Thornton recorded its hottest month of the past six years during July 2012.
For the second month in a row, Thornton saw extraordinarily warm temperatures in July. The month not only was the warmest July ever recorded by ThorntonWeather.com, it was the warmest month recorded since we began operation.
The average temperature for July 2012 was an astonishing 75.5 degrees. This was 1.8 degrees above Thornton’s average for July over the past six years, a significant increase.
Temperatures ranged from a high of 98.7 degrees on July 1 down to a low of 56.6 degrees on July 11.
In all we recorded 23 days with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees. We did however manage to escape the month without breaking the century mark.
In terms of precipitation Thornton didn’t fare too poorly. We recorded 1.92 inches of precipitation in our rain bucket. This was only 0.03” below the six year average of 1.95 inches.
ThorntonWeather.com's new METAR page gives current conditions from across the Front Range.
METAR stations are weather stations typically located at airports that report weather conditions in a standardized format. A new page on ThorntonWeather.com allows you to check current conditions from these stations at locations like DIA, Buckley Air National Guard Base, Boulder Municipal Airport and more.
Conditions that are reported in a raw format by METAR stations include temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, precipitation, cloud cover and heights, visibility, and barometric pressure. These can also transmit more detailed information such as lightning, tornadoes and more.
The conditions are typically updated only once or twice an hour so they are not entirely “real time” but are useful for a quick glance.
Our new METAR page takes lists 18 area stations from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne in order by their distance from Thornton. It takes the coded information and displays the latest reported conditions in an easy to use format.
Denver has recorded more consecutive days of 95°+ temperatures than ever before.
The hot summer of 2012 just keeps piling up the temperature records. On Thursday, July 5 the mercury climbed to 99° at Denver International Airport making it the 14th day in a row that the Mile High City has seen temperature at or above 95°.
The streak easily bests the old record of 12 consecutive 95°+ days set between July 2 and July 13, 1874. Those 14 days also represent the 8th longest streak of 90°+ days since Denver began record keeping in 1872.
Here in Thornton we too have been hot but pretty consistently remained a degree or two cooler than DIA. 13 of our last 14 days saw temperatures of 95° or higher with June 28th being the only exception (92°).
It appears Friday will bring one more day of 90°+ temperatures but the good news is that monsoonal flow is increasing. This will lead to better chances for precipitation today and through the weekend and much cooler temperatures Saturday and Sunday. Get the latest forecast here.
Denver reaches 100° or higher for the 8th time this year, the most 100° or higher days ever recorded in the Mile High City. Click for a larger view. (National Weather Service)
As we discussed earlier in our June weather recap, this summer has thus far been exceedingly warm. Mother Nature seems intent on keeping that going, at least at the outset of July.
At 4:36pm today the temperature at Denver International Airport reached 101°. This breaks the high temperature record for July 2 of 100° last set in 2007.
Most notably however is the fact that this was the 8th time that Denver has met or exceeded the 100° mark. This is the first time since record keeping began in Denver in 1872 that this has happened. See the image to the right for details.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler today “only” reaching 98.3° at 2:40pm. This was the 11th straight day of 90° temperatures or above for us.
The heat looks to continue at least until Thursday. After that we are closely watching a change in weather patterns that may not only bring cooler temperatures but also much-needed precipitation.
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June 2012 will go into the record books as the hottest June since record-keeping began in Denver in 1872.
You didn’t need a thermometer to know that June 2012 was extraordinarily hot. What is normally one of the most pleasant months in Thornton turned into a scorcher with high temperature records seemingly falling daily.
The first half of the month was unseasonably warm but that was only a warm-up (pun intended) for what would come during the latter half of the month.
Officially for Denver nine daily high temperature records were tied or broken. The first record fell on June 4th and then the records on the 9th, 17th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th followed suit.
The temperature at Denver International Airport hit 100 degrees or higher six times during the month – the most ever recorded in June. Five of those 100 degree days were consecutive from the 22nd to the 26th and all of those dates set records. On 17 of the 30 days of the month the temperature reached 90 degrees or higher.
