The past week or so has brought quite a variety of weather, most notably seven straight days of precipitation. On Saturday we saw a continuation of the rain which changed to snow overnight, an event captured by one of our webcams.
Over the seven days, Thornton recorded a whopping 4.34 inches of liquid precipitation. Most of that fell as rain but 5.1 inches of snow provided some of that as well.
The video below shows the period from 3:00pm on Saturday, May 9 through 5:00pm on Sunday, May 10 compressed to about 53 seconds. It starts with rain which soon transitions to snow as the evening arrives. The snow continues into the following morning and then skies begin to clear and the snow quickly melts.
To go along with our Mother’s Day snow, we also have seen some cold – record-setting cold in fact.
Denver’s official low temperature, as measured at Denver International Airport, dropped to 27 degrees this morning. That ties the record low for today’s date set previously in 1946.
Here in Thornton we were just a little bit warmer with a low of 28 degrees this morning.
In terms of snowfall, Denver reported 4.0 inches at DIA as of 7:00am this morning. Here in Thornton we received 5.1 inches.
Looking ahead, the record low for May 11 is 28 degrees (also in 1946). With clearing skies later today and into tonight, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that mark tied or broken tomorrow AM.
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Colorado’s famously highly variable weather seems to showcase itself during the month of May when a variety of weather conditions can be seen.
Winter-like temperatures and snow are possible as are mid-summer like temperatures or the more typical spring severe weather.
As the month starts out in 2015 we are going to enjoy a mild period with unseasonably warm temperatures but with unsettled conditions. Long range forecasts lean toward overall warmer than normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.
However the month can bring extremes. Snow is not entirely uncommon during the month, oftentimes causing damage to newly bloomed trees. More common however is severe weather, particularly in the latter half of the month. Thunderstorms become more frequent and their associated hazards – lightning, wind, hail and tornadoes – are usual visitors.
We began the month of April in the need of moisture and while we didn’t do much to bolster our snowfall numbers, rain proved to be a big help. Temperatures were relatively stable but did end up a bit above average.
The first half of the month offered mostly dry conditions and warmer than normal temperatures. The only real exception was a light snowfall on the 2nd and 3rd of the month. Otherwise we saw virtually no precipitation for the first 15 days of April.
The latter half however saw a shift in the weather pattern courtesy of a number of storm systems that moved through. These led to cooler temperatures and some nice shots of precipitation.
A system on the 15th and 16th brought only 3.9 inches of snowfall but a healthy 1.68 inches of liquid precipitation from snowmelt and rain. We then remained mostly dry up until the 26th when another good shot of rain arrived.
Thornton’s average temperature for April 2015 was 49.0 degrees, a good bit above the long term April average of 47.4 degrees. Out at the airport, Denver saw similar readings to ours with an average of 48.7 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a low of 24.0 degrees on the morning of the 4th up to a high of 80.7 degrees on the 30th. Denver’s coldest reading was 27 degrees on the 3rd and its warmest came on the 30th with a temperature of 79 degrees.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton saw 2.68 inches of precipitation for the month. Officially, as measured at DIA, Denver took a very similar 2.65 inches into their bucket. Both readings were a good ways above the April average of 1.71 inches.
Snowfall failed to be anything extraordinary. Both Thornton and Denver saw 5.3 inches of the white stuff, a good bit below the average of 6.8 inches.
