{"id":19615,"date":"2024-04-17T05:59:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T11:59:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=19615"},"modified":"2024-04-18T05:03:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T11:03:26","slug":"april-14-to-april-20-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/weather-history\/april-14-to-april-20-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-2\/","title":{"rendered":"April 14 to April 20: This Week in Denver Weather History"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"This<\/a><\/p>\n

Springtime in Colorado can certainly be pleasant but it can also bring an amazing array of interesting weather. Our look back at this week contains everything from snowstorms and damaging wind to severe thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes.<\/p>\n

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

10-14<\/p>\n

In 1927\u2026post-frontal rain on the 10th changed to snow on the 11th and continued through the 14th. Snowfall totaled 8.5 inches from precipitation of 1.28 inches. North winds were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 29 mph on the 13th.<\/p>\n

12-14<\/p>\n

In 1933\u2026heavy snowfall of 5.6 inches occurred in downtown Denver on the 12th and 13th behind a vigorous cold front\u2026 Which presented an awe-inspiring spectacle as it approached the station during the late afternoon of the 12th. Brilliant white wind-torn cumulus clouds were sandwiched by a brownish- tan dust cloud at the surface and dark blue cumulus clouds above. The dust cloud storm rapidly enveloped the station with northeast winds sustained to 38 mph and gusts to 44 mph producing much blowing dust\u2026which was accompanied by rapidly falling temperatures and rising pressure. Moist snowfall started in about an hour and continued to midday on the 13th. Record low temperatures of 17 and 15 degrees occurred on the 13th and 14th respectively. The high temperature of only 27 degrees on the 13th was a record low maximum for the date.<\/p>\n

12-15<\/p>\n

In 1927\u2026snowfall totaled 8.5 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow fell on the 14th. Northwest winds were sustained to 27 mph during the storm.<\/p>\n

13-14<\/p>\n

In 1968\u2026high winds struck Boulder. Sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts as high as 102 mph were recorded at the National Center for Atmospheric Research\u2026while in downtown Boulder winds peaked to 73 mph. The winds damaged a building under construction and some homes in south Boulder. Northwest winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 13th.<\/p>\n

In 1996\u2026a potent spring storm strengthened just east of Denver. Blizzard conditions developed over eastern Adams and eastern Arapahoe counties. Strong northerly winds ranging from 25 to 50 mph\u2026cold temperatures\u2026and heavy snowfall combined to create very hazardous conditions. The strong winds whipped snow in drifts 3 to 4 feet high. High winds and heavy wet snow downed power lines and caused traffic accidents. Some roads were closed. Snowfall totaled 15 inches at Strasburg\u2026while only 2.1 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted to 40 mph at Denver International Airport on the 13th.<\/p>\n

In 2011\u2026a potent spring snowstorm brought heavy snow to Front Range mountains and foothills. Storm totals included: 16.5 inches near Blackhawk; 16 inches at Nederland; 15.5 inches at Coal Creek Canyon and 5 miles northeast of Ward; 15 inches at Allenspark; 12.5 inches\u2026 5 miles northwest of Idaho Springs; 12 inches at Echo Mountain ski area; and 10.5 inches near Georgetown.<\/p>\n

13-15<\/p>\n

In 1945\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 9.8 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow\u20264.8 inches\u2026fell on the 14th. Snow fell for a total of 53 consecutive hours. This was the second big snow in less than 2 weeks. The air mass was very cold for April. High temperatures of 21 degrees on the 14th and 32 degrees on the 15th were record low maximums for those dates.<\/p>\n

13-17<\/p>\n

In 2001\u2026a huge dust storm over southern and Inner Mongolia during April 3rd through the 6th lifted desert dust into the jet stream. This dust cloud moved over metro Denver on the 13th and persisted through the 17th. The cloud created widespread haze\u2026giving the sky a milkish cast due to the scattering of incoming solar radiation.<\/p>\n

14<\/p>\n

In 1872\u2026high winds damaged buildings in the city. At 9:00 am west winds commenced to blow a perfect gale\u2026 Averaging 40 mph sustained until 9:00 pm.<\/p>\n

In 1904\u2026west winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 74 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1918\u2026a thunderstorm produced hail that covered the ground to a depth of 1\/2 inch. The stones varied in size from small shot to a cherry stone. Rain and melted hail totaled 0.70 inch. There was no reported damage.<\/p>\n

