With drought conditions beginning to set in across northeastern Colorado, the end of year snowstorm brought at least a little bit of relief. Thornton recorded just over 3 inches of snow while Denver officialy records 2.9 inches out at Denver International Airport.
Our east webcam captured the event and we put together a time lapse video compressing 24 hours from 8:00am on December 30th to 8:00am on December 31st. It is fun to watch but we find ourselves wishing there was more of it!
There is a lot that can be said about the weather in Colorado but ‘boring’ is not usually a term associated with it. Anyone who has lived in the Centennial State for very long quickly experiences a weather-related event that will give them memories for a lifetime.
From major snowstorms and blizzards to tornadoes, wildfires, scorching heat and damaging hail storms Colorado weather can and does bring it all to the table. The Denver office of the National Weather Service has released a list of what local meteorologists rank as the top 10 weather events of the past 10 years.
For some it may be a blizzard that buried the Mile High City in a heavy blanket of snow and brought everything to a standstill. Others will remember the heavy smoke from fires burning in the mountains destroying hundreds of thousands of acres. The tragedy tornadoes bring to Colorado in terms of destruction and loss of life may be what others remember.
Over the past 10 years many memorable weather events have occurred that fully display the sheer variety of weather Colorado receives. A team of meteorologists serving Colorado analyzed these events and ranked them based on meteorological intensity and their human and economic impact.
Continue reading Ranking the top 10 Colorado weather events of the past 10 years
Update, 1:10pm – A lull in the storm. Snow will taper off for just a little bit this afternoon before picking back up before rush hour.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect and the National Weather Service is forecasting 5 to 10 inches total accumulation of snow. In Thornton we have recorded 1/2 inch so far and in the end we will likely be at the lower end of the forecast range. Click here to view the latest storm reports.
As expected the real story is the temperatures. Thornton hit its high temperature today of 32.5 degrees at 1:52am and it has all been downhill from there. With winds around 10 mph gusting to 20 mph wind chills have now dipped into the single digits.
Original story, 7:25am – The snow and cold are running a bit behind but they are on their way. Thornton and the rest of the Denver metro are set to get our first winter storm of the season and a Winter Storm Warning has been issued.
A Winter Storm Warning for snow and blowing snow will go into effect for the Denver metro area at 9:00am and run through 6:00am on Friday. The storm system is pushing its way through northeastern Colorado and as it does temperatures will plummet and snow will begin to fall.
Look for the snow to gradually start this morning with the heaviest period being late this afternoon and into tonight. Total snow accumulations in Denver are forecast to be in the 5 to 10 inch range. Here in Thornton we will likely be on the lighter side of that range. The Front Range foothills and Palmer Divide may see up to a foot.
The snow that initially falls will likely melt due to the warm ground however as temperatures drop roads will become icy and slick. Extreme caution should be used, particularly late this afternoon and into tonight.
While we are looking at a decent bit of snowfall, there isn’t a lot of moisture in this system. As a result look for the snow to be light and fluffy. This will make it easy to shovel but when winds pick up it creates a blowing snow hazard and visibility may be impacted.
This sets the stage for near blizzard conditions, particularly in open areas to the northeast. The National Weather Service has indicated a Blizzard Warning may be issued in some areas later today if conditions warrant.
Temperatures are the other big aspect of this storm system. The mercury will be dropping throughout the day and by 5:00pm it will be down to 14 degrees with overnight lows approaching zero.
The winds, coupled with the bitter Arctic cold, will create dangerous wind chill conditions. Late afternoon will see wind chills near zero and overnight they will dip to near 15 degrees below zero.
Anyone planning outdoor activities or traveling needs to be prepared. Ensure you have adequate clothing and emergency supplies. For more information be sure to check out our Winter Weather Preparedness links below.
Airlines and Colorado Department of Transportation prepare for storm
With a storm like this travel of almost any form is impacted and area agencies are gearing up. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said they would have 72 snowplows ready to roll with another 27 in reserve. Click here to view our live road conditions page for the state and for a local look, check our Denver traffic page.
