{"id":15640,"date":"2015-10-01T08:17:52","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T14:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=15640"},"modified":"2015-10-02T05:19:31","modified_gmt":"2015-10-02T11:19:31","slug":"september-27-to-october-3-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/weather-history\/september-27-to-october-3-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-2\/","title":{"rendered":"September 27 to October 3: This week in Denver weather history"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"This<\/a>
September 27 to October 3: This week in Denver weather history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With the end of summer and the arrival of fall, looking back at Denver weather history we start to see more mentions of snow.\u00a0 It is of course not the only notable weather event this time of year.\u00a0 We still have received severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, and 90 degree plus heat.<\/p>\n

From the National Weather Service:<\/p>\n

From the 25th to the 27th:<\/p>\n

in 1996\u2026an early season snowstorm brought heavy snow to the Front Range eastern foothills.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included:\u00a0 8 to 12 inches around Conifer\u20267 inches on Floyd Hill\u2026and 6 inches at both bailey and Chief Hosa. Snowfall totaled only 4.7 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 This was the first measurable snow of the season.\u00a0 After the passage of a strong cold front\u2026north winds gusted to 38 mph at Denver International Airport on the 25th.<\/p>\n

From the 26th to the 28th:<\/p>\n

In 1936\u2026the 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This was the first snow of the season.\u00a0 The snow was intermittent through the 26th\u2026but continuous from early afternoon on the 27th to around midnight on the 28th\u2026except for a period of rain during the afternoon of the 28th which contributed to a loss of depth on the ground.\u00a0 The greatest snow depth on the ground downtown was 13 inches with 8 inches at Denver municipal airport.\u00a0 There were no high winds with the storm and traffic was interrupted for only a short period.\u00a0 The storm produced property damage estimated at 7 million dollars.\u00a0 With trees and shrubs in full foliage\u2026the leaves caught and held the heavy water-laden snow\u2026until the branches snapped from the weight.\u00a0 More than 3000 workmen were called to remove the debris and snow from the city.\u00a0 The city firemen who were off duty\u2026as well as all the reserves\u2026 Were asked to report to their stations.\u00a0 All schools in the city remained open\u2026but attendance was only 50 percent of normal.\u00a0 Grade school students were sent home at noon on the 28th.\u00a0 The early storm caught stockmen with many cattle still in higher ranges.\u00a0 Warm weather followed the snow\u2026which had all melted by the end of the month\u2026except for a few inches in sheltered places.<\/p>\n

On the 27th:<\/p>\n

In 1877\u2026smoke from heavy forest fires in the mountains spread over the city on upper wind currents.<\/p>\n

In 1935\u2026the first snow of the season was 2.8 inches in downtown Denver.\u00a0 The low temperature dipped to 31 degrees for the first freeze of the season.<\/p>\n

<\/span>From the 27th to the 28th:<\/p>\n

In 1984\u2026heavy snow fell over the plains and foothills. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 5 inches on the plains with up to a foot at higher elevations in the foothills. The main problem caused by the storm was thousands of power outages caused by snow-laden tree limbs snapping and falling onto power lines.\u00a0 Over 15 thousand homes lost power in metro Denver.\u00a0 Some cars were damaged by falling trees and limbs.\u00a0 The snow also caused some flight delays at Stapleton International Airport where 5.1 inches of snow fell and northeast winds gusted to 29 mph.\u00a0 Maximum snow depth on the ground was 3 inches due to melting.\u00a0 The high temperature of only 34 degrees on the 28th was a record low maximum for the date and equaled the all-time record for the month at that time.<\/p>\n

On the 28th:<\/p>\n

In 1877\u2026heavy dense smoke from mountain forest fires spread over the city.\u00a0 The smoke was so dense that it obscured the sun at times.<\/p>\n

In 1921\u2026post-frontal northeast winds were sustained to 44 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1953\u2026a pacific cold front produced a west wind gust to 59 mph at Stapleton Airport where the visibility was briefly reduced to 3\/4 miles in blowing dust.\u00a0 Strong winds were also widespread over Boulder during the afternoon.<\/p>\n

In 1960\u2026strong\u2026gusty winds tore the roof from 6 units of a motel on west Colfax Avenue in Denver.\u00a0 The roofing sailed over the building and crashed down on a truck\u2026wrecking it. The strong winds were the result of an apparent microburst.<\/p>\n

In 1999\u2026snow fell in the foothills west of metro Denver and over the plains.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included 7 inches at Conifer.\u00a0 At the site of the former Stapleton International Airport\u20263.1 inches of snow were measured.\u00a0 This was the first snow of the season.\u00a0 The heavy wet snow snapped branches from fully leafed trees\u2026downing power lines and causing scattered outages.<\/p>\n

