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While it appears Denver will escape September snow, our look back at this week in weather history shows that isn\u2019t always the case. Additionally, while not common, even early fall can bring severe weather with damaging wind, lightning and even tornadoes.<\/p>\n
From the National Weather Service:<\/p>\n
28-29<\/p>\n
In 1959\u2026one of the heaviest September snow storms of record began as rain and changed to heavy wet snow. The storm caused heavy damage to trees and shrubbery\u2026which were still in full leaf. The storm dumped 10.6 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport\u2026the third heaviest September snow amount to date. Falling trees and limbs disrupted traffic\u2026broke power and communication lines\u2026and damaged buildings and cars. 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. 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. The value of trees destroyed or damaged was estimated to exceed five million dollars. 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. Metro Denver received 8 to 12 inches of powdery snow. 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. The snow caused flight delays of over 2 hours at Stapleton International Airport. I-70 was closed for a time west of Denver. Snow-laden tree limbs snapped over all of metro Denver\u2026causing widespread power outages. Ten thousand people were without electricity for a time in Boulder. The morning of the 29th saw mid-winter temperatures along the Front Range. The temperature dipped to 17 degrees\u2026the lowest temperature ever recorded in September in Denver. 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. The low temperature of 21 degrees on the evening of the 28th set a new record low for the date. 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
29<\/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. 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. 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. This was the 60th day of the year that the temperature had reached 90 degrees or more\u2026establishing a new record at that time. 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. 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. 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 79 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
In 2015…severe thunderstorms developed over the foothills of Boulder County and Jefferson Counties…then moved south along the western suburbs of Denver. Areas north of Golden… around Lakewood and into northern Douglas County saw the heaviest rain and hail. The hail ranged in size from nickel to ping pong size<\/p>\n
30<\/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. A trace of rain also occurred on the 4th\u20269th\u2026and 10th. There was no measurable precipitation for the month. The total of a trace of precipitation for the month equaled the driest September on record first set in 1892.<\/p>\n
In 2009\u2026a trained spotter in Coal Creek Canyon\u2026recorded a peak wind gust to 88 mph.<\/p>\n
<\/span>30-1<\/p>\n In 1959\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 5.9 inches at Stapleton Airport. Winds were light.<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n In 1892\u2026the highest temperature ever recorded in October\u2026 90 degrees\u2026occurred. 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. The severe winds caused damage in northeast metro Denver. A brick wall of a bowling alley was blown down\u2026the roof was blown off a garage\u2026and some business signs were damaged. A man in the bowling alley was injured by flying glass. 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. The largest hail\u20262 inches in diameter\u2026fell at Buckley Field. Hail 1 3\/4 inches in diameter fell 7 miles northeast of Boulder and at Niwot. 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. 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. 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\u2026strong 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. The intense wind gusts downed trees and power lines which caused a power outage near the Denver Technology Center. At Denver International Airport…a peak wind gust to 37 mph was measured from the northwest.<\/p>\n In 2020…extreme drought conditions continued in October. The first half of the month remained unseasonably warm… dry and windy. These conditions allowed the fires to the west and northwest of Denver to explode and double in size. The Cameron Peak wildfire become the largest in the state`s history. The Calwood wildfire in Boulder County started near Jamestown…and consumed 8788 acres within a 24-hr period on the 17th. It consumed a total of 10105 acres by the end of the month. The Calwood wildfire also became the largest wildfire in Boulder County history. The fire damaged or destroyed a total of 26 homes with preliminary damage estimates of nearly 37 million dollars. Extremely poor air quality continued to plague Denver and the entire Front Range.<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n In 1903\u2026southwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph. 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. This was the driest October on record.<\/p>\n 3<\/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. 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 3-4<\/p>\n In 1969\u2026the first snowfall of the season totaled 16.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport. There was a thunder snow shower on the evening of the 3rd\u2026but otherwise little wind with the storm. The greatest snow depth on the ground was 8 inches due to melting. Heavy wet snow accumulated on trees\u2026which were still in full leaf\u2026and caused widespread damage from broken limbs and downed utility lines.<\/p>\n 3-5<\/p>\n In 1984\u2026the remnants of pacific hurricane Polo produced heavy rain over northeastern Colorado. Most locations received between 1.00 to 2.50 inches of rain\u2026but 3.45 inches fell in Littleton. Rainfall totaled 1.73 inches at Stapleton International Airport\u2026where north winds gusted to 24 mph.<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n In 1912\u2026sustained south winds to 55 mph with gusts to 60 mph raised the temperature to a high of 83 degrees\u2026 The warmest temperature of the month that year.<\/p>\n In 1924\u2026west winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to 50 mph in the city. The apparent bora winds cooled the temperature to a high of 57 degrees from a high of 70 degrees on the 3rd.<\/p>\n In 2004\u2026several small tornadoes touched down near Brighton\u2026 Barr Lake\u2026and Hudson in Adams and southern Weld counties. Most of these caused no damage. However\u2026a small tornado 5 miles southeast of Brighton caused extensive damage to a recreational vehicle and severely damaged a barn. The barn was torn from its foundation\u2026and the roof was thrown 100 feet. Four llamas in the barn were injured when it collapsed.<\/p>\n 4-5<\/p>\n In 1997\u2026unusually warm weather resulted in two temperature records. High temperature of 87 degrees on the 4th exceeded the old record set in 1922 by one degree. High temperature of 86 degrees on the 5th equaled the record set in 1990 and previous years.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n In 1962\u2026unusually severe thunderstorms for this late in the season affected areas from Boulder northward. Hail up to golf ball size and strong gusty winds did much damage to roofs\u2026windows\u2026and signs in Boulder. Heavy rainfall caused local flooding.<\/p>\n In 1994\u2026lightning caused a power outage to over 2400 homes for a few hours in and around Nederland in the foothills southwest of Boulder. Very strong winds accompanied the thunderstorm. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 60 mph and hail to 1\/2 inch diameter fell in Lafayette. Strong microburst winds gusting to 69 mph near Strasburg caused an oil rig to topple onto two vehicles\u2026injuring one person. The strong winds in the area also downed a few power poles\u2026 But caused power outages to only a few homes.<\/p>\n In 1995\u2026strong winds spread from the foothills onto the plains. Wind gusts to 77 mph were reported atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver. On the plains\u2026winds gusted to 60 mph at Kennesburg and to 62 mph near Strasburg. North winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While it appears Denver will escape September snow, our look back at this week in weather history shows that isn\u2019t always the case. Additionally, while not common, even early fall can bring severe weather with damaging wind, lightning and even tornadoes. From the National Weather Service: 28-29 In 1959\u2026one of the heaviest September snow storms … Continue reading September 29 to October 5: This Week in Denver Weather History<\/span>