In 1935\u2026northeast winds sustained to 30 mph caused a dust storm across the city. The visibility was greatly reduced by blowing dense dust.<\/p>\n

In 1970\u2026strong winds caused mostly light but widespread damage to trees\u2026roofs\u2026power lines\u2026and other property across the northeastern Colorado plains. Wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph were common. Southwest wind gusts to 44 mph occurred at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1995\u2026high winds spread from the foothills onto the plains. West winds gusted between 70 and 90 mph in the foothills and 50 to 70 mph on the plains. West winds were clocked to 51 mph at Denver International Airport. Most of the significant wind damage occurred north and east of metro Denver.<\/p>\n

<\/span>14-15<\/p>\n

In 1873\u2026north winds blew a gale during the afternoon on both days. Winds were brisk throughout each day.<\/p>\n

In 1902\u2026snowfall totaled 6.0 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow melted as it fell. Northeast winds were sustained to 20 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1910\u2026strong winds occurred on both days. Northeast winds were sustained to 52 mph on the 14th. North winds were sustained to 44 mph on the 15th.<\/p>\n

In 1921\u2026heavy snowfall and strong winds produced near- blizzard conditions in the city. Snowfall totaled 10.0 inches. Strong north winds sustained to 48 mph with gusts to 54 mph on the 15th produced drifts to several feet in depth. The heavy wet snow caused extensive damage to trees\u2026utility poles\u2026and buildings. Precipitation from the storm was 1.73 inches. Very heavy snow also fell in the foothills. At silver lake\u2026in the mountains west of Boulder\u202695 inches of snow fell in 32.5 hours on the 14th and 15th.<\/p>\n

In 1935\u2026dense dust\u2026apparently behind a dry cold front\u2026 Enveloped the city at 1:00 pm on the 14th and persisted through the night. The dust blew into the city on northeast winds sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 32 mph. By mid-morning on the 15th\u2026the dust had become light and continued as such into the evening. North winds were sustained to only 13 mph on the 15th.<\/p>\n

In 1999\u2026a spring storm dumped heavy snow over portions of metro Denver. Nearly 2 feet of snow fell in the foothills with half a foot to a foot over western and southern suburbs. The heavy snow alleviated drought conditions and associated high fire danger that prevailed during much of the winter season. Snowfall totals included: 22 inches in Coal Creek Canyon\u202620 inches at Wondervu\u202619 inches at Genesee\u202617 inches near Evergreen and Nederland and at Idaho Springs and tiny town\u202614 inches at Georgetown\u202613 inches at Morrison\u202610 inches near Sedalia\u20269 inches in south Boulder\u2026 8 inches at Highlands Ranch and Wheat Ridge\u2026and 7 inches at Littleton and Parker. Only 3.4 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North- northwest winds gusted to 41 mph on the 15th at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

15<\/p>\n

In 1874\u2026light snow developed around daybreak and became moderate to heavy by mid-morning and continued into the early evening. While most of the snow melted as it fell\u2026 Total precipitation from the melted snow was 0.95 inch. This would make the estimated snowfall nearly 10 inches.<\/p>\n

In 1963\u2026high winds were widespread across metro Denver. West winds gusted to 63 mph in Denver at Stapleton Airport with sustained winds of 35 mph and gusts to 70 mph in downtown Boulder. The winds caused extensive damage to buildings and other property. Visibility was briefly reduced to 1\/2 mile in blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1998\u2026another spring storm brought heavy snow to the foothills. Thirty to 40 vehicles were involved in accidents along I-70 near Georgetown. The combination of poor visibilities\u2026slick roads\u2026and careless drivers led to the multi-car pileups. Only minor injuries were reported. The accidents forced the closure of all of I-70\u2019s eastbound lanes. Snowfall totals included 12 inches at Genesee and 10 inches at Aspen Springs\u2026Chief Hosa\u2026Georgetown\u2026near Morrison\u2026and on North Turkey Creek. Only 0.1 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. East winds gusted to 30 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2002\u2026unseasonable warm weather resulted in two records being broken. The high temperature of 84 degrees was a record maximum for the date. The low temperature of 57 degrees was a record high minimum for the date.<\/p>\n

15-16<\/p>\n

In 1900\u2026heavy rainfall totaled 2.33 inches. A trace of snow was mixed with the rain at times.<\/p>\n