Thornton, Colorado temperatur?e summary for April 2015. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)Thornton, Colorado precipitat?ion summary for April 2015. (ThorntonW?eather.com?)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
552 AM MDT FRI MAY 1 2015
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2015...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2015
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 90 04/30/1992
LOW -2 04/02/1975
HIGHEST 79 04/30 80 04/22
LOWEST 27 04/03 18 04/14
AVG. MAXIMUM 62.1 61.5 0.6 62.8
AVG. MINIMUM 35.3 33.3 2.0 35.2
MEAN 48.7 47.4 1.3 49.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.3 -0.3 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 7 13.0 -6.0 10
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 8.24 1900
MINIMUM 0.03 1963
TOTALS 2.65 1.71 0.94 1.24
DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.06 0.03 0.04
DAYS >= .01 9 9.1 -0.1 6
DAYS >= .10 6 4.5 1.5 5
DAYS >= .50 2 0.9 1.1 0
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.5 0.5 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.41 04/16 TO 04/17 04/02 TO 04/03
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 33.8 1933
TOTALS 5.3 6.8
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 481 529 -48 472
SINCE 7/1 5205 5731 -526 5730
COOLING TOTAL 0 1 -1 0
SINCE 1/1 0 1 -1 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
....................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.7
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 41/350 DATE 04/15
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 52/280 DATE 04/12
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 7
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 7
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 58
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 6 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 7
LIGHT RAIN 11 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 3
LIGHT SNOW 4 SLEET 0
FOG 10 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 5
HAZE 3
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
May 3 to May 9: This week in Denver weather history
A very eventful week in Denver weather history. Four tornadoes are mentioned and many reminders that winter may not be over just quite yet.
From the National Weather Service:
1-5
In 1898…snowfall totaled 15.5 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow…6.2 inches… Fell on the 3rd. Most of the snow melted as it fell. The greatest snow depth on the ground was only 2.5 inches on the 3rd at 8:00 pm. This was the only snowfall during the month. Northeast winds were sustained to 22 mph on the 1st.
2-3
In 1979…heavy rain changed to snow on the 2nd. Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches at Stapleton International Airport… Where northwest winds gusted to 26 mph. The greatest depth of snow on the ground was only 1 inch at midday on the 2nd due to melting. Total precipitation for the 2 days was 1.65 inches.
2-4
In 1987…a slow moving storm brought rain…wind… And snow to metro Denver. Rainfall totaled 1.04 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 48 mph on the 3rd. The foothills received 5 to 10 inches of snow.
2-5
In 2001…a very slow moving pacific storm system became parked near the Four Corners region…which allowed heavy snow to develop above 6500 feet in the foothills with a mix of rain and snow over lower elevations of metro Denver. Snowfall totals included: 21 inches atop Crow Hill and at Idaho Springs; 19 inches near Blackhawk; and 18 inches in Coal Creek Canyon…Genesee… And 11 miles southwest of Morrison. Snowfall totaled 6.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Precipitation (rain and melted snow) totaled 2.09 inches at Denver International Airport where north winds gusted to 30 mph on the 2nd.
3
In 1898…heavy snowfall of 6.2 inches fell over downtown Denver. Most of the snow melted as it fell. The greatest snow depth on the ground was 2.5 inches during the evening.
In 1907…the all-time lowest recorded temperature in the month of May…19 degrees… Occurred.
In 1925…an apparent microburst produced sustained northeast winds to 44 mph with gusts to 52 mph. Rainfall was only 0.01 inch in downtown Denver.
In 1981…lightning struck 9 golfers at the south suburban golf course. None were injured seriously.
In 1983…hail 1 1/2 inches in diameter fell at Green Mountain west of Lakewood…with 3/4 inch stones reported in Lakewood.
In 1986…a thunderstorm wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
3-5
In 1908…rain changed to snow on the evening of the 3rd and continued through the early evening of the 5th. Snowfall totaled 10.0 inches over downtown Denver. This was the last measurable snow of the season. Precipitation totaled 1.51 inches. North winds were sustained to 23 mph on the 3rd…33 mph on the 4th… And 21 mph on the 5th. Three temperature records were set. High temperatures of 30 degrees on the 4th and 38 degrees on the 5th were record low maximum temperatures for the dates. The reading on the 4th was also the all-time record low maximum for the month of May.
In 2007…a slow moving pacific storm system… From the desert southwest…brought a period of unsettled weather to the region. During the 3-day period…locally heavy snow was reported over parts of the Front Range foothills. Storm totals included: 15 inches near Conifer…14.5 inches west of Jamestown…13.5 inches; 6 miles southwest of Evergreen…and 12.5 inches at pine junction. Severe thunderstorms…producing large hail… Up to one inch in diameter were observed in the vicinity of Boulder and Hudson. Lightning struck a residence in Jefferson County. The roof was hit…causing the attic to catch fire. At Denver International Airport…lightning struck a united airlines jet as it was pushing away from the gate. The passengers were taken off the jet and put on another plane.
