The month of May was a relatively benign, uneventful month in terms of the weather in Thornton. Average temperatures were right on par with normal while precipitation was generous.

We started out the month with warming temperatures and by the third we were seeing highs in the 80s.  This only lasted a few days before cooler than normal temperatures settled in for a 10 day period.

It was during that period that we recorded precipitation for six straight days.  This included a good shot of snow on the 11th and 12th.

Temperatures bounced back on the 18th and 19th with highs above 80 degrees but then settled down again to predominantly cooler than normal conditions for the next week.  The period from the 20th to the 25th also saw a return to wet conditions.

Warmer and dry conditions returned for a few days and then we closed out the month with cooler temperatures and some more rain.

Thornton finished the month with an average temperature of 56.9 degrees.  This was just a hair lower than Denver’s May average of 57.1 degrees.  The Mile High City’s average temperature came in warmer at 57.5 degrees.

• May 2014 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

The hottest temperature recorded occurred on the 29th with a reading of 88.7 degrees.  The coldest temperature of 28.5 degrees was on the 14th.  Denver’s warmest reading was 85 degrees on the 4th and its coldest of 30 degrees was on the 12th.

In terms of precipitation, Thornton saw a healthy 4.26 inches of liquid precipitation.  This was well above the May average of 2.12 inches.  Similarly, Denver saw above normal precipitation with a reading of 3.51 inches.

Snow fell on two days and totaled 4.3 inches in Thornton. Out at DIA, only 1.1 inches was recorded.  Average snowfall for May in Denver is 1.1 inches.

Click here to view Thornton’s May 2014 climate report.

http://www.thorntonweather.com/climatedataout52014.html

CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
642 AM MDT SUN JUN 1 2014
 
...................................
 
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2014...
 
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2014
 
WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
                 VALUE   DATE(S) VALUE   FROM    VALUE DATE(S)
                                          NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH              95   05/26/1942
 LOW               19   05/02/2013
                        05/03/1907
HIGHEST            87   05/28        95      -8       88 05/17
                        05/29
LOWEST             30   05/12        19      11      19 05/02
AVG. MAXIMUM     70.6              71.5    -0.9     71.7
AVG. MINIMUM     44.5              42.7     1.8     44.1
MEAN             57.5              57.1     0.4     57.9
DAYS MAX >= 90      0               0.8    -0.8        0
DAYS MAX <= 32      0               0.0     0.0        0
DAYS MIN <= 32      4               1.9     2.1        4
DAYS MIN <= 0       0               0.0     0.0        0
 
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
 MAXIMUM         8.57   1876
 MINIMUM         0.06   1974
TOTALS           3.51              2.12    1.39     0.82
DAILY AVG.       0.11              0.07    0.04     0.03
DAYS >= .01        13               9.4     3.6        7
DAYS >= .10         6               4.8     1.2        3
DAYS >= .50         3               1.2     1.8        0
DAYS >= 1.00        1               0.2     0.8        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    1.39   05/20 TO 05/21              0.33 05/07 TO 05/08
 
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTALS            1.1               1.1              3.4
 
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL     244               265     -21      253
 SINCE 7/1       5974              5996     -22     6055
COOLING TOTAL      21                21       0       42
 SINCE 1/1         21                22      -1       42
 
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
 EARLIEST     09/08/1962
 LATEST       06/08/2007
EARLIEST                        10/07
LATEST                          05/05
.........................................................
 
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              10.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   1/181
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    37/330    DATE 05/21
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    42/330    DATE 05/21
 
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER           0.70
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR            3
NUMBER OF DAYS PC             18
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY         10
 
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     55
 
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                2     RAIN                       6
LIGHT RAIN               17     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          1     HAIL                       1
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       2
LIGHT SNOW                2     SLEET                      1
FOG                      11     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      3
HAZE                      3
 
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.

Colorado’s famously highly variable weather seems to showcase itself during the month of May when a variety of weather conditions can be seen.

Winter-like temperatures and snow are possible as are mid-summer like temperatures or the more typical spring severe weather.

As the month starts out in 2014 we are going to enjoy a mild period with unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions.  Long range forecasts predict a relatively ‘normal’ May.

However the month can bring extremes.  Snow is not entirely uncommon during the month, oftentimes causing damage to newly bloomed trees.  More common however is severe weather, particularly in the latter half of the month.  Thunderstorms become more frequent and their associated hazards – lightning, wind, hail and tornadoes – are usual visitors.

For a complete look at what lies ahead for the month of May, check out our full preview here.