{"id":11512,"date":"2013-08-20T17:13:37","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T23:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=11512"},"modified":"2013-08-20T17:13:37","modified_gmt":"2013-08-20T23:13:37","slug":"denver-sets-third-high-temperature-record-in-past-four-days-questions-about-historical-comparisons-called-into-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/thornton-weather\/denver-sets-third-high-temperature-record-in-past-four-days-questions-about-historical-comparisons-called-into-question\/","title":{"rendered":"Denver sets third high temperature record in past four days; questions about historical comparisons called into question"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Denver
Denver officially set another high temperature record. However, is it accurate to compare measurements taken at DIA with historical records taken 14 miles away?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Summer 2013 had been a relatively cool one \u2013 up until this latter half of August.\u00a0 The Mile High City set another record high temperature and while it was assuredly hot, questions continue to arise over the comparison of measurements at DIA with Denver\u2019s historical records.<\/p>\n

At 1:34 p.m. the mercury climbed to 99 degrees at Denver International Airport. This beats the previous record high temperature for the date of 98 degrees set in 1987 at the old Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

Here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler with the mercury topping out at 97.8 degrees at 2:23 p.m.\u00a0 This was in fact our second highest temperature of the year.\u00a0 On June 11 we measured 99.2 degrees. \u00a0Click here to view Thornton’s 2013 temperature records<\/a>.<\/p>\n

At midnight tonight we may see yet another record fall. The record high minimum for today\u2019s date is 67 degrees. This morning the temperature only dropped to 71 degrees at DIA. If by midnight we don\u2019t drop to the 67 degree mark, that will be another record for the Mile High City.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s record is the third in the past four days. On Sunday, August 18 we tied the record high for that date of 98 degrees. That followed a record-breaker on Saturday the 17th when the mercury topped 97 degrees, breaking the old record for that date of 96 degrees.<\/p>\n

One thing these records do continue to teach us is how invalid it is to compare records at Denver International Airport compared to historical locations where Denver\u2019s official temperature was measured prior to 1994.<\/p>\n

Today for instance, the station at Denver City Park recorded 97 degrees.<\/p>\n

Hot yes. Record-setting no.<\/p>\n

Similarly, on Sunday the 18th City Park recorded 95 degrees versus DIA\u2019s mark of 98 degrees. On Saturday when DIA recorded a record-breaking 97 degrees, City Park saw 96 degrees.<\/p>\n

The difference in measurements is something we have seen repeatedly since 1994. The move of Denver\u2019s official monitoring station is corrupting the city\u2019s climate record and has wide implications.<\/p>\n

With a location 14 miles east of where official temperatures were measured prior to DIA, it is in an entirely different microclimate and as a result it experiences different conditions \u2013 sometimes considerably different \u2013 to locations closer to downtown.<\/p>\n

If we can’t accurately compare our temperatures, how are we to believe climate change alarmists that warn of global warming?<\/p>\n

For more on the topic of Denver\u2019s problematic weather station, see these previous stories:<\/strong><\/p>\n