Recent weeks have delivered a number of hot days with temperatures routinely a good ways above normal. With the arrival of September 1 and the start of the meteorological fall, most in the Mile High City are hoping for some relief.
As temperatures start to drop, September usually reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.
Current indications are that through the first half of the month temperatures are going to remain unseasonably warm. Precipitation-wise, we expect to see normal levels.
Looking back at last month we certainly do recall the unseasonably warm temperatures that seemed to dominate August 2013. While the high temperatures were indeed high, somehow Thornton managed to end up with a relatively average temperature and precipitation short of normal.
The month started with temperatures into the 90s and much-needed precipitation on two of the first three days. Thunderstorms on the third provided a bit of excitement including strong winds and some hail.
From there the month turned a good bit cooler with seasonal temperatures on many days and even two days (the 7th and 8th) when highs were in the 70s. The latter half of the month however saw a return of the heat with 13 of the final 16 days of the month registering high temperatures at or above 90 degrees.
Looking at the statistics one can easily see how different weather conditions can be across a relatively small area. While Thornton saw a monthly average temperature near normal, Denver was considerably warm. Similarly, our precipitation was below the Denver long term average but out at the airport it was well above average.
In terms of temperatures, the August average temperature in Thornton was 72.0 degrees. This was right near the 1981 to 2010 Denver average for the month of 72.5 degrees. Out at DIA however, the average temperature was a considerably higher 74.6 degrees.
Thornton’s highest temperature of the month was 97.6 degrees on the 20th. Our lowest was 50.2 degrees on the 15th. Officially, Denver’s highest temperature recorded was 99 degrees on the 20th and its lowest 52 degrees on that same day.
Three temperature records were broken in Denver during August 2013.
A new record high of 97 degrees was recorded on August 17 (96 degrees, 1994). On August 20 a record high of 99 degrees was recorded as well (98 degrees, 1987). Also on the 20th, a record high minimum of 70 degrees was set (67 degrees, 2007).
Denver’s long term precipitation for the month of August is 1.69 inches. Thornton fell short of that mark as we registered 1.37 inches in our rain bucket. More than an inch of that was the result of thunderstorms on two days (the 3rd and the 21st).
Denver was able to best us by a large margin recording 2.78 inches of precipitation in August 2013. The bulk of the Mile High City’s precipitation fell on the 22nd when they registered 1.94 inches from a slow moving thunderstorm, one which missed Thornton entirely.
One precipitation record was set in Denver during August 2013. The 1.94 inches of rainfall on the 22nd was a record for the date, easily besting the old record of 0.75 inches set in 1953.
Thornton, Colorado August 2013 Temperatures.Thornton, Colorado August 2013 Precipitation.
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 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 105 08/08/1878
LOW 40 08/26/1910
08/25/1910
08/24/1910
HIGHEST 99 08/20 105 -6 98 08/27
08/03
08/06
LOWEST 52 08/09 40 12 47 08/17
AVG. MAXIMUM 89.4 87.2 2.2 91.0
AVG. MINIMUM 59.8 57.9 1.9 58.9
MEAN 74.6 72.5 2.1 75.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 16 11.5 4.5 20
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 5.85 1979
MINIMUM 0.02 1924
TOTALS 2.78 1.69 1.09 0.11
DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.00
DAYS >= .01 7 8.6 -1.6 1
DAYS >= .10 2 4.3 -2.3 1
DAYS >= .50 2 1.2 0.8 0
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.3 0.7 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.95 08/21 TO 08/22 08/11 TO 08/11
08/10 TO 08/11
08/11 TO 08/11
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)
08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)1
08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)1
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 10 -10 0
SINCE 7/1 0 16 -16 0
COOLING TOTAL 308 244 64 319
SINCE 1/1 866 688 178 1122
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 8.8
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/204
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 43/110 DATE 08/03
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 55/060 DATE 08/03
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 4
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 23
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 4
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 48
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 11 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 4 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 2
HAZE 10
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
While there has been no shortage of heat, we have avoided any records for the past two weeks – until Tuesday.
