Tag Archives: Denver weather history

Thornton Weather

March 1 to March 7 – This week in Denver weather history

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March 1 to March 7 - This week in Denver weather history
March 1 to March 7 - This week in Denver weather history

Looking at this week in Denver weather history, it is easy to see why March is known as Denver’s snowiest month. There are numerous instances of major winter storms dumping snow on the city that was measured not in inches – but feet!

From the National Weather Service:

28-1

IN 1875…6 INCHES OF SNOW FELL FROM 3:15 PM ON THE 28TH TO 1:00 AM ON THE 1ST. PRECIPITATION FOR THE TWO DAYS WAS 0.50 INCH.

29-1

IN 1896…SNOWFALL TOTALED 5.5 INCHES IN THE CITY. NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 24 MPH.

IN 1948…SNOWFALL TOTALED 5.9 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER. NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 15 MPH.

1

IN 1904…WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 58 MPH. THE CHINOOK WINDS WARMED THE TEMPERATURE TO A HIGH OF 67 DEGREES.

IN 1906…SNOWFALL WAS HEAVY AND TOTALED 7.5 INCHES OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 37 MPH.

IN 1940…SNOWFALL WAS HEAVY AND TOTALED 7.7 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER.

IN 1943…6.0 INCHES OF SNOW FELL OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 19 MPH.

Continue reading March 1 to March 7 – This week in Denver weather history →

Climatology

January 2009 weather preview available

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A preview of January 2009's weather.
A preview of January 2009's weather.

As we continue on what has been a relatively dry season thus far, cold and dry are the key words to remember when it comes to January. The month is the coldest of the year and the second driest as well. Just how cold can January get? The record low temperature for each day of the month is at least 10 degrees below zero.

Just what can we expect in January 2009?  Click here to read our January weather preview.

Weather History

December 14 – 20 – This week in Denver weather history

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December 14 - 20 - This week in Denver weather history.
December 14 - 20 - This week in Denver weather history.

Our look back in Denver weather history for this week is punctuated by hurricane force winds – numerous times.  Some of these storms reached 120 mph, overturned semis, ripped roofs off and more.  Also notable is the blizzard we suffered through two years ago this week.

From the National Weather Service:

…THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY…

2-17 

In 1939…more than 2 weeks of unseasonably warm weather made the month the 3rd warmest on record.  Seven daily temperature records were set…including the all time record high temperature for the month of 79 degrees on the 5th.  Daytime highs were balmy with 14 days in the 60’s and 70’s.  Low temperatures dipped to freezing or below on only 5 days.  The period was dry with only a trace of snow on the 12th.

3-15 

In 1972…a protracted cold spell held an icy grip on metro Denver when maximum temperatures never reached above freezing for 10 consecutive days from the 3rd through the 12th and minimum temperatures dipped below zero on eleven consecutive days from the 5th through the 15th. Daily low temperature records were set with 15 degrees below zero on the 5th…17 degrees below zero on the 6th… And 18 degrees below zero on the 10th.  Daily record low maximum readings were set with 3 degrees on the 6th and 6 degrees on the 9th.  The very cold temperatures were caused by 3 to 5 inches of snow cover and a Canadian air mass.

Continue reading December 14 – 20 – This week in Denver weather history →

Weather History

November 23 to 29 – This week in Denver weather history

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November 23 to 29 - This week in Denver weather history.
November 23 to 29 - This week in Denver weather history.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
645 PM MST SAT NOV 22 2008

…THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY…

21-23

IN 1918…POST-FRONTAL SNOWFALL TOTALED 5.9 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW…5.3 INCHES…FELL ON THE 22ND.
NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 20 MPH ON THE 21ST.
IN 1931…A MAJOR STORM DUMPED A TOTAL OF 13.2 INCHES OF
SNOWFALL OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW…11.4
INCHES…FELL ON THE 21ST. A VERY COLD AIR MASS SETTLED
OVER THE CITY AFTER THE HEAVY SNOW ON THE 21ST. AFTER A
LOW TEMPERATURE OF ZERO…THE TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO A HIGH
OF ONLY 5 DEGREES ON THE 22ND…A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM FOR THE
DATE.

21-25

IN 1952…SNOWFALL OF 6.2 INCHES WAS MEASURED AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT WHERE NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 17 MPH ON THE
21ST.

Continue reading November 23 to 29 – This week in Denver weather history →

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

This week in Denver weather history – October 26 to November 1

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This week in Denver weather history - October 26 to November 1.
This week in Denver weather history - October 26 to November 1.

