Category Archives: Thornton Weather

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 5:59pm but on Sunday the sun won’t disappear over the horizon until 7:01pm.  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 6:21am but shifts to 7:20am on Sunday.

The March Equinox is also on the horizon.  Spring officially begins at 3:01am on Thursday, March 20.

This year Daylight Savings Time will come to an end on November 2.

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)
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

Thornton’s March 2025 preview: Temps warm considerably but snow is often abundant

The month of March in Denver is usually one that is welcomed heartily by residents. We begin to shake off the cold of winter with warmer temperatures and calmer conditions. That does not mean we are done with snow and cold by any means.

March usually offers healthy snowfall giving us an opportunity to add to our seasonal totals.  While there is good snow potential in March, the month also typically brings much warmer temperatures.

March is historically Denver’s snowiest month and brings about 20% of our annual snowfall.  Heavy, wet spring snow storms can oftentimes bring the entire month’s snowfall total in one monstrous snow.

We also start the transition to spring and severe weather season and the month typically brings our first thunderstorms of the year.  Temperatures climb throughout the month and by the end our average daytime highs are near 60 degrees.

For a complete look at what lies ahead in March 2025, click here.

Photography, Thornton Weather

February 2025 Top Shots: Monthly Photo Slideshow

February 6, 2025 - A beautiful way to end the day. (Jessica Griffin)
February 6, 2025 – A beautiful way to end the day. (Jessica Griffin)

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 23, 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!

Climatology, Thornton Weather

January 2025 weather recap: A very cold month with a nice dose of snow

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

It is a running joke that we always see our coldest weather when the stock show is going on. For January 2025, it wasn’t just confined to that couple of weeks as we saw below normal temperatures dominate the entire month.

We started out with a few days of temperatures at or above normal then we turned colder. On the 7th of the month we saw our first snowfall of January. While only a few inches, it got us started on our way to more.

The next ten days were dry and temperatures seemed to moderate a bit. From there, we went downhill.

Two more shots of snow came on the 18th and 20th and we put together a few days of bone-chilling cold. Three days from the 18th to the 20th saw highs well below freezing and four nights with lows below zero.

The rest of the month was quiet, other than some more snow on the 25th. Half of the last ten days of the month saw below normal highs.

Average temperatures for the month in Thornton came in at an even 26.0 degrees. This was well below our 19-year running average for January of 30.4 degrees. It also put January 2025 into the books as the second coldest January over that period.

Our warmest reading of the month was the last day of it at 62 degrees. Our coldest was a -6.0 degree reading on the 19th.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, temperatures were similar. Denver saw an average temperature for the month of 25.8 degrees. This in comparison to their long-term average for January of 31.7 degrees.

In terms of precipitation, the snow we received was dry, containing little moisture. Thornton recorded 0.30 inches, below our 0.42 inches 19-year running average.

Denver bested us on the precipitation front with 0.56 inches recorded at the airport. This was more than Denver’s long-term average for January of 0.38 inches.

As we mentioned, snowfall was generous with Thornton receiving 10.4 inches. This was well above our January average over the past 19 years of 6.6 inches.

Out at the airport, Denver saw 13.3 inches of the white stuff. That was almost exactly double the Mile High City’s long-term average for January of 6.6 inches.

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

Thornton, Colorado's January 2025 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s January 2025 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s February 2025 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 seen some ups and downs. 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 2025 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

Hoarfrost coats the foliage as January 2025 begins. (David Canfield)
Hoarfrost coats the foliage as January 2025 begins. (David Canfield)

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, 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!

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s 2024 weather recap: A very warm year, precipitation comes in near average

Thornton, Colorado's 2024 annual temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s 2024 annual temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

With the year in the rear-view mirror, we can now take a look back at Thornton’s weather for 2024. In doing so, we see that we recorded our warmest year of the past 18 years and while precipitation came in near average, most of that was seen early on.

The year started with a chill as January saw mercury readings a good bit below average for the month. However, it would end up being only one of two months during the year that didn’t see above average mercury readings.

From February through October, each month saw above average temperatures, some significantly warmer. November did, finally, see things cool down but then December came back to close out the year as the warmest December in 18 years.

Despite the warmth, we did enjoy above average precipitation for three out of the first four months of the year. Then, however, we began to see changes as seven of the next eight months all saw below average levels of precipitation.

