{"id":2053,"date":"2009-11-15T04:01:36","date_gmt":"2009-11-15T11:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=2053"},"modified":"2009-11-15T04:01:36","modified_gmt":"2009-11-15T11:01:36","slug":"november-15-to-november-21-this-week-in-denver-weather-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/colorado-weather\/november-15-to-november-21-this-week-in-denver-weather-history\/","title":{"rendered":"November 15 to November 21 – This week in Denver weather history"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"November
November 15 to November 21 - This week in Denver weather history <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Any week in Denver weather history is filled with numerous notable weather events and this week is no different.\u00a0 We have everything from major snowstorms to damaging winds and much more.\u00a0 However, one item is particularly notable and historic.\u00a0 It was on the 20th of November in 1871 that the first, official weather observation took place in Denver.\u00a0 Henry Fenton, Observer Sergeant of the United States Army Signal Service, made the report\u00a0at 5:43 am.\u00a0 The office was located on the 2nd floor of a building at the corner of Larimer and G Streets, now 16th Street.\u00a0 Scroll down to see what the report said.<\/p>\n

From the National Weather Service:\u00a0<\/p>\n

From the 12th to the 15th:<\/p>\n

In 1909…light snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown Denver over the 4 days.\u00a0 This was the first measurable snowfall of the season.\u00a0 Northeast winds were sustained to 15 mph on the 12th.<\/p>\n

From the 14th to the 15th:<\/p>\n

In 1917…overnight rainfall was 0.03 inch.\u00a0 This was the only measurable precipitation of the month…making it the 5th driest November on record.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1985…3 to 6 inches of snow fell across metro Denver. Snowfall totaled 3.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to only 13 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2005…a winter storm that brought heavy snow to the mountains also spread heavy snow into the foothills to the west of Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included:\u00a0 14 inches at aspen springs…13 inches near Pinecliffe…and 12 inches near Nederland.\u00a0 Interstate 70 along with U.S. Highway 40 had to be closed near Idaho Springs due to snow…poor visibility in blowing snow…numerous accidents…and an increased avalanche danger.\u00a0 High winds were recorded in the foothills on the 14th.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 89 mph at Georgetown and to 91 mph on Sugarloaf Mountain west of Boulder.\u00a0 Strong microburst winds associated with a dissipating rain shower gusted to 61 mph at Denver International Airport on the 14th.<\/p>\n

From the 14th to the 18th:\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1964…the first measurable snowfall of the season totaled 6.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 14th. Most of the snow…4.2 inches…fell on the 14th.\u00a0 This was the only measurable snow of the month.<\/p>\n

On the 15th:<\/p>\n

In 1902…4.0 inches of snow fell over downtown Denver. This was the only measurable snow of the month. Northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1906…strong winds howled and roared across Boulder… Causing several thousand dollars in damage.\u00a0 The strong winds caused one fatality and minor injuries to others. West winds were sustained to 46 mph in downtown Denver where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 74 degrees.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1944…the low temperature dipped to 32 degrees.\u00a0 This is the latest date of the first freeze in Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1949…a trace of rain fell.\u00a0 Another trace of rain on the 11th was the only precipitation of the month…making the month one of the driest Novembers on record and the least snowiest with no snow.\u00a0 This was the first November since 1882 without snow.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1960…strong winds caused 2 thousand dollars damage to a new school building in Boulder where wind gusts were estimated to 70 mph.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 40 mph were recorded in downtown Denver.\u00a0 Damage occurred to utility lines…signs… And trees.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1986…strong Chinook winds howled over the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 The highest wind gust…81 mph…was recorded at Table Mesa in Boulder.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1987…the first measurable snow of the season was also a major snowstorm.\u00a0 The snow combined with strong winds to close I-70 east of Denver and I-25 to Colorado Springs. Snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 9 inches across metro Denver with 10 to 20 inches in the foothills.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport…6.1 inches of snow fell and north winds gusted to 47 mph reducing the visibility to as low as 1\/8 mile in heavy snow.\u00a0 Strong north winds at 20 to 30 mph with frequent gusts to 40 mph and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees plunged wind chill temperatures to 5 below zero.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1988…the season’s first snow storm hit metro Denver. The storm dumped 2 to 5 inches of snow…which caused numerous traffic snarls and accidents.\u00a0 North wind gusts to 43 mph caused some blowing snow.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 This was the latest first snow of the season.\u00a0 No traces of snow had occurred earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