Yesterday the coldest temperature registered at Denver International Airport during the 24 hour period was only 68 degrees. This sets a new record high minimum for September 3, breaking the old record of 67 degrees set in 1947.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler with a low of 66 degrees at 6:44am.
The hot weather will continue through the weekend before we may see at least a bit of relief. The ridge is expected to start to break down Tuesday ushering cooler temperatures, particularly on Wednesday. Keep an eye on the forecast here for details.
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This year on September 3 Denver reached an official high temperature of 94 degrees. Here in Thornton we topped out at 95 degrees.
Providing a stark contrast is a look back at this date 52 years ago.
On September 3, 1961 a winter-like system delivered 4.2 inches of snow to the Mile High City with the foothills receiving a foot of the white stuff. This is the earliest date for a seasonal snowfall on record. Temperatures that day dropped to 33 degrees, the earliest in the season it has ever been that cold.
The comparison highlights the extremes that Colorado can experience in September (much like most other months). Which would you prefer? Heat or snow?
Mother Nature can be fickle, especially in Colorado, dropping heavy rain in one location and nothing in a spot nearby. Such was the case this afternoon and evening when Denver International Airport received nearly two inches of rain and Thornton recorded nothing.
As officially measured at DIA, Denver recorded an amazing 1.94 inches of precipitation on August 22. This easily bests the record for the date of 0.75 inches set in 1953. It also ranks as the 34th biggest single day precipitation total for the city on record.
Here in Thornton we weren’t so lucky as the storms stayed south and east of us. We recorded absolutely nothing in the rain bucket on this date.
Denver’s Top 50 Single Day Precipitation Totals (National Weather Service)
The lowest temperature today was a very mild 70 degrees at 1:50 a.m. This is a new record high minimum for August 20 easily besting the old record of 67 degrees set in 2007 and previous years.
Denver officially set another high temperature record. However, is it accurate to compare measurements taken at DIA with historical records taken 14 miles away?
Summer 2013 had been a relatively cool one – up until this latter half of August. The Mile High City set another record high temperature and while it was assuredly hot, questions continue to arise over the comparison of measurements at DIA with Denver’s historical records.
At 1:34 p.m. the mercury climbed to 99 degrees at Denver International Airport. This beats the previous record high temperature for the date of 98 degrees set in 1987 at the old Stapleton International Airport.
Here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler with the mercury topping out at 97.8 degrees at 2:23 p.m. This was in fact our second highest temperature of the year. On June 11 we measured 99.2 degrees. Click here to view Thornton’s 2013 temperature records.
At midnight tonight we may see yet another record fall. The record high minimum for today’s date is 67 degrees. This morning the temperature only dropped to 71 degrees at DIA. If by midnight we don’t drop to the 67 degree mark, that will be another record for the Mile High City.
Today’s record is the third in the past four days. On Sunday, August 18 we tied the record high for that date of 98 degrees. That followed a record-breaker on Saturday the 17th when the mercury topped 97 degrees, breaking the old record for that date of 96 degrees.
One thing these records do continue to teach us is how invalid it is to compare records at Denver International Airport compared to historical locations where Denver’s official temperature was measured prior to 1994.
Today for instance, the station at Denver City Park recorded 97 degrees.
Hot yes. Record-setting no.
Similarly, on Sunday the 18th City Park recorded 95 degrees versus DIA’s mark of 98 degrees. On Saturday when DIA recorded a record-breaking 97 degrees, City Park saw 96 degrees.
The difference in measurements is something we have seen repeatedly since 1994. The move of Denver’s official monitoring station is corrupting the city’s climate record and has wide implications.
With a location 14 miles east of where official temperatures were measured prior to DIA, it is in an entirely different microclimate and as a result it experiences different conditions – sometimes considerably different – to locations closer to downtown.
