Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Ready for snow and freezing temperatures? They can come at any time now

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Are you ready? As September comes to a close and with fall's arrival cold and snow aren't far behind usually.

Wednesday marked the first day of fall and while the forecast may not call for freezing temperatures or snow, it won’t be long before the Mile High City is faced with those conditions.  We have in fact already passed the earliest dates Denver has seen freezes and snow so they can arrive at any time. 

Denver has in fact seen snow as early as September 3rd and its first seasonal freeze as early as September 8th.  Those are the extremes however.  On average the first snowfall occurs on October 19th and the first freeze on October 7th.

How will we fare this year?  La Niña conditions are strengthening and the outlook is for warmer than normal temperatures for the next few months.  Colorado weather however doesn’t always follow an established pattern. 

Below is a look at Colorado’s cold season statistics as provided by the National Weather Service.  They provide a bit of historical perspective as to what we might expect this year.

  • The statistics below and many more are kept in our Climatology section. Check it out

Autumn First Freeze Information

Earliest Date of First Freeze: September 8, 1962
Latest Date of First Freeze: November 15, 1944
Average Date of First Freeze: October 7th
 
First Freeze Last 11 Years:
October 2, 2009
October 13, 2008
October 8, 2007
September 18, 2006
October 5, 2005
October 14, 2004
September 14, 2003
October 4, 2002
October 5, 2001
September 20, 2000
September 28, 1999
 
October 21st is the average date in which Denver’s normal overnight low temperature hits 32 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time.
 
Autumn First Snow Information
 
Earliest Date of First Snow: September 3, 1961
Latest Date of First Snow: November 21, 1934
Average Date of First Snow: October 19th
 
First Measurable Snow Last 11 Years:
October 21, 2009
November 14, 2008
October 22, 2007
October 18, 2006
October 10, 2005
November 1, 2004
November 5, 2003
October 25, 2002
October 5, 2001
September 23, 2000
September 28, 1999
 
Seasonal Snowfall Amounts

Greatest Seasonal Snowfall: 118.7 inches 1908-09
Least Seasonal Snowfall: 20.8 inches 1888-89
Average Seasonal Snowfall (1971-2000): 61.7 inches
 
Seasonal Snowfall Last 11 Years:
60.6 inches 2009-2010
38.1 inches 2008-2009
46.3 inches 2007-2008
72.6 inches 2006-2007
30.4 inches 2005-2006
39.3 inches 2004-2005
38.0 inches 2003-2004
61.8 inches 2002-2003
30.2 inches 2001-2002
58.3 inches 2000-2001
45.6 inches 1999-2000
 
Denver’s Snowstorm Total Snowfall Statistics
 
Greatest Snowfall From One Storm: 45.7 inches December 1-6, 1913 (recorded between December 4-5th 1913)
 
The Top 13 Denver Snowstorms since 1946:
31.8 inches Mar 18, 2003
30.4 inches Nov 3, 1946
23.8 inches Dec 24, 1982
21.9 inches Oct 25, 1997
21.5 inches Nov 27, 1983
21.2 inches Nov 19, 1991
20.7 inches Dec 20, 2006
18.7 inches Mar 5, 1983
17.7 inches Nov 19, 1979
17.3 inches Apr 1, 1957
16.9 inches Mar 20, 1952
16.0 inches Oct 3, 1969
15.8 inches Apr 26, 1972
Thornton Weather

Another record smashed – Denver breaks 54 year old high temperature record

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For the second day in a row Denver set a high temperature record.
For the second day in a row Denver set a high temperature record.

A sizzling end to summer in the Mile High City!  Following on Sunday’s record setting heat we followed suit again on Monday breaking another high temperature record.

The official high temperature as measured at Denver International Airport reached 94 degrees Monday afternoon at 1:38pm.  This breaks the old high temperature record for the date of 92 degrees set in 1956. 

Here is Thornton we just a slight bit cooler than the official high temperature as ThorntonWeather.com recorded 92.3 degrees as our high temperature. 

The mercury would likely have climbed higher today were it not for some afternoon cloud cover. 

Yesterday Denver reached a high of 96 degrees easily eclipsing the old record for September 19th of 93 set in 1980.  The day also went down in history as the hottest home game temperature in history for the Denver Broncos and the highest temperature ever recorded in Denver this late in the year. 