From the 15th to the 16th:<\/p>\n

In 1894…winds behind an apparent strong cold front were sustained to 60 mph with gusts to 75 mph on the 15th. Snowfall totaled 2.6 inches in the city.\u00a0 Temperatures plunged from a high of 72 degrees on the 15th to a low of only 5 degrees on the 16th.\u00a0 The high temperature on the 16th was 24 degrees…which occurred shortly after midnight.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1996…around a foot of new snow fell in the foothills west of Denver with 3 to 6 inches at lower elevations across metro Denver.\u00a0 Some of the snowfall totals included:\u00a0 15 inches at Georgetown…12 inches at Idaho Springs…10 inches at Chief Hosa…and 9 inches in Coal Creek Canyon.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 2.9 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 Northeast winds gusted to 23 mph at Denver International Airport on the 16th.<\/p>\n

From the 15th to the 17th:<\/p>\n

In 1991…a strong winter storm dumped heavy snow over metro Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall amounts totaled 15 inches at Castle Rock and conifer…14 inches at Morrison and Parker…12 inches in southeast Aurora…and 11.6 inches at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 Winds were light with the storm.<\/p>\n

On the 16th:<\/p>\n

In 1899…a trace of rain fell in the city.\u00a0 This…together with a trace of precipitation on the 21st and 23rd…was the only precipitation of the month…making the month the driest on record.\u00a0 The record was equaled in November of 1901 and 1949.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1926…rain changed to snow behind a cold front and totaled 2.0 inches.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 54 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1930…strong winds occurred in Boulder causing minor damage.\u00a0 At Valmont just east of Boulder…winds gusted to 52 mph.\u00a0 West winds were sustained to 37 mph with gusts to 46 mph in downtown Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1948…a west-northwest wind gust to 50 mph was recorded at Stapleton Airport.<\/p>\n

From the 16th to the 18th:<\/p>\n

In 1921…heavy snowfall totaled 6.5 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 This was the only measurable snow of the month. East winds were sustained to 14 mph on the 17th.<\/p>\n

On the 17th:<\/p>\n

In 1948…a dry vigorous cold front accompanied by north winds gusting to 60 mph produced extensive blowing dust…which briefly reduced the visibility to 1\/2 mile at Stapleton Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1993…a wind gust to 70 mph was recorded atop squaw mountain near Idaho Springs.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1994…winds gusted to 66 mph in Boulder and to 63 mph on rocky flats south of Boulder.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 49 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2000…snow fell in the foothills west of Denver…mainly south of the I-70 corridor.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included: 8.5 inches…7 miles south of tiny town; 6 inches at Genesee; and 5 inches…11 miles southwest of Morrison. Only a trace of snow was recorded at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

From the 17th to the 18th:<\/p>\n

In 1869…the heaviest wind storm in 5 or 6 years raked the eastern foothills including Boulder…Denver…Georgetown… And Golden.\u00a0 Some hundreds of dollars in damage occurred in Boulder.<\/p>\n

On the 18th:<\/p>\n

In 1872…fresh west winds contributed to the relative humidity dipping to zero at 2:43 pm.\u00a0 The maximum temperature was 54 degrees.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1907…heavy snowfall totaled 6.0 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 Snow fell all day.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 19 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1915…northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.\u00a0 It was windy most of the day.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1996…high winds struck the foothills west of Denver. Wind gusts ranged from 70 to 75 mph.\u00a0 A few power lines were downed…but no major outages were reported.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1998…strong downslope winds developed during the morning.\u00a0 Wind gusts reached a peak of 72 mph at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1999…high winds developed in and near the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 The strong winds downed power lines…which sparked several small brush fires.\u00a0 In Broomfield… Scaffolding was damaged at the Wadsworth Recreation Center…while flying rocks broke several windows at a local bank building.\u00a0 Peak wind gusts included:\u00a0 91 mph atop Blue Mountain near Wondervu…88 mph atop the Gamow Tower on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder… 83 mph at Jefferson County airport…81 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab above Boulder…and 80 mph at Wondervu.\u00a0 West-northwest winds gusted to 48 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

