As summer vacations wind down and families prepare to send their kids back to school in August, Colorado weather also starts to settle down. The chances for severe weather decrease markedly during August and by the end of the month daytime temperatures are dropping quite a bit as well.
Find out more about what lies ahead with Thornton’s August weather here.
Weather can be deadly – we are all well (hopefully) aware of that. Looking at this week in Denver weather history we are reminded of that and the tragedy that weather can bring to our state. We see numerous cases of lightning causing death and injury but no one incident highlights the dangers of weather more than what occurred on July 31, 1976. The Big Thompson Flood was Colorado’s worth weather-related disaster and claimed 144 lives. More details on all these events are below.
13-5
In 2008…a streak of 26 consecutive days of 90 degrees shattered the previous record of 18 consecutive days established in 1901 and 1874. Ironically…no new single day record high temperatures were set in the month of July. In August however…a record of 104 degrees was set on the 1st…and another record of 103 degrees was set on the 2nd. In addition…a record low min of 70 degrees was set on August 2nd.
18-2
In 1987…a streak of 16 consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 4th on the list of hot streaks. The record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.
26
In 1891…a thunderstorm produced sustained northeast winds to 44 mph with gusts to 60 mph and 0.16 inch of rain.
In 1894…a thunderstorm produced sustained southwest winds to 36 mph with gusts to 58 mph…but only 0.04 inch of rain.
In 1910…the high temperature reached 100 degrees in downtown Denver.
In 1959…a Denver man was stunned while standing by a car that was struck by lightning. He was treated for burns and shock at a local hospital. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1983…two heavy thunderstorms hit the northern and western suburbs. The first drenched Northglenn with an inch of rain in 30 minutes. The second storm dumped an inch or more of rain in Idaho Springs and Evergreen. The heaviest rainfall… 2.90 inches in an hour…caused minor street flooding in Golden.
In 1984…heavy early morning thunderstorms drenched the foothills southwest of Denver. Rainfall to 1 1/2 inches in just 30 minutes occurred between Evergreen and Conifer. In nearby turkey creek canyon…1.80 inches of rain was recorded in 35 minutes.
In 1985…a long rope-like white tornado touched down 5 miles east of Erie and stayed on the ground…mainly over an open field…for 18 minutes. However…the twister damaged a few cars on I-25 and injured 3 people from broken glass. The storm flipped over a van…blew out car windows…and ripped a highway sign. It also blew an outbuilding off its foundation. A tornado also touched down briefly 8 miles north of Bennett. No damage was reported from this storm.
In 1988…a 9-year-old girl was slightly injured by lightning in Parker.
In 2003…a severe thunderstorm in and south of Franktown produced hail as large as 1.75 inches in diameter.
26-27
In 1885…heavy cloudbursts on the palmer divide south of Denver caused flooding on Cherry Creek in the city overnight. The high water washed away street and railroad bridges and a few houses. The flood waters completely inundated the rail yards in lower downtown. This was the worst flood on Cherry Creek since May 19-20…1864…but the damage was mitigated by stream improvements and fewer structures near the channel. There was also no simultaneous flood on the South Platte River to slow the flow of water through the city. Rainfall in the city was only 0.08 inch on the 26th.
27
In 1897…an apparent dry microburst produced sustained west winds to 48 mph with gusts to 60 mph and a trace of rain.
In 1901…a thunderstorm produced north winds to 38 mph with gusts to 41 mph and rainfall of only 0.01 inch in downtown Denver. This was the only measurable rainfall of the month… Making this the driest July on record.
In 1953…an unconfirmed tornado in south Lakewood touched down briefly and abruptly dissipated. No damage was reported from the twister.
In 1955…the public sighted a funnel cloud estimated at 500 feet above the ground near the western edge of Lowry Field. Wind estimates up to 60 mph were reported in the vicinity.
In 1956…a severe thunderstorm produced 3/4 inch diameter hail and wind gusts to 48 mph at Stapleton Airport where rain fall totaled 1.08 inches.
In 1965…a tornado was sighted 21 miles south of Denver in Douglas County. No damage was reported.
In 1977…a thunderstorm wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport. A funnel cloud was sighted by an aircraft east of Parker.
In 1982…heavy rain doused Boulder with 1 1/2 to 3 inches of rain over a short period of time…causing extensive street flooding.
In 1984…strong thunderstorms drenched several areas. Rainfall of 1.04 inches occurred in just 20 minutes at Boulder. Downpours also hit Aurora and northeast Denver… Delaying flights at Stapleton International Airport for an hour. Up to 3/4 inch of rain fell in central Aurora in 15 minutes.