In 1950\u2026thunderstorms and heavy rain behind a cold front produced 2.13 inches of rain in 24 hours at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2003\u2026a fast moving pacific storm system moved across Colorado allowing strong winds to develop over the eastern foothills and metro Denver. Northwest winds gusted to 59 mph at Denver International Airport late in the evening of the 15th.<\/p>\n

In 2016…1.22 inches of precipitation was measured at Denver International Airport which was the greatest daily amount for the month.<\/p>\n

In 2020…a potent storm system dropped out of the northern Rockies and produced moderate to heavy snow over portions of the Front Range mountains…foothills and adjacent plains. The heaviest snow fell in and near the foothills north of I-70. In the mountains and foothills…storm totals included: 30 inches near Jamestown…27 inches near Nederland…22 inches near Allenspark…21 inches near St Mary`s Glacier…18 inches in Estes Park…16 inches near Crescent Village and Deer Ridge…15.5 inches near Aspen Springs…and 15 inches near Pinecliffe. In Boulder…16.9 inches of snow helped to establish a new seasonal snowfall record of 151.2 inches. The previous seasonal snowfall record in Boulder was 142.9 inches in 1908-1909. Along the I-25 corridor…storm totals included: 14.5 inches in Niwot…13.5 inches in Frederick…13 inches in Broomfield… 12 inches in Lafayette and near Longmont…10.5 inches in Arvada…10 inches in Erie…Louisville…and Westminster…7 inches in Brighton…6.5 inches in Edgewater and Northglenn…and 5.5 inches in Greeley. Snowfall totaled 1.9 inches at Denver International Airport. In 2021…a storm system produced bands of heavy snow in and near the Front Range Foothills. Storm totals included: 13.8 inches at St. Mary`s Glacier…12.9 inches at Aspen Park…10 inches in Genesee…9.5 inches at Ken Caryl…9 inches in Crescent Village…8.5 inches in Arvada and Westminster…8 inches at Evergreen and Sedalia…with 3 to 7 inches elsewhere. At Denver International Airport… 5.7 inches inches of snowfall was observed.<\/p>\n

In 2021…a storm system produced bands of heavy snow in and near the Front Range Foothills. Storm totals included: 13.8 inches at St. Mary`s Glacier…12.9 inches at Aspen Park…10 inches in Genesee…9.5 inches at Ken Caryl…9 inches in Crescent Village…8.5 inches in Arvada and Westminster…8 inches at Evergreen and Sedalia…with 3 to 7 inches elsewhere. At Denver International Airport… 5.7 inches inches of snowfall was observed.<\/p>\n

15-17<\/p>\n

In 1922\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 9.0 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow\u20266.0 inches\u2026fell on the 16th. This was the third major snow storm in a week. Northwest winds were sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 47 mph on the 15th.<\/p>\n

In 2016…a powerful spring snowstorm brought heavy…wet snow to areas in and near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide. Storm totals generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet in the foothills with 1 to 2 feet in the mountain west of Denver and along the Palmer Divide. Along the I-25 Corridor storm totals ranged from 6 to 20 inches…with highest amounts across the western and southern suburbs. Some of those totals included: 16 inches in Aurora and Superior; 15 inches at the National Weather Service Office in Boulder; 14.5 inches in Broomfield; 13.5 inches in Westminster; officially 12.1 inches at Denver International Airport; 12 inches in Louisville; 11.5 inches in Arvada; 11 inches near Englewood; 10.5 inches near Wheat Ridge. At Denver International Airport…there were 852 flight cancellations… most of which occurred on the 16th. The heavy wet snowfall broke trees limbs and caused scattered power outages. Over five thousand customers were without power on the 16th…and over two thousand on the 17th. Xcel Energy brought in extra crews from surrounding states to help restore power and minimize outage times through the storm. Numerous but mostly temporary road closures from 1 to 5 hours occurred throughout the storm. This included portions of I-70 east and west of Denver…Highway 103 from Idaho Springs to Evergreen and Highway 119 through Black Hawk.<\/p>\n