In the end Denver saw an average monthly temperature of 75.0 degrees. This was an astonishing 7.6 degrees above normal and puts June 2012 in the books as the hottest on record.
Thornton, while not quite as warm as DIA, still saw an extraordinarily hot month. We recorded 16 days of 90 degree or higher temperatures, one shy of Denver.
From the time ThorntonWeather.com was founded in October 2006 until the start of June 2012, we had only twice before recorded temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. We doubled that tally in June alone as on four days we reached 100 degrees or higher.
A look at temperature records set in Denver during the month of June. Click for a larger image. (National Weather Service)
Thornton recorded an average monthly temperature of 73.9 degrees. This was 6.7 degrees above the average of the previous five Junes.
In terms of precipitation, Denver officially recorded 1.22 inches of precipitation which was 0.76 inches below normal. All of that was recorded on the 6th and 7th when thunderstorms rolled through the airport area.
Here in Thornton we didn’t benefit from the thunderstorms nearly as well. A mere 0.11 inch of precipitation fell into our rain bucket, far below the 1.44 average of the past six years.
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
649 AM MDT SUN JUL 1 2012
…JUNE 2012…HOTTEST JUNE ON RECORD…
June 2012 was the hottest June in Denver since weather records began back in 1872. The month got off to a warm start with above normal temperatures during the first 9 days of the month. Record maximum temperatures were set and tied on the 4th and 9th respectively. An upper level trough of low pressure which moved across the northern and central Rockies brought cooler temperatures to the region… Resulting in below normal temperatures on the 10th and 11th. Upper level high pressure then reestablished over the region bringing another stretch of above normal temperatures from the 12th through the 19th. Record high temperatures were set both on the 17th and 18th. An upper level trough of low pressure and associated cold front brought some relief to Colorado on the 20th. The high temperature on the 20th was a pleasant 76 degrees…which was eight degrees below normal. Much above normal temperatures returned to Denver the final 10 days of the month as a strong upper ridge of high pressure built over the desert southwest and migrated into the central plains states. A stretch of 5 consecutive 100 degree days occurred from the 22nd through the 26th. This was only the third time in Denver weather history in which this has happened. The other occurrences were July 4th-8th 1989 and July 19th-23rd 2005. In addition…each of the 5 days set new record high temperatures. The 105 degree readings on the 25th and 26th established a new all time record maximum temperature for the month of June and tied Denver’s all time annual record high temperature.
Temperatures:
The average temperature for the month was 75.0 degrees which was 7.6 degrees above normal. This makes June of 2012 the hottest June on record. There were 17 days in which the maximum temperature exceeded 90 degrees. This ties 2002 for the second most 90 degree days in June. June of 2006 still holds the record with nineteen 90 degree days. There were also six days in which the temperature reached the century mark. This is a new record for 100 degree days in the month of June. The old record was 3 days back in June of 1990. The coldest temperature on the month was 43 degrees which occurred on the morning of the 11th. Below is list of temperature records tied or broken during the month.
JUNE 2012 TEMPERATURE RECORDS:
MONTHLY RECORDS:
JUNE 2012 WAS HOTTEST ON RECORD (AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 75.0 DEGREES)
PREVIOUS RECORD WAS JUNE 1994 (AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 73.5 DEGREES)
JUNE 22ND-26TH 5 CONSECUTIVE DAYS MAX TEMPERATURE REACHED 100 DEGREES
OTHER OCCURRENCES (JULY 4TH-8TH 1989) (JULY 19TH-23RD 2005)
JUNE 25TH AND 26TH SET ALL TIME JUNE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE 105 DEGREES
(PREVIOUS RECORD 104 DEGREES IN 1994)
DAILY RECORDS:
DATE TEMPERATURE TYPE OF RECORD OLD RECORD YEAR(S) SET
JUNE 4TH 94 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 93 DEGREES 1946, 1977
1990, 2010
JUNE 9TH 95 DEGREES TIED RECORD MAX 95 DEGREES 1922, 2002
JUNE 17TH 98 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 97 DEGREES 2007
JUNE 18TH 100 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 99 DEGREES 1936, 1990
JUNE 22ND 102 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 98 DEGREES 1874
JUNE 23RD 104 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 102 DEGREES 1954
JUNE 24TH 102 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 100 DEGREES 2007
JUNE 25TH 105 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 100 DEGREES 1991
JUNE 26TH 105 DEGREES NEW RECORD MAX 104 DEGREES 1994
JUNE 26TH 71 DEGREES NEW RECORD HI MIN 68 DEGREES 1936 PREVIOUS YEARS
PRECIPITATION.