4
In 1893…northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph.
In 1971…a funnel cloud was sighted 10 miles southwest of Boulder. Hail stones to 1 inch in diameter fell in southeast Denver…but caused only minor damage.
In 2006…a severe thunderstorm produced hail to 1.00 inch in diameter in Aurora near Cheery Creek Reservoir.
In 2010…high winds downed trees and power lines across parts of the Front Range foothills and urban corridor. Downed power lines sparked a 12-acre wildfire near Conifer. In Boulder…Longmont and Louisville… The wind damaged roofs and broke windows and skylights. Peak wind gusts included: 75 mph in northwest Longmont…71 mph at the national wind technology center and 4 miles south- southwest of superior…61 mph at Broomfield and 56 mph in Erie. At Denver International Airport…a peak wind gust to 46 mph was observed.
4-5
In 1986…high winds buffeted the foothills. Wind speeds of 60 to 75 mph were recorded in Boulder. At Stapleton International Airport…west winds gusted to 45 mph on the 4th and to 40 mph on the 5th.
In 2000…a brief warm spell resulted in setting two daily high temperature records. The temperature climbed to highs of 87 degrees on the 4th and 89 degrees on the 5th.
4-8
In 1969…heavy rains caused flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder…which resulted in one death on the 7th. Flooding also occurred on bear creek in Sheridan and on the South Platte River in Denver. Rain over most of the eastern foothills started late on the 4th and continued with only brief interruptions in many areas until the morning of the 8th. Very high rates of rainfall occurred on the 6th and 7th with the greatest intensities in a band along the foothills from about 25 miles southwest of Denver northward to Estes Park. Storm totals by both official and unofficial measurements exceeded 10 inches over much of this area and were over 12 inches in some localities. Heavy snow fell in the higher mountains and in the foothills later in the period. The saturation of the soil resulted in numerous rock and landslides…and the heavy run-off caused severe damage along many streams and flooding on the South Platte River. Many foothill communities were isolated as highways were blocked and communications disrupted. Roads were severely damaged over a wide area…and a large number of bridges washed out. Many roads were closed due to the danger from falling rocks. A building in Georgetown collapsed from the weight of heavy wet snow. In Boulder…a man drowned when caught by the flooding waters of Boulder Creek…and a patrolman was injured. Rainfall totaled 7.60 inches in Boulder with 9.34 inches recorded at the public service company electric plant in Boulder Canyon. In Morrison…rainfall totaled 11.27 inches in 4 days. Heavy rainfall totaled 4.68 inches at Stapleton International Airport over 3 days from the 5th through the 7th. Rainfall of 3.14 inches was recorded in 24 hours on the 6th and 7th. Downstream flooding continued along the South Platte River until the 12th when the flood crest reached the Nebraska line.
A total lunar eclipse was one of the highlights of April 2015. (Patrick Martin)
April can be a tricky month weather-wise with everything from mild temperatures to snow to severe weather being possible. The good thing about that is that it provides plenty of chances for great photos!
April marks a transition between winter and summer for most of the country but for Denver it is especially true as we can see a stunning variety of weather. The proverbial April showers are certainly a possibility for Denver. Snow? Tornadoes? Thunderstorms? You bet – all can happen!
Throw in our usual wildlife plus the wide variety of birds that return to the Centennial State for the spring and summer and there is a lot going on.
Slideshow updated April 30, 2015. To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.
Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather-related imagery.
Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted in images captured from yours and our cameras.
[flickr_set id=”72157649591335084″]
What is missing in the slideshow above? Your photo!
Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured. The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.
Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids. Whimsical, newsy, artsy. Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard. You name it, we want to see and share it!
Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State. We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.
We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.