From the 18th to the 19th:<\/p>\n

In 1975…snowfall totaled only 5.5 inches and north winds gusted to 35 mph causing some blowing snow at Stapleton International Airport…while a major blizzard struck southeastern Colorado.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1985…4 to 7 inches of snow fell across metro Denver. Snowfall totaled 4.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 23 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1991…another strong winter storm produced heavy snow over metro Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 9.5 inches at Stapleton International Airport with 9 inches at Parker… And 8 inches in southeast Denver…Morrison…and wheat ridge.\u00a0 This second storm brought the 5 day (15th-19th) snowfall total at Stapleton International Airport to 21.1 inches.\u00a0 The greatest depth of snow on the ground was 13 inches on the morning of the 19th.\u00a0 The adverse effects of the two storms were diminished by the lack of significant winds.<\/p>\n

From the 18th to the 20th:<\/p>\n

In 1930…a major storm dumped a total of 13.6 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver.\u00a0 Most of the snow…9.4 inches…fell on the 19th when north winds were sustained to 23 mph.\u00a0 This was the only measurable snow of the month.\u00a0 Temperatures hovered in the 20’s and lower 30’s.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1956…an intense winter storm dumped 12.8 inches of snowfall on metro Denver.\u00a0 Strong north-northeast winds gusting to 33 mph at Stapleton Airport frequently reduced the visibility to 1\/2 mile in snow and blowing snow on the 19th.\u00a0 Most of the snowfall…10.7 inches…occurred on the 19th.<\/p>\n

On the 19th:<\/p>\n

In 1931…the first measurable snow of the season totaled only 1.0 inch in the city.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1977…near-blizzard conditions caused some traffic accident injuries across metro Denver.\u00a0 Only 1.3 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 28 mph.<\/p>\n

From the 19th to the 21st:<\/p>\n

In 1979…a heavy snowstorm buried most of Colorado under at least a foot of snow.\u00a0 Snowfall at Stapleton International Airport totaled 17.7 inches…the greatest snow depth since 1946.\u00a0 Winds to 60 mph produced 5-foot drifts paralyzing the city as temperatures hovered in the 20’s.\u00a0 While small airports closed…Stapleton remained open…but with long delays that snarled Thanksgiving holiday traffic.\u00a0 Schools and businesses closed and postal deliveries were delayed. Almost all major highways leading out of Denver were closed to traffic for periods of time on the 20th and 21st.\u00a0 Most of the snow…13.5 inches…fell on the 20th.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport…north winds gusted to 35 mph on the 20th and to 38 mph on the 21st.<\/p>\n

On the 20th:<\/p>\n

In 1871…the first official weather observation in Denver… Was taken by Henry Fenton…Observer Sergeant of the United States Army Signal Service at 5:43 am.\u00a0 The office was located on the 2nd floor of a building at the corner of Larimer and G Streets…now 16th Street.\u00a0 The daily weather journal hand written entry for the day follows:\u00a0 “snow fell heavily during past night.\u00a0 At 5:43 am it was snowing light and continued until 8 am.\u00a0 Wind during snow storm gentle and a little west of south…and continued there during the remainder of the day.\u00a0 Sky clear after 8 am. Very cold weather prevailed all day and night.\u00a0 Thermometer at 9:43 pm 14 degrees.\u00a0 Rain gauge and self-registering thermometer not in position owing to severe storm last week.\u00a0 Barometer falling during the morning and rising rapidly at night.”
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1894…northwest Chinook winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 45 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 58 degrees in the city.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1909…steady and very strong winds in Boulder caused 3 thousand dollars in damage.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1915…post-frontal northeast winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts as high as 42 mph produced only a trace of snow.\u00a0 It was windy most of the day.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1923…west winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 44 mph before daybreak.\u00a0 The strong winds persisted in the city for only about 3 hours.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1993…a wind gust to 72 mph was recorded at Table Mesa in southwest Boulder.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1994…winds gusted to 77 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 40 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

