For the second day in a row Mother Nature visited her wrath on northeastern Colorado. Severe thunderstorms on Thursday once again brought hail, damaging wind and tornadoes to the region.Storms began to form east of the Denver metro area…
Severe thunderstorms pummel Colorado, round two set for Thursday
Mother Nature supported forecasters’ calls for severe weather on Wednesday bringing extraordinary amounts of rain, hail and even tornadoes to the Colorado plains on Wednesday. The stage is set for a second round of similar storms today…
Denver sets new record high temperature for June 4
As officially measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City hit a high temperature of 94° at 2:25pm. This broke the old record high temperature for the date of 93° set in 2010, 1990 and 1977.
The problem? No other reliable station in the metro area came anywhere near that high of a temperature reading.
For comparison, Rocky Mountain Regional Airport saw 91°, Centennial 88°, Boulder 91°, Denver City Park 90°, Stapleton 90° and here in Thornton we recorded 91°.
Once again we see how the move of Denver’s official monitoring station to DIA are altering our climate records. For more details on this controversial topic: The fallacy of Denver’s climate records: Weather station move skews data
June 3 to June 9 – This Week in Denver Weather History
Severe weather season in Colorado gets started in earnest in June and we see that in our look back at this week in Denver weather history. Probably the most notable event for Thornton residents was the infamous 1981 Thornton tornado.
From the National Weather Service:
1-4
In 1977…unusually warm weather for this early in June resulted in 3 maximum temperature records being equaled at the time: 88 degrees on the 1st…90 degrees on the 2nd… And 93 degrees on the 4th. Maximum of 91 degrees on the 3rd was not a record.
2-4
In 1989…heavy rain drenched metro Denver with the greatest amounts recorded on the 3rd. Total rainfall ranged from 1 1/2 to 3 inches. Roads were washed out in Boulder County… And flooded basements caused water damage to houses in the Gunbarrel section of Boulder. In suburban Denver…heavy rain caused minor flooding along Lena Gulch in Jefferson County where two mobile home parks were evacuated. Rainfall totaled 1.66 inches at Stapleton International Airport.
2-7
In 1921…heavy rainfall for nearly a week…on top of streams already swollen by mountain snowmelt…produced widespread flooding over the South Platte River basin…including the tributaries through the canyons to the west and southwest of Denver. Heavy rainfall over the 6-day period totaled 3.36 inches in Boulder…4.98 inches in Morrison…4.27 inches in Castle Rock…and 2.94 inches in the city of Denver. Rainfall amounts in the foothills were estimated between 3 and 6 inches. The narrow-gage tracks of the Colorado and southern railroad were destroyed in the Platte Canyon. From the mouth of the canyon through the city to near Brighton… The river spread from 1/2 to nearly 1 1/2 miles wide… Flooding farm and pasture land and destroying or damaging many bridges. In the city…many businesses along with as many as 500 homes were inundated…forcing their evacuation. Bridges were swept away. The high waters flooded the rail yards and stock yards in lower downtown…closing three adjacent packing houses. The heavy rains also caused flooding on Boulder creek in Boulder on the 6th.
3
In 1951…a trace of snow fell at Stapleton Airport.
In 1961…torrential rains fell 10 to 30 miles north of Denver…causing flooding in the town of Frederick. The rush of water broke through and over a retaining dike sending a 5-foot wall of water into the town…flooding homes and damaging sewer lines…roads…and streets. Golf ball size hail fell in derby…west Denver…and Lakewood…causing more than one million dollars in damage.