Lots of interesting stuff in this look back at Denver weather history for the week of October 26th to November 1st.  Lots of snow including some major storms and the seemingly ever present wind are on this look into history. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
645 PM MDT SAT OCT 25 2008

…THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY…

25-26 IN 1996…4 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF
        DENVER.  ONLY 1.5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL WERE MEASURED AT THE
        SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE
        26TH.  THIS WAS THE ONLY MEASURABLE SNOW OF THE MONTH AT
        THE SITE.  THE SNOWFALL PRODUCED ICY AND SNOWPACKED
        HIGHWAYS…WHICH RESULTED IN A 50-TO 60-CAR PILEUP ON I-25
        SOUTH OF METRO DENVER.  WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 33 MPH AT
        DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
      IN 2006…A WINTER STORM BROUGHT HEAVY SNOWFALL TO METRO
        DENVER AND THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS.  TOTAL SNOWFALL RANGED
        FROM 12 TO 22 INCHES OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND 6 TO 12
        INCHES ACROSS METRO DENVER.  NORTHERLY WINDS AT SUSTAINED
        SPEEDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 47 MPH AT
        DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHIPPED THE SNOW INTO DRIFTS
        3 TO 4 FEET DEEP.  MANY TREE LIMBS SNAPPED UNDER THE WEIGHT
        OF THE HEAVY…WET SNOW WHICH ALSO DOWNED POWER LINES…
        LEAVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WITHOUT POWER.  STORM TOTAL
        SNOWFALL INCLUDED:  25 INCHES NEAR ASPEN SPRINGS…CONIFER…
        AND EVERGREEN; 23.5 INCHES NEAR ROLLINSVILLE; 23 INCHES IN
        IDAHO SPRINGS; 22.5 INCHES NEAR BLACKHAWK; 21.5 INCHES NEAR
        BAILEY; 19 INCHES NEAR BERGEN PARK; 18 INCHES NEAR ASPEN
        SPRINGS…GENESEE…AND JAMESTOWN; 17 INCHES SOUTHWEST OF
        BOULDER; 16 INCHES IN EVERGREEN; AND 15 INCHES NEAR
        GEORGETOWN AND PERRY PARK.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 5.3 INCHES
        IN THE DENVER STAPLETON AREA.  AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
        AIPORT…RAIN…INCLUDING A THUNDERSTORM…CHANGED TO SNOW
        ON THE EVENING OF THE 25TH AFTER A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF
        70 DEGREES.
Continue reading This week in Denver weather history – October 26 to November 1 →

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

This week in Denver weather history – October 19 to October 25

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October 19th to October 25th - This week in Denver weather history.
October 19th to October 25th - This week in Denver weather history.

Snow and wind seem to dominate a look back at Denver weather history for this week.  Perhaps most notably, the October blizzard of 1997 occurred this week in history, one of the deadliest storms in Colorado history. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
645 PM MDT SAT OCT 18 2008

…THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY…

17-19 IN 1908…A MOIST…HEAVY…WET SNOWFALL TOTALED 13.0 INCHES IN
        DOWNTOWN DENVER OVER THE 3 DAYS.  RAIN FROM EARLY MORNING
        ON THE 17TH CHANGED TO SNOW BY LATE AFTERNOON AND CONTINUED
        THROUGH THE LATE MORNING OF THE 19TH.  DUE TO TEMPERATURES
        IN THE 30`S AND MELTING…THE MOST SNOW ON THE GROUND WAS
        ONLY 5.0 INCHES AT 6:00 PM ON THE 18TH.  NORTHWEST TO
        NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED BETWEEN 12 AND 20 MPH DURING
        THE STORM.  PRECIPITATION TOTALED 1.82 INCHES.
18-23 IN 2003…AN EXTENDED WARM SPELL RESULTED IN 5 NEW TEMPERATURE
        RECORDS.  THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 84 DEGREES ON THE 18TH
        EQUALED THE RECORD HIGH FOR THE DATE.  HIGH TEMPERATURES
        OF 86 DEGREES ON THE 19TH…83 DEGREES ON THE 21ST…AND 84
        DEGREES ON THE 22ND WERE RECORD HIGHS FOR THE DATES.  LOW
        TEMPERATURE OF 49 DEGREES ON THE 23RD WAS A RECORD HIGH
        MINIMUM FOR THE DATE.  LOW TEMPERATURES DURING THE PERIOD
        WERE IN THE 40`S AND LOWER 50`S.

Continue reading This week in Denver weather history – October 19 to October 25 →

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

October 12th to the 18th – This week in Denver weather history

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October 12th to the 18th - This week in Denver weather history.
October 12th to the 18th - This week in Denver weather history.

Looking back into the Denver weather history books shows Denver can receive just about any kind of weather this time of year.  From heavy snow to gale force winds to 80 plus degree temperatures, it can all happen this week.

10-12 IN 1969…THE SECOND HEAVY SNOWSTORM IN LESS THAN A WEEK
        DUMPED NEARLY A FOOT OF SNOW ACROSS METRO DENVER AND
        PLUNGED THE AREA INTO EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES FOR SO
        EARLY IN THE SEASON.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 11.0 INCHES AT
        STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  NORTH WINDS GUSTING TO
        26 MPH PRODUCED DRIFTS UP TO 2 FEET DEEP.  TEMPERATURES
        DIPPED FROM A HIGH OF 52 DEGREES ON THE 10TH TO A RECORD
        LOW FOR THE DATE OF 10 DEGREES ON THE 12TH.  THERE WAS
        ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER AND TELEPHONE LINES
        FROM HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND ICING.  TRAVEL WAS
        RESTRICTED OR BLOCKED BY DRIFTING SNOW IN BOTH THE
        MOUNTAINS AND ON THE PLAINS EAST OF DENVER.