Tomorrow is the last day of summer but we won’t be breaking any records.  Temperatures will become more seasonal finally as cooler air moves in from the northern plains. 

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Thornton Weather

Denver smashes record high temperature as 96 degrees hits the Mile High City

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Denver recorded a high temperature today of 96 degrees shattering the old record high for the date of 93.
Denver recorded a high temperature today of 96 degrees shattering the old record high for the date of 93.

Denver is closing out summer in sizzling fashion.  With only three days left in summer the Mile High City shattered the record high temperature for the date and may set another one on Monday.

Today at 2:32pm the temperature at Denver International Airport reached a scorching 96 degrees.  This smashes the old record of 93 degrees set 30 years ago in 1980. 

The 96 degree mark today is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Denver this late in the year.  Previously 96 degrees was recorded on September 13, 1990 and in previous years.

Mercifully here in Thornton we weren’t quite as warm.  We recorded a high of 93.6 degrees at 3:20pm.

The temperature today was not a record high for the month of September however.  That mark would be 97 degrees set on the 1st of the month in 1995, the 4th in 1995 and the 5th in 1899. 

More heat is on tap for tomorrow as Denver will approach the 90 degree mark.  The record high for September 20th is  92 degrees set in 1956.

Along with the heat and lack of humidity also comes fire danger.  A Red Flag Warming will go into effect on Monday from noon until 9:00pm.  We have seen how dangerously dry the weather has been with the Fourmile Canyon Fire and the Reservoir Road Fire in the last few weeks.  Please be careful.

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Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Fire burning in Fourmile Canyon sends smoke over Thornton

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The Fourmile Canyon Fire sent smoke over Thornton on Monday. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The Fourmile Canyon Fire sent smoke over Thornton on Monday. (ThorntonWeather.com)

A fast moving wildfire burning northwest of Boulder sent smoke over Thornton on monday and more is expected today.  The Fourmile Canyon Fire started late Monday morning and has burned 3,500 acres thus far. 

Tinder dry fuels, low humidity, warm temperatures and gusty winds fueled the Fourmile Canyon Fire yesterday as it grew quickly. Firefighters took up defensive positions trying to save what homes they could but many were reduced to cinder.

More than 100 firefighters are on scene with 35 engines from 30 local agencies. Boulder County Fire is acting as the primary agency for the fire.

High winds prevented air tankers with retardant from operating for most of the day but the wind eased in the late afternoon and evening allowing some operations. 18 flights by three tankers were carried out before the sun set and they were able to drop 40,000 gallons of retardant on the fast moving fire.

Four additional tankers arrived Monday and will begin operations today, weather permitting.

We are updating the Denver Weather Examiner with all the latest news and photos from the fire.  Please visit there for all the latest.

Thornton Weather

Dry, hot and windy conditions prompt Red Flag Warning

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With plenty of heat and a lack of moisture the fire danger is high along the Front Range on Sunday. (National Weather Service)
With plenty of heat and a lack of moisture the fire danger is high along the Front Range on Sunday. (National Weather Service)

September is starting off as a hot one along the Front Range and indeed across the state of Colorado.  With temperatures set to approach record highs, low humidity and windy conditions the fire danger has prompted a Red Flag Warning for Sunday.

The record high temperature for September 5th is 97 degrees and that is what Denver’s thermometer is expected to rise to today.  Humidity during the heat of the day is forecast to drop below 15% and the afternoon will bring breezy conditions with winds gusting over 30 mph. 

All of those factors will serve to dry out the Colorado Front Range and bring what the National Weather Service calls “extreme fire danger” to the area. 

The service has issued a Red Flag Warning that will be in effect from 10:00am to 9:00pm today covering the Front Range foothills and adjacent areas including Denver and Thornton.  Conditions are expected to be at their peak from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Similarly, the Western Slope from the Continental Divide west to the Utah border is under a Red Flag warning from noon until 9:00pm. 

Colorado has made it through what has been a relatively hot summer without any major wildfires.  However conditions today are ripe and should a fire get started, it could spread rapidly and with devastating effects.  With the Labor Day holiday weekend many people will be spending time outdoors and extreme caution should be exercised. 

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Thornton Weather

Severe weather visits Thornton; calmer weather forecast

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This storm cell over north Thornton on Sunday, August 15, 2010 was beautiful as it was lit by the setting sun. See more images in the slideshow below.
This storm cell over north Thornton on Sunday, August 15, 2010 was beautiful as it was lit by the setting sun. See more images in the slideshow below.