16<\/p>\n

In 1960\u2026a wind storm struck all of metro Denver. Estimated wind gusts up to 80 mph were registered in Boulder. At Stapleton Airport sustained west-northwest winds over 50 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph produced some blowing dust. The high winds damaged buildings\u2026power and telephone lines\u2026and signs. Five people were injured in metro Denver as a result of the wind storm. Blowing dust reduced visibility at times. The winds were strong and gusty for most of the day.<\/p>\n

16-17<\/p>\n

In 1944\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 7.5 inches in downtown Denver. Northwest winds were sustained to 18 mph on the 16th.<\/p>\n

16-18<\/p>\n

In 2009\u2026a potent spring storm brought heavy snow to locations in and near the Front Range foothills. A deep easterly upslope produced nearly 5 feet of snow in parts of the foothills. The heavy snow resulted in the closure of interstate 70\u2026from Golden west to Vail\u2026for approximately 16 hours. The heavy snow snapped power lines in Evergreen and Nederland. The ensuing outages affected 14200 residents. In the Front Range foothills\u2026storm totals included: 56 inches\u20263 miles south of Rollinsville; 54 inches\u20263 miles southeast of Pinecliffe\u202643 inches at Aspen Springs\u202642 inches at Evergreen\u202638 inches near Conifer; 37 inches at St. Mary\u2019s Glacier\u2026and 34 inches near Nederland. Along the urban corridor and Palmer Divide\u2026the heaviest snow occurred above 5500 feet on the 17th. Storm totals included: 22 inches\u20268.5 miles southwest of Franktown; 18 inches\u202610 miles south-southeast of Buckley Air Force Base; 17 inches near Cherry Creek and 7 miles south of Sedalia\u2026 16 inches\u20266.5 miles southwest of Castle Rock; 15 inches near Beverly Hills; 12 inches near Highlands Ranch and Lafayette\u2026with 11 inches in Broomfield. Elsewhere storm totals ranged from 4 to 10 inches. Officially\u2026only 2.6 inches of snow was observed at Denver International Airport. The 24-hr precipitation for the day however was 1.16 inches\u2026 Which established a new record for April 17th.<\/p>\n

17<\/p>\n

In 1889\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026apparent post-frontal north winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1935\u2026light dust moved over the city behind an apparent dry cold front\u2026which produced northeast winds to 19 mph with gusts to 20 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1978\u2026winds estimated to 70 mph occurred in Morrison. Northwest winds gusted to 49 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2000\u2026strong pre-frontal winds and widely scattered thunderstorms caused high winds to develop across northern metro Denver and portions of the northeast plains. Peak wind gusts included 75 mph at Louisville. South winds gusted to only 28 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2002\u2026strong southwest winds in advance of a cold front gusted to 52 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2003\u2026severe thunderstorms produced 1 inch diameter hail 7 miles east of Brighton. Strong thunderstorm winds blew out an auto windshield near Denver International Airport where south winds gusted to 48 mph.<\/p>\n

17-18<\/p>\n

In 1878\u2026the wind blew violently all day on the 17th with a maximum sustained velocity of 40 mph. Dust hung over the city like a cloud. The relative humidity was zero nearly all day. A terrific gale blew overnight. There was much damage to buildings\u2026signs\u2026fences\u2026etc. Some wind gusts were so strong as to jar buildings to their foundations. The station anemometer recorded sustained winds to 50 mph with higher gusts before it was damaged by the winds. The winds moderated during the day on the 18th and ended at sunset.<\/p>\n

In 1894\u2026post-frontal rain changed to snow on the 17th around sunrise and continued through 9:00 am on the 18th. Snowfall totaled 10.5 inches\u2026but most of the snow melted as it fell. The high temperature warmed to only 35 degrees on the 17th after a high of 76 on the 16th. Northeast winds were sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 17th.<\/p>\n

In 1998\u2026more spring snow fell across metro Denver and in the foothills. Snowfall totals included: 11 inches at Golden Gate Canyon; 10 inches at Highlands Ranch; 9 inches at Elizabeth; 8 inches at Broomfield and Morrison; and 7 inches at Chief Hosa\u2026Evergreen\u2026Littleton\u2026and Sedalia. Snowfall totaled only 3.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted to 22 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

