Saturday's sunset was stunning as seen in this photo from Thornton. (Steve Hill)
Colorado is home to some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises as more often than not, Mother Nature begins and ends the day with a light show of her own. Yesterday a mountain wave cloud sat over the Front Range and when the day came to close, it was lit fiery red.
Also, just a friendly reminder that we are raising money to upgrade our webcams to HD, something that would allow us to capture such stunning events and share them with the community.
A late month snow in October 2012 covered the nearby Flatirons in a blanket of white. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The Colorado Front Range saw a relatively calm month in October 2012 but also a change in the hot and dry pattern we had been stuck in. Temperatures were below normal for the first time in months and above average precipitation was recorded.
October 2012 started out with an average day on the first but the 2nd and 3rd of the month brought temperatures above 80 degrees.
That warm weather didn’t last long however as a cold front moved in on the 4th and brought much cooler temperatures. Denver officially recorded its first snow of the season on the 5th (0.4 inch at DIA) however Thornton missed out and did not record any with that system.
Temperatures remained cooler than normal for most of the first half of the month. On the 13th we received a light dose of rain (0.13 inch in Thornton) while Denver recorded a more generous 0.55 inch.
A calm period followed through the third week of the month. Temperatures were generally mild though and above normal.
Big changes arrived on the 24th as a large upper level trough and cold front moved in. Thornton recorded a combined total of 5.7 inches of snow on the 25th and 26th. Denver recorded 5.1 inches at the airport during the period.
The closing days of the month brought a return to warmer than normal temperatures and dry conditions.
Overall Thornton recorded an average temperature during October 2012 of 47.6 degrees. Denver’s temperature averaged 49.0 degrees which was 1.9 degrees below normal.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 85.0 degrees on the 3rd down to a low of 22.8 degrees on the 27th. Officially Denver recorded a monthly high of 83.0 degrees and a low of 24 degrees on those same dates.
The only temperature record set occurred on the 20th when the morning temperature at DIA dropped to 50 degrees. This tied the record low minimum for the date that was also set in 1939 and 1947.
In terms of precipitation, the little bit of rain at the start and middle of the month followed by the snow helped to drive up precipitation totals. Here in Thornton we recorded 0.99 inch of precipitation during the month while DIA measured 1.22. Denver’s total was 0.20 inch above normal. Denver’s snowfall total for the month of 5.5 inches was 1.5 inches above normal.
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2012...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2012
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 98 08/27 87 11 99 08/25
08/03
08/06
08/09
LOWEST 47 08/17 40 7 55 08/20
AVG. MAXIMUM 91.0 87.2 3.8 92.7
AVG. MINIMUM 58.9 57.9 1.0 61.3
MEAN 75.0 72.5 2.5 77.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 20 11.5 8.5 22
DAYS MAX = .01 1 8.6 -7.6 3
DAYS >= .10 1 4.3 -3.3 1
DAYS >= .50 0 1.2 -1.2 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.11 08/11 TO 08/11 08/03 TO 08/03
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.0 NO SNOW EVER RECORDED IN AUGUST
TOTALS 0.0 NO SNOW EVER RECORDED IN AUGUST
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 10 -10 0
SINCE 7/1 0 16 -16 0
COOLING TOTAL 319 244 75 382
SINCE 1/1 1122 688 434 863
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.9
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/217
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 38/330 DATE 08/30
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 45/330 DATE 08/30
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 8
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 22
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 1
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 34
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 4 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 9 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 0 FOG W/VIS
Many long-time Denver residents believe it always snows on Halloween. Is it fact or fiction?
As a kid growing up in Denver it always seemed like Mother Nature put a damper on our trick-or-treating. Conventional wisdom in the Denver area is that it always seems to rain or snow on Halloween.
But, is there any truth to this urban legend? Or is this just one of those times where our memory doesn’t serve us quite right?
This year it looks like we have nothing to worry about but the National Weather Service has been kind enough to compile weather statistics just for Halloween. As it turns out, the thought of snow and rain on Octboer 31st isn’t just in our minds!
We are happy to announce that our online weather radio is back up and running. This is one of our favorite pages on our site as it allows anyone to get current weather, watches, warnings and forecasts direct from the National Weather Service. It is especially critical when severe weather strikes. If you haven’t listened in before, check it out here.
Two weeks ago we suffered a failure of the sound card in the computer that powers the radio and had to purchase another – a bit of an unplanned expense. We occasionally ask for donations to help fund ThorntonWeather.com and many of you have helped generously.
To learn more about how you can help and what our next feature is that we would like to add, follow this link.
Thornton saw yet another month with above normal temperatures during the month of September 2012. The one saving grace was that it was also a wet one with above normal precipitation.
The month started out with three out of the first six days of the month recording temperatures above 90 degrees and the other three warming to above 85 degrees.