In 1989…lightning hit a home in Littleton…setting a bed on fire. Damage was confined to the bedroom.
In 1994…lightning struck a furniture store in Boulder… Igniting a fire which caused major damage to the building and contents.
In 1997…lightning sparked a fire…causing extensive damage to a home in Watkins. Heavy rain caused Lena Gulch to surge 2 feet over its banks in Golden. The fire department had to rescue a man when his van stalled in high waters. High waters from swollen creeks and streams washed out bridges and several sections of road in southeast Aurora. A 200-to-300 foot section of road was washed away where Picadilly Street dips across coal creek. Three youths had to be rescued when they became stranded by rapidly rising water in another normally dry creek bed.
In 1999…lightning was suspected of igniting a fire which caused substantial damage to a farm in Hudson. The blaze destroyed a 10-foot by 60-foot metal pole barn…a pick-up truck…a SUV…a boat and trailer…3 four wheeler vehicles… And other farm equipment.
In 2007…a man was struck and killed by lightning while jogging at Matthews Winters Park in Morrison.
Continue reading July 26 to August 1: This week in Denver weather history
Periods of monsoonal moisture contributed to rain and clouds in August 2014. Coupled with the occasional cold front, the end result was a month that saw temperatures below normal and regular daily thunderstorms.
Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 68.2 degrees. This was more than four degrees cooler than Denver’s long term August average of 72.5 degrees. Out at Denver International Airport it was similarly cool with an average reading of 70.6 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 94.4 degrees on the 17th down to a low of 47.6 degrees on the 30th. Only six days saw readings of 90 degrees or higher.
Denver’s warmest reading of 91 degrees occurred on the 17th and again on the 19th. Low readings of 52 degrees were seen on four days during the month. Four 90 degree days were recorded at DIA.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton measured 1.55 inches in the rain bucket over the course of the month. This was slightly below Denver’s August average of 1.69 inches.
The airport however fared better with 2.73 inches as many of the afternoon storms didn’t really get started until they were past Thornton.
Click here to view Thornton’s August 2014 climate report.
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER, CO
136 PM MDT MON SEP 1 2014
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2014...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2014
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
08/22/1904
HIGHEST 91 08/19 105 -14 99 08/20
08/17
LOWEST 52 08/31 40 12 52 08/09
08/30
08/25
08/24
AVG. MAXIMUM 83.8 87.2 -3.4 89.4
AVG. MINIMUM 57.4 57.9 -0.5 59.8
MEAN 70.6 72.5 -1.9 74.6
DAYS MAX >= 90 4 11.5 -7.5 16
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 2.73 1.69 1.04 2.78
DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.09
DAYS >= .01 13 8.6 4.4 7
DAYS >= .10 5 4.3 0.7 2
DAYS >= .50 3 1.2 1.8 2
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.45 08/25 TO 08/26
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.0
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 2 10 -8 0
SINCE 7/1 7 16 -9 0
COOLING TOTAL 182 244 -62 308
SINCE 1/1 613 688 -75 866
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 8.9
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/194
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 48/320 DATE 08/25
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 48/320 DATE 08/25
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 5
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 24
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 53
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 14 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 5 RAIN 4
LIGHT RAIN 17 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 1
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 6 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 1
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
August’s weather typically consists of warm daytime temperatures followed by afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Those storms provide excellent photo opportunities as do the various flora and fauna we see around this time of year.
Thornton’s spring and summer have been relatively wet allowing for a very lush, green landscape. Flowers are blooming and butterflies, bees and birds are all taking advantage of them. The near daily thunderstorms offer rain as well as lightning and sometimes hail. All make for prime photo subjects.
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.
Click the play button below and sit back and enjoy the images.
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.
So come on, get those camera’s rolling!
As summer vacations wind down and families prepare to send their kids back to school in August, Colorado weather also starts to settle down. The chances for severe weather decrease markedly during August and by the end of the month daytime temperatures are dropping quite a bit as well. Find out more about what lies ahead with Thornton’s August weather here.
Looking back at last month we certainly do recall the unseasonably warm temperatures that seemed to dominate August 2013. While the high temperatures were indeed high, somehow Thornton managed to end up with a relatively average temperature and precipitation short of normal.
The month started with temperatures into the 90s and much-needed precipitation on two of the first three days. Thunderstorms on the third provided a bit of excitement including strong winds and some hail.
From there the month turned a good bit cooler with seasonal temperatures on many days and even two days (the 7th and 8th) when highs were in the 70s. The latter half of the month however saw a return of the heat with 13 of the final 16 days of the month registering high temperatures at or above 90 degrees.