17-19<\/p>\n

In 1920\u2026snow fell across the city continuously for 57 hours\u2026 From the early morning of the 17th until 11:40 am on the 19th. The heavy wet snowfall totaled 18.2 inches with the greatest accumulation on the ground of 12 inches. Winds during the storm were strong with sustained speeds in excess of 27 mph for over 40 consecutive hours\u2026which created near-blizzard conditions. The highest recorded wind speeds were 44 mph with gusts to 50 mph from the north on the 17th and 39 mph with gusts to 48 mph from the northwest on the 18th. The strong winds piled the snow into high drifts which stopped all Denver traffic. Railroads were blocked with only one train entering the city on the 19th. All interurban trains were blocked\u2026as were the 13 trolley lines. Thus\u2026many workers were unable to get home at night and filled all of the downtown hotels to capacity. No grocery or fuel deliveries were possible\u2026 Except milk and coal to hospitals and to families with babies. No lives were lost in the city\u2026but several people perished in surrounding districts. Stock losses were heavy on the plains. Temperatures during the storm were in the 20\u2019s.<\/p>\n

18<\/p>\n

In 1877\u2026strong winds blew all day with an average sustained velocity of 36 mph. The maximum sustained velocity was 60 mph. No significant damage was reported.<\/p>\n

In 1903\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts to 53 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1936\u2026light dust spread over the city from the east on southeast winds gusting to 25 mph. The surface visibility was reduced to about 2 miles at times.<\/p>\n

In 1940\u2026this date marked the start of the longest period without snow\u2026200 days\u2026through November 3\u20261940. A trace of snow fell on both April 17\u20261940\u2026and November 4\u20261940.<\/p>\n

In 1963\u2026strong winds were prevalent all day across metro Denver. West-northwest winds gusting to 60 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1971\u2026a microburst wind gust to 59 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1978\u2026high winds caused much blowing dust over the plains. Wind gusts from 80 to 96 mph were reported in Boulder with 80 mph measured on Lookout Mountain. Northwest winds gusted to 43 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2000\u2026high winds developed in the foothills of Boulder County. Peak wind gusts included 71 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research mesa lab near Boulder. In Aurora\u2026three workers were injured when strong winds caused a home under construction to partially collapse. Two received minor injuries\u2026while the third worker had to be hospitalized with severe back injuries. South winds gusted to 47 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2002\u2026strong northeast winds behind a cold front gusted to 53 mph at Denver International Airport where some blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 3 miles.<\/p>\n

18-19<\/p>\n

In 1884\u2026a major storm dumped 13.8 inches of snowfall on downtown Denver. Most of the snow\u202610.0 inches\u2026fell on the 18th. Light rain on the early morning of the 18th changed to heavy snow at 8:00 am and became light after 2:00 pm but continued until 4:00 am on the 19th. The snow melted nearly as fast as it fell. There were only 3 inches on the ground early on the morning of the 19th.<\/p>\n

In 1941\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 8.4 inches over downtown Denver. Northeast winds were sustained to 17 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1993\u2026sporadic high winds occurred across metro Denver. Significant wind gusts included 97 mph at Rollinsville\u2026 80 mph in southwest Boulder\u2026and 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport. The strong winds snapped a pine tree top\u2026about 15 feet long and 8 inches in diameter\u2026which crashed through the roof of a church in Evergreen\u2026causing one thousand dollars in damage. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph caused structural damage to 3 homes under construction in Broomfield. Northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1995\u2026the second spring storm of the month dumped heavy snow in the foothills. The upslope flow along with areas of thunder snow dropped 6 to 12 inches of snow in the foothills west of Denver and Boulder. Snowfall totaled 4.6 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport\u2026but most of the snow melted as it fell. East winds gusted to 29 mph at Denver International Airport on the 18th.<\/p>\n

18-20<\/p>\n

In 1966\u2026sub-freezing temperatures caused thousands of dollars in damage to fruit trees across metro Denver. Minimum temperatures were in the teens each morning and failed to reach above freezing on the 19th. The low temperature of 13 on the 20th set a new record minimum for the date. Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches at Stapleton International Airport during the period.<\/p>\n

19<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph in the city.<\/p>\n

In 1941\u2026the last snow of the season\u20260.4 inch\u2026occurred\u2026 Marking the end of the shortest snow season\u2026167 days. The first snow of the season\u2026a trace\u2026occurred on November 4\u20261940.<\/p>\n

In 1954\u2026strong gusty winds raked metro Denver for most of the day producing some blowing dust. At midday\u2026a severe dust devil was sighted in the Westwood area of southwest Denver.<\/p>\n

