{"id":21166,"date":"2020-11-29T05:01:13","date_gmt":"2020-11-29T12:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=21166"},"modified":"2020-11-30T05:02:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T12:02:49","slug":"november-29-to-december-5-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/weather-history\/november-29-to-december-5-this-week-in-denver-weather-history-3\/","title":{"rendered":"November 29 to December 5: This week in Denver weather history"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

As always, our look back at Denver\u2019s weather history books is very eventful.\u00a0 As we start to get closer to winter, we begin to see many more multi-day snow events that are notable and this week\u2019s look is no different.\u00a0 We see many major snow events and also of note are the damaging high wind events.<\/p>\n

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

25-29<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026dense fog with visibilities as low as 1\/8 mile occurred on five consecutive days at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 The fog was at times accompanied by light snow\u2026 Light freezing drizzle\u2026or ice crystals.\u00a0 Fog occurred all day on both the 26th and 29th.
\n28-29 in 1908\u2026heavy snowfall overnight and for most of the day on the 29th totaled 12.5 inches.\u00a0 Precipitation was 1.09 inches.\u00a0 Northwest winds were sustained to 26 mph on the 29th.<\/p>\n

In 1928\u2026a major storm dumped 15.5 inches of snowfall on downtown Denver.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 18 mph with gusts to 19 mph on the 28th.<\/p>\n

In 1992\u2026an upper level storm system moved across metro Denver\u2026but left only a dusting of snow.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled only 1.6 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 25 mph.\u00a0 Other snow amounts included: 8 inches at Conifer\u20266 inches at Lake Eldora\u20263 inches at Rollinsville and in southeast Denver.<\/p>\n

In 1997\u2026a storm system tracking across northern New Mexico produced strong north to northeast upslope flow against the eastern slopes of the Front Range and Palmer Ridge. Snowfall totals in Jefferson County included:\u00a0 14 inches near Deckers; 12 inches at Castle Rock and Sedalia; 10 inches near Conifer\u202611 miles southwest of Morrison\u2026and at Buffalo Creek.\u00a0 Elsewhere\u2026snow accumulations were less. Snowfall totaled only 0.7 inch at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport on the 27th and 28th.<\/p>\n

In 2004\u2026heavy snow fell in the foothills and across metro Denver.\u00a0 In the foothills\u2026snowfall totals included:\u00a0 13 inches at Roxborough State Park and Eldorado Springs\u2026 11.5 inches near Conifer\u202611.0 inches near Nederland\u2026and 10 inches near Indian Hills.\u00a0 Across metro Denver snowfall totaled 14 inches near Sedalia\u20269 inches near Louisville\u2026 8 inches at Ralston Reservoir\u2026and 5.1 inches in the Stapleton area of Denver.\u00a0 Northeast winds gusted to 28 mph at Denver International Airport on the 28th.<\/p>\n

In 2006\u2026a slow moving storm system brought heavy snow to the mountains and to the eastern foothills where snowfall ranged from 8 to 18 inches.\u00a0 Some of the more impressive snow totals included:\u00a0 18 inches at Genesee\u202617.5 inches near Boulder\u202617 inches at aspen springs\u202616.5 inches 10 miles northwest of Golden\u202615 inches at Eldorado Springs\u2026 14.5 inches in Idaho Springs and near Jamestown\u202612 inches in grant and near Indian Hills\u202611.5 inches near Blackhawk\u2026 11 inches at gross reservoir and Eldora\u2026and 10.5 inches in Conifer.\u00a0 Across metro Denver\u2026storm total snowfall generally ranged from 5 to 9 inches with the heaviest amounts near the foothills in Boulder and Jefferson counties.\u00a0 The most impressive totals included:\u00a0 15.5 inches at Ken Caryl\u202612 inches in Boulder\u20267.5 inches near Morrison\u2026and 7 inches near both Chatfield and Ralston reservoirs.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled only 4.2 inches in the Denver Stapleton area.\u00a0 Northeast winds gusted to 31 mph at Denver International Airport on the 28th.<\/p>\n

28-30<\/p>\n

In 1991\u2026a winter storm dumped heavy snow in the foothills and near the Palmer Divide with 10 inches recorded at Conifer and Golden Gate Canyon\u202612 inches in Morrison\u2026 6 inches at Castle Rock and Parker.\u00a0 Only 3.4 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusting to 35 mph on the 29th\u2026produced some blowing snow.\u00a0 Some light freezing drizzle also fell on the 28th and 29th.<\/p>\n