Looking at the statistics one can easily see how different weather conditions can be across a relatively small area. While Thornton saw a monthly average temperature near normal, Denver was considerably warm. Similarly, our precipitation was below the Denver long term average but out at the airport it was well above average.
In terms of temperatures, the August average temperature in Thornton was 72.0 degrees. This was right near the 1981 to 2010 Denver average for the month of 72.5 degrees. Out at DIA however, the average temperature was a considerably higher 74.6 degrees.
Thornton’s highest temperature of the month was 97.6 degrees on the 20th. Our lowest was 50.2 degrees on the 15th. Officially, Denver’s highest temperature recorded was 99 degrees on the 20th and its lowest 52 degrees on that same day.
Three temperature records were broken in Denver during August 2013.
A new record high of 97 degrees was recorded on August 17 (96 degrees, 1994). On August 20 a record high of 99 degrees was recorded as well (98 degrees, 1987). Also on the 20th, a record high minimum of 70 degrees was set (67 degrees, 2007).
Denver’s long term precipitation for the month of August is 1.69 inches. Thornton fell short of that mark as we registered 1.37 inches in our rain bucket. More than an inch of that was the result of thunderstorms on two days (the 3rd and the 21st).
Denver was able to best us by a large margin recording 2.78 inches of precipitation in August 2013. The bulk of the Mile High City’s precipitation fell on the 22nd when they registered 1.94 inches from a slow moving thunderstorm, one which missed Thornton entirely.
One precipitation record was set in Denver during August 2013. The 1.94 inches of rainfall on the 22nd was a record for the date, easily besting the old record of 0.75 inches set in 1953.
Click here to view Thornton’s August 2013 climate summary.
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2013...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2013
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 99 08/20 105 -6 98 08/27
08/03
08/06
LOWEST 52 08/09 40 12 47 08/17
AVG. MAXIMUM 89.4 87.2 2.2 91.0
AVG. MINIMUM 59.8 57.9 1.9 58.9
MEAN 74.6 72.5 2.1 75.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 16 11.5 4.5 20
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 2.78 1.69 1.09 0.11
DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.05 0.04 0.00
DAYS >= .01 7 8.6 -1.6 1
DAYS >= .10 2 4.3 -2.3 1
DAYS >= .50 2 1.2 0.8 0
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.3 0.7 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.95 08/21 TO 08/22 08/11 TO 08/11
08/10 TO 08/11
08/11 TO 08/11
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)
08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)1
08/11(00) TO 08/11(00)1
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 10 -10 0
SINCE 7/1 0 16 -16 0
COOLING TOTAL 308 244 64 319
SINCE 1/1 866 688 178 1122
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 8.8
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/204
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 43/110 DATE 08/03
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 55/060 DATE 08/03
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 4
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 23
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 4
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 48
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 11 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 4 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 2
HAZE 10
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
There would be no break from the hot and dry summer of 2012 in August as records continued to tumble and the ground remained parched. While a few cold fronts provided some relief, they were short-lived and high pressure dominated during the month.
Denver recorded an average temperature of 75.0 degrees which was 2.5 degrees above normal. This ties August 1994 as the 5th warmest August since record keeping began in 1872.
In all, 20 days recorded high temperatures at or above 90 degrees at Denver International Airport. By the end of the month 2012 moved into the record books as having the most seasonal 90 degree days of any year (66 as of 8/31). Highs ranged from 98 degrees on the 3rd, 6th, 9th, and 27th to a low of 47 degrees on the 17th.
Here in Thornton our average temperature was quite a bit cooler, although still above average in comparison to recent years. Thornton’s average for the month came in at 72.7 degrees.
Thornton recorded 17 days of 90 degree or hotter high temperatures. Our hottest temperature was 96 degrees which occurred on the 27th and 29th. The coldest temperature recorded was 48 degrees on the 17th and 19th.
Precipitation continued to elude the Mile High City as a mere 0.11 inch fell into the rain bucket during the month, and that all came in a single day. This was far below the normal of 1.68 inches for August and put 2012 into the books as the 4th driest August on record.
Thornton fared only slightly better on the precipitation front as we recorded 0.31 inch of rain. As with Denver, that total came all in a single day, the 1st of the month.