At Denver International Airport (DIA) airlines began waiving fees for passengers wanting to change their travel plans. Continental, United and Frontier all said they were expecting delays and possibly cancellations from the storm and were operating accordingly. Our Airport & Flight Status page has details.
Winter Weather Preparedness
| Intro | Winter Weather Preparedness Week |
| Part 1 | Winter travel safety |
| Part 2 | Watches…warnings…and advisories |
| Part 3 | High winds |
| Part 4 | Wind chill temperatures and hypothermia |
| Part 5 | Avalanche safety |
| Review | Winter Weather Preparedness Week review |
The National Weather Service has upgraded what was a Winter Storm Watch to a warning and is now forecasting 5 to 10 inches of snow. Everything seems to be aligning for Thornton and the rest of the Denver metro area to see its first winter storm of the season.
Most of the computers models are coming together with a solution that will pass a low pressure system across southern Colorado. This solution sets things up for a significant winter weather event with accumulating snow across most of northeastern Colorado.
The Winter Storm Warning will go into effect at 9:00am Thursday and run through 6:00am Friday and is for snow and blowing snow. Snow will gradually start Thursday morning in the pre-dawn hours and then increase in intensity before noon. Throughout the day and into early morning Friday the snow will continue.
Accumulations from 5 to 10 inches are possible with some isolated areas receiving more. The snow will be joined with gusty winds to 35 mph and bitter Arctic cold temperatures that will send wind chill temperatures plumetting.
Tomorrow morning’s commute may be a bit messy depending on the timing of the start of the snow. The afternoon rush hour may be a doozy. The one possible consolation will be that the snow is likely to of the relatively dry type that we see this year so shoveling shouldn’t be too bad.
The cold that is accompanying this storm is the other notable aspect. Thursday will see a high temperature around 23 degrees – nearly 30 degrees cooler than today. Further that high temperature will be achieved around midnight. After that the mercury will fall to around 16 degrees by 6:00pm with wind chills into the single digits.
Overnight lows Thursday night will be near zero. Friday sees little in the way of improvement in terms of temperature with a forecast high of only 15 degrees. As the clouds clear out late Friday that will allow for even colder nighttime temperatures Friday night with the mercury likely dipping to below zero.
As this storm hits conditions will likely become hazardous for travel and residents should be prepared. For more information on what you can do to get ready and protect your family, be sure to check out the links below for our series on Winter Weather Preparedness.
| Intro | Winter Weather Preparedness Week |
| Part 1 | Winter travel safety |
| Part 2 | Watches…warnings…and advisories |
| Part 3 | High winds |
| Part 4 | Wind chill temperatures and hypothermia |
| Part 5 | Avalanche safety |
| Review | Winter Weather Preparedness Week review |
As all the good little boys and girls rush to open their Christmas presents this morning most were asleep and missed Santa’s flight over Thornton and the Mile High City. The good folks at NORAD in Colorado Springs however were able to capture video of St. Nick as he made his rounds.
Santa’s annual trip across the globe covers hundreds of thousands of miles. From the North Pole to each of the seven continents and billions of presents delivered Santa Claus’ 2010 trip went off without a hitch.
For 55 years the good men and women at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have tracked St. Nick on his annual journey and this year their cameras captured him as he visited Denver. Check out the video below. To see more pictures and videos of his trip check out our Santa Tracker page.
Last year a pre-holiday snowstorm covered Thornton in a blanket of white ensuring we had a white Christmas. This year the color will be brown for the Front Range but a sizeable chunk of the United States will have snow on the ground for the holiday.
From North Dakota to Minnesota and Iowa, a major winter storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on the upper Midwest two weeks ago. The sheer weight of the snow was enough to collapse the Metrodome in Minnesota and send the Minnesota Vikings scrambling to find someplace to play football.
A new storm in recent days has brought flooding rains to California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah while the higher elevations in those states plus western Colorado see extraordinary snowfall. Over a five day period many areas were finding that even a yard stick isn’t tall enough to record the snow that has fallen.