29<\/p>\n

In 1877\u2026the all-time lowest recorded minimum temperature in the month of November\u202618 degrees below zero\u2026occurred. The high temperature for the day was 16 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 51 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.\u00a0 The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a maximum of 74 degrees\u2026a record high for the date and the warmest of the month that year.\u00a0 The minimum temperature was only 39 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1927\u2026post-frontal rain changed to snow and totaled 5.8 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 Northeast winds were sustained to 22 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1977\u202685 mph winds were reported at Wondervu in the foothills southwest of Boulder.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1980 strong Chinook winds reached 85 mph in Boulder\u2026 Blowing traffic signals and street lights down.\u00a0 Some windows were shattered by the wind.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1994\u2026high winds blew across the Front Range eastern foothills.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 92 mph occurred atop squaw mountain\u20265 miles south of Idaho Springs\u2026and to 82 mph on fritz peak near Rollinsville in the foothills southwest of Boulder.\u00a0 A wind gust to 75 mph was recorded at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to only 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport. No damage was reported.<\/p>\n

<\/span>29-30<\/p>\n

In 2008\u2026a storm system produced locally heavy bands of snow across Douglas\u2026Elbert and eastern Jefferson counties. Northerly winds gusting to 50 mph caused snow drifts to pile up to 2 feet in depth.\u00a0 Storm totals included:\u00a0 12 inches just southwest of Kassler\u202611.5 inches\u20266.5 miles southwest of Castle Rock; 11 inches\u20268.4 miles southeast of Aurora and 9 miles west of Littleton; 10 inches at Louviers\u2026 8 inches\u20262 miles west-southwest of Highlands Ranch and 5 miles south-southeast of Sedalia\u2026and 7.5 inches\u202614 miles west-southwest of Agate and at Castle Pines.\u00a0 At Denver International Airport\u20262 inches of snow was observed. North winds gusted to 46 mph on the 30th.<\/p>\n

30<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026west winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1903\u2026west winds sustained to 44 mph with gusts to 54 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 57 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1981\u2026strong winds blasted the foothills.\u00a0 In Wondervu\u2026 Winds were clocked to 81 mph with many other locations in the foothills reporting over 60 mph.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 28 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1986\u2026the worst snow storm of the season dumped from 5.0 inches of snow at Stapleton International Airport to 14 inches over the higher southwestern suburbs.\u00a0 On the Sunday after thanksgiving\u2026one of the busiest travel days of the year at Stapleton International Airport\u2026two of the four runways were closed and flights were delayed up to four hours.\u00a0 Near-blizzard conditions prevailed on the plains east of Denver\u2026closing both I-70 and I-76 for a time. North wind gusts to 36 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2000\u2026strong winds raked metro Denver.\u00a0 In Thornton\u2026a construction worker was critically injured when the scaffolding on which he was standing collapsed\u2026throwing him 25 feet to the ground.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 54 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

<\/span>30-1<\/p>\n

In 1929\u2026heavy snow blanketed the city.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 9.8 inches downtown.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 32 mph with gusts to 37 mph on the 30th.<\/p>\n

In 1970\u2026high winds blasted Boulder and the eastern plains. In Boulder\u2026a wind gust to 112 mph was recorded at the National Center for Atmospheric Research with a gust to 96 mph at the national bureau of standards.\u00a0 In downtown Boulder\u2026wind gusts reached 76 mph.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport\u2026winds gusted to 47 mph.\u00a0 The high winds caused widespread light to moderate property damage across most of metro Denver.\u00a0 Roofs\u2026signs\u2026trees\u2026power lines\u2026and other property were damaged.\u00a0 Blowing dust reduced visibility to near zero over most of eastern Colorado.\u00a0 Several mobile homes\u2026campers\u2026and semi- trailers were blown off the highways north of Denver.<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026an intrusion of cold arctic air into metro Denver resulted in setting 3 temperature records.\u00a0 The temperature climbed to only 17 degrees on the 30th\u2026setting a record low maximum for the date.\u00a0 On the 1st\u2026the temperature plunged to 6 degrees below zero\u2026setting a record low for the date\u2026 And warmed to only 7 degrees\u2026setting a record low maximum for the date.<\/p>\n

30-2<\/p>\n

In 1975\u2026very strong Chinook winds up to 100 mph caused damage to homes\u2026aircraft\u2026aircraft hangars\u2026mobile homes\u2026 Cars\u2026and power lines along the eastern foothills.\u00a0 Strong northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton International Airport on both the 30th and the 1st.<\/p>\n

1<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026northwest Chinook winds were sustained to 47 mph with gusts to 60 mph.\u00a0 The strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 61 degrees\u2026the warmest of the month.\u00a0 The low temperature dipped to only 39 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1972\u2026strong Chinook winds gusted in excess of 65 mph in Boulder.\u00a0 There were no reports of damage.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 38 mph at Stapleton international\u00a0 airport.<\/p>\n

