The Mile High City is on pace to see one of its “top 10 warmest” Septembers on record and that was in full evidence on Sunday. For the third time this month we have tied or broken a record high temperature.
At Denver International Airport today the high temperature reached 90 degrees at 2:54pm thus tying the record for the date set in 1892. This is far above the normal high temperature of 74 degrees for the date.
Here in Thornton we were slightly cooler as we recorded a high temperature of 88.1 degrees at 3:07pm today.
Denver also broke a high temperature record on Monday, September 20th when the mercury climbed to 94 degrees. This bested the old record for the date of 92 degrees set in 1956.
Last Sunday, September 19th, the mercury topped out an amazing 96 degrees. That broke the old record of 93 degrees set in 1980. It was also the hottest temperature ever recorded so late in the year and was the hottest Denver Broncos home game on record.
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The recent wildfires have reminded us just how dry Denver has been in recent weeks and the precipitation measurements bear this out. Thus far this month Denver has recorded a mere 0.06 inch of precipitation – far below the average for September of 1.14 inches.
Given that at the current time there is no moisture in the weather forecast through the end of the month, September 2010 may very well go into the record books as one of the top 10 driest Septembers on record. If the month were to end today it would tie for 5th place on the list with 1882 and 1920.
In terms of temperature the month also is threatening top 10 status. As of yesterday the average temperature for the month has been 66.8 degrees. That is more than four degrees above the normal of 62.4 degrees. If the month were to end today that would put the month in a tie for the 9th spot on the top 10 warmest Denver Septembers on record.