Thursday brings a slight chance for some precipitation but there will little if any accumulation from it. Those in Denver wanting a white Colorado Christmas will need to head for the hills. Some of the extraordinary snowfall totals recorded over the last few days include:
GOTHIC 82.0 CRESTED BUTTE 6.2 N 77.5 COAL BANK PASS 48.0 RED MOUNTAIN PASS 44.5 MOLAS PASS 41.0 SILVERTHRONE 10 E 32.0 DILLON 9 E 29.0 BRECKENRIDGE 2 W 28.0 WALDEN 16.3 WSW 23.5 COPPER MOUNTAIN 23.0 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 1 SE 20.2 WOLF CREEK PASS 1 E 18.0 VAIL 2.6 E 14.4
For more on the nation’s snow situation, check out the story on the Natural Disasters Examiner.
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.
ThorntonWeather.com is pleased to be able to provide live Santa tracking from NORAD right here on our site!
Click here to check it out and be sure to come back often to see where Kris Kringle is at!
For a look back at his trip around the globe in 2009, check out the video below.
As Christmas gets closer everyone always wonders if we are going to get the proverbial white Christmas. Unfortunately, if you look at Denver and Thornton weather history, the chances arent all that good but it also depends on what you define as a white Christmas.
December just isnt that snowy of a month, ranking as only the fourth snowiest (behind March, November and April) so historically we have a bit of a disadvantage. There have however been some very white Christmases in our history and it is fun to look back.
For a complete look at Denver’s Christmas weather statistics, click here.
For the latest Thornton weather forecast for Christmas, check out our forecast page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to stay up to date with all the latest with Thornton’s weather.
A very chilly morning yielded a beautiful sunrise over south Thornton this morning. ThorntonWeather.com was out for a walk and captured images of the brilliant red sky near the Spratt Lake facility.
With mostly clear skies temperatures Sunday morning dipped clear down to 14.7 degrees – the coldest day we have seen this season. Thankfully we will be warming up to above normal temperatures today as the forecast calls for a high of 54 degrees.
The images this morning not only include the spectacular sunrise but also lenticular and wave clouds.
Lenticular clouds are one of the least common types and typically only occur at high altitudes near mountains with strong winds – both of which Colorado has in abundance. These virtually stationary lens-shaped formations have been mistaken for UFO’s due to their rare appearance and unique saucer shapes.
Also known by their scientific name of altocumulus standing lenticularis, these clouds are not entirely unusual in Colorado on the Front Range during the winter. Strong jet winds force moist air to be pushed up by the rugged terrain of the adjacent Rocky Mountains. This creates a wave-like pattern of air flow that condenses at high altitudes (usually around 20,000 feet).
Below is a slideshow of some of the images we took this morning.
A full day of events highlights Thornton’s annual WinterFest on Saturday and the weather should cooperate for the most part. It will be a bit cool and windy but there is nothing weather-wise to keep everyone from coming out to this great event.
The outdoor activities start at 9:00 with a community walk around the multipurpose fields (108th & Colorado Blvd). Temperatures will be right around the freezing mark at the start with northwest winds at 5 mph creating a wind chill of 28 degrees. It will be chilly but certainly tolerable.
WinterFest gets started in earnest at 10:00 with a full slate of events. By then the mercury will have climbed to 35 degrees with light winds of 7 mph. Skies overhead will be partly cloudy today but there should at least be intermittent sun to help warm things up.
As the day progresses the thermometer will rise but the winds will also be picking up. The high today will hit 41 degrees by about 1:00pm and hold steady there through 4:00pm when the sun starts to go down. Winds will gradually increase through the morning peaking by 2:00pm at 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 25 mph. After that they should start to die down and by 7:00pm they will be mostly calm.
Fireworks will close out today’s events at 8:30pm and the weather will be chilly but otherwise it should be a great display. Temperatures by then will be down to 30 degrees but the winds will be calm.
The City of Thornton has plenty of activities for the whole family today. From the community walk to Santa’s village, ice skating, food and a concert from the Thornton Community Band. Be sure to come out and join your Thornton neighbors!
You can get more details including a complete schedule of events on the city’s website.