In 1992\u2026strong winds continued through the early morning hours.\u00a0 Wind gusts to over 70 mph were measured at reporting sites in the foothills west of Denver.\u00a0 In west Boulder\u2026wind gusts reached 71 mph with 77 mph measured at Rollinsville.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport northwest winds gusted to 39 mph.\u00a0 The Walker Ranch\u2026an historic site west of Boulder\u2026burned down overnight during the high wind event.\u00a0 Although the winds did not cause the fire\u2026they did hamper efforts to extinguish the blaze.<\/p>\n

In 1996\u2026high winds howled in and near the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 105 mph at Wondervu southwest of Boulder and to 70 mph at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield.\u00a0 West winds gusted to only 24 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

1-2<\/p>\n

In 1933\u2026apparent post-frontal heavy snowfall totaled 8.0 inches across downtown Denver.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 17 mph with an extreme velocity to 18 mph on the 1st.<\/p>\n

In 1981 strong winds gusted to over 70 mph along the foothills.\u00a0 A peak gust to 100 mph was recorded at Wondervu.\u00a0 A gust to 94 mph was recorded just west of Boulder.\u00a0 Roofs on houses were damaged in the Evergreen area\u2026and some mobile homes also were damaged.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport\u2026northwest winds gusted 44 mph on the 1st and 37 mph on the 2nd.<\/p>\n

1-5<\/p>\n

In 1913\u2026the 1st marked the start of the heaviest 5-day total snowfall in the city\u2019s history.\u00a0 During this period snowfall totaled 45.7 inches.\u00a0 Starting on the 1st\u2026snow fell intermittently for 3 days and accumulated a little over 8 inches.\u00a0 On the 4th and 5th\u2026an additional 37.4 inches of snow fell.\u00a0 At Georgetown in the foothills west of Denver even more snow fell\u202686 inches over the 5 days with the most\u202663 inches\u2026on the 4th.\u00a0 In Colorado\u2026snowfall was heavy along the eastern slopes of the mountains from the Palmer Divide north.\u00a0 High winds during the storm caused heavy drifting\u2026which blocked all transportation.\u00a0 Snow cover of an inch or more from the storm persisted for 60 consecutive days from the 1st through January 29\u20261914. Additional snowfall in December and January prolonged the number of days.\u00a0 This is the third longest period of snow cover on record in the city.<\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

In 1893\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 46 mph.\u00a0 Snowfall was only 1.4 inches in the city.<\/p>\n

In 1895\u20260.01 inch of melted snow from 0.7 inch of snowfall was the only measurable precipitation of the month in downtown Denver\u2026ranking the month the 3rd driest December on record.<\/p>\n

In 1899\u2026post-frontal northeast winds sustained to 44 mph with gusts to 59 mph caused the temperature to plunge from a high of 55 degrees to a low of 15 degrees. Snowfall was only 1.0 inch.<\/p>\n

In 1902\u2026apparent post-frontal northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts to 53 mph.\u00a0 A trace of snow fell.<\/p>\n

In 1905\u2026only a trace of snow fell in downtown Denver. This was the only snow and precipitation for the month\u2026 Ranking the month the second driest and the second least snowiest December on record.<\/p>\n

In 1921\u2026snowfall was 5.5 inches in downtown Denver. Northwest winds were sustained to 24 mph with an extreme velocity of 25 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1951\u2026a vigorous pacific cold front produced a northwest wind gust to 51 mph at Stapleton Airport where brief blowing dust was observed.<\/p>\n

In 1957\u2026a strong pacific cold front produced northwest wind gusts to 54 mph at Stapleton Airport where the surface visibility was briefly reduced to 1 1\/2 miles in blowing dust.<\/p>\n

In 1977\u2026high winds in Boulder lifted a warehouse from its foundation and ripped it apart.\u00a0 Wind gusts from 60 to 103 mph toppled and injured a man while walking.\u00a0\u00a0 Winds were clocked to 104 mph at Nederland\u2026100 mph at Morrison\u2026and 62 mph at Rocky Flats.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1996\u2026for the second day in a row high winds ripped the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 81 mph in Golden Gate Canyon.\u00a0 West-northwest winds gusted to 37 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2013\u2026high winds developed ahead of an approaching storm system. The strong winds downed several trees around Evergreen. Peak wind gusts included: 79 mph\u20264 miles west-southwest of Eldorado Springs; 78 mph\u20263 miles south of Evergreen; 75 mph and the NCAR Mesa Lab; and 69 mph in Longmont.<\/p>\n

2-3<\/p>\n

In 1955\u2026snowfall totaled only 2.9 inches at Stapleton Airport.\u00a0 This was the only measurable snowfall of the month.<\/p>\n

In 1973\u2026post-frontal heavy snowfall totaled 7.6 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusting to 37 mph caused some blowing snow.<\/p>\n