In 2004\u2026severe thunderstorms produced hail to 3\/4 inch in diameter in Littleton and in Douglas County 14 miles northwest of Castle Rock.<\/p>\n

In 2012…a weak tornado (ef-0) tornado touched down near Strasburg. No damage was reported.<\/p>\n

From the 28th to the 29th:<\/p>\n

In 1959\u2026one of the heaviest September snow storms of record began as rain and changed to heavy wet snow.\u00a0 The storm caused heavy damage to trees and shrubbery\u2026which were still in full leaf.\u00a0 The storm dumped 10.6 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport\u2026the third heaviest September snow amount to date.\u00a0 Falling trees and limbs disrupted traffic\u2026broke power and communication lines\u2026and damaged buildings and cars.\u00a0 One man was killed in Denver by a falling tree limb\u2026and four others died of heart attacks while shoveling snow or trying to move heavy tree limbs.\u00a0 Direct costs of the storm for cleaning up debris\u2026repairing utility lines\u2026and damage to buildings and other property across all of eastern Colorado were estimated to be over a half million dollars.\u00a0 The value of trees destroyed or damaged was estimated to exceed five million dollars.\u00a0 North-northeast winds gusted to 32 mph at Stapleton Airport on the 28th.<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026an unusually cold air mass for this time of year settled over the area.\u00a0 Metro Denver received 8 to 12 inches of powdery snow.\u00a0 The 8.7 inches of snow that fell at Stapleton International Airport was the first measurable snow of the season and the city\u2019s heaviest September snowfall since 1971.\u00a0 The snow caused flight delays of over 2 hours at Stapleton International Airport. I-70 was closed for a time west of Denver.\u00a0 Snow-laden tree limbs snapped over all of metro Denver\u2026causing widespread power outages.\u00a0 Ten thousand people were without electricity for a time in Boulder.\u00a0 The morning of the 29th saw mid-winter temperatures along the Front Range.\u00a0 The temperature dipped to 17 degrees\u2026the lowest temperature ever recorded in September in Denver.\u00a0 The high temperature of only 29 degrees on the 29th was a new record low maximum for the date and lowest ever recorded during the month of September.\u00a0 The low temperature of 21 degrees on the evening of the 28th set a new record low for the date.\u00a0 The cold weather persisted through the 1st with record minimum temperatures of 25 degrees set on the 30th and 27 degrees set on October 1st.<\/p>\n

On the 29th:<\/p>\n

In 1966\u2026a vigorous cold front moved thru metro Denver. North winds gusting to 51 mph kicked up billows of blowing dust\u2026which briefly reduced the visibility to 1 mile at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 The cold air caused temperatures to drop rapidly from a high of 86 degrees to a low of 46 degrees by days end.<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026the lowest temperature ever recorded in September\u2026 17 degrees\u2026occurred.\u00a0 The high temperature warmed to only 29 degrees\u2026the all-time record low maximum for the month.<\/p>\n

In 1994\u2026the temperature reached a high of 91 degrees at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 This was the 60th day of the year that the temperature had reached 90 degrees or more\u2026establishing a new record at that time.\u00a0 The previous record of 52 \u201c90 degree days\u201d occurred in 1978. Only 43 \u201c90 degree days\u201d were recorded at Denver International Airport during 1994.<\/p>\n

In 1995\u2026lightning struck a couple in Aurora as they were walking in the rain.\u00a0 The bolt struck the umbrella the man was carrying\u2026injuring both the man and his wife.<\/p>\n

In 2000\u2026late afternoon thunderstorms produced strong wind gusts to 76 mph in Westminster\u2026to 69 mph near Boulder\u2026and to 60 mph at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield.\u00a0 No damage was reported.<\/p>\n

In 2014…a storm system that moved through the area produced large hail and street flooding in parts of metro Denver and then spread east into the plains. The storm also caused multiple accidents. A semi became detached from a trailer… Blocking traffic on westbound Interstate 70 west of Tower Road. Downed power poles blocked a roadway on CO\u00a079 near Bennett…at mile marker 10. In addition to the damaging winds…the storms produced large hail… From nickel to golfball size across southern and eastern portions of metro Denver. The hailstorm was the most damaging of the 2014 summer season…with insured losses that topped 213 million dollars. Insurance claims included 29297 automobile claims worth more than 87.2 million dollars and 14287 property claims for 126 million dollars…ranking the storm as the eighth most expensive to hit the state. At Denver International Airport…1.01 inches of rainfall was recorded which was the greatest 24-hr rainfall for the date. In addition…a peak wind gust to 38 mph was observed at the airport.<\/p>\n

