Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Climatology, Thornton Weather

December 2022 weather recap: Temps and snowfall come in a bit above normal

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Thornton, Colorado's December 2022 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2022 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

For Thornton, December 2022’s weather was pretty much on par with what we would expect. Average mercury readings came in a bit above normal as did snowfall.

Our overall average temperature for the month came in at 31.2 degrees. This is above the 16-year running average for December of 30.0 degrees. While we did experience some extreme cold for a few days, that was balanced out by a good number of days with above normal readings.

Denver International Airport, where the Mile High City’s official measurements are taken, averaged 29.3 degrees, a rare occasion where the airport was colder than us. This was a good bit below the 30-year Denver average for December of 31.2 degrees.

In Thornton, our readings ranged from a high of 65.0 degrees on the 27th to a bone chilling low of -14.6 degrees on the 22nd. Denver saw a high of 64 degrees on the 11th and a low of -24 on the 22nd.

In terms of precipitation, Thornton’s reading came in far above the 16-year average with 1.21 inches of liquid precipitation. Much of that can be attributed to the storm on the 28th and 29th that saw us receive nearly one inch combined between rain and snow melt. The monthly total made December 2022 Thornton’s wettest December of the past 16 and was far above the average of 0.46 inches.

Denver nearly matched our number with 1.18 inches at the airport. This was well above the Mile High City’s December average of 0.35 inches.

For the first three weeks of the month, Thornton saw no snow at all. Then, two storms saved the month. Thornton ended up with 11.1 inches, about an inch more than the 16-year running average of 10.2 inches for December.

Denver actually bested us for the month with 13.0 inches. That is well above the average of 8.0 inches for December since 1882.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete December 2022 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's December 2022 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2022 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Photography, Thornton Weather

December 2022 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

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The Denver city and county building lit up for the holidays. (Bobby H)
The Denver city and county building lit up for the holidays. (Bobby H)

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 30, 2022
  • 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.

[flickr_set id=”72177720304403809″]

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 December 2022 wintry blast sets records

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Record Cold Temperatures

That’s a wrap! The Arctic blast is slowly on its way out and in its wake, we can see that we set a number of records.

ThorntonWeather.com has been in operation for 16 years and this cold was one for the books.

  • The 67.3 degree 24 hour temperature drop from Wed PM (52.7 degrees) to Thu AM (-14.6 degrees) was the biggest of the past 16 years
  • The -14.6 degrees low temp on 12/22/22 ties lowest temp recorded in the past 16 years (2/2/2011)
  • The 0 degree high temp 12/22/22 is the record low maximum temperature recorded in the past 16 years (old record was 1.9 degrees on 2/5/14)
  • A 31.1 degrees wind chill on 12/22 at 8:35am is the coldest wind chill temperature recorded in the past 16 years

For Denver, officially, some marks were set / tied as well.

  • The high temperature of -6 degrees on 12/22/22 ties for the 10th coldest high temperature on record. It also is a new record low maximum for the date, breaking the old record of -5 degrees set in 1983.
  • The low temperature of -24 degrees on the morning of 12/22/22 ties for the 8th coldest reading ever recorded in Denver.
  • The average temperature for 12/22/22 of -14 degrees ties for the 5th coldest daily average temperature recorded in Denver.
Thornton Weather

Very cold, blustery conditions in Thornton Tuesday, some light snow still possible

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Well, we had highlighted the uncertainty in the forecast for snow and things have not materialized as we last expected. The storm has not been able to back up to the west and downslope winds have kept things relatively dry. While this means we received very little here, out east it is quite a mess with blizzard conditions and highways shut down.

For today, we may yet still see some snow, but it looks like only light accumulations at this point. More than the snow, the story is going to be the cold and blustery conditions. Highs today will top out around freezing and will be coupled with winds gusting to 25+ mph. This will lead to uncomfortable wind chill temperatures in the teens.

This evening, snow will be entirely done by 6:00pm and winds will ease but remain breezy. Overnight, skies will be mostly cloudy and lows dipping to the low 20s.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s December 2022 preview: Winter arrives, typically with cold and snow

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Thornton, Colorado's December Weather Preview

Recent months have, overall, been warmer and drier than normal.  Last month saw a notable turn toward colder than normal temperatures and more snow than usual.  What will December hold for us?

The month of December brings with it the official start of winter and oftentimes, colder and snowier weather conditions.

It however can also offer unseasonably warm temperatures and bone dry conditions.  Given our recent mild and dry weather, we are certainly hoping for a change in the coming month.

Overall December’s monthly mean temperature of 30.0 degrees (1981 – 2010 averages) makes it our coldest month.  Snow is always on everyone’s mind this time of year but December is only our 3rd snowiest month behind March and November with an average of 8.5 inches of the white stuff.