Over the last two days, Thornton has seen its share of severe weather.  Thunderstorms on Sunday and Monday afternoons provided excitement but calmer weather is forecasted.

On Sunday, thunderstorms boomed over the northern part of town just as the sun was setting.  They provided a fantastic light show as the setting sun illuminated the thunder clouds in orange and lightning provided the flash.  These storms didn’t produce much within Thornton but further east they produced two tornadoes.

Monday the main event struck the northern half of the city.  Around 5:00pm dark, ominous clouds arrived with a green cast that warned severe weather was coming.  An astounding 0.53 inch of rain was recorded at ThorntonWeather.com in a mere 25 minutes as it dumped on the area.  Some minor street flooding was reported. 

The extended forecast calls for drier weather for the next few days.  Be sure to check our forecast for all the latest. 

Severe Weather, Thornton Weather

South Dakota hail stone measures 8 inches in diameter – likely world record

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A massive hailstone with a diameter of 8 inches will likely set the record as the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight. (NWS)
A massive hailstone with a diameter of 8 inches will likely set the record as the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight. (NWS)

Hail is one of the most damaging weather events capable of doing thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes and vehicles and utterly shredding crops. Last week in South Dakota the mother of all hail stones appears to have fallen – a beast weighing nearly two pounds and measuring 8 inches in diameter.

On the evening of July 23rd severe weather rolled through the northeastern corner of South Dakota bringing with it a great deal of hail and some tornadoes. Near Vivian in Faulk County, the hail grew to proportions likely not seen anywhere else.

Ranch hand Les Scott watched the drama unfold as the hail pummeled the surrounding land. The stones were large enough that holes the size of coffee cans were left in the ground.

One particular hailstone caught Scott’s eye due to its sheer size. After retrieving it, he stuck it in his freezer. Word soon traveled about the massive chunk of ice and National Weather Service personnel made preliminary measurements placing the diameter at 8 inches with a circumference over 18 ½ inches.

Yesterday, the service returned to Vivian to transport the stone to the closest certified scale at the local post office to have it weighed. The scale tipped at an amazing 1.9375 pounds. It also had lost a bit in size dropping to 17 inches around.

Scott said the hailstone was quite a bit larger when he first found it, possibly as large as 11 inches in diameter. However, power was out in the area for six hours Friday and after he pulled it out to show various people, it lost some of its mass.

Continue reading South Dakota hail stone measures 8 inches in diameter – likely world record →

Thornton Weather

Eastlake grain elevator added to the National Register of Historic Places

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The Eastlake grain elevator, built not long after the turn of the last century, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. (ThorntonWeather.com)
The Eastlake grain elevator, built not long after the turn of the last century, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. (ThorntonWeather.com)

The city of Thornton was founded in the 1950’s but it traces its roots much farther back than that.  In fact, one could go back to the late 1800’s / early 1900’s and the Eastlake area to find some of the first ‘settlers’ of where modern day Thornton sits.  Now, one of the original buildings from those early days has been named to a very auspicious list.

The old Eastlake grain elevator at 126th Ave and Claude Court was built around 1914 not long after the Post Office and was followed by schools, churches and other buildings that were part of a growing town. 

The grain elevator is one of the few remaining buildings from those early days and it has recently been named to the National Register of Historic Places and the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.  

This is a great step in helping to preserve our quickly fading past and ThorntonWeather.com is excited the city is working to ensure the elevator remains as a visible reminder of our history. 

This past winter, we took some photos in the Eastlake area just after a fresh snowfall, some of which included the Eastlake grain elevator.  You can view them in the slideshow below.

National Weather, Thornton Weather

While the east roasts, the west chills – Record temperatures of both extremes in the U.S.

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Record heat strikes the northeastern U.S. while southern California sees record low maximums. Denver may see its own temperature record today. (Examiner.com)
Record heat strikes the northeastern U.S. while southern California sees record low maximums. Denver may see its own temperature record today. (Examiner.com)

Triple digit heat broiled the northeastern United States on Tuesday while record setting cool weather struck southern California. Denver may be next to see cool temperatures for the record books as the United States experiencing a wide variety of temperatures.