On the 30th:<\/p>\n

In 1898\u2026south winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts to 54 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1940\u2026a late season thunderstorm in the city caused one lightning death.<\/p>\n

In 1944\u2026the month ended with a trace of rain on this date and for the month.\u00a0 A trace of rain also occurred on the 4th\u20269th\u2026and 10th.\u00a0 There was no measurable precipitation for the month.\u00a0 The total of a trace of precipitation for the month equaled the driest September on record first set in 1892.<\/p>\n

In 2009…a trained spotter in Coal Creek Canyon… Recorded a peak wind gust to 88 mph.<\/p>\n

From the 30th to the 1st:<\/p>\n

In 1959\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 5.9 inches at Stapleton Airport.\u00a0 Winds were light.<\/p>\n

On the 1st:<\/p>\n

In 1892\u2026the highest temperature ever recorded in October\u2026 90 degrees\u2026occurred.\u00a0 This is also the latest 90 degree reading of the season.<\/p>\n

In 1898\u2026southwest winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 49 mph in the city.<\/p>\n

In 1927\u2026a trace of snow was the only snow of the month\u2026 Ranking the year\u2026amongst several other years\u2026the second least snowiest on record.<\/p>\n

In 1971\u2026a wind gust to 90 mph was recorded at Buckley Field in Aurora.\u00a0 The severe winds caused damage in northeast metro Denver.\u00a0 A brick wall of a bowling alley was blown down\u2026the roof was blown off a garage\u2026and some business signs were damaged.\u00a0 A man in the bowling alley was injured by flying glass.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 43 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1994\u2026unusually strong thunderstorms for so late in the season pummeled metro Denver with large hail.\u00a0 The largest hail\u20262 inches in diameter\u2026fell at Buckley Field.\u00a0 Hail 1 3\/4 inches in diameter fell 7 miles northeast of Boulder and at Niwot.\u00a0 Hail 3\/4 to 1 1\/2 inches in diameter fell in Boulder\u2026Arvada\u2026Wheat Ridge\u2026Edgewater\u2026capitol hill and northwest Denver\u2026Bennett\u2026and Strasburg.\u00a0 Hail of unknown size damaged a Boeing 737 aircraft and injured both pilots at Stapleton International Airport when the windshield was broken out on takeoff.\u00a0 Half inch diameter hail fell at Stapleton International Airport where northwest winds gusted to 40 mph and rainfall totaled 0.82 inch.<\/p>\n

In 2009…strong downslope winds near the foothills produced a peak wind gust to 84 mph at the national wind technology center near Rocky Flats.<\/p>\n

In 2014…severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 60 mph across parts of Arapahoe and Denver counties.\u00a0 The intense wind gusts downed trees and power lines which caused a power outage near the Denver technology center.\u00a0 At Denver International Airport…a peak wind gust to 37 mph was measured from the northwest.<\/p>\n

On the 2nd:<\/p>\n

In 1903\u2026southwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.\u00a0 The strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 78 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1910\u2026an apparent dry microburst produced sustained northeast winds to 43 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1934\u2026a trace of rain was the only precipitation of the month.\u00a0 This was the driest October on record.<\/p>\n

On the 3rd:<\/p>\n

In 1875\u2026very dense haze hid the mountains from view as observed from the city.<\/p>\n

In 1933\u2026rainfall of just 0.01 inch was the only precipitation of the month.\u00a0 This was the second driest October on record.<\/p>\n

In 1954\u2026the low temperature cooled to only 60 degrees\u2026the all-time record high minimum for the month October.<\/p>\n

From the 3rd to the 4th:<\/p>\n

In 1969\u2026the first snowfall of the season totaled 16.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 There was a thunder snow shower on the evening of the 3rd\u2026but otherwise little wind with the storm.\u00a0 The greatest snow depth on the ground was 8 inches due to melting.\u00a0 Heavy wet snow accumulated on trees\u2026which were still in full leaf\u2026and caused widespread damage from broken limbs and downed utility lines.
\nFrom the 3rd to the 5th:<\/p>\n

In 1984\u2026the remnants of Pacific Hurricane Polo produced heavy rain over northeastern Colorado.\u00a0 Most locations received between 1.00 to 2.50 inches of rain\u2026but 3.45 inches fell in Littleton.\u00a0 Rainfall totaled 1.73 inches at Stapleton International Airport\u2026where north winds gusted to 24 mph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the end of summer and the arrival of fall, looking back at Denver weather history we start to see more mentions of snow.\u00a0 It is of course not the only notable weather event this time of year.\u00a0 We still have received severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, and 90 degree plus heat. From the National Weather … Continue reading September 27 to October 3: This week in Denver weather history<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[81,106,62,61,441,741],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15640"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15642,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15640\/revisions\/15642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}