More on ThorntonWeather.com:
August 2012 Graphs
Denver’s Official August 2012 Climate Summary
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2012...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2012
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 08/27 87 11 99 08/25
08/03
08/06
08/09
LOWEST 47 08/17 40 7 55 08/20
AVG. MAXIMUM 91.0 87.2 3.8 92.7
AVG. MINIMUM 58.9 57.9 1.0 61.3
MEAN 75.0 72.5 2.5 77.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 20 11.5 8.5 22
DAYS MAX = .01 1 8.6 -7.6 3
DAYS >= .10 1 4.3 -3.3 1
DAYS >= .50 0 1.2 -1.2 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.11 08/11 TO 08/11 08/03 TO 08/03
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 0.0 NO SNOW EVER RECORDED IN AUGUST
TOTALS 0.0 NO SNOW EVER RECORDED IN AUGUST
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 10 -10 0
SINCE 7/1 0 16 -16 0
COOLING TOTAL 319 244 75 382
SINCE 1/1 1122 688 434 863
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.9
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/217
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 38/330 DATE 08/30
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 45/330 DATE 08/30
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 8
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 22
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 1
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 34
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 4 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 9 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 0 FOG W/VIS
Significant events on Denver’s weather history calendar get a bit less numerous as we enter what is historically a relatively quiet period of the year. That isn’t to say however that major weather events can’t occur. Our look back at this week in Denver weather history includes a massive hail storm in 1944, many events in which lightning injured people and the warmest temperature ever recorded in September.
From the National Weather Service:
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
24-26
In 1910…the lowest temperature ever recorded in August…40 degrees…occurred on each of these days and on August 22… 1904. The unusually cold weather for so early in the season brought sub-freezing minimum temperatures to much of the Colorado northeastern plains.
26
In 1944…one of the most destructive hailstorms in the city in a decade caused damage estimated at nearly one million dollars. The storm occurred within a period of 10 to 30 minutes…between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm. The hail varied in size from very small to as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Hail covered the ground to a depth of 5 to 6 inches in some sections of the city. Several people were cut by broken glass. The hail and heavy rain flooded underpasses to a depth of 6 feet…and the occupants of stalled autos had to be rescued. Sewers were unable to handle the sudden amount of water and water backed up and flooded a number of basements. A few first floors of buildings were flooded. The water department had a busy time replacing manhole covers that had been displaced by the water pressure. Trees were stripped…one was severely broken…and telephone lines were downed. Roofs…windows… automobiles…awnings…and gardens were severely damaged. Flowers and gardens in some sections of the city were a total loss. Greenhouses were extensively broken with an estimated 20 carloads of glass shattered. Vegetable and truck crops in and around the city were severely shredded. The next day the American Red Cross was designated by the war agency to grant any and all priorities needed to obtain materials and supplies to replace and repair the damage. In downtown Denver…the thunderstorm produced 0.95 inch of rain and heavy hail along with sustained northwest winds to 25 mph.
In 1961…strong winds blew in the walls of a warehouse under construction in Denver. Two workmen suffered a fractured foot and body bruises.
26-27
In 1980…two heavy thunderstorms hit Arvada and Westminster… Dumping up to 1.50 inches of rain in less than an hour. At least two streets were washed out and a number of homes and cars were damaged when a creek flooded. Three homes in Arvada sustained minor lightning damage.
27
In 1910…a thunderstorm produced south winds sustained to 40 mph.
In 1961…strong thunderstorm winds and heavy rain occurred at 79th and federal blvd. In Westminster. The strong winds blew the roofs off lumber sheds onto parked cars.
In 1967…a young woman was killed by lightning while horseback riding in the suburbs just west of Denver. Her horse died several hours after the incident. A young man and another young woman were also knocked from their horses by the impact of the lightning and required hospitalization.
In 1991…heavy thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.91 inch at Stapleton International Airport…where 1/4 inch diameter hail was measured.
In 1996…localized street flooding occurred in the Fort Lupton area when 2 to 3 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. The roof of a community college began leaking…which caused damage to ceiling tiles. The roof was under repair from hail damage which had occurred earlier in the summer. A weak tornado (f0) was sighted near Fort Lupton. No damage was reported.
In 1999…a slow moving thunderstorm dumped 5 inches of rain in 2 hours near Dacono. A severe thunderstorm produced 3/4 inch diameter hail in Castle Rock.
In 2002…severe thunderstorms spread large hail over metro Denver. Hail as large as 2 inches in diameter fell in Jefferson County 5 to 11 miles northwest of Golden. Other large hail reports included: 1 1/2 inches near Golden and in Lakewood; 1 1/4 inches in Nederland; 1 inch hail near Elizabeth…Louviers…Rollinsville…and Blackhawk; 7/8 inch hail near Acequia in Douglas County. A thunderstorm produced a trace of rain and a microburst wind gust to 52 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2003…lightning struck a house and sparked a fire in Arvada. Damage to the roof and ceiling was extensive.