In 1981…severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes over metro Denver. The first tornado touched down at the intersection of Alameda Ave. and Sheridan Blvd. The twister moved north along Sheridan Blvd….damaging businesses…apartment buildings…homes…and vehicles. Over ten homes were unroofed. The roof of one landed in the middle of a neighborhood park. At least 10 mobile homes were wrecked. The tornado curved to the northeast into northwest Denver… Hopping up and down in several places. Very strong winds outside the actual funnel caused 20 to 30 thousand dollars in damage in downtown Denver. The third floor of one old building was demolished. No major injuries were reported from the tornado…although several people were hurt slightly in traffic accidents on Sheridan Blvd. In the confusion caused by the storm. Damage in Lakewood alone was estimated at 200 thousand dollars. At the same time… The worst tornado to ever hit metro Denver struck Thornton. Coming from the same thunderstorm that spawned the Denver twister…the Thornton tornado tore a swath through the heart of the city. 87 homes were destroyed…110 others damaged at least moderately. In all…600 homes in a 100 block area sustained some damage. The twister also hit shopping centers…several restaurants…and other buildings. Seven of the 42 injured were considered serious. The storm was strong enough to snap lamp posts in half and drive a 6- inch slab of wood 2 feet into the ground. Damage was estimated at up to 50 million dollars. The same storm that struck Thornton produced another damaging tornado that touched down in the northwest section of Fort Lupton. This twister damaged 16 homes and numerous cars and campers. Two children were slightly injured when the car they were in was knocked about and its windows shattered by the storm. The twister also damaged two commercial buildings. Damage was very spotty…and observers said the storm hopped up and down at least 3 times. Dollar damage was estimated at 500 thousand dollars. The thunderstorm complex that produced 3 damaging tornadoes also dropped large hail which damaged many cars over northwest Denver. One to 2 inches of rain fell in less than an hour…flooding a mobile home park with 3 to 4 feet of water on the northwest edge of Denver. The high water damaged about half of the 392 homes in the park. Local flooding was also reported in other areas across metro Denver. A tornado was also sighted near Franktown…but caused no damage. A thunderstorm wind gust to 52 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1982…a cold air funnel cloud touched down briefly in southwest Denver. Two tornadoes were briefly spotted near Watkins. No damage was reported from these storms. A brief funnel cloud was sighted by national weather service observers at Stapleton International Airport where 1/4 inch hail fell.
In 1984…there were several sightings of tornadoes around Parker. No damage was reported.
In 1985…a tornado just southeast of Aurora was spotted by a national weather service employee. No damage was reported. Severe thunderstorms pummeled the metro area with hail. One inch to baseball size hail was reported in south Lakewood…one inch hail in Littleton…3/4 inch to 1 inch hail in Aurora…and golf ball size hail in south Denver.
In 1989…hail up to golf ball size fell over Arvada. A golf course had to be evacuated as the hail accumulated up to 3 inches deep in some places. One inch diameter hail fell in west Denver and Westminster.
In 1993…an early morning thunderstorm produced lightning… Which caused an attic fire at a residence in Niwot northeast of Boulder. Damage was estimated at 40 thousand dollars. No one was injured.
In 1994…hail to 1 1/2 inch diameter fell just northeast of Boulder. One inch diameter hail fell in Golden. Thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph were recorded in Erie.
In 1995…a tornado was sighted over open country near Strasburg. No damage was reported. A funnel cloud was sighted 11 miles east of Aurora where 3/4 inch hail fell.
In 2001…severe thunderstorms produced large hail over east and southeast metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell at centennial airport with 1 1/2 inch hail near Buckley Field…1 1/4 inch hail in Parker…1 inch hail near Elizabeth…7/8 inch hail at Cheery Creek Reservoir…and 3/4 inch hail 20 miles north of Kiowa in Elbert County.
In 2002…severe thunderstorms dumped large hail across metro Denver. Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell over southeast Denver and 4 miles north of Aurora. Hail to 1 1/4 inches pelted Parker. One inch hail was measured near Ft. Lupton…and 3/4 inch hail fell 9 miles southeast of Buckley Field…near Strasburg…and at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
In 2005…thunderstorms producing heavy rain and hail caused flash flooding over parts of southeast metro Denver. People became trapped in their vehicles by the high water… And numerous water rescues were required. The hardest hit areas included the vicinity of I-25 and Alameda Avenue…as well as the intersection of Yale Avenue and Quebec Street. Several basements were flooded along Eastman Place. Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and hail to eastern centennial and southeastern Aurora. Up to 3 feet of standing water was reported on east orchard road where several motorists were stranded in their vehicles and needed to be rescued. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell in the area. Ten vehicles were stranded on Grand Avenue…and most had to be towed once the floodwaters receded. Water was reportedly chest deep at one location on Girard Avenue. Hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter also was reported in Littleton…near Parker…and near Buckley Air Force Base. Hail to 7/8 inch was measured near Sheridan and Cheery Creek Reservoir.
