Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Photography, Thornton Weather

January 2026 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

January 11, 2026 - A beautiful end to a winter day. (Lori Bollendonk)
January 11, 2026 – A beautiful end to a winter day. (Lori Bollendonk)

As one of our coldest months, January can be a good month to hibernate inside and avoid the outdoors.  But, like any month in Colorado, photo opportunities abound as our monthly slideshow demonstrates.

Snow is not normally dominant in the month but when it does fall, it can create a beautiful blanket of white.  Throw in the amazing sunrises and sunsets we receive in the middle of winter as well as wildlife and a host of other subjects and the imagery can be quite beautiful and stunning.

  • Slideshow updated January 25, 2026
  • To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.

Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather-related imagery.

Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted in images captured from yours and our cameras.

What is missing in the slideshow above?  Your photo!

Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured.  The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.

Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids.  Whimsical, newsy, artsy.  Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard.  You name it, we want to see and share it!

Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State.  We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.

We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.

What do you win for having your image in our slideshow?  We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes.  However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.

To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets.  Links are provided below.

So come on, get those camera’s rolling!

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s January 2026 preview: Cold temps, not much snow the norm

Thornton, Colorado's January Weather Preview.
Thornton, Colorado’s January Weather Preview.

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.

For the complete January preview including a look at historical averages and extremes, click here. 

Climatology, Thornton Weather

December 2025 weather recap: Last month of the year brings temps far above average

Thornton, Colorado's December 2025 Temperature Summary. (© ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2025 Temperature Summary. (© ThorntonWeather.com)

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.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete December 2025 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's December 2025 Precipitation Summary. (© ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2025 Precipitation Summary. (© ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton Weather

Denver sets record high temperature for December 25

Record High Temperature

It doesn’t feel much like Christmas with temperatures like this! Once again Denver saw unusually high temperatures and the result was the warmest December 25 on record.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high temperature of 71 degrees. This bested the previously record high for the date of 69 degrees set in 2005.

Here in Thornton, we were warmer with a high of 74 degrees.

Thornton Weather

December 2025 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

December 8, 2025 - A beautiful end to the day. (Al Feuerborn)
December 8, 2025 – A beautiful end to the day. (Al Feuerborn)

The month of December can offer everything from bone dry conditions to bone chilling cold and monstrous snowstorms.  The weather and wildlife all afford an abundance of photo opportunities as our December photo slideshow shows.

Leaves have fallen from trees now and the landscape can sometimes look quite stark.  However it only takes a quick shot of snow to change that picture greatly.  Throw in gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, plenty of wildlife big and small, kids playing and much more and the month can be quite colorful and eventful.

  • Slideshow updated December 22, 2025
  • To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.

Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather-related imagery.

Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted in images captured from yours and our cameras.

What is missing in the slideshow above?  Your photo!

Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured.  The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.

Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids.  Whimsical, newsy, artsy.  Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard.  You name it, we want to see and share it!

Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State.  We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.

We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.

What do you win for having your image in our slideshow?  We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes.  However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.

To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets.  Links are provided below.

So come on, get those camera’s rolling!

Thornton Weather

Looking back at an unforgettable holiday – Denver’s Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982

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Cars are buried under the heavy snow in Denver. Scroll down for a photo slideshow with more images. (Denver Public Library Digital Collection)
Cars are buried under the heavy snow in Denver. Scroll down for a photo slideshow with more images. (Denver Public Library Digital Collection)

As Christmas approaches everyone reflects on the past and for longtime Denver residents that oftentimes means remembering one of the most significant winter storms in the Mile High City’s history – the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982.  This major winter storm has become the one by which all others are compared not only due to its record-setting impact but also due to its timing being near Christmas.

As Christmas 1982 approached, forecasters were predicting a white Christmas several days beforehand but most were expecting a moderate snowfall of 6 inches.  Two days before Christmas Eve though, the picture began to change.  On the 22nd a Pacific cold front came ashore in California bringing severe rain, high surf and even hurricane force winds.  As it moved east over higher terrain, it dumped 2 feet of snow in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City.

At about that same time, jet stream winds were forming a trough of low pressure over the southeastern plains of Colorado.  The counterclockwise motion of the trough began to pull moist air into the state.  Further east Kansas and Oklahoma experienced severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.  The winds set the stage for strong upslope conditions along the Front Range.

  • Scroll down to the view photo slideshow from this famous snowstorm
  • Do you remember the Christmas Eve Blizzard of ’82?  Leave a comment below with your memories
  • If you have photos of the event email them to info@thorntonweather.com or share them with us on our Facebook page and we will add them to the slideshow

Rain changed to snow on the plains and shortly before midnight on the 23rd, a full blown blizzard had developed.  Denver woke to snow on the ground the morning of Christmas Eve but the storm was just getting started.  Snowfall rates of 2 – 3 inches per hour were the norm during the day and winds screamed at 50mph causing wind chill temperatures to plummet to as low as -35 degrees.  As conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the day, the gravity of the situation began to be realized. Continue reading Looking back at an unforgettable holiday – Denver’s Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982 →

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets record high temperature for December 24

Record High Temperature

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.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets record high temperature for December 22

Record High Temperature

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.