On the East Coast, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees struck from Virginia north to Massachusetts. Many of the temperatures recorded set new high temperature records for the date including:

  • Allentown, PA – 101 degrees (old record 100 degrees set in 1999)
  • Atlantic City, NJ – 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)
  • Baltimore, MD – 105 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
  • Newark, NJ – 103 degrees (old record 102 degrees set in 1999)
  • New York City, NY (Central Park) – 103 degrees (old record 101 degrees set in 1999)
  • Philadelphia, PA – 102 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
  • Warwick, RI – 102 degrees (old record 97 degrees set in 1999)
  • Wilmington, DE – 103 degrees (old record 98 degrees set in 1999)
  • Windsor Locks, CT – 102 degrees (old record 99 degrees set in 1999)

On the opposite coast of the nation, record low maximum temperatures were recorded from San Diego up to Riverside. Low pressure and a thick marine layer of clouds held temperatures down and residents that would normally be wearing shorts and tank tops traded that clothing for jeans and sweatshirts.

Among the tied or broken record low maximums recorded in southern California on Tuesday were:

  • Escondido – 69 degrees (old record 78 set in 1987)
  • Laguna Beach – 62 degrees (old record 68 set in 1968)
  • Newport Beach – 66 degrees (tied record of 66 last set in 1995)
  • Oceanside Harbor – 62 degrees (old record 65 set in 2002)
  • Riverside – 79 degrees (old record 80 set in 1969)
  • San Diego – 65 degrees (tied record of 65 last set in 1912)

On Wednesday, both the northeastern United States and southern California may see those record-setting temperature trends continue.

Denver also stands a chance to see a record setting low maximum today. The forecast for Denver International Airport where Denver’s official temperature measurements are now taken is for a high of 63 degrees today. The current record low maximum is 65 degrees last set in 1952.  Here in Thornton we will see similar temperatures.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver records its wettest 4th of July ever; Record draws attention to climate data problems

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According to the National Weather Service, record-setting rain fell in Denver on the 4th of July. But is it accurate to say that? (ThorntonWeather.com)
According to the National Weather Service, record-setting rain fell in Denver on the 4th of July. But is it accurate to say that? (ThorntonWeather.com)

Heavy rain showers put a damper on a lot of Independence Day celebrations yesterday.  Thunderstorms moved across the Front Range dumping rain and hail across northeastern Colorado with enough rain falling to set a record for the 4th of July.

At Denver International Airport (DIA), 1.84 inches of rain was recorded.  This easily eclipses the old 4th of July record dating back to 1909 when 1.44 inches fell. 

Here in Thornton we weren’t nearly as wet having recorded 0.81 inches for the storms that moved through.  Some of the other rainfall totals from across the metro area:

  • Arvada: 0.89 inch
  • Aurora: 0.86 inch
  • Broomfield: 0.57 inch
  • Castle Rock: 0.71 inch
  • Conifer: 0.31 inch
  • Centennial:  1.01 inches
  • Denver (north): 0.51 inch
  • Littleton: 0.26 inch
  • Longmont: 0.43 inch

Denver, we have a problem

The rain totals at DIA were impressive however comparing them to the other amounts recorded at stations across the metro area once again highlights problems with Denver’s climate records.  As we have discussed before on Examiner.com, moving Denver’s official monitoring station to DIA is forever altering climate records. 

The rain yesterday was heavy in places but nowhere in the central Denver area measured anywhere near the amount DIA recorded (see map below).   When the National Weather Service (NWS) announces a “record” like the rain yesterday, it is comparing the measurements at DIA to historical records taken at the old Stapleton International Airport from 1950 to 1995 and downtown from 1871 to 1949. 

Is it accurate to claim a weather record when the station doing the recording is 12 miles away from where historical records were made?  Of course not and this is a problem.   

Last year the NWS partially conceded to the problem and installed an official monitoring station in Denver City Park.  Denver’s official records however still come from the station at DIA. 

The National Weather Service either needs to start recording Denver’s official statistics from the new station or it needs to quit comparing data from DIA to that recorded before the move in 1995. 

Denver’s climate records are forever being altered and the public is being misled. 

The National Weather Service recorded 1.84 inches of rain at the official monitoring station at DIA on Sunday, July 4, 2010. No other station in the area recorded near this amount though. (MesoWest / ThorntonWeather.com)