Thornton and Denver’s October 2013 was overall a relatively un-noteworthy month in terms of weather. Temperatures were below normal and we did receive our first measurable snowfall of the season.
We started the first two days of the month with temperatures in the 70s. That was followed by a cold front moving through and delivering 0.8” of snow in Thornton on the 4th while Denver recorded only a trace at DIA.
We then saw five days of dry conditions with temperatures warming back up into the 70s. On the 10th the next system arrived and rain was recorded on four of the next five days in Thornton. Cooler than normal temperatures were notable during the period and lasted for the next eight days.
On the 18th another shot winter-like weather arrived and Thornton saw its biggest snowfall yet of the season: 2.4 inches. Out at the airport, Denver recorded 1.4 inches.
The next nine days from the 19th to the 27th were largely pleasant days but with light rain on two days during that time. On the 28th another cold front and storm system moved in and chilly temperatures returned. Thornton recorded a dusting of snow on the 30th.
Overall temperatures for the month averaged 47.7 degrees as measured officially at DIA. Here in Thornton our average temperature was slightly cooler at 45.9 degrees. Both marks were considerably cooler than the historical October average temperature of 50.9 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 79.5 degrees on the 8th down to a low of 25.5 degrees on the 16th. Denver’s high and low were similar with 79 degrees also on the 8th and 27 degrees on the 5th and 16th.
One temperature record was set in Denver during the month. On October 5 the low temperature reading of 28 degrees tied the record low for the date last set in 1877.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton recorded 1.21 inches between rainfall and snowmelt. Denver was drier recording only 0.72 inches. The Mile High City historically averages 1.02 inches so Thornton was above average, Denver below.
With only small snowfalls recorded, it wasn’t a particularly white month. Thornton measured a total of 3.3 inches while Denver recorded only 1.4 inches. Both were below the October average of 4.0 inches.
Click here to view Thornton’s October 2013 climate summary report.
[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D-mSqpy-pQc/UnQi63nQ0FI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/_8y6TRKhmuE/s144-c-o/October2013Temps.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108306177534978229224/Misc?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPjmpm5l5PSOA#5941412203164913746″ caption=”Thornton’s October 2013 Temperatures.” type=”image” alt=”October2013Temps.jpg” pe2_single_image_size=”w560″ pe2_img_align=”left” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d6PD6Dq3lto/UnQi_K0Q-dI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/L7pCMZAzn7E/s144-c-o/October2013Precip.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108306177534978229224/Misc?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPjmpm5l5PSOA#5941412277039200722″ caption=”Thornton’s October 2013 Precipitation.” type=”image” alt=”October2013Precip.jpg” pe2_single_image_size=”w560″ pe2_img_align=”left” ]
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
240 AM MDT FRI NOV 1 2013
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2013...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2013
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 90 10/01/1892
LOW -2 10/29/1917
HIGHEST 79 10/08 90 -11 83 10/03
LOWEST 27 10/16 -2 29 24 10/27
10/05
AVG. MAXIMUM 60.0 65.3 -5.3 62.2
AVG. MINIMUM 35.5 36.6 -1.1 35.9
MEAN 47.7 50.9 -3.2 49.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.4 -0.4 1
DAYS MIN <= 32 12 8.5 3.5 11
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.17 1969
MINIMUM T 1934
TOTALS 0.72 1.02 -0.30 1.22
DAILY AVG. 0.02 0.03 -0.01 0.04
DAYS >= .01 8 5.3 2.7 5
DAYS >= .10 3 2.4 0.6 3
DAYS >= .50 0 0.5 -0.5 2
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.1 -0.1 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.25 10/18 TO 10/18 10/24 TO 10/25
10/03 TO 10/04 10/25 TO 10/25
10/25 TO 10/25
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 10/25(00) TO 10/25(00)
10/25(00) TO 10/25(00)5
10/25(00) TO 10/25(00)5
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 1.4 4.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 525 440 85 488
SINCE 7/1 608 581 27 557
COOLING TOTAL 0 5 -5 1
SINCE 1/1 999 769 230 1236
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/04 10/07
LATEST 05/05
......................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 8.8
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 1/180
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 40/270 DATE 10/10
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 48/270 DATE 10/10
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 12
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 14
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 5
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 61
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 9 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 1 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 2
LIGHT SNOW 4 SLEET 0
FOG 13 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 9
HAZE 4
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Santa Claus begins his whirlwind trip around the globe tonight to deliver toys to all the good little boys and girls! For more than 50 years the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has tracked Kris Kringle on Christmas Eve and helped to ensure he completes his journey safely.
Colorado’s famously inconsistent weather appears to be on full display this month. Just two weeks ago we were setting records for cold. Today we broke a record high temperature and tied the record high minimum.
Clear skies and snow cover helped push the mercury down early this morning. The result was a second record low temperature set in the past 24 hours.
November was an unseasonably warm and unusually dry month. As we look into December, that trend looks to change, particularly when it comes to temperatures.