What do you win for having your image in our slideshow? We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes. However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.
To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets. Links are provided below.
April 26 to May 2: This week in Denver weather history
This week in Denver weather history shows the extremely wide variety of conditions we can have this year. From major snow storms to hail dropping thunderstorms, we can see it all.
From the National Weather Service:
24-26
In 1924…post-frontal rain changed to snow… Which became heavy and totaled 10.2 inches over downtown Denver. The greatest amount of snow on the ground was 6.0 inches on the 25th due to melting. North winds were sustained to 38 mph with gusts to 42 mph on the 24th.
25-26
In 1985…a spring storm brought much rain and snow to metro Denver. The foothills were buried with 15 inches of snow at Conifer and 12 inches at Evergreen. At lower elevations… An inch or more of rain fell in Denver and Boulder. The heavy precipitation caused brief power outages in the Denver area. Precipitation totaled 1.06 inches at Stapleton International Airport…including only 0.7 inch of snowfall.
25-27
In 1877…snow ended around 7:00 am on the morning of the 27th… After falling continuously for 48 hours and totaling an estimated 13 inches in the city. The storm…likely accompanied by strong winds…caused trains to be delayed for 2 to 3 days. One or two roofs of small buildings were crushed by the weight of the snow…and many tree branches were broken in the city. There were a number of reports of livestock losses. One stockman lost 17 horses and several cattle from the snow and cold. Precipitation totaled 1.30 inches from the storm.
26
In 1965…while only 0.40 inch of rain fell at Stapleton International Airport…some communities in the foothills west of Denver reported over 30 inches of snow from the storm.
In 1972…a spring snow storm accompanied by thunder dumped 15.8 inches of heavy wet snow on metro Denver. Strong northwest winds gusting to 35 mph produced blowing snow. The storm was quite intense and greatly hampered travel. High winds caused drifts 10 to 15 feet deep in some areas… Blocking roads and stranding hundreds of motorists. An estimated 500 to 600 people were stranded in the Castle Rock area. Rescue service was provided by heavy army equipment from Fort Carson. Power lines were downed…power poles were toppled…and a number of steel towers carrying high voltage power lines were downed. Some areas northeast of Denver were without power for a week. A large number of cattle and sheep were killed by the storm. The greatest snow depth on the ground at Stapleton International Airport was 12 inches. Warm temperatures following the storm quickly melted the snow.
In 1995…the third major snow storm of the month dumped heavy snow in and near the Front Range foothills. Six to 12 inches of heavy wet snow fell in the western metro suburbs with the heaviest amounts above 6 thousand feet. Both Boulder and Golden measured 10 inches of snow. Only 2.4 inches of snowfall were measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted 28 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 1998…the last in a series of April storms blanketed the foothills with heavy snow. Snowfall amounts included: 17 inches near Blackhawk…15 inches at Idaho Springs… 14 inches at Georgetown…11 inches near Conifer and Morrison. Only a trace of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted to 28 mph at Denver International Airport.
26-27
In 1906…rain changed to heavy snow overnight and totaled 7.0 inches over downtown Denver. North winds were sustained to 16 mph on both days. Precipitation totaled 2.16 inches.
In 1932…the temperature remained below freezing for more than 30 consecutive hours. For about 4 of those hours the temperature hovered around 24 to 25 degrees. At this time some early cherry trees were in bloom and apple and lilac blossoms were beginning to open. The leaves of many plants were partly unfurled and vegetation in general was correspondingly advanced due to the warm weather from the 11th to the 22nd. However…there was little apparent injury to foliage and blossoms…but some of the early cherry and apple blossoms were injured. Rain changed to snow on the 26th and continued intermittently through the 27th. Snowfall totaled only 2.0 inches and northeast winds gusted to 22 mph on the 26th.
In 1964…strong winds caused damage to buildings…trees… And power lines. Sustained winds of 37 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph were recorded in metro Denver. West-northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.
27
In 1955…west winds at 43 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 3/8 mile.