In 2005…lightning struck an unoccupied home in Parker. The resulting fire damaged the roof…attic…and second floor bedroom. Damage was estimated at 15 thousand dollars.
Continue reading August 26 to September 1 – This Week in Denver Weather History
Funnel clouds, tornadoes, deadly flooding and more highlight our look back at this week in Denver weather history.
From the National Weather Service:
16-19
In 1979…heavy thunderstorm rains on each of 4 consecutive days dumped a total of 2.62 inches of rain on Stapleton International Airport. The heaviest rain…1.05 inches… On the 19th was accompanied by 1/4 inch diameter hail.
18-19
In 1875…nearly 0.75 inch of rainfall in the city overnight… Possibly assisted by heavier rainfall upstream…produced a decided and rapid rise in Cherry Creek…which washed out some bridges. Other small creeks and streams were filled to overflowing.
19
In 1983…heavy rain fell across the northern metro Denver suburbs with 1.50 to 1.80 inches of rain in Broomfield… Arvada…and Thornton.
In 1989…lightning killed a 31-year-old man and injured his 10 year old nephew when it hit a tree they were walking under in the foothills about 5 miles west of Boulder. The boy received mouth to mouth resuscitation on the scene and recovered after being hospitalized overnight. Three other people were knocked to the ground by the bolt…but were uninjured.
In 1990…3/4 inch diameter hail was reported in Wheat Ridge. A thunderstorm over west Denver dumped an inch of rain in 20 minutes…causing minor street flooding. One inch diameter hail was reported over east Denver. Ping pong to golf ball size hail was reported 14 miles northeast of Denver at the intersection of 122nd Ave. and Brighton Blvd. The hail stones knocked out windows and did an unspecified amount of damage to the roof of a house. Close by…heavy thunderstorm rains caused gullies…irrigation ditches…and small streams to overflow their banks near the intersection of 120th Avenue and Riverdale Road. Flood waters 1 to 2 feet deep covered the river bottom land along the South Platte River. However…no structures were threatened by the flood waters.
In 1999…heavy rain…up to 5 inches in two hours…caused east tollgate creek to jump its banks. The bike path adjacent to the creek was underwater at several locations. Several underpasses were also flooded…halting traffic. In addition…an unfinished playground at a local elementary school was completely flooded. Lightning struck a vehicle at east Evans Avenue and Tower Road. The woman inside the vehicle was not injured.
19-30
In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th. Thousands landed on the ground. The streets were literally covered with them. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day. All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain. On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.
Continue reading August 19 to August 25 – This Week in Denver Weather History
Denver’s weather calms considerably in August as compared to many other months but the history books show plenty of notable events in our past. Lightning, flooding rain and even a tornado highlight this week in Denver weather history.
8-13
In 1875…clouds of grasshoppers were seen flying through the air on the prevailing winds during each day.
12
In 1876…the temperature climbed to a high of 100 degrees in downtown Denver.
In 1941…excessive thunderstorm rainfall flooded streets and delayed traffic for a few hours in some sections of the city. The basements of a considerable number of homes and commercial buildings were flooded. The total value of the damage was unknown. Only 0.94 inch of thunderstorm rainfall was recorded downtown.
In 1969…a man and a 9-year old boy were injured…when lightning struck a tree near where they were standing. Both were revived after treatment…but the boy later died of respiratory failure due to electrical shock.
In 1984…heavy thunderstorm rains drenched southern metro Denver. Rural roads in Douglas County received minor washouts. Hail…as large as 3/4 inch in diameter…was reported in southeast Aurora with one inch diameter hail reported near Parker. Rainfall totaled 1.00 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
12-13 in 1975…heavy rains caused flash flooding along the foothills from Denver north. Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 1.56 inches at Stapleton International Airport.
In 2004…a brief cool spell resulted in two daily temperature records. The low temperature of 49 degrees was a record minimum for the 12th…as was the low temperature of 48 degrees on the 13th.
13
In 1959…thunderstorm winds gusted to 53 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1983…thunderstorms dumped torrential rain in Northglenn… Thornton…and Broomfield. Northglenn was drenched with 1.72 inches in 30 minutes. Street flooding was widespread. Hail…as large as 3/4 inch in diameter…was reported 7 miles northeast of Boulder along with heavy rain which caused some street flooding.
In 2000…lightning sparked 3 small grass fires near Golden. The fires were quickly contained. Hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell in Castle Rock.
Continue reading August 12 to August 18 – This Week in Denver Weather History