Continue reading June 3 to June 9 – This Week in Denver Weather History
TV weatherman appears to be caught faking weather conditions on live television
Certainly there are times when the weather is boring and forecasters have a hard time developing enough to talk about. One Romanian weathercaster appeared to have decided that merely talking about wind and blowing sand was not enough and…
Second powerful earthquake hits Italy, at least 15 dead in latest temblor
Just nine days after an earthquake claimed the lives of seven people in northern Italy, a second temblor struck the area early Tuesday morning. Rescuers were continuing to comb the rubble as officials confirmed that at least 15…
May 27 to June 2 – This Week in Denver Weather History
A very eventful week in Denver weather history with everything from thunderstorms and tornadoes to yes, even snow.
From the National Weather Service:
20-27
In 2002…lightning sparked a wildfire near Deckers. Extremely dry conditions and very strong winds the following day allowed the fire…known as the Schoonover…to consume 3850 acres before it could be contained. Thirteen structures were destroyed…including 4 homes…resulting in 2.2 million dollars in damage.
26-31
In 1995…a cool period with light morning showers and moderate to heavy afternoon showers and thunderstorms pushed rivers already swollen from mountain snow melt over their banks causing minor flooding. Streams and rivers such as the South Platte and Boulder Creek flooded meadowlands…bike paths…roads near streams…and other low lying areas. No significant property damage was reported and crop damage was unknown. Rainfall totaled 1.79 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport and only 1.51 inches at Denver International Airport.
27
In 1874…an apparent thunderstorm gust front reached the city at 6:40 pm. Strong southwest winds sustained to 48 mph for a few minutes produced large columns of dust in the city and on the prairie. There was no rain in the city.
In 1942…a duststorm swept into the city…but no damage was reported. West winds were sustained to 23 mph.
In 1953…a heavy hailstorm caused an estimated 100 thousand dollars damage across metro Denver. Larger than golf ball size hail fell in Westminster and north Denver. Only 1/8 inch hail was measured at Stapleton Airport.
In 1955…west-northwest winds at 35 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph briefly reduced the visibility to 1/2 mile in blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.
In 1981…lightning damaged power lines west of Lakewood and blew up a transformer at the Denver Federal Center. Hail 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter was reported in Lakewood and on I-25 south of Denver.
In 2001…hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter was measured near Commerce City.
In 2003…hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell near Central City.
In 2006…unusually warm weather for late May produced two temperature records. The high temperature of 93 degrees was a record maximum for the date. The low temperature of 59 degrees equaled the record high minimum temperature for the date. Both previous records occurred in 1895.
Continue reading May 27 to June 2 – This Week in Denver Weather History
Hurricane Bud starts to lash Mexico as it nears a Saturday landfall
The first hurricane of the Pacific season is quickly approaching landfall in Mexico where it is sure to deliver a lashing of wind and heavy rain. Despite some weakening overnight, Hurricane Bud is still packing a punch with Category…
One year after deadly tornado, Joplin celebrates the miracle of the human spirit
Darkening skies over southwestern Missouri in the late afternoon on May 22, 2011 could hardly begin to indicate the hell that was about to strike the city of Joplin. Just to the west of town a massive tornado…
May 20 to May 26 – This Week in Denver Weather History
This week marks the four year anniversary of the infamous Windsor tornado but it is not the only noteworthy weather event to have occurred during this week in Denver weather history.
From the National Weather Service:
18-20
In 1915…3.9 inches of snow fell in the city. The estimated amount of snow that melted as it fell was 6.2 inches which would have totaled an estimated 10.1 inches of snowfall. Precipitation totaled 1.03 inches. North winds were sustained to 32 mph on the 18th. Low temperatures dipped to 25 degrees on both the 18th and 20th…establishing record minimums for both dates.