If we can’t accurately compare our temperatures, how are we to believe climate change alarmists that warn of global warming?
For more on the topic of Denver’s problematic weather station, see these previous stories:
At 3:08 p.m. the mercury climbed to 98 degrees. The last time the date saw readings that high was in 2011.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler – but not by much. Our temperature topped out at 95 degrees at 3:19 p.m. This mirrored our high temperature yesterday.
We expect at least a couple more days of these well-above normal temperatures as we head into the workweek. After that we should start to cool down a bit. Click here to view the extended forecast.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
The mercury climbed with great efficiency today leading to a record-breaking temperature for the date. As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver’s temperature topped out at 2:28 p.m. reaching 97 degrees. This breaks the old record for August 17 of 96 degrees set most recently in 1994.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler – but not by much. Our temperature topped out at 95 degrees at 2:43 p.m.
Above normal temperatures, but probably not record-setting, are expected to stay with us through at least the first half of the week. Tomorrow and Monday do offer just a slight chance for thunderstorms. Click here to view the extended forecast: http://www.thorntonweather.com/forecast.php
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
Following two hot and dry months in May and June, July brought some relief in the form of near normal temperatures and precipitation.
Cooler than normal temperatures started the month during the first couple of days of July. That changed for the following 10 days when temperatures bounced to above normal levels with Thornton recording eight 90+ degree days during the period.
The next few days from the 14th to the 16th brought much cooler conditions and much-needed precipitation. Seasonal temperatures then settled in through the 23rd. As the month came to a close, temperatures became more moderate and we even saw three days (the 27th, 28th, and 29th) with highs in the 70s. Most notably we once again saw some precipitation.
Thornton saw an average temperature during July of 72.1 degrees. This was a good bit below the long term Denver historical average of 74.3 degrees. Officially at DIA the average temperature for the month was 74.2 degrees.
We recorded 14 days with temperatures at or equal to 90 degrees. Temperatures ranged from a high of 98.5 degrees on the 11th down to a low of 52.6 degrees on the 27th.
A reasonable 1.61 inches of precipitation fell into Thornton’s rain bucket during the month. This was a bit below the average for July of 2.16 inches. Out at the airport, Denver fared a bit better with 1.98 inches.
Thornton, Colorado July 2013 Temperatures.Thornton, Colorado July 2013 Precipitation.
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
210 AM MDT THU AUG 1 2013
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 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 105 07/20/2005
LOW 42 07/04/1903
07/31/1873
HIGHEST 100 07/11 105 -5 102 07/21
LOWEST 55 07/02 42 13 57 07/26
AVG. MAXIMUM 88.2 89.4 -1.2 94.4
AVG. MINIMUM 60.4 58.9 1.5 63.4
MEAN 74.3 74.2 0.1 78.9
DAYS MAX >= 90 17 16.0 1.0 27
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 6.41 1965
MINIMUM 0.01 1901
TOTALS 1.98 2.16 -0.18 0.48
DAILY AVG. 0.06 0.07 -0.01 0.02
DAYS >= .01 7 8.3 -1.3 6
DAYS >= .10 4 4.3 -0.3 2
DAYS >= .50 2 1.4 0.6 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.7 -0.7 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.87 07/15 TO 07/15 07/06 TO 07/07
07/14 TO 07/15 07/31 TO 07/31
07/15 TO 07/15 07/31 TO 07/31
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 07/07(00) TO 07/07(00)
07/31(00) TO 07/31(00)1
07/31(00) TO 07/31(00)1
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 6 -6 0
SINCE 7/1 0 6 -6 0
COOLING TOTAL 295 289 6 438
SINCE 1/1 558 444 114 803
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.3
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/163
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 45/050 DATE 07/20
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 58/040 DATE 07/20
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 5
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 24
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 50
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 13 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 6 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 1
HAZE 13
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
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While there has been no shortage of heat, we have avoided any records for the past two weeks – until Tuesday.
