year so far.

March 2023 weather recap: Thornton sees its second coldest March in recent history

Thornton, Colorado's March 2023 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s March 2023 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Normally, March sees a considerable warmup as we start the transition to spring. If you felt like that was not the case this March, you would be correct.

Thornton’s average temperature for March 2023 came in at 37.1 degrees. This was 5.1 degrees below our running 16-year average. In fact, the month goes in the books as the second coldest March over that same period with only March 2019 being colder (35.1 degrees).

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official measurements are taken, it was actually colder with an overage of 35.9 degrees. That was well below the long term March average for Denver of 41.6 degrees.

Thornton’s temperatures ranged from a high of 73.9 degrees on the 15th down to a low of 15.9 degrees on the 18th. Denver saw a max of 71 degrees on the 15th and its lowest reading of 13 degrees on the 28th.

In terms of precipitation, Thornton ended up pretty much near average. 1.14 inches was recorded between rain and snow melt. That was just shy of the 1.24 inches 16-year average for March.

Denver came in drier with 0.49 inches in the bucket, well short of the long term Denver average for March of 0.86 inches.

Snow was not a big factor during the month, despite the cold. Thornton saw 7.5 inches of the white stuff, well below the running March average of 10.7 inches.

Out at the airport, Denver recorded 5.1 inches, less than half ther March average of 11.5 inches.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete March 2023 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's March 2023 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s March 2023 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Thornton’s April 2023 weather preview: Winter, spring and summer all in one month

Thornton's April weather previewApril marks a transition between winter and summer for most of the country but for Denver it is especially true as we can see a stunning variety of weather.

The proverbial April showers are certainly a possibility for Denver. Snow? Tornadoes? Thunderstorms? You bet – all can happen!

For good measure throw in a chance for hail and even dust storms and April gives every type of weather condition you could like – or hate.

Denver sets record low maximum for February 23

Record Cold Temperatures

Two very cold days and a third cold weather record has been set with this latest Arctic blast.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s high temperature today topped out at only 7 degrees. This easily breaks the previous record low maximum for the date of 10 degrees set in 1874.

Here in Thornton, we were able to see the mercury climb a bit higher topping out at 13 degrees.

The record low maximum follows on the heels of record low temperatures set today and yesterday.