In 1990\u2026strong downslope winds raked the eastern foothills and most of metro Denver.\u00a0 A wind gust to 87 mph was recorded at Rollinsville with wind gusts to 58 mph in Arvada and 55 mph in Lakewood.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 48 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 2nd.<\/p>\n

In 1997\u2026heavy snow fell in the foothills.\u00a0 Conifer received 10 inches of new snow.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled only 2.4 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport on the 1st\u20262nd\u2026and 3rd.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 24 mph at Denver International Airport on the 2nd.<\/p>\n

2-4<\/p>\n

In 1909\u2026post-frontal snowfall totaled 6.1 inches in downtown Denver.\u00a0 Most of the snow\u20265.9 inches\u2026fell between 6:00 pm on the 2nd and 6:00 pm on the 3rd. North winds were sustained to 18 mph on both the 2nd and 3rd.<\/p>\n

2-17<\/p>\n

In 1939\u2026more than 2 weeks of unseasonably warm weather made the month the 3rd warmest on record.\u00a0 Seven daily temperature records were set\u2026including the all time record high temperature for the month of 79 degrees on the 5th.\u00a0 Daytime highs were balmy with 14 days in the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s.\u00a0 Low temperatures dipped to freezing or below on only 5 days.\u00a0 The period was dry with only a trace of snow on the 12th.<\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

In 1977\u2026high winds continued in Boulder and were clocked from 74 to 90 mph\u2026causing only minor damage.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 63 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1985\u2026wind gusts to 78 mph were clocked at Table Mesa in Boulder.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 70 mph at Echo Lake west of Denver.<\/p>\n

In 2011\u2026another round of snow developed in and near the Front Range foothills. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson counties. Storm totals included: 13 inches\u20267 miles southwest of Boulder; 10.5 inches\u20264 miles east-northeast of Nederland; 10 inches at Genesee; 9.5 inches\u20264 miles west-northwest of Boulder; 9 inches at Gross Reservoir and 4 miles east of Pinecliffe. Around the urban corridor\u2026storm totals ranged from 3 to 8 inches\u2026heaviest in and around Boulder. At Denver International Airport\u20263 inches of snow fell.<\/p>\n

3-4<\/p>\n

In 1968\u2026strong Chinook winds in Boulder gusting to 52 mph downtown caused 7 thousand dollars in damage.\u00a0 Flying debris damaged cars\u2026houses\u2026and other property in Boulder. West winds gusted to 49 mph late on the 3rd and to 45 mph on the 4th at Stapleton International Airport where the temperature climbed to a high of 60 degrees on the 4th.<\/p>\n

In 1970\u2026strong winds whistled through Boulder.\u00a0 Sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph were recorded at the national bureau of standards in Boulder.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 50 mph occurred in downtown Denver.\u00a0 No damage was reported. On the 3rd\u2026northwest winds gusted to 40 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 66 degrees on the 4th.<\/p>\n

In 1999\u2026heavy snow fell over the foothills and metro Denver. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the foothills south of I-70 and near the Palmer Divide.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included: 25 inches near Tiny Town; 18 inches at Conifer; 15 inches near Evergreen; 14 inches at Chief Hosa\u20268 miles west of Castle Rock\u2026and near Blackhawk; 12 inches at pine junction and 8 miles south of Sedalia; 11 inches atop Floyd Hill and in Roxborough; and 10 inches at Castle Rock.\u00a0 Around metro Denver\u2026snowfall totals included:\u00a0 10 inches at Highlands Ranch\u20269 inches at Parker\u2026and 8 inches in Aurora and Wheat Ridge.\u00a0 Elsewhere around the metro area\u2026snowfall generally ranged from 3 to 5 inches.\u00a0 Only 3.2 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 3rd.<\/p>\n

In 2007\u2026high winds developed in and near the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 Peak wind reports included:\u00a0 88 mph atop Niwot Ridge; 87 mph atop mines peak; 80 mph\u20263 miles southeast of Jamestown; 78 mph at Longmont; 74 mph at Table Mesa.\u00a0 A few power outages occurred in Longmont as broken branches downed power lines.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 38 mph at Denver International Airport on the 4th.<\/p>\n

In 2013\u2026a storm system brought heavy snow to parts of the Front Range foothills. Storm totals included: 12 inches\u2026 7 miles west-southwest of Evergreen; 10.5 inches\u20263 miles north of Bailey; 9.5 inches\u20263 miles west of Jamestown and 5 miles northeast of Ward; 9 inches in Bailey\u20268.5 inches\u2026 3 miles north of Conifer.<\/p>\n

3-15<\/p>\n

In 1972\u2026a protracted cold spell held an icy grip on metro Denver when maximum temperatures never reached above freezing for 10 consecutive days from the 3rd through the 12th and minimum temperatures dipped below zero on eleven consecutