High pressure was the dominant feature across much of Colorado during the month of August 2015.  This helped keep temperatures quite warm and while there were occasional storms, they failed to deliver much in the way of precipitation.

We started out the month very warm and dry.  This was interrupted on the 9th when a series of disturbances finally brought some measurable precipitation.  Dry weather returned for a few days but then a strong cold front moved bring much cooler temperatures from the 17th to the 19th.  The break was short-lived and warmer mercury readings and drier conditions dominated the balance of the month.

• August 2015 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 71.8 degrees, not far off Denver’s long term average for August of 72.5 degrees.  Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, it was much warmer with an average of 74.0 degrees.

Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 98.1 degrees on the 15th down to a low of 45.3 degrees on the morning of the 19th.  Denver’s maximum reading of 98 degrees came on the 15th as well and its lowest reading of 43 degrees came on the 23rd.

We saw 18 days with high temperature readings above the 90 degree mark. Denver saw one more than that.

Two daily high temperature records were tied in Denver during the month, those coming on the 18th and 26th with readings of 98 and 97 degrees respectively.  Additionally, two mornings in a row fell to record lows.  The record low temperature for the 18th (47 degrees) was tied and the following day a new record low of 47 degrees was set.

In terms of precipitation, a paltry 0.87 inches fell in Thornton’s rain bucket.  Out at the airport, Denver recorded 1.18 inches.  Both were well below Denver’s long term average of 1.69 inches for August.

Click here to view Thornton’s August 2015 climate report.

From the National Weather Service:

CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
244 AM MDT TUE SEP 1 2015

................................... 

...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 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             105   08/08/1878
 LOW               40   08/26/1910
                        08/25/1910
                        08/24/1910
HIGHEST            98   08/15       105      -7       91  08/19
                                                          08/17
LOWEST             43   08/23        40       3       52  08/31
                                                          08/30
                                                          08/25
AVG. MAXIMUM     89.8              87.2     2.6     83.8
AVG. MINIMUM     58.3              57.9     0.4     57.4
MEAN             74.0              72.5     1.5     70.6
DAYS MAX >= 90     19              11.5     7.5        4
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         5.85   1979
 MINIMUM         0.02   1924
TOTALS           1.18              1.69   -0.51     2.73
DAILY AVG.       0.04              0.05   -0.01     0.09
DAYS >= .01         9               8.6     0.4       13
DAYS >= .10         4               4.3    -0.3        5
DAYS >= .50         1               1.2    -0.2        3
DAYS >= 1.00        0               0.3    -0.3        0
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    0.68   08/11 TO 08/11           08/25 TO 08/26
                        08/10 TO 08/11                    08/31 TO 08/31
                        08/11 TO 08/11                    08/31 TO 08/31
 STORM TOTAL       MM                                 MM
 (MM/DD(HH))            MM                    08/26(00) TO 08/26(00)
                                                 08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1
                                                 08/31(00) TO 08/31(00)1

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL             MM   MM
TOTALS            0.0               0.0

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL      13                10       3        2
 SINCE 7/1         18                16       2        7
COOLING TOTAL     304               244      60      182
 SINCE 1/1        713               688      25      613

FREEZE DATES
RECORD
 EARLIEST     09/08/1962
 LATEST       06/08/2007
EARLIEST                        10/07
LATEST                          05/05
.................................................. 

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              9.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   3/189
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    38/260    DATE  08/31
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    47/340    DATE  08/09

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER           0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR            6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC             23
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY          2

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     45

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM             15     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                1     RAIN                       4
LIGHT RAIN               12     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0     HAIL                       5
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       0
LIGHT SNOW                0     SLEET                      0
FOG                       4     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      0
HAZE                      8

-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.