Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Thornton Weather

A record-setting day of rain makes September 2013 the wettest September on record

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Record Rain
Our wet September notched two more records into the books.

Overnight showers that lasted into the morning set a daily rainfall record in Denver.  Even more notable, the rain added to the monthly total making this the wettest September ever recorded in the Mile High City.

As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver recorded 0.64 inches of rain today.  This is a new daily record for September 23, beating the old record of 0.52 inches set in 2000.

Today’s rain, coupled with rainfall before midnight, brought Denver’s September monthly total to 5.47 inches.  With that, September 2013 will go into the record books as the wettest September on record.  The old monthly record was 4.67 inches set in 1961.

Denver’s rainfall total, while impressive, hardly compares to what has been seen in other locations.  It also once again highlights how the station at DIA hardly represents the weather conditions seen in the metro area and makes historical comparisons somewhat invalid.

At the CO-OP station at Stapleton where Denver’s official weather measurements were taken from 1950 to 1995, the monthly total is at 9.08 inches.  The difference in rainfall totals between the old location and DIA showcases how the station move to a different microclimate has skewed the Mile High City’s climate records.

Here in Thornton, our monthly total stands at 9.98 inches after receiving 1.15 inches over the past 24 hours.

Boulder, where some of the heaviest rains fell this month, was at 17.24 inches for the month before last night’s rain.  Monthly rainfall totals in many locations across the Denver metro area are pushing the 10 inch mark.

There are of course still seven days left in the month and with showers in the forecast later this week, that record-setting total may increase.

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Colorado Weather, Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

Interactive map: Rainfall totals from Colorado’s September 2013 flood event

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Damage in Jamestown on September 15, 2013. (Boulder OEM)
Damage in Jamestown on September 15, 2013. See the map of rainfall totals from the flooding event below. Click the image to view a photo slideshow of the devastation. (Boulder OEM)

By the numbers, the rainfall experienced across northeastern Colorado since Monday, September 9 has been nothing short of extraordinary.  Over the span of a week, many locations received half of what they normally receive in an entire year.  Some received more than what they expect annually.

We have created and interactive map (below) that shows precipitation totals from Monday, September 9, 2013 to Monday, September 16, 2013.  The numbers are totals as reported by CoCoRaHS volunteers – the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network.

Looking at the map, it is clear that the Boulder area received the most with one station recording an astonishing 21.13” over the 7 day timespan.  The official station in Boulder has recorded 16.69” inches this month and 29.65” for the year. These numbers break Boulder’s monthly record and its annual precipitation record.

Denver’s official station at Denver International Airport (DIA) has recorded 4.65 inches this month, enough to put September 2013 in the books as the 2nd wettest on record.  However, that total hardly reflects what locations closer to the city’s center received with many recording over 7” this month.

Here in Thornton we have seen 8.85” of rain so far this month, an extraordinary total that brings our total for 2013 to 18.81”.  This is clearly the biggest month and year for precipitation since ThorntonWeather.com came online in 2007 and likely the biggest month ever in Thornton.

If you have a hard time viewing the map in the window below, click here to launch a larger version.

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Colorado Weather, Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

In pictures: Colorado’s record-setting September 2013 rains and flooding

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Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County, Colo., Sept.12, 2013. (Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Joseph K. VonNida/RELEASED)
Colorado National Guardsmen respond to floods in Boulder County, Colo., Sept.12, 2013. See more images from Colorado’s devastating September 2013 floods in the slideshow below. (Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Joseph K. VonNida/RELEASED)

September 2013 will forever be etched in the memory of all Coloradans as one which brought amazing destruction – and death.  Images of the truly historical event tell the story of the damage in the aftermath but also show the indomitable human spirit and the willingness of Americans to come together and help in times of need.

Northeastern Colorado has a surprisingly arid climate but also is an environment ripe for extreme weather events like the rain and floods we  experienced.

The cost and final death toll from the floods will be determined in the coming days, weeks and months but we know already this is one for the record books.

The September 2013 event lasted multiple days and effects were felt from the mountains and foothills to the flat eastern plains.  Many locations saw rainfall totals over four days equal to half of what they normally receive in an entire year.