In 1988…prolonged heavy rainfall drenched metro Denver. The event began when heavy thunderstorms on the 18th caused some street flooding and power outages…followed by steady rain on the 19th and 20th. Rain amounts across metro Denver totaled 3 to 4 inches. Rainfall totaled 3.71 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 39 mph on the 20th. Four to eight inches of snow fell in the foothills above 7 thousand feet.
19-20
In 1864…a devastating major flash flood occurred on the normally dry and sandy Cherry Creek in Denver. The flood was caused by heavy thunderstorm rainfall and hail over the palmer ridge to the south of the city in both the Cherry Creek and plum creek basins. Nineteen deaths occurred along the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in Denver. The torrent swept cattle and sheep along with large trees and houses before it washing out several bridges…and moving large structures from their foundations. All city records were destroyed when city hall washed away. The Rocky Mountain News building…built on stilts in the middle of the creek…was totally destroyed by the raging waters…which were as deep as 5 feet on the morning of the 20th. Once the flood waters receded…much sand and gravel was left behind. Property damage from the flood was estimated at nearly one million dollars. This was the first major flood of record in the city.
20
In 1874…after a light late afternoon shower…3 rainbows were visible in the eastern sky. The two upper bows were of the usual colors. The lower bow had a deep violet center with a faint yellow and white rim.
In 1892…apparent post-frontal north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph. A trace of snow was the last snowfall of the season.
In 1899…snow pellets from 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter fell from a thundershower during the late afternoon. West winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.
In 1904…southeast winds were sustained to 40 mph with an extreme velocity of 42 mph produced by a thunderstorm.
In 1961…a tornado tore through central Douglas County…1 1/2 miles north of Castle Rock. The storm struck 2 ranches and the property of a drilling company. A car on the highway was lifted off the road and slammed into a truck…injuring the two occupants.
In 1983…heavy rain fell in Aurora with 1.00 to 1.50 inches of precipitation. Local flooding occurred in Lakewood.
In 1990…1 inch diameter hail fell at Buckley Field in Aurora. Minor damage was reported to autos…buildings and signs.
In 1995…hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell near Bennett where a funnel cloud was sighted.
In 2001…damaging winds developed behind a vigorous cold front that moved south from Wyoming into metro Denver. High winds…gusting to 58 mph at Denver International Airport…downed trees and power lines and kicked up blowing dust…dirt…and debris…reducing the visibility to near zero at times. The poor visibility caused a multi-vehicle accident along U.S. Highway 85 north of Fort Lupton. Six people were treated for minor injuries. Several vehicles… Including semi-trailers…were blown off I-70 east of Denver. About 32 thousand Xcel Energy customers in metro Denver were without electricity for up to 2 hours. At least a dozen incoming flights at Denver International Airport were diverted to other airports. All departing flights were grounded for at least an hour. At Southwest Plaza…shoppers were evacuated as rocks holding a tarp on a portion of a roof under repair toppled into the mall. After the passage of the cold front…temperatures plunged from the lower 70’s to the mid 30’s in one hour as light snow developed. Heavy snow developed in the foothills during the evening. Peak wind reports included 68 mph near Parker and 63 mph near Sedalia. Snowfall totals included: 7 inches near Blackhawk… At Ken Caryl Ranch…and near Sedalia; 6 inches in Coal Creek Canyon…at Eldorado Springs…and atop Lookout Mountain; 5 inches at Chief Hosa…in Louisville…Rollinsville…and Wheat Ridge; and 4 inches in Aurora…Bailey…Parker…Castle Rock and near Morrison. Low temperature of 31 degrees during the early morning of the 21st equaled the record low for the date last set in 1931.
In 2004…severe thunderstorms produced hail as large as 1.25 inches near Ft. Lupton and hail to 1.50 inches 10 miles north of Ft. Lupton.
Continue reading May 20 to May 26 – This Week in Denver Weather History