We did have some notable weather events during the year.

In March, we saw a strong storm system produce heavy snowfall across much of the Denver metro area. Here in Thornton, we recorded a total of 10.8 inches between March 14th and 15th. Business and schools shut down and roads become quite difficult to travel. As usual, Denver’s official station way out at DIA lagged with only 5.7 inches. Click here to read the National Weather Service summary of the event.

Spring brings severe weather to the Front Range and Mother Nature delivered a doozy of a dose on May 30th. As the sun was setting, hail began to fall and grow in size, reaching from 1.5 inches to 2 1/4 inches in the north metro area including Thornton. Damage was extensive to vehicles and structures with cost estimates now expected to go over $1 billion. More from the NWS here.

As fall arrived, conditions were exceedingly dry and we waited for relief that usually comes in the form of snow. A prolonged period of it did finally arrive and from November 5th to November 9th, Thornton received 10.8 inches of the white stuff. To the south and southeast, the Palmer Divide and adjacent plains saw snowfall measuring in feet. The National Weather Service has more on this event here.

In the end Thornton saw an average annual temperature of 53.7 degrees. This is far above our 18-year running annual average of 50.8 degrees and made 2024 our warmest year during that period. Temperatures ranged from a high of 102.4 degrees on July 12th down to a low of -12.2 degrees on January 16th.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, they recorded nearly the same. Denver’s official 2024 average came in at 53.9 degrees, well above the city’s 51.2 degrees annual average. This put 2024 in the books in a tie as the third warmest year on record in Denver.

Thornton saw precipitation levels near average with 14.56 inches being recorded during the year. This is in comparison to our 18-year running annual average of 15.27 inches. Four months had above average precipitation, eight were below.

In Denver, as measured at DIA, a precipitation total of 14.12 inches was recorded. This was close to but short of their long term annual average of 14.48 inches per year.

Click here to view Thornton’s 2024 climate report.

Thornton, Colorado's 2024 annual precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s 2024 annual precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

December 2024 weather recap: Thornton sees its warmest, one of its driest Decembers of the past 18 years

Thornton, Colorado's December 2024 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2024 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Warm and dry would the operative words as we look back on December 2024’s weather. Temperatures were stubbornly mild and precipitation of any kind was scarce.

The month started as most recent months with mild and dry conditions. The first eight days saw no precipitation and temperatures well above normal. On the 9th of the month, we finally saw a break with some light snow and a couple days of below normal mercury readings.

We then returned to the persistent pattern of above normal temperatures and dry conditions for the next two weeks. On Christmas night, it wasn’t snow that arrived but rather rain, as temperatures were just too warm for the white stuff.

Dry and mild conditions then returned until New Year’s Eve when a surprise, concentrated band of snow moved through in the evening. It brought some light snow and wreaked havoc on the roadways.

Thornton’s overall average temperature for December 2024 came in at 38.3 degrees. This was far above our 18-year running average for December of 30.9 degrees. It also was our warmest December over the same period, besting last year’s 37.1 degree average.

Temperatures ranged from a maximum of 67.4 degrees on the 20th down to a low of 17.3 degrees on the 10th.  Only three days over the month saw below average high temperatures.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official records are kept, it was warm as well. Their average monthly temperature came in at 39.4 degrees, well above the long term Denver average for December of 31.2 degrees. That put the month into the books as the 9th warmest December ever recorded in Denver.

Precipitation was sparse during the month to say the least. Thornton recorded 0.20 inches, most of which was the result of rain versus snow melt. That is less than half of the 0.44 inch 18-year average for December in Thornton and our third driest December over that period.

Out at the airport, Denver saw a mere 0.04 inches of precipitation in December, all of it on the last day of the month. That was well below the city’s 0.35 December average. That put December 2024 into the Denver weather books as a tie with 2004 and 1890 for the 8th driest December on record.

Snowfall was scarce as well. Thornton recorded an even 2.0 inches, most of which fell on the 31st. This was far below our 18-year December average snowfall of 8.1 inches. It was our second least snowiest December of the past 18 years.

For Denver, as measured at DIA, the month yielded 1.4 inches of the white stuff, all of which fell on the evening of New Year’s Eve. That was far below the 8.0 inch average Denver has recorded since 1882. It also put December 2024 into a tie with last year as the 18th least snowiest December on record.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete December 2024 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's December 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)