Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

Monsoon season arrives early, brings heavy rains to Thornton area

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A common scene this past week - thunderstorms develop over the Denver area. (Twitpic / CodyCrouch)
A common scene this past week - thunderstorms develop over the Denver area. Watch video of the recent street flooding in Thornton below. (Twitpic / CodyCrouch)

La Niña is winding down and normally we would expect a drier than normal monsoon.  Mother Nature however has other plans as she not only brought the season to Thornton early, it came with a vengeance this week.

In a presentation that just came out at the first of the month, the National Weather Service discussed the coming monsoon.  At that time forecasters predicted a drier and shorter than normal monsoon for the Colorado Front Range.  Thus far it has been anything but.

This past week copious amounts of moisture have streamed into Colorado.  Coupled with daytime heating leading to a good deal of atmospheric instability, thunderstorms have been a daily occurrence.  Strong winds and heavy rain have occurred virtually daily.

Over the past five days Denver has recorded 1.78 inches of rain at the city’s official monitoring station at Denver International Airport.  Closer to where population actually lives even greater amounts have been seen.

Here in Thornton we have recorded 1.98 inches of rain over the past five days.  Other amounts over the same period recorded at nearby stations include 1.79 inches in Arvada, 3.18 inches at Reunion in Commerce City, and 3.06 inches in north Denver.

On Friday evening, a slow-moving thunderstorm dumped heavy rain on the southern parts of Thornton.  Video footage from storm chaser Tony Laubach (below) shows the end result as streets in the area of I-25 and 84th Avenue were flooded.

Is there an end in sight?  Not in the immediate future.  For at least the next few days atmospheric moisture will continue to be in abundance and we will continue to see the same general pattern.  By mid-week we may see some drying but we can’t entirely eliminate the threat of afternoon thunderstorms.

As always you can get the latest Thornton forecast here.

Weather History

July 10 to July 16 – This Week in Denver Weather History

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July 10 to July 16 - This Week in Denver Weather History

Our look back at this week in Denver weather history demonstrates why July is considered the Mile High City’s stormiest month. Many instances of flooding rains, damaging wind and hail and dangerous lightning are seen in our past.

From the National Weather Service:

1-18

In 1874…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak that was later set in the summer of 1901. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

6-23

In 1901…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak set in the summer of 1874. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

7-25

In 1934…a streak of 15 consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 5th on the list of hot streaks. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

9-10

In 1980…a series of severe thunderstorms hit metro Denver… Dumping heavy rain and producing a spectacular lightning display lasting for several hours. A number of homes were damaged by lightning. Winds gusted to 60 mph at Stapleton International Airport where about half an inch of rain fell in just 10 minutes along with 1/4 inch diameter hail. The evening thunderstorms continued into the early morning hours with total rainfall of 1.35 inches at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1998…thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.04 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.

10

In 1878…a lunar rainbow was observed during a light mist and fog.

In 1895…the temperature warmed to a high of only 53 degrees… The all-time record lowest maximum temperature for the month of July.

In 1967…golf ball size hail damaged aircraft at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield.

In 1983…two people were injured when struck by lightning just southwest of Morrison. A man was injured when he was swept downstream by a flash flood on a tributary of clear creek in the canyon 8 miles west of Golden. Heavy thunderstorm rains caused mudslides which closed several roads. Rainfall amounts included: 1.75 inches in 20 minutes in southeast Denver…1.26 inches in 35 minutes in Boulder…2.14 inches in 2 hours in Lakewood…1.70 inches in 45 minutes in Aurora…and 1.25 inches in 30 minutes atop Floyd Hill in the foothills west of Denver.

In 1992…storm spotters reported 3/4 inch diameter hail near the construction site of the new Denver airport just northeast of the city.

In 1995…microburst winds toppled a pine tree 60 feet high and 2 feet in diameter in Denver. The tree fell and injured a man nearby. Microburst winds to 59 mph broke the glass on a door at the national weather service forecast office at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.

In 1998…thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.35 inches at Denver International Airport.