From the 20th to the 21st:<\/p>\n

In 1898…snowfall totaled 4.0 inches in downtown Denver. Northeast winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph behind an apparent cold front on the 20th… When temperatures plunged from a high of 66 degrees to a low of 9 degrees.\u00a0 On the 21st the high was only 24 degrees and the low was 2 degrees.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1970…a wind gust to 94 mph was recorded at gold hill in the foothills west of Boulder.\u00a0 Strong winds also swept across metro Denver.\u00a0 Wind gusts reached 59 mph in downtown Boulder…while at Stapleton International Airport west- northwest winds gusted to 43 mph on the 21st.\u00a0 Damage was minor.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1992…a large Canadian air mass moved into the state at the same time an upper level storm system approached from the west.\u00a0 The combination of cold air at the surface and very moist air aloft produced heavy snow across the entire state.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 6.3 inches at Stapleton International Airport…where north winds gusted to 23 mph on the 20th.\u00a0 Snow was heavier in the foothills…with 14 inches at Wondervu…13 inches at Aspen Springs…Conifer… Boulder…and Gross Reservoir…8 inches at Rollinsville… And 10 inches at Golden gate canyon and Morrison.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2007…a storm system brought moderate to heavy snowfall to portions of the urban corridor.\u00a0 Storm totals included: 7 inches…3 miles south-southeast of Fort Collins…with 6 inches in Boulder and at Horsetooth Inlet Bay.\u00a0 Elsewhere… Storm totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 2.0 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

On the 21st:\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1891…northwest winds were sustained to 50 mph with gusts to 60 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1899…a trace of snow fell in the city.\u00a0 This…together with a trace of precipitation on the 16th and 23rd…was the only precipitation of the month…making the month the driest on record.\u00a0 The record was equaled in November of 1901 and 1949.\u00a0 This trace of snow along with a trace of snow on the 23rd was the only snow of the month…ranking the month the 2nd least snowiest on record.\u00a0 This record was equaled in November of 1884…1901…1905…1917…and 1939.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1900…west winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to 54 mph.\u00a0 The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 64 degrees.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1934…the latest date for the first measurable snow of the season occurred.\u00a0 This was not the first snow of the season… Because traces of snow had fallen earlier in September. Snowfall totaled only 1.0 inch over downtown Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1962…strong west-northwest Chinook winds gusted to 53 mph at Stapleton Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1998…an intense mountain wave allowed for high winds to develop in the foothills of Boulder County.\u00a0 Wind gusts as high as 77 mph were measured 3 miles east- northeast of Nederland.<\/p>\n

From the 21st to the 22nd:<\/p>\n

In 1905…a trace of snow fell on both days in downtown Denver.\u00a0 This was the only snow of the month…ranking the month along with other Novembers…the 2nd least snowiest on record.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1999…the first significant snowfall of the season struck metro Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included:\u00a0 16 inches near Bailey; 13 inches near Evergreen; 12 inches at north turkey creek…Genesee…near Morrison…and near Sedalia; 11 inches near Conifer and in Evergreen; 10 inches in Louisville; 9 inches in Brighton…Broomfield…and Denver; and 8 inches at Arvada…Castle Rock…and Eldorado Springs.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 8.4 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2003…heavy snow fell in and near the foothills of Boulder County.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 10.5 inches in Eldorado Springs. Across the city…snowfall was lighter with 2.8 inches measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport on the 22nd.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 22nd.<\/p>\n

From the 21st to the 23rd:\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1918…post-frontal snowfall totaled 5.9 inches in downtown Denver.\u00a0 Most of the snow…5.3 inches…fell on the 22nd. North winds were sustained to 20 mph on the 21st.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1931…a major storm dumped a total of 13.2 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver.\u00a0 Most of the snow…11.4 inches…fell on the 21st.\u00a0 A very cold air mass settled over the city after the heavy snow on the 21st.\u00a0 After a low temperature of zero…the temperature climbed to a high of only 5 degrees on the 22nd…a record low maximum for the date.<\/p>\n

From the 21st to the 25th:\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1952…snowfall of 6.2 inches was measured at Stapleton Airport where northeast winds gusted to 17 mph on the 21st.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Any week in Denver weather history is filled with numerous notable weather events and this week is no different.\u00a0 We have everything from major snowstorms to damaging winds and much more.\u00a0 However, one item is particularly notable and historic.\u00a0 It was on the 20th of November in 1871 that the first, official weather observation took … Continue reading November 15 to November 21 – 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":[6,7],"tags":[81,106,62,741],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053"}],"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=2053"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2055,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2053\/revisions\/2055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}