Somewhat of a mixed bag for Thornton’s weather in August. While we enjoyed temperatures near normal without too many extremes, precipitation was lacking considerably from what we expect during the month.
The month started out toward the cool side but with days of above normal temps interspersed. For the first few weeks it appeared we would end up a good bit cooler than normal but then the heat returned for much of the last week driving up average temperatures.
Precipitation was quite disappointing with only a couple decent rainfalls during the month and a few minimal events.
Probably the most notable thing for the month was the relatively persistent haze from smoke from wildfires to our west. While it made for pretty sunrises and sunsets, it obscured our normally beautiful blue skies.
Thornton finished the month with an average temperature of 70.4 degrees. That is more than two degrees cooler than Denver’s long term August average of 72.5 degrees. As is the norm, Denver’s official measurement came in a good bit warmer with an average of 72.4 degrees.
Our highs ranged from a maximum of 94.9 degrees on the 4th of the month down to a low of 47 degrees on the morning of the 20th. Denver matched our maximum on the same date and saw a low of 46 degrees on the 20th which also tied the record low for the date.
The month saw a paltry 0.52 inches fall in Thornton’s rain bucket. Denver actually fared better with 0.93 inches. Both measurements however fell short of the August average of 1.69 inches.
Click here to view Thornton’s August 2018 climate report.
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
318 PM MDT SAT SEP 1 2018
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2018...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2018
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 95 08/04 105 -10 95 08/19
LOWEST 46 08/20 40 6 51 08/04
AVG. MAXIMUM 86.8 87.2 -0.4 85.7
AVG. MINIMUM 58.0 57.9 0.1 57.3
MEAN 72.4 72.5 -0.1 71.5
DAYS MAX >= 90 11 11.5 -0.5 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 5.85 1979
MINIMUM 0.02 1924
TOTALS 0.93 1.69 -0.76 1.86
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.05 -0.02 0.06
DAYS >= .01 7 8.6 -1.6 6
DAYS >= .10 2 4.3 -2.3 4
DAYS >= .50 0 1.2 -1.2 2
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.38 08/14 TO 08/14
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTAL 0.0
RECORD
TOTAL 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 9 10 -1 8
SINCE 7/1 9 16 -7 8
COOLING TOTAL 247 244 3 216
SINCE 1/1 862 688 174 749
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.................................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.3
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/176
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 41/280 DATE 08/27
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 60/270 DATE 08/27
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 12
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 17
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 48
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORMS 9 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 MODERATE RAIN 3
LIGHT RAIN 12 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 FOG W/VIS <=1/4 MILE 2
FOG 4 HAZE 8
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.