In 2000…three children were injured…one critically…when lightning hit a nearby tree at panorama point atop Flagstaff Mountain just west of Boulder. Lightning hit the tree…entered the ground…then struck the children. Lightning sparked a grassfire that burned about 50 acres at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility. Also… Lightning sparked at least 6 fires in the Hudson and Keenesburg areas as thunderstorms…accompanied with heavy rain…large hail…and tornadoes…moved through southern Weld County. Over 2 inches of very heavy rain caused flooding along an I-76 exit ramp near Keenesburg. The fire department rescued 15 stranded motorists as high water inundated sections of the exit ramp and adjacent highway. Basements were also flooded in Keenesburg. One home reportedly had 7 feet of standing water in the basement before the rain subsided. A weak tornado (F0) touched down briefly near Brighton…but caused no damage.

In 2001…a severe thunderstorm dumped 7/8 inch diameter hail in wheat ridge.

In 2002…severe thunderstorms pelted the southern suburbs of metro Denver with large hail. Hail as large as 3 inches in diameter fell 6 miles southeast of Parker. Other large hail reports included 2 inch diameter hail around centennial airport and 3/4 inch hail near Sedalia and Deckers. Hail as large as 3/4 inch was also reported in Broomfield. Runoff from heavy thunderstorm rainfall in the Hayman fire burn area flooded lost creek ranch with up to 18 inches of water just off State Highway 126. Floodwaters damaged a very expensive rug in the lodge. A driveway to a residence was washed away. In Douglas County…runoff damaged forest access roads in the Turkey Creek drainage.

Continue reading July 10 to July 16 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

National Weather, Weather History

Independence Day history: Jefferson and Franklin as two of America’s first weathermen

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Two of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence could also be considered weathermen.
Two of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence could also be considered weathermen.

Certainly anyone who has studied the Founding Fathers is well aware of Benjamin Franklin’s electrifying kite-flying experience.  What many Americans may not know is that he was one of the first storm chasers and his fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, was a weatherman in his own right.

Benjamin Franklin’s interest in the weather spanned virtually his entire lifetime.  He was intrigued by the weather and deduced the movement of storms going on to accurately theorize about low and high pressure as the basis for weather patterns.

His Poor Richard’s Almanac featured some of the nation’s first weather forecasts, penned by Franklin under the pseudonym of Richard Saunders.  Later in life he would record weather observations during his numerous Atlantic crossings and six years before his passing he published a number of “Meteorological Imaginations and Conjectures.”

Franklin also was one of the nation’s first storm chasers.  In a letter to Peter Collinson dated August 25, 1755 Franklin relayed his experience chasing what he called a whirlwind in Maryland the prior April.

He wrote, “We saw, in the vale below us, a small whirlwind beginning in the road and showing itself by the dust it raised and contained. It appeared in the form of a sugar-loaf, spinning on its point, moving up the hill towards us, and enlarging as it came forward. When it passed by us, its smaller part near the ground appeared no bigger than a common barrel; but widening upwards, it seemed, at forty or fifty feet high to be twenty or thirty feet in diameter. The rest of the company stood looking after it; but my curiosity being stronger, I followed it, riding close by its side, and observed its licking up in its progress all the dust that was under its smaller part.”

America’s first statesman goes on to detail how he followed the meteorological phenomena saying, “I accompanied it about three-quarters of a mile, till some limbs of dead trees, broken off by the whirl, flying about and falling near me made me more apprehensive of danger; and then I stopped, looking at the top of it as it went on, which was visible, by means of the leaves contained in it, for a very great height above the trees.”

Certainly it would appear Franklin encountered a strong dust devil or possibly even a weak tornado.

On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson was doing more than just signing the Declaration of Independence – he also was buying a thermometer for £3-15 in Philadelphia from merchant John Sparhawk.  The author of the document that started the United States of America bought nearly 20 of the instruments over his life.

Just three days prior, on July 1, Jefferson began his first “meteorological diary.”  From then on his daily routine included checking a thermometer at dawn and in the late-afternoon and recording the readings.  Occasionally he would also use a barometer and hygrometer to supplement his measurements.

Jefferson believed that to understand the climate measurements would need to be taken across the young nation and he tried to spur others to do the same.  He wrote that documentation would require “steady attention to the thermometer, to the plants growing there, the times of their leafing and flowering, its animal inhabitants, beast, birds, reptiles and insects; its prevalent winds, quantities of rain and snow, temperature of mountains, and other indexes of climate.”

Climatology, Thornton Weather

June 2011 weather recap – Average temperatures but wetter than normal

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Thornton, Colorado June 2011 weather recapThornton’s June 2011 weather was a relatively typical one with average temperatures but also with above normal precipitation.  The month also signifies the official end of the 2010 to 2011 snow season which was absolutely dismal.