Continue reading October 12th to the 18th – This week in Denver weather history →

Colorado Weather, Weather History

This week in Denver weather history – October 5th to October 11th

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This week in Denver weather history - October 5th to October 11th
This week in Denver weather history - October 5th to October 11th

In our weekly look back at Denver weather history, we see a wide range of weather has occurred in the past.  From thunderstorms to rain to big time snowstorms, we can and have seen it all.

3-5   IN 1984…THE REMNANTS OF PACIFIC HURRICANE POLO PRODUCED
        HEAVY RAIN OVER NORTHEASTERN COLORADO.  MOST LOCATIONS
        RECEIVED BETWEEN 1.00 TO 2.50 INCHES OF RAIN…BUT 3.45
        INCHES FELL IN LITTLETON.  RAINFALL TOTALED 1.73 INCHES
        AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT…WHERE NORTH WINDS
        GUSTED TO 24 MPH. 
4-5   IN 1997…UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER RESULTED IN TWO TEMPERATURE
        RECORDS.  HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 87 DEGREES ON THE 4TH EXCEEDED
        THE OLD RECORD SET IN 1922 BY ONE DEGREE.  HIGH TEMPERATURE
        OF 86 DEGREES ON THE 5TH EQUALED THE RECORD SET IN 1990 AND
        PREVIOUS YEARS.

Continue reading This week in Denver weather history – October 5th to October 11th →

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather, Weather History

This week in Denver weather history – September 27 – October 4

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This week in Denver weather history - September 27- October 3
This week in Denver weather history - September 27- October 4

A new weekly feature for ThorntonWeather.com – This Week in Denver Weather History.  The National Weather Service maintains a historical archives of weather history across the nation and makes it available to the public.  ThorntonWeather.com will start publishing that information weekly. 

So, let’s stroll down memory lane with This Week in Denver Weather History. 

26-28 IN 1936…THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EVER RECORDED IN SEPTEMBER
        AND THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL EVER RECORDED SO EARLY IN THE
        SEASON DUMPED A TOTAL OF 16.5 INCHES OF SNOW ON DOWNTOWN
        DENVER AND 21.3 INCHES AT DENVER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.  THE
        15.0 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED FROM 6:00 PM ON THE 27TH TO
        6:00 PM ON THE 28TH IS THE GREATEST 24 HOUR SNOWFALL EVER
        RECORDED IN SEPTEMBER.  THIS WAS THE FIRST SNOW OF THE
        SEASON.  THE SNOW WAS INTERMITTENT THROUGH THE 26TH…BUT
        CONTINUOUS FROM EARLY AFTERNOON ON THE 27TH TO AROUND
        MIDNIGHT ON THE 28TH…EXCEPT FOR A PERIOD OF RAIN DURING
        THE AFTERNOON OF THE 28TH WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A LOSS OF
        DEPTH ON THE GROUND.  THE GREATEST SNOW DEPTH ON THE GROUND
        DOWNTOWN WAS 13 INCHES WITH 8 INCHES AT DENVER MUNICIPAL
        AIRPORT.  THERE WERE NO HIGH WINDS WITH THE STORM AND
        TRAFFIC WAS INTERRUPTED FOR ONLY A SHORT PERIOD.  THE
        STORM PRODUCED PROPERTY DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT 7 MILLION
        DOLLARS.  WITH TREES AND SHRUBS IN FULL FOLIAGE…THE LEAVES
        CAUGHT AND HELD THE HEAVY WATER-LADEN SNOW…UNTIL THE
        BRANCHES SNAPPED FROM THE WEIGHT.  MORE THAN 3000 WORKMEN
        WERE CALLED TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS AND SNOW FROM THE CITY.  THE
        CITY FIREMEN WHO WERE OFF DUTY…AS WELL AS ALL THE RESERVES…
        WERE ASKED TO REPORT TO THEIR STATIONS.  ALL SCHOOLS IN THE
        CITY REMAINED OPEN…BUT ATTENDANCE WAS ONLY 50 PERCENT OF
        NORMAL.  GRADE SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE SENT HOME AT NOON ON THE
        28TH.  THE EARLY STORM CAUGHT STOCKMEN WITH MANY CATTLE STILL
        IN HIGHER RANGES.  WARM WEATHER FOLLOWED THE SNOW…WHICH HAD
        ALL MELTED BY THE END OF THE MONTH…EXCEPT FOR A FEW INCHES
        IN SHELTERED PLACES.  

Continue reading This week in Denver weather history – September 27 – October 4 →