PRECIPITATION FOR THE MONTH WAS 1.22 INCHES...WHICH IS 0.76 INCHES
BELOW THE NORMAL 0F 1.98 INCHES. ALL OF THIS PRECIPITATION FELL ON
THE 6TH AND 7TH WHEN STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVED ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE DENVER METRO AREA. THERE WERE 8 THUNDERSTORMS
OBSERVED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DURING THE MONTH. THERE
WERE NO DAYS WITH DENSE FOG WITH A VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW 1/4 MILE
DURING THE MONTH. THE PEAK WIND OF 67 MPH FROM A WESTERLY DIRECTION
OCCURRED ON THE 26TH.
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 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 06/26/2012
06/25/2012
LOW 30 06/02/1951
HIGHEST 105R 06/26 104 1 96 06/29
06/25 06/28
LOWEST 43 06/11 30 13 45 06/10
AVG. MAXIMUM 91.7 82.4 9.3 83.3
AVG. MINIMUM 58.4 52.3 6.1 53.0
MEAN 75.0 67.4 7.6 68.2
DAYS MAX >= 90 17 7.9 9.1 7
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 4.96 1882
MINIMUM T 1890
TOTALS 1.22 1.98 -0.76 2.43
DAILY AVG. 0.04 0.07 -0.03 0.08
DAYS >= .01 2 8.4 -6.4 8
DAYS >= .10 2 4.6 -2.6 4
DAYS >= .50 2 1.4 0.6 2
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.69 06/06 TO 06/07 06/19 TO 06/20
06/30 TO 06/30
06/30 TO 06/30
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.4 1919
TOTALS 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 6 62 -56 26
SINCE 7/1 5399 6058 -659 5707
COOLING TOTAL 314 133 181 126
SINCE 1/1 365 155 210 135
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 12.2
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 5/169
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 52/240 DATE 06/02
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 67/250 DATE 06/02
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 8
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 21
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 1
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 33
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 8 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 2
LIGHT RAIN 5 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 1 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 3
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Fireworks are illegal in Thornton and with the tinder dry conditions this year, fire danger is extraordinarily high. Please leave the show to the pros!
Fireworks have long been illegal in the City of Thornton and in recent years stiff fines have been meted out to violators. This year with conditions tinder dry it is especially important that residents adhere to the law and leave the show to the pros.
Wildfires are burning across Colorado right now with tens of thousands of acres charred, 500 homes destroyed and lives lost. These events highlight that even a small spark in the dry conditions we are experiencing could lead to disaster. The danger is there, even in an urban environment, where foliage is very dry, lawns are parched and building materials are completely dried out.
Not too many of us have an extra $500 lying around and that is what it will cost anyone who shoots off fireworks in Thornton. A second violation in 12 months nets you a $1,000 fine. Of course violators will also have to deal with the disdain of neighbors who likely do not appreciate the noise, mess, smoke, hassle and danger you present to their property.
Rather than spend money on fireworks – and fines – do something good with your money. The City of Thornton will be accepting donations to the newly established Colorado Fire Relief Fund 2012. Show your support for our fellow Coloradoans affected by these disasters and leave the show to the pros.