The images in the slideshow below were gathered from a variety of sources.  If you have photos to share, please email them to info@thorntonweather.com and we will add them.

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[flickr_set id=”72157697969563182″]
Severe Weather, Thornton Weather

Live updates: Thornton’s September 2013 heavy rain and flood event

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ThorntonWeather.com on Facebook, Google+ and TwitterThe start of meteorological fall has been highly eventful with record-setting high temperatures followed by virtually unprecedented rainfall.  Four days of steady, sometimes heavy, rain has created hazardous conditions in many places along the Colorado Front Range including Thornton.

We will be monitoring monitoring the storm very closely and posting regularly to our Facebook page and Twitter feed.  You can follow along in real time below.  We are also on Google+ here.

For comprehensive look at the storm, please monitor our Winter Weather Briefing page.


 


Natural Disasters, Thornton Weather

NOAA satellite image captures ‘biblical’ storm as it strikes Colorado

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This image from the Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS sensor from the evening of September 11, 2013, shows the storm system that has devastated towns in the foothills of the Rockies in central Colorado. Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect throughout central Colorado, citing excessive runoff causing flash flooding of creeks and streams, roads and roadside culverts. The heavy rains could also trigger rock slides or debris flows in steep terrain. Major amounts of rain over the last several days have saturated soils in many foothill and Urban Corridor locations and additional rainfall in these locations today and tonight will only exacerbate an already serious situation. The High Park and Four Mile burn areas will be especially susceptible to the heavy rains. This image was taken around 2015Z on September 11, 2013. (NOAA)
This image from the Suomi NPP satellite’s VIIRS sensor from the evening of September 11, 2013, shows the storm system that has devastated towns in the foothills of the Rockies in central Colorado. Flash Flood Watches and Warnings are in effect throughout central Colorado, citing excessive runoff causing flash flooding of creeks and streams, roads and roadside culverts. The heavy rains could also trigger rock slides or debris flows in steep terrain. Major amounts of rain over the last several days have saturated soils in many foothill and Urban Corridor locations and additional rainfall in these locations today and tonight will only exacerbate an already serious situation. The High Park and Four Mile burn areas will be especially susceptible to the heavy rains. This image was taken around 2015Z on September 11, 2013. (NOAA)

* Click the image above for a larger view

Five days of rain, one with absolutely torrential downpours, created dangerous and deadly flooding across much of the Colorado Front Range.  At one point the National Weather Service warned of ‘biblical rainfall amounts’ and it became hard to argue with that terminology.  The rainfall amounts were truly astounding.

Boulder, where some of the worst flooding was seen, recorded 9.08” on Thursday, September 12.  Estes Park, where the Big Thompson River flooded its banks, saw 3.9” over the 24 hour period.

Officially Denver only saw 1.1” on the date but that was as measured at Denver International Airport which only saw the edge of the storms.  At the previous historical location in Stapleton, 3.68” was measured.

Here in Thornton we seemed to be right in line for the storms and generated one of the higher totals in the metro area accumulating 4.76” on the date.  Since the rain started five days ago, we have received an amazing 7.66” (as of this writing).

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National Weather, Thornton Weather

Remembering 9/11: NASA imagery of fateful day serves as a reminder

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A zoomed in view of the World Trade Center site as seen by astronauts on board the International Space Station on September 11, 2001. (NASA) Click the image for a larger view.
A zoomed in view of the World Trade Center site as seen by astronauts on board the International Space Station on September 11, 2001. (NASA) Click the image for a larger view.

Twelve years ago today the United States of America was forever changed when war was brought to our own shores for the first time since Pearl Harbor.  The imagery of that day still burns vividly in our memories and one from NASA shows the devastation of that day as seen from 200 miles above.

On that fateful day, crewmembers of the Expedition Three crew of the International Space Station were circling the globe.

Commander Frank L. Culbertson, Soyuz Commander Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin surely felt helpless as they passed over Ground Zero and could clearly see the plume of smoke emanating from the spot where so many people lost their lives.

The image they captured on that day was stunning – see below.  While the World Trade Center was so far below, the devastation was so clear.

Our patriotism pulled us through those trying times and it shouldn’t take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity.