In 1966…a northwest wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
27-28
In 1919…rainfall totaled 2.03 inches for the two days… Along with a trace of snowfall. Northwest winds were sustained to 24 mph with gusts to 26 mph on the 27th.
In 1975…high winds gusting to 85 mph severely damaged a mobile home in Boulder and caused other minor damage. West winds gusted to 46 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 28th.
In 1996…heavy snow fell over portions of the Front Range foothills west of Denver. Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches. Only 0.3 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport on the 27th.
28
In 1894…southwest winds were sustained to 35 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.
In 1896…apparent post-frontal bora winds from the northwest were sustained to 43 mph with gusts as high as 56 mph. Rainfall totaled 0.22 inch.
In 1990…high winds raked the northeastern plains and eastern foothills from Boulder north. Wind gusts to 70 mph were recorded in Boulder. West winds gusted to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 2001…a 21-year-old man was struck by lightning along the shoulder of I-225 near Parker road. His brother`s car had broken down and he stopped to help. The bolt briefly stopped the man`s heart and caused the right side of his body to go numb.
In 2003…severe thunderstorms produced large hail across southern metro Denver. Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell in Englewood and 2 miles east of Centennial Airport. Hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter fell in Aurora near Cherry Creek. Other large hail reports included 1 inch hail near Bennett…and 7/8 inch hail in greenwood village and at Centennial Airport.
28-29
In 1950…snowfall totaled 6.3 inches at Stapleton Airport…but only 3.5 inches over downtown Denver.
In 1960…heavy snow fell at Stapleton Airport where 8.6 inches of snow were measured. North winds gusted to 38 mph. Most of the snow…6.9 inches… Fell on the 29th.
29
In 1898…apparent thunderstorm winds were sustained from the southwest to 58 mph with gusts to 66 mph.
In 1909…north winds were sustained to 44 mph behind an apparent cold front. These were the strongest measured winds of the month that year.
In 1962…heavy snowfall totaled 6.4 inches at Stapleton Airport where northeast winds gusted to only 17 mph. Snow fell all day…but the most on the ground was only 1 inch due to melting.
In 1991…two men were struck by lightning while golfing in cherry hills just south of Denver. The two received only minor burns. Shortly afterward…lightning struck a home in Cherry Hills Village several times…leaving numerous holes in the roof. No injuries were reported.
In 1993…localized strong winds occurred at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield where gusts to 63 mph were recorded. The strong winds were the result of a probable microburst.
In 2000…several severe thunderstorms producing large hail and destructive winds rumbled across northern metro Denver. Thunderstorm wind gusts reached 81 mph near Hudson with hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter at Longmont. Several homes and vehicles sustained damage. The strong winds uprooted trees and downed utility poles…causing scattered outages. Lightning sparked a house fire in Boulder. The fire damaged a portion of the roof and a bedroom on the third floor. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 53 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2003…lightning struck a chimney at a residence in Hiwan in Evergreen…sending stones flying as far as 150 feet. Electrical equipment in some nearby homes also failed. Damage to the residence…in addition to electrical equipment…was estimated at 100 thousand dollars. Severe thunderstorms produced large hail to 1 inch in diameter near Hudson and Sedalia and to 3/4 inch near Parker. Hail as large as 1 3/4 inches was measured 9 miles north of Sedalia.
In 2014…high winds occurred east of interstate 25. Peak wind gusts included: 71 mph just north of Strasburg; 68 mph at Denver International Airport; 62 mph near Elizabeth; 58 mph at Front Range airport in Watkins and 11 miles east of Parker.
Clouds of snow and ice roar down Mount Everest. Watch the stunning video below. (YouTube / Jost Kobusch)
As the death toll from Saturday’s massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal continues to climb, a stunning video has emerged showing an avalanche striking the Mount Everest base camp.
The video, taken by German climber Jost Kobusch, was discovered on YouTube yesterday.
In it, climbers preparing for their ascent of the world’s highest peak first get a sense something is amiss when the ground starts rumbling. Soon, a massive wall of snow is seen coming down the mountain and engulfing the videographer.
While Kobusch survived, at least 18 other climbers on the mountain died. Overall the death toll from the earthquake has reached nearly 3,800, most of whom perished in Nepal.
On the mountain, the Khumbu Icefall, the primary way up the mountain, has been blocked. Hundreds of climbers and their Sherpa’s were trapped at the higher camps and are now being evacuated by helicopter.
Watch the stunning video below. Adult language warning.
April 19 to April 25: This week in Denver weather history
This week in Denver weather history is one to truly showcase the incredible variety of weather Colorado can receive. Major snow storms, high winds, warm temperatures in the 80’s and even three reports of tornadoes – one near Thornton 21 years ago – have all been seen this time of year.
From the National Weather Service:
17-19
In 1920…snow fell across the city continuously for 57 hours… From the early morning of the 17th until 11:40 am on the 19th. The heavy wet snowfall totaled 18.2 inches with the greatest accumulation on the ground of 12 inches. Winds during the storm were strong with sustained speeds in excess of 27 mph for over 40 consecutive hours…which created near-blizzard conditions. The highest recorded wind speeds were 44 mph with gusts to 50 mph from the north on the 17th and 39 mph with gusts to 48 mph from the northwest on the 18th. The strong winds piled the snow into high drifts which stopped all Denver traffic. Railroads were blocked with only one train entering the city on the 19th. All interurban trains were blocked…as were the 13 trolley lines. Thus…many workers were unable to get home at night and filled all of the downtown hotels to capacity. No grocery or fuel deliveries were possible… Except milk and coal to hospitals and to families with babies. No lives were lost in the city…but several people perished in surrounding districts. Stock losses were heavy on the plains. Temperatures during the storm were in the 20`s.
18-19
In 1884…a major storm dumped 13.8 inches of snowfall on downtown Denver. Most of the snow…10.0 inches… Fell on the 18th. Light rain on the early morning of the 18th changed to heavy snow at 8:00 am and became light after 2:00 pm but continued until 4:00 am on the 19th. The snow melted nearly as fast as it fell. There were only 3 inches on the ground early on the morning of the 19th.
In 1941…heavy snowfall totaled 8.4 inches over downtown Denver. Northeast winds were sustained to 17 mph.
In 1993…sporadic high winds occurred across metro Denver. Significant wind gusts included 97 mph at Rollinsville… 80 mph in southwest Boulder…and 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport. The strong winds snapped a pine tree top…about 15 feet long and 8 inches in diameter… Which crashed through the roof of a church in Evergreen…causing one thousand dollars in damage. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph caused structural damage to 3 homes under construction in Broomfield. Northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1995…the second spring storm of the month dumped heavy snow in the foothills. The upslope flow along with areas of thunder snow dropped 6 to 12 inches of snow in the foothills west of Denver and Boulder. Snowfall totaled 4.6 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport…but most of the snow melted as it fell. East winds gusted to 29 mph at Denver International Airport on the 18th.
18-20
In 1966…sub-freezing temperatures caused thousands of dollars in damage to fruit trees across metro Denver. Minimum temperatures were in the teens each morning and failed to reach above freezing on the 19th. The low temperature of 13 on the 20th set a new record minimum for the date. Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches at Stapleton International Airport during the period.
19
In 1899…northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph in the city.
In 1941…the last snow of the season…0.4 inch…occurred… Marking the end of the shortest snow season…167 days. The first snow of the season…a trace… Occurred on November 4…1940.
In 1954…strong gusty winds raked metro Denver for most of the day producing some blowing dust. At midday…a severe dust devil was sighted in the Westwood area of southwest Denver.
In 1955…cold west winds at 52 mph with gusts as high as 69 mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust reduced the visibility to 1/2 mile.
In 1960…the second wind storm in 3 days produced sustained west winds up to 44 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph at Stapleton Airport. Winds were strong and gusty most of the day…but no damage was reported.
In 1963…the second windy day in a row produced west- northwest wind gusts to 52 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1971…a tornado occurred in the southwest corner of Weld County about 10 miles west-northwest of Brighton. The storm moved through a farm yard damaging equipment and structures. The strong tornadic winds lifted a stock tank over 2 fences into a corral 150 feet away. Later…a tornado touched down briefly west-southwest of Buckley Field…8 miles southeast of Stapleton International Airport. No damage was reported.
In 1985…high winds occurred in the foothills. Winds gusted to 97 mph atop Squaw Mountain in the foothills west of Denver. West winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1987…a powerful cold front produced high winds and engulfed metro Denver in huge clouds of blowing dust that lowered the visibility to as little as 100 yards. The cold front generated winds as high as 72 mph at Brighton…67 mph in Thornton…and 54 mph at Stapleton International Airport. Winds of 50 to 70 mph were common along the Front Range from Denver north. The high wind gusts flipped a light plane taxiing at Stapleton International Airport…slightly injuring two people on board. The cold front dropped the temperature from a high of 80 degrees at 3:00 pm to a low of 33 degrees at midnight. Nearly an inch of snow…0.8 inch… Fell at Stapleton International Airport before midnight.
In 1988…a tornado touched down in Fort Lupton… Following a path 50 to 75 yards wide for 2 1/2 blocks. The twister damaged roofs on 2 schools and broke numerous windows; about 10 houses were damaged and several cars had windows blown out. Several trees were downed.
In 1989…winds were clocked to 68 mph in Wheat Ridge. Microburst winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1996…high winds gusting from 70 to near 100 mph developed in the Front Range foothills and adjacent plains. Numerous power outages were reported as power lines and poles were downed. The high winds blew the chimney off the roof of a house in Westminster. Numerous homes received minor shingle damage. Some of the stronger wind gusts included: 98 mph at Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield…91 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver…and 75 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder. West northwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2001…westerly Chinook winds… Gusting as high as 40 mph at Denver International Airport…prevented the low temperature from dropping below 51 degrees…setting a new record high minimum for the date. The high temperature of 77 degrees was not a record.
In 2005…severe thunderstorms produced large hail across metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1/4 inches in diameter was measured in Arvada. Hail to 1 inch in diameter fell in Westminster…Northglenn… And Thornton. Hail to 7/8 inch was reported near Brighton…Barr Lake… And Castle Rock. Hail to 3/4 inch fell in Elizabeth and Broomfield and near Golden…Brighton… And Fort Lupton.
19-20
In 1892…rain on the 18th changed to snow on the 19th and totaled 6.0 inches over downtown Denver into the 20th. Total precipitation was 1.56 inches. North winds were sustained to 26 mph on the 19th.
In 1907…a major storm dumped 18.0 inches of snowfall in downtown Denver. Much of the heavy wet snow melted as it fell. The most snow on the ground was 7.0 inches at 6:00 pm on the 19th. North to northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph on the 19th and to 21 mph on the 20th. High temperatures were in the low to mid 30`s with low readings around 20.
19-21
In 1984…a large snowstorm buried most of Colorado under a thick mantle of wet snow. Total snow amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches across metro Denver and a whopping 20 to 40 inches in the adjacent foothills. The snow closed roads and damaged electrical transformers…causing numerous power outages. Nearly 14 inches (13.6) of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where the combination of snow and wind closed all but one runway…resulting in the cancellation of many flights. Both I-70 and I-76 were closed to the east of Denver.
19-22
In 1933…a major storm dumped 16.8 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver when rain changed to snow during the early morning of the 20th and continued through midday of the 22nd. Most of the snow fell on the 21st. Due to melting… The most snow on the ground was 10.5 inches at 6:00 pm on the 21st. Before the snow started…a strong cold front on the evening of the 19th produced north winds sustained to 35 mph with gusts to 37 mph. The strong winds deposited a thin layer of dust on the city. North to northwest winds were sustained to 31 mph with gusts to 35 mph on the 20th and to 29 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 21st.