In terms of temperatures Denver saw an average temperature for the month of 68.2 degrees.  This was just a bit above the normal of 67.6 degrees.  Temperatures ranged from a high of 96 degrees on the 28th and 29th down to a low of 45 degrees on the 10th.  DIA recorded seven days with 90 degrees or higher temperatures which is one above normal.  No temperature records were set for the month.

Here in Thornton we came quite close to mirroring Denver’s official temperatures.  Our average temperature was 68.1 degrees with the highest mercury reading of 96.4 degrees coming on the 29th.  The lowest temperature in Thornton came on the 3rd at 45.4 degrees.

  • For a detailed look at Thornton’s June 2011 weather, check out the climate report.

    • Precipitation for the month was above normal as DIA’s rain bucket recorded 2.43 inches.  This was 0.87 inch above the normal of 1.56 inch and the second month in a row with above normal precipitation.  In all, eight days had measurable precipitation and DIA reported thunderstorms on 10 days which is average.

    One precipitation record was set during the month when 1.05 inches of rain was recorded on the 20th.  This beat the old record for the date of 0.50 inch set in 1939.

    We were quite a bit drier in Thornton as our precipitation for the month fell below the Denver normals.  We recorded 1.14 inches for the month with the majority of that, 0.87 inch, falling on the 20th.

    Denver’s snow season runs from July 1 to June 30 and with the end of the 2010 to 2011 season the numbers show just how poorly we faired in terms of snowfall.  The Mile High City recorded a mere 22.8 inches of the white stuff at DIA.  This is a whopping 38.9 inches below the normal of 61.5 inches.  The season will go into the record books as the second least snowiest snow season since Denver began keeping records in 1882.

    Here in Thornton we did not fare any better than Denver on the snowfall front.  Our season wrapped up with a dismal 21.2 inches.

    Denver, Colorado June 2011 Climate Summary

    CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1971 TO 2000
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2011

WEATHER         OBSERVED          NORMAL  DEPART  LAST YEAR'S         
                 VALUE   DATE(S)  VALUE   FROM    VALUE  DATE(S)      
                                          NORMAL                      
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
 HIGH             104   06/26/1994                                    
 LOW               30   06/02/1951                                    
HIGHEST            96   06/29       104      -8       99  06/25       
                        06/28                                         
LOWEST             45   06/10        30      15       47  06/23       
                                                          06/18       
                                                          06/14
                                                          06/12
AVG. MAXIMUM     83.3              82.1     1.2     84.1              
AVG. MINIMUM     53.0              53.0     0.0     53.6              
MEAN             68.2              67.6     0.6     68.9              
DAYS MAX >= 90      7               6.3     0.7       10              
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         4.96   1882                                          
 MINIMUM            T   1890                                          
TOTALS           2.43              1.56    0.87     1.60              
DAILY AVG.       0.08              0.05    0.03     0.05              
DAYS >= .01         8               8.7    -0.7        5              
DAYS >= .10         4                MM      MM        3              
DAYS >= .50         2                MM      MM        2              
DAYS >= 1.00        1                MM      MM        0              
GREATEST
 24 HR. TOTAL    1.55  06/19 TO 06/20      1.25  06/11 TO 06/12       

SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
 TOTAL            0.4  1919                                           
TOTALS            0.0                T                                

DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL      26                60     -34       38              
 SINCE 7/1       5707              6128    -421     6441              
COOLING TOTAL     126               136     -10      163              
 SINCE 1/1        135               161     -26      179              

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

WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED              10.4
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION   3/148
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION    48/190    DATE  06/29
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION    72/200    DATE  06/29

SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT)   MM                                      
AVERAGE SKY COVER           0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR            7
NUMBER OF DAYS PC             21
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY          2

AVERAGE RH (PERCENT)     45

WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH 
THUNDERSTORM              0     MIXED PRECIP               0
HEAVY RAIN                3     RAIN                       2
LIGHT RAIN               10     FREEZING RAIN              0
LT FREEZING RAIN          0     HAIL                       1
HEAVY SNOW                0     SNOW                       0
LIGHT SNOW                0     SLEET                      0
FOG                       4     FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE      0
HAZE                      6                                           
                                                                    
-  INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.                                      
R  INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.                                
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.                                       
T  INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
    Weather History

    July 3 to July 9 – This Week in Denver Weather History

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    July 3 to July 9 - This Week in Denver Weather History
    July 3 to July 9 - This Week in Denver Weather History

    In our July weather preview we discussed how the month is not only Denver’s hottest but also its stormiest. Our look back at this week in Denver weather history helps to illustrate that fact. We start seeing 100+ degree days as well as many of the types of fast moving thunderstorm events expected this time of year.