Get all the details on Thornton’s December weather including a look back at historical events and a look at the long range forecast in our December weather preview here.

  • Stay up to date with Thornton’s weather: Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Photography, Thornton Weather

November 2022 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

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A barn settled in among the fading fall colors. (Bill Hutchinson)
A barn settled in among the fading fall colors. (Bill Hutchinson)

Typically November is a quiet weather month with plenty of nice, fall days but it can also turn wet with healthy doses of snow and moisture.  The wide variety of conditions can create picturesque scenes ranging from blue skies and snow-capped mountains to a wintry wonderland in the metro area.

November is the second snowiest month of the year so winter conditions are not unusual.  Typically though, these bouts of cold are short-lived and normal daytime conditions are pleasant.

Outdoor activities continue to be quite popular during the month.  The cooling temperatures do oftentimes lead to an increase in wildlife activity.

All of the above help lead to a month in which a wide variety of scenes, flora and fauna can be captured.

  • Slideshow updated November 30, 2022
  • 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.

[flickr_set id=”72177720303574652″]

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

Time to “fall back” as Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, November 6

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

The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this weekend, providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons.  The United States will ‘fall back’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we return to Standard 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.  Others actually like the return to standard time as they get to enjoy an extra hour of sleep.

The time change definitely has big effects on the dawning of daylight and how early it gets dark in the evening.

Sunrise on Saturday occurs at 7:33am but on Sunday it will be at 6:34am. Similarly, sunset will occur at 5:53pm on Saturday but on Sunday the sun will disappear over the horizon at 4:52pm.

For many this means that when they get home from work it will now be dark and outdoor activities will be significantly curtailed as a result.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time and remain on Standard Time year round.    The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands also do not observe the event.

It won’t be all that long though before Daylight Saving Time returns.  On March 12, 2023 we will ‘spring forward.’

Daylight Saving Time Schedule

The mandated beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time has changed in the United States over the years.

The most recent schedule was set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and took effect in 2007.  We now ‘spring forward’ to begin Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday in March and ‘fall back’ with the return to Standard Time on the first Sunday in November.

Daylight Savings Time Dates

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)		 DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2022 13 March 2022 6 November 2022
2023 12 March 2023 5 November 2023
2024 10 March 2024 3 November 2024
2025 9 March 2025 2 November 2025
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
Climatology, Thornton Weather

November 2022 preview: The transition to winter begins

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Thornton's November weather previewThe weather during the month of November in Denver metro area can offer just about anything.  While it is normally a quiet month, it can be prone to extremes.

November has historically been one of Denver’s snowiest months and major snowstorms are not entirely uncommon.  However conditions can also be quite dry.

Temperatures during the month continue to cool as we get closer to winter and by the end of the month the low temperatures routinely dip to 20 degrees or below.  At times it can in fact bring conditions more like what we see in January.

Get all the details on November’s weather and what we can expect in our complete preview here.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

October 2022 weather recap: Mild temps, not much precipitation

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Thornton, Colorado October 2022 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado October 2022 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

October 2022 goes into the books as one that saw Thornton experience above normal mercury readings and below normal precipitation. However, those were also a formula for a great number of pleasant, fall days.

Overall, Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at an even 52.0 degrees. As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s average temperature for the month was a good bit warmer coming in at 53.8 degrees.

Both readings were above Denver’s long term October average of 51.1 degrees and Thornton’s running 16-year average of 49.5 degrees.

Thornton saw a maximum temperature of 81.2 degrees occurring on the 20th and our coldest reading of 27.2 degrees occurred on the 29th. Denver maxed out at 79 degrees on the 20th as well and bottomed out 30 degrees on the 28th.

Precipitation was fleeting during the month and we were quite dry until the final week. Thornton totaled 0.43 inches in the bucket. Denver had a little bit more at 0.46 inches.

Both location’s totals were far below average. Denver’s long-term average for October is 0.99 inches while Thornton’s 16 year running average is at 1.04 inches.

While we did see some snowflakes mixed in with rain on the 27th of the month, it did not accumulate so we are still waiting for that first official snowfall.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete October 2022 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado October 2022 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado October 2022 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Photography, Thornton Weather

October 2022 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

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A trail of golden aspen in the Colorado high country. (Patrick Martin Photography)
A trail of golden aspen in the Colorado high country. (Patrick Martin Photography)

October in Thornton can bring a wide variety of weather conditions, perfect for the photographer in all of us.

The month brings the changing of the colors at Colorado’s lower elevations and it is also is typically when we see our first freeze and first snow.

Couple those facts with our usual widely varying landscapes and wildlife and we have a month that is sure to bring in plenty of photo opportunities.

  • Slideshow updated October 28, 2022
  • 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.

[flickr_set id=”72177720302849011″]

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!