Cooler weather arrived on the 12th and Thornton saw a high of only 59.6 degrees. Rain began late on the 11th and continued into the 12th as we recorded 1.32 inches of precipitation in our bucket during the period. Denver officially recorded 0.95 inch on the 12th which was a record for the date.
Above normal temperatures soon returned however and overall we recorded 15 days of high temperatures of at least 80 degrees during the month.
Another storm system moved in on the 25th and 26th and brought more precipitation. Thornton recorded 0.81 inch during the period. At Denver International Airport 1.95 inch was recorded over the two day period. On the 26th alone the airport recorded 1.41 inches, a record for the date.
The average temperature for the month was 64.0 degrees in Thornton. DIA averaged 66.3 degrees which was 2.9 degrees above normal.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 94.6 degrees on the first down to a low of 41.6 degrees on the 18th. Denver saw its warmest temperature of 95 degrees on the 1st as well and its lowest of 45 degrees on the 22nd and 28th.
Thornton ended the month with a welcome 2.17 inches of precipitation. Denver fared better with 2.95 inches, well above the September normal of 0.96 inch. Officially the month went into the books as the 5th wettest October on record in Denver.
For the 12th consecutive September no snow was recorded in Denver. The last time we went such a long period without September snow was from 1914 to 1926.
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2012...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2012
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 97 09/01 1995
09/04/1995
09/05/1899
LOW 17 09/29/1985
HIGHEST 95 09/01 97 -2 96 09/01
LOWEST 45 09/28 17 28 38 09/21
09/22
AVG. MAXIMUM 80.3 78.5 1.8 78.6
AVG. MINIMUM 52.3 48.3 4.0 49.9
MEAN 66.3 63.4 2.9 64.2
DAYS MAX >= 90 7 3.4 3.6 1
DAYS MAX = .01 5 6.5 -1.5 6
DAYS >= .10 3 3.3 -0.3 2
DAYS >= .50 3 0.6 2.4 1
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.1 0.9 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.63 09/25 TO 09/26
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.0
TOTALS 0.0 1.3
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 69 125 -56 95
SINCE 7/1 69 141 -72 95
COOLING TOTAL 113 76 37 78
SINCE 1/1 1235 764 471 941
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 3/197
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 30/300 DATE 09/01
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 37/290 DATE 09/01
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 10
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 4
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 40
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 5 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 2
LIGHT RAIN 7 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 6 FOG W/VIS
With the start of the month of October upon us it appears Mother Nature is set to deliver a healthy dose of fall weather conditions. Not only do short term forecasts indicate cooler temperatures and even a chance for snow, long range forecasts indicate the potential for an extended period of cooler weather. Read the rest of this story on Examiner.com.
The temperature outlook for the period from October 5 to October 9 indicates cooler than average temperatures for much of the nation. (CPC) Click the image to read more about what long range forecasts predict for our coming weather.
With an unusually warm summer and very dry conditions Mother Nature has moved up the timetable to view Colorado’s natural autumn gold. This weekend will be the prime time to take a drive to view the changing foliage in the high country. Find out some of the best places in the mountains to view the changing leaves.
Snow covers Colorado's Pikes Peak on the morning of Thursday, September 13, 2012 following a storm system. (City of Colorado Springs) Click the image to view a slideshow of the recent snow.
Following months of scorching heat and below normal precipitation, northeastern Colorado desperately needed precipitation. Mother Nature finally provided relief as many locations recorded more than 1″ of rain over the past 24 hours.
Here in Thornton we recorded a welcome 1.32″ since yesterday. Of that, 1.26″ was recorded since midnight today, the biggest single day precipitation event we have had since July 12, 2011.
View more totals for the metro area on the map below.
Snow was also recorded at higher elevations above 11,000 feet in the mountains southwest of Denver. Pikes Peak was blanketed in white and received at least a few inches.
While the recent rain will provide some temporary relief, precipitation totals for the calendar year remain well behind normal. For Denver an average year brings 14.92″ of liquid precipitation. To date 2012 has only recorded 6.46″in the rain bucket.
24 hour rainfall totals for the Denver metro area from 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 to 5:30pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.
Denver has seen a record-setting summer with extraordinarily warm temperatures and dry conditions. The question on everyone’s mind now is whether or not September will bring some relief.
Current indications are that overall the month will remain unseasonably warm and dry. However, temperatures will cool as is normal for September.
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.
We are happy to announce that our online weather radio is back up and running. This is one of our favorite pages on our site as it allows anyone to get current weather, watches, warnings and forecasts direct from the National Weather Service. It is especially critical when severe weather strikes. 
Denver has seen a record-setting summer with extraordinarily warm temperatures and dry conditions. The question on everyone’s mind now is whether or not September will bring some relief.