    From the National Weather Service:

    29-15

    In 2000…the 29th marked the beginning of a near record hot streak for metro Denver. The high temperatures…as recorded at Denver International Airport…exceeded the 90 degree mark for 17 consecutive days from June 29th through July 15th. The record of 24 consecutive 90 degree or above days was set from July 13th through August 5th…2008.

    1-18

    In 1874…a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees tied for second with another streak that was later set in the summer of 1901. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.

    3

    In 1874…the temperature climbed to a high of 101 degrees in downtown Denver.

    In 1881…the all time highest recorded daily minimum temperature of 77 degrees occurred in the city. This was also the highest daily minimum temperature ever recorded in July.

    In 1885…a severe thunderstorm produced hail the size of hazel nuts…which fell with great force. A telegraph pole in west Denver was struck by lightning and shattered to pieces.

    In 1955…a brief microburst wind gust to 61 mph was recorded at Stapleton Airport.

    In 1960…a major hail storm caused 1.5 million dollars in damage across metro Denver. The heaviest damage occurred in south Denver…Englewood…Littleton…and Golden from wind- driven hail as large as golf balls and heavy rain which caused flooding. Winds were estimated at 60 to 70 mph. Rainfall was estimated at 2 to 3 inches. Hail accumulated 3 to 4 inches deep in some sections. Hail carried by flood waters drifted 3 to 4 feet deep. An Englewood policeman was injured when hail broke the windshield of his car. One inch of rain in 10 minutes…and heavy hail damage were reported in Parker. At some places the hail from the storm was still on the ground the next morning.

    In 1967…large hail stones from 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter damaged cars and buildings in southwest Denver and Littleton where hail drifted to depths of 3 to 4 feet. The hail caused a great deal of damage…and streets were flooded by heavy rain over many sections of west metro Denver. At centennial race track near Littleton…a few hail stones were as large as tennis balls. Large hail broke the windshield on a Littleton police car. Golf ball to tennis ball size hail fell in the vicinity of Arapahoe road and south Broadway. One inch diameter hail fell at the intersection of orchard and south university. Golf ball size hail fell in Broomfield. Hail in Westminster was measured from 1 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter. Tornadoes were sighted by the public near Cheery Creek Reservoir… north of Commerce City…and in Arvada…but caused no reportable damage.

    In 1993…high winds developed behind a strong cold front along portions of the Front Range. While the strongest winds were reported north of metro Denver…the winds blew out a half inch thick pane of glass from a vacant 9-story building. The glass landed on a parked car below. West winds gusting to 52 mph kicked up some blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport.

    In 1996…lightning sparked a small fire near buffalo creek in southern Jefferson County. Only one acre burned before the fire was contained.

    In 2002…heavy thunderstorm rain washed out a frontage road 6 miles north of Larkspur. The nearby mountain ranch subdivision was also flooded. Heavy rainfall in the Hayman fire burn area washed out a secondary road when debris from the runoff blocked a culvert. Hail as large as 3/4 inch fell near Keenesburg…in Castle Rock…and 7 miles to the south of Castle Rock.

    In 2005…severe thunderstorms produced high winds. Wind gusts to 75 mph were measured near Longmont and to 60 mph just west of Boulder. No damage was reported.

    In 2007…severe thunderstorms produced large hail in the foothills and suburbs west of Denver. Large hail from 1 to 2 inches in diameter was reported in the vicinity of Idaho Springs…Rollins and Edgewater.

    In 2009…severe thunderstorms produced large hail and north and east of Denver. Hail up to one inch in diameter was observed near Erie and firestone. Hail up to 1 3/4 inches was observed 5 to 6 miles west-southwest of Byers. The golfball size hail caused extensive damage to a wheat field. In Aurora…six children received minor injuries when lightning struck a nearby tree. The injuries occurred when they were knocked down by the blast. None of the children suffered burns or appeared to have been directly hit by lightning.