In 1955\u2026cold west winds at 52 mph with gusts as high as 69 mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust reduced the visibility to 1\/2 mile.<\/p>\n

In 1960\u2026the second wind storm in 3 days produced sustained west winds up to 44 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph at Stapleton Airport. Winds were strong and gusty most of the day\u2026but no damage was reported.<\/p>\n

In 1963\u2026the second windy day in a row produced west- northwest wind gusts to 52 mph at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1971\u2026a tornado occurred in the southwest corner of weld County about 10 miles west-northwest of Brighton. The storm moved through a farm yard damaging equipment and structures. The strong tornadic winds lifted a stock tank over 2 fences into a corral 150 feet away. Later\u2026a tornado touched down briefly west-southwest of Buckley Field\u20268 miles southeast of Stapleton International Airport. No damage was reported.<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026high winds occurred in the foothills. Winds gusted to 97 mph atop Squaw Mountain in the foothills west of Denver. West winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1987\u2026a powerful cold front produced high winds and engulfed metro Denver in huge clouds of blowing dust that lowered the visibility to as little as 100 yards. The cold front generated winds as high as 72 mph at Brighton\u202667 mph in Thornton\u2026and 54 mph at Stapleton International Airport. Winds of 50 to 70 mph were common along the Front Range from Denver north. The high wind gusts flipped a light plane taxiing at Stapleton International Airport\u2026slightly injuring two people on board. The cold front dropped the temperature from a high of 80 degrees at 3:00 pm to a low of 33 degrees at midnight. Nearly an inch of snow\u20260.8 inch\u2026 Fell at Stapleton International Airport before midnight.<\/p>\n

In 1988\u2026a tornado touched down in Fort Lupton\u2026following a path 50 to 75 yards wide for 2 1\/2 blocks. The twister damaged roofs on 2 schools and broke numerous windows; about 10 houses were damaged and several cars had windows blown out. Several trees were downed.<\/p>\n

In 1989\u2026winds were clocked to 68 mph in Wheat Ridge. Microburst winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1996\u2026high winds gusting from 70 to near 100 mph developed in the Front Range foothills and adjacent plains. Numerous power outages were reported as power lines and poles were downed. The high winds blew the chimney off the roof of a house in Westminster. Numerous homes received minor shingle damage. Some of the stronger wind gusts included: 98 mph at Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield\u202691 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver\u2026and 75 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder. West northwest winds gusted to 45 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2001\u2026westerly Chinook winds\u2026gusting as high as 40 mph at Denver International Airport\u2026prevented the low temperature from dropping below 51 degrees\u2026setting a new record high minimum for the date. The high temperature of 77 degrees was not a record.<\/p>\n

In 2005\u2026severe thunderstorms produced large hail across metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1\/4 inches in diameter was measured in Arvada. Hail to 1 inch in diameter fell in Westminster\u2026Northglenn\u2026and Thornton. Hail to 7\/8 inch was reported near Brighton\u2026Barr Lake\u2026and Castle Rock. Hail to 3\/4 inch fell in Elizabeth and Broomfield and near Golden\u2026Brighton\u2026and Fort Lupton.<\/p>\n

19-20<\/p>\n

In 1892\u2026rain on the 18th changed to snow on the 19th and totaled 6.0 inches over downtown Denver into the 20th. Total precipitation was 1.56 inches. North winds were sustained to 26 mph on the 19th.<\/p>\n

In 1907\u2026a major storm dumped 18.0 inches of snowfall in downtown Denver. Much of the heavy wet snow melted as it fell. The most snow on the ground was 7.0 inches at 6:00 pm on the 19th. North to northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph on the 19th and to 21 mph on the 20th. High temperatures were in the low to mid 30\u2019s with low readings around 20.<\/p>\n

In 2021…moderate to heavy snow occurred in and near the Front Range Foothills…with the heaviest amounts in and near the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson counties. Storm totals ranged from 8 to 16 inches in those areas…with 2 to 7 inches across the rest of the I-25 Corridor. The National Weather Service Office in Boulder measured 8.9 inches…with a measurement of 3.1 inches of snowfall at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