Today let us stand together to remember the victims of that horrible day.

Let us stand together and pay tribute to the lives of the thousands of men and women that have carried the battle forth since then and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Let us stand together and honor the hundreds of thousands who wear our nation’s uniforms protecting us.

Let us never forget so that we and our children will never experience another day like 9/11.

NEVER FORGET!

Visible from space, a smoke plume rises from the Manhattan area after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. This photo was taken of metropolitan New York City (and other parts of New York as well as New Jersey) the morning of September 11, 2001.
Visible from space, a smoke plume rises from the Manhattan area after two planes crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center. This photo was taken of metropolitan New York City (and other parts of New York as well as New Jersey) the morning of September 11, 2001. “Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the people there, and everywhere else,” said Station Commander Frank Culbertson of Expedition 3, after the terrorists’ attacks. (NASA) Click the image for a larger view.
Thornton Weather

Denver tallies 54 90 degree days in 2013, 6th most on record

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For the most part the Mile High City’s temperatures were on track to be pretty average this summer – up until the last half of August and first part of September.  Since that time numerous high temperature records have been smashed and the number of days with temperatures over 90 degrees climbed.

As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver has officially recorded 54 days this year with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees.  This puts 2013 into the books as tied for 6th place with 2006 and 2007 for the number of 90 degree days.

On average Denver sees 40 90 degree days a year with the last one falling, on average, on September 4th.  The latest we have seen a 90 degree day was on October 1, 1892.

The grid below, from the National Weather Service, shows the top 20 years of 90+ degrees with the monthly distributions.

How has Thornton fared by comparison?  As usual we were cooler than the airport having recorded 47 days with 90 degree or higher temperatures.  Of those, we recorded none in May, 10 in June, 14 in July, 16 in August, and 7 in September.

Certainly it is possible we could see those numbers increase before the year is out.  However long term trends are toward cooler and wetter weather so it is likely we are done for this year.

The grid shows the Top 20 years of 90°+ in Denver along with the monthly distributions. (National Weather Service)
The grid shows the Top 20 years of 90°+ in Denver along with the monthly distributions. (National Weather Service)
Thornton Weather

Denver sees third day in a row of record-setting heat

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.Thursday and Friday brought the hottest temperatures ever recorded during the month of September.  Saturday we were spared making that mark again but we did tie a record.

The mercury at Denver International Airport topped out at 95 degrees at 3:07 p.m.  This tied the record high temperature for the date of September 7th established in 1933.

Thornton saw very similar conditions to the airport.  Our thermometer hit a high of 95.6 degrees.

This was the third record-setting day in a row for the Mile High City and every day so far this month except one (the 1st) has been punctuated by temperature exceeding 90 degrees.

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Thornton Weather

Sounding like a broken record: Denver breaks another high temperature record

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.For the second day in a row Denver’s temperature officially topped out at 97 degrees as measured at Denver International Airport smashing records once again.

The hot temperature tied the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded during the month of September, just as it did yesterday.  It also sets a new record high for the date of September 6, easily besting the previous record of 95 degrees set in 1959.

Here in Thornton we were hotter than the airport as our temperature topped out at a sweltering 99.0 degrees.  This was actually the second hottest temperature Thornton has recorded this year.  Only June 11th was hotter at 99.2 degrees.

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Thornton Weather

High temperature record for September 5th tied, also ties hottest temp ever in month

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.A good bit of cloud cover couldn’t keep the mercury from rising to mid-summer-like levels today.  The hot temperatures in fact tied two records.

Denver’s temperature topped out a 97 degrees as measured at Denver International Airport.  This tied the record high temperature for the date of September 5 set in 1899.

This also tied the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded during the month of September.  The 97 degree mark has been recorded multiple times during the month, always within the first five days.

Here in Thornton the temperature we were actually a bit warmer than DIA, a rarity.  We topped out at 98 degrees (97.6 degrees).

Unfortunately we will see no break in the 90+ degree weather until Monday at the earliest.

The forecast for tomorrow and Saturday current calls for high temperatures of 95 degrees.  Should we hit or exceed those marks, we will tie the record high temperatures for those dates.

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