    Continue reading July 3 to July 9 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

    Climatology, Thornton Weather

    A look at Thornton’s July weather – Our hottest and stormiest month

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    Thornton's July weather previewOur normally widely varied weather settles into a somewhat standard pattern during the month of July.  The mercury climbs each day in what is our hottest month and thunderstorms become very common during the afternoon and evening hours.

    The average monthly high temperature for July is 88 degrees and can oftentimes get much higher than that.  In fact, the record high temperature for all but seven days during the month are at or above 100 degrees.

    Afternoon thunderstorms occur on average every three days during July.  These events can be extreme and are known to bring heavy rains and damaging wind and hail.

    Find out more about what to expect this July in our complete July weather preview.

    Thornton Weather

    Wind may have contributed to deadly Adams County plane crash

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    The tail of the airplane is about all that was left after a deadly plane crash in Adams County. Yesterday’s thunderstorms brought powerful winds and lightning to the Colorado Front Range and may have been part of the reason for a plane crash in Adams County.  The small plane crashed in a field near Thornton killing its pilot.

    The single-engine Cessna 182, owned by Jewel Aviation of Marshfield, Wisconsin, went down in a field near 124th Avenue and Quebec Street.  The pilot is believed to have been killed instantly when the plane exploded on impact.

    The flight had just taken off from Front Range Airport approximately 20 miles away from the crash site.  Witnesses described seeing the plane struggling to stay airborne as it approached the field surrounded by residential homes.

    Resident Catherine Von Axelson told 9News, “All of a sudden, this great big gust of wind hit.  His wing just completely flipped up and he nosedived into the ground and the plane exploded.”

    Dry thunderstorms were moving through the area at the time of the crash.  Lightning from the storms sparked fires in the foothills and injured two National Guard airmen at Buckley Air Force Base.

    The crash reportedly occurred at 3:25pm.  At that same time, ThorntonWeather.com reported gusts approaching 35 mph less than two miles from the crash site.  The owner of the station said that the actual gusts were likely much higher but measurements from the wind instrument are inhibited by nearby trees.

    Microbursts, powerful straight line winds, often accompany Colorado’s thunderstorms and present a particular hazard to aviation.  Soon after the crash Denver International Airport halted takeoffs and landings and the facility reported a gust of 72mph.

    National Weather

    New Mexico wildfire scorches 60,000 acres; Nears Los Alamos National Laboratory

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    The Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos National Laboratory. Click to view a slideshow of images from the blaze. (LANL)
    The Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos National Laboratory. Click to view a slideshow of images from the blaze. (LANL)

    It has been a veritable ‘summer of fire’ for Arizona and New Mexico as hundreds of thousands of acres have gone up in flames.  A new blaze, started Sunday, now threatens the nation’s premier nuclear laboratory near Los Alamos.

    The Las Conchas fire has grown to 60,741 acres in less than 48 hours and has seen no containment.  The blaze has forced the evacuation of the entire population of the city of Los Alamos and threatens the Los Alamos National Laboratory on two sides.

    The Natural Disasters Examiner reports that one spot fire did get started on the laboratory grounds but has been quickly extinguished.  Of greatest concern are drums of nuclear waste that are stored at the facility that could cause a release of radioactive material – something which has not happened.

    Thornton Weather

    Thornton’s other local weather station

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    The 156th Avenue Weather Station
    The 156th Avenue Weather Station provides local weather conditions. Click the image for a larger view.

    ThorntonWeather.com is billed as Thornton’s only truly local source for weather news, forecasts and information.  One resident however pointed out a neighboring weather station that while more primitive, provides an alternative look at the weather.

    The 156th Avenue Weather Station is located just off of 156th Ave and Colorado Boulevard in unincorporated Adams County surrounded by the City of Thornton.  The station is provided by “Mr. Schafer” according to the accompanying sign.

    Analog instruments for the time, wind and temperature provide the basics while a hanging rock gives more detailed weather conditions.  Residents can easily determine the current weather by glancing at the rock.

    • If the Rock is Wet…….Raining
    • If the Rock is Warm……Sunny
    • If the Rock is Cold……Overcast
    • If the Rock is White…..Snowing
    • If the Rock is Swinging…..Windy
    • If the Rock is Bouncing…..Earthquake
    • If the Rock is Gone…….Weather Station Closed

    We’re glad to see the 156th Avenue Weather Station join the local weather scene.  Next time you want to know the current weather, you have an alternative to ThorntonWeather.com. 😉

    Hat tip to Thornton resident Dana West for letting us know about the 156th Avenue weather station!