19-21<\/p>\n

In 1984\u2026a large snowstorm buried most of Colorado under a thick mantle of wet snow. Total snow amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches across metro Denver and a whopping 20 to 40 inches in the adjacent foothills. The snow closed roads and damaged electrical transformers\u2026causing numerous power outages. Nearly 14 inches (13.6) of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where the combination of snow and wind closed all but one runway\u2026resulting in the cancellation of many flights. Both I-70 and I-76 were closed to the east of Denver.<\/p>\n

19-22<\/p>\n

In 1933\u2026a major storm dumped 16.8 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver when rain changed to snow during the early morning of the 20th and continued through midday of the 22nd. Most of the snow fell on the 21st. Due to melting\u2026 The most snow on the ground was 10.5 inches at 6:00 pm on the 21st. Before the snow started\u2026a strong cold front on the evening of the 19th produced north winds sustained to 35 mph with gusts to 37 mph. The strong winds deposited a thin layer of dust on the city. North to northwest winds were sustained to 31 mph with gusts to 35 mph on the 20th and to 29 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 21st.<\/p>\n

20<\/p>\n

In 1874\u2026light snow fell for most of the day\u2026but melted almost as fast as it fell. The flakes\u2026as large as 1 1\/2 inches in diameter during the afternoon\u2026resembled white feathers. Precipitation from melted snow was only 0.21 inch in the city. Snowfall was much heavier in the mountain parks where snow depths were reported between 3 and 5 feet from the storms of the 15th and 20th. The heavy snow resulted in the deaths of hundreds of cattle and sheep.<\/p>\n

In 1875\u2026the city was enveloped in a severe wind and sand storm. For nearly 30 minutes before the storm\u2026it could be seen moving toward the city from the northwest as a black wall of clouds extending only 10 degrees above the horizon. At 5:30 pm\u2026the sand was sweeping past in such clouds that objects at a distance of only 10 yards were not visible. The streets were entirely deserted. The greatest velocity of wind during the storm was 36 mph from the north-northwest. The storm diminished by 7:00 pm. Swarms of grasshoppers were seen today and were reported in all parts of the territory.<\/p>\n

In 1897\u2026southwest winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to 50 mph. The apparent Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 76 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1905\u2026apparent post-frontal north winds were sustained to 43 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1912\u2026west winds were sustained to 42 mph with an extreme velocity of 48 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1958\u2026strong Chinook winds gusted to 52 mph at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1981\u20263\/4 inch hail fell in Lakewood with up to one half inch of rain in a few minutes across northern sections of the city of Denver. Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.39 inches at Stapleton International Airport\u2026where 1\/4 inch hail was also measured.<\/p>\n

In 1987\u20266 to 12 inches of heavy snow fell in the foothills. Only 2.5 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where the usual flight delays occurred.<\/p>\n

In 2005\u2026severe thunderstorms produced large hail across metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 3\/4 inches in diameter fell at Denver International Airport. Hail to 3\/4 inch in diameter fell in and near Golden and near Hudson\u2026 Keenesburg\u2026Barr Lake\u2026and Bennett.<\/p>\n

In 2013…an avalanche pushed a group of six snow boarders into the Sheep Creek gully of Loveland Pass. This is near but outside the Loveland Ski Area boundary. Five of the six members of the group died as they were completely buried. The avalanche is the deadliest in Colorado since 1962 when seven people were killed when a slide buried residents at Twin Lakes near Independence Pass.<\/p>\n

20-22<\/p>\n

In 1957\u2026strong and gusty south to southeast winds raked metro Denver each day. The strongest wind gust of 55 mph occurred on the 21st when blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 3\/4 mile at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

20-23<\/p>\n

In 1989\u2026unusually warm weather resulted in several daily temperature records being broken in Denver. The high temperature of 89 degrees on the 21st exceeded the record maximum for the month at that time. Daily record high temperatures were either exceeded or equaled with 83 degrees on the 20th\u202688 degrees on the 22nd\u2026and 85 degrees on the 23rd. The low temperature of 55 degrees on the 22nd equaled the record high minimum for the date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Springtime in Colorado can certainly be pleasant but it can also bring an amazing array of interesting weather. Our look back at this week contains everything from snowstorms and damaging wind to severe thunderstorms with hail and tornadoes. From the National Weather Service: 10-14 In 1927\u2026post-frontal rain on the 10th changed to snow on the … Continue reading April 14 to April 20: 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":[380,81,62,741],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19615"}],"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=19615"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24099,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19615\/revisions\/24099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}