Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Photography, Thornton Weather

March 2026 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

Silhouetted trees at sunrise. (Bill Hutchinson)
Silhouetted trees at sunrise. (Bill Hutchinson)

The month of March is the start of meteorological spring and while conditions do begin warming, winter weather is certainly out of the question.  From hot to cold, snow to rain, the conditions can be very conducive to great pictures as we see in our slideshow.

March in Denver typically means frequent and rapid weather changes. The days grow longer and we start enjoying more sunshine and sometimes summer-like weather. However, on occasion arctic air masses can still force their way south into Colorado dropping temperatures quickly and markedly.

With the active wildlife, increased outdoor activities by us humans, and of course the weather, March imagery contains a wide variety of subjects and extremes.

  • Slideshow updated March 16, 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!

Thornton Weather

City of Thornton announces new emergency alert system

Emergency Alert System. (ThorntonWeather.com)

The City of Thornton has announced that it has replaced the old CodeRed emergency alert system with a new one called “ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts.”  We highly recommend all residents sign up for the new system immediately.

With the system you can choose exactly which types of events you want to be notified about – civic alerts, weather advisories, weather warnings, etc. Additionally, you control how you want to be notified whether by phone call, text, email or all of them.

We found that they wanted to alert users with an entire gamut of alerts, many which don’t really warrant a middle-of-the-night phone call. However, the ability to be notified about the more common advisories is a nice touch and helps to keep you informed.

For us, we opted out of calls for advisories although being geeks we don’t mind the texts or emails. For calls, we chose only tornado warnings. If you are in an area where appropriate, we would suggest also opting in for calls for flash flood warnings. See attached screenshot of our choices.

Should you desire, you can also add information about your household that could be seen my emergency responders should an emergency arise. These include other members of the household, special health requirements, pets and more.

We chose not to add the personal information at this time as we are somewhat suspicious of what that information could be used for and who it may be shared with beyond first responders.

This service is crucial to ensuing you are notified about dangerous conditions at your home. Please do sign up.

Click here to learn more and sign up for ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts.

Choices for types of alerts and how citizens can receive them with the ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts system. Click for larger view.
Choices for types of alerts and how citizens can receive them with the ThorntonReady Emergency Alerts system. Click for larger view.
Thornton Weather

Time to ‘spring forward’ as Daylight Saving Time begins March 8

Daylight Saving Time
The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday as Standard Time comes to an end.

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this Saturday night providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘spring forward’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we begin Daylight Saving Time.

The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock.  The start of Daylight Saving Time can be particularly problematic given the one hour less sleep people receive on the night of the change.

However, longer days as we head into the milder months are a very real benefit and for many worth the inconvenience of a lost hour of sleep.  The time change definitely has big effects on how much daylight we enjoy during our normal waking hours.

On Saturday, prior to the change, sunset will occur at 5:58pm but on Sunday the sun won’t disappear over the horizon until 6:59pm.  This affords folks more time in the evening to get started on those spring-time chores and allows us to get outside and enjoy the warming weather.

Similarly, sunrise on Saturday is at 6:23am but shifts to 7:22am on Sunday.

The March Equinox is also on the horizon.  Spring officially begins at 8:46am on Friday, March 20.

This year Daylight Savings Time will come to an end on November 1.

Some of the recent history of Daylight Savings Time (from Wikipedia):

Daylight saving time in the United States was first observed in 1918. Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, with the exceptions being the states of Arizona and Hawaii along with the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

From 1987 to 2006, daylight saving time in the United States began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The time was adjusted at 2:00 AM (0200) local time (as it still is done now).

Since 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, with all time changes taking place at 2:00 AM (0200) local time.

Daylight Savings Time Schedule

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)		 DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2026 8 March 2026 1 November 2026
2027 14 March 2027 7 November 2027
2028 12 March 2028 5 November 2028
2029 11 March 2029 4 November 2029
2030 10 March 2030 3 November 2030
2031 9 March 2031 2 November 2031
2032 14 March 2032 7 November 2032
Climatology, Thornton Weather

February 2026 weather recap: Thornton sees its warmest, driest February in 20 years

Thornton, Colorado's February 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
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.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete February 2026 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's February 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s February 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Photography, Thornton Weather

February 2026 Top Shots: Monthly Photo Slideshow

February 5, 2026 - Mild temperatures make for a good day to walk Gus. (ThorntonWeather.com)
February 5, 2026 – Mild temperatures make for a good day to walk Gus. (ThorntonWeather.com)

February signifies the start of the climb toward warmer temperatures for the year.  Cold and snow though do intrude but, coupled with milder conditions, there are lots of photo opportunities as can be seen in our monthly slideshow.

The month is one of our least snowiest of the year but it isn’t unusual to see the landscape blanketed in white.  Warming temperatures through the month can bring the onset of spring fever and gives residents the opportunity to enjoy some prolonged time outdoors on the mild days.

Cold or mild, snowy or dry, our scenery is almost always gorgeous – and photo worthy.

  • Slideshow updated February 24, 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

January 2026 weather recap: New year starts like the last ended with warm, dry conditions

Thornton, Colorado's January 2026 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
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.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete January 2026 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's January 2026 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s January 2026 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton Weather

Thornton’s February 2026 weather preview: Temps begin to warm, snow can be elusive

February in Colorado typically brings to an end an extended period when average temperatures are at their lowest. Winter begins to loosen its grip and temperatures get warmer but precipitation is not a particularly common event during the month.

Thus far, our snow season has been quite dismal and we are looking for help. February is only our sixth snowiest month so we can’t count on a whole lot of the white stuff.

Temperatures however do usually see a nice rebound during the month. Average high temperatures climb from an average of 44 degrees at the start to 50 degrees by the end of February.

For the complete February preview including a look at historical averages and extremes as well as a look at what long range forecasts are predicting, click here. 

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 31, 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)