The Thornton Fire Department will be deploying a crew and engine to help support the battle against Colorado's wildfires. (City of Thornton)
With wildfires raging across much of the Colorado high country, nearly half of all available resources in the nation have been deployed to our state. Today the City of Thornton said it would be lending a hand in the battle against these deadly and damaging fires.
The Thornton Fire Department will be joining the multijurisdictional effort and deploying a crew and fire engine to assist with the Flagstaff Fire burning west of Boulder. The blaze started late Tuesday afternoon and forced the evacuation of more than two dozen homes.
While the fire is not the largest or most critical one in the state, by Thornton sending a crew it helps to free up other resources to battle other blazes like the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs.
ThorntonWeather.com offers our support for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us and others across the state. We pray for your safety and success as we deal with this horrible summer of fire.
Update, 2:15pm, from the City of Thornton: “Fire fighters from the Thornton Fire Department mobilized to assist with the Flagstaff Fire in Boulder on June 26. A “Strike Team” from Thornton went to Boulder to provide assistance with structure protection. The Thornton Fire Department remains on standby to assist with any structure protection requested by agencies fighting the fires in Colorado.”
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Colorado’s deadly and destructive wildfire season continues with as many as a dozen blazes burning in recent days. Smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of the state in recent weeks and new NASA satellite imagery shows the smoke plumes from some of the blazes. Read the rest of this story and view the images on Examiner.com.
Another scorcher in Denver as June 25, 2012 will go into the record books as only the third time the Mile High City registered 105 degrees.
For the fourth day in a row Denver’s temperature broke the 100 degree mark and once again set records in the process. Not only did June 25, 2012 break the record high for the date, it also tied the highest temperature ever recorded in the Mile High City.
Weather record keeping began in Denver in November of 1871. In the nearly 141 years since, only twice has Denver reached 105 degrees – until today.
At 3:34pm the mercury at Denver’s official monitoring station at Denver International Airport reached 105 degrees. This tied the highest temperature ever recorded in the Mile High City which has only been seen twice before. The two previous times were on July 20, 2005 and August 8, 1878.
This of course is a record for June 25 itself as well. The previous record high temperature for June 25 was 100 degrees set in 1991.
The 105 degree reading also is the warmest temperature ever recorded in June. The old record was 104 degrees set on June 26, 1994.
And finally this makes the fourth day in a row that Denver has seen 100+ degree temperatures. Only three other times have that many or more consecutive days recorded readings above the century mark. With forecasts calling for at least one more day of 100+ degree temperatures, the streak may live on.
Thornton sets high temperature marks too
Thornton’s temperatures climbed today as well and broke the 100 degree mark for the third time this month. At 3:53pm ThorntonWeather.com recorded a high of 103° (102.9°). This is the highest temperature recorded by our site since it came online in October 2006.
Denver’s Longest Streaks of 100 Degrees or more
July 4 to July 8, 1989 – Five days (101, 101, 102, 102, 103)
July 19 to July 23, 2005 – Five days (101, 105, 104, 102, 102)
June 29 to July 2, 1990 – Four days (102, 102, 102, 100)
June 22 to June 25, 2012 – Four days – and counting (102, 104, 101, 105)
Denver topped out at 102 degrees on June 24 setting a record for the date.
As officially measured at Denver International Airport, the mercury in Denver today topped out at 102 degrees at 3:35pm. This easily breaks the old record for June 24th of 100 degrees set in 2007.
Here in Thornton we fell just shy of the 100 degree mark today as we topped out at 99.3 degrees at 3:55pm. This follows on 102.2 degrees on Saturday and 100.2 degrees on Friday.
This makes it the third day in a row with Denver seeing 100 degrees or warmer temperatures. Only four other times since recordkeeping began in 1878 have there been three or more 100 degree days in a row in the Mile High City.
Denver has recorded 100 degrees or warmer only 73 times including today. Weather forecasts currently call for 100+ degree temperatures for at least the first part of the week giving a chance that the current streak will continue.
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