    Weather History

    June 26 to July 2 – This Week in Denver Weather History

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    June 26 to July 2 - This Week in Denver Weather History
    June 26 to July 2 - This Week in Denver Weather History

    Our look back at this week in Denver weather history certainly has plenty of the usual suspects related to severe weather. Most notable however are the many occurrences of lightning strikes and the effects they can have from sparking fires to causing significant injury and death.

    From the National Weather Service:

    25-26

    In 1969…high winds raked Boulder causing one fatality and some injuries. One man was injured by a falling tree limb. At the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder… Sustained winds of 55 to 60 mph with wind gusts to 123 mph were recorded. In downtown Boulder…winds averaged 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph. Widespread minor damage occurred… Especially in the Table Mesa area of south Boulder. Much tree damage occurred in the older areas of Boulder where several trees were uprooted. A mobile home was overturned by the winds. At Stapleton Airport…west winds gusted to 43 mph on the 25th and 37 mph on the 26th.

    In 1975…strong winds damaged utility lines…buildings… vehicles…trees…and power lines in Boulder and other communities to the north of Boulder. Microburst winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 25th.

    In 1983…heavy rain fell in the foothills west of Denver with 1.50 inches in 30 minutes at Intercanyon. Heavy rain continued over metro Denver on the 26th with two-day storm totals at many locations ranging from 1.00 to 2.50 inches. Rainfall totaled 1.37 inches at Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.

    In 1985…one to two inches of rain fell over metro Denver. At Stapleton International Airport…rainfall totaled 0.93 inches…thunderstorm winds gusted to 44 mph…and 7/10 inch hail was measured. The air mass was unusually cold for the season…and snow fell in the foothills above 8 thousand feet. The high temperature of only 63 degrees on the 26th equaled the record low maximum reading for the date.

    26

    In 1873…there was a great deal of smoke from a large forest fire in the mountains to the southwest of the city and a smaller fire directly to the west.

    In 1874…fires at timberline to the west were visible from the city. New and extensive fires were continually started from south to northwest along the ridge line. Carelessness of tourists was the apparent cause of the fires. Large and valuable tracts of timber had already been destroyed.

    In 1890…the only thunderstorm of the month produced a trace of rain. A trace of rain also fell on 7 other days. This was the only precipitation recorded during the month… Making it the driest June on record.

    In 1893…northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts to 48 mph.

    In 1971…a microburst wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport. Dust devils were sighted.

    In 1980…strong gusty thunderstorm winds damaged several mobile homes in Thornton. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

    In 1986…hail piled up 1 1/2 inches deep in Golden Gate Canyon and covered roadways an inch deep in Evergreen.

    In 1988…a tornado touched down 2 miles north of Watkins. It was on the ground for 15 minutes and did no reported damage.

    In 1989…two inch diameter hail fell at Kassler…1 inch hail at Louviers…and 1 1/2 inch hail at tiny town.

    In 1991…high winds…not associated with thunderstorms… Damaged a home in the Green Mountain area. The strong winds picked up a heavy metal and glass table on the deck of a house and threw it into the house. The table was destroyed and the house received considerable damage.

    In 1992…3/4 inch diameter hail fell in south Aurora and near Buckley Air National Guard base. Golf ball size hail was reported in Parker.

    In 1994…the all-time highest recorded temperature in June and the second highest temperature ever recorded in Denver… 104 degrees occurred. This was the hottest day in Denver since August 8…1878…when the temperature reached 105 degrees.

    In 2005…strong thunderstorm winds gusting to 58 mph damaged a garage and some nearby trees near Fort Lupton. Winds also gusted to 58 mph near Watkins. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 60 mph near Roggen. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter was measured in southwest Aurora.

    In 2009…severe thunderstorms moving through Denver and the surrounding metro area produced intense thunderstorm winds. At Denver International Airport…a wind gust blew a luggage car into a southwest airlines airplane causing some damage. Peak wind gusts included: 68 mph at Denver International Airport…4 miles west of rocky mountain metropolitan airport and 12.5 miles north of Lowry AFB; 64 mph near Arvada and Parker; and 60 mph in Aurora/cherry.

    Continue reading June 26 to July 2 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

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