April 12 to April 18: This week in Denver weather history
A look back at this week in Denver weather history shows quite the variety of weather conditions. We have seen everything from high winds and snowstorms to hail, thunderstorms and sub-freezing temperatures.
From the National Weather Service:
7-12
In 1959…snow falling over a 5-day period totaled 20 to 30 inches just east of the mountains…while over the plains blizzard conditions closed schools and blocked highways. The second big storm in two weeks dumped 16.4 inches of snowfall on Stapleton Airport with the most…11.6 inches… Occurring on the 8th. East winds gusted to 37 mph on the 9th. Temperatures dipped into the single digits on the mornings of the 7th and 12th when 7 degrees were registered. The cold temperatures caused streets to glaze with ice…resulting in the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car in Denver. Three people died from heart attacks while shoveling the heavy…wet snow.
9-12
In 1901…rain changed to snow and totaled 10.8 inches in downtown Denver over the 4 days. Northeast winds were sustained to 28 mph with gusts to 31 mph on the 11th. Temperatures hovered in the 30`s.
10-12
In 1997…a pacific storm produced heavy snow on the 10th and the 11th in and near the foothills with 6 to 8 inches at Louisville and turkey creek canyon…5 inches at Morrison… And only 3.5 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 24 mph at Denver International Airport. The storm also brought unseasonably cold weather with 5 new temperature records equaled or broken. Record low temperatures of 8 and 6 occurred on the 11th and 12th. Record low maximum temperatures of 20…19…and 30 occurred on the 10th…11th… And 12th respectively. This was also only the second time on record that the temperature had failed to reach the freezing mark for 3 consecutive days in April.
10-14
In 1927…post-frontal rain on the 10th changed to snow on the 11th and continued through the 14th. Snowfall totaled 8.5 inches from precipitation of 1.28 inches. North winds were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 29 mph on the 13th.
11-12
In 1876…heavy snow began during the late afternoon of the 11th and continued through the night. Light snow ended around mid-morning of the 12th. The amount of snow was not measured…but precipitation totaled 0.70 inch… Which would be around 7 inches of estimated snowfall. Strong winds accompanied the heavy snowfall.
In 1896…post-frontal light rain changed to light snow overnight…but totaled only a trace. Northeast winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts as high as 62 mph on the 12th.
In 1991…a strong pacific storm dumped heavy snow across metro Denver with amounts of 6 to 15 inches at lower elevations and up to almost 2 feet in the foothills west of Denver. Snowfall reports included: 21 inches at Idaho Springs…19 inches at Aspen Springs…15 inches in Arvada… 14 inches at Rollinsville…10 inches in Boulder… 8 inches in Aurora…and 7.3 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 24 mph on the 11th.
12
In 1906…north winds were sustained to 52 mph in the city.
In 1916…post-frontal north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 42 mph. Light rain also occurred.
In 1964…strong gusty winds raked metro Denver. Wind gusts estimated to 60 mph or higher caused widespread damage to buildings and power lines. Blowing dust closed some roads. A wind gust to 46 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1967…microburst winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1982…wind gusts to 60 mph were reported in and near the foothills. Wind gusts to 44 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1987…snow fell over metro Denver… Causing traffic tie-ups on the roads and at Stapleton International Airport where some flights were delayed for 90 minutes. I-25 south of Denver was closed for a time due to numerous traffic accidents. While only 4.2 inches of snow fell in Denver… Foothills to the southwest received 6 to 12 inches of snow. North winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the maximum snow depth on the ground was only 2 inches due to melting.
12-13
In 1922…post-frontal rain changed to heavy snow… Which totaled 7.0 inches in downtown Denver. This was the second snow in 3 days. North winds were sustained to 29 mph with gusts to 31 mph on the 12th.
In 1993…heavy snow occurred in the foothills northwest of Denver with 21 inches recorded at the Eldora Ski Area. Only 1.9 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 13th. Most of the precipitation from the storm fell as rain across the city with 0.62 inch of precipitation measured at Stapleton International Airport.
To go along with our Mother’s Day snow, we also have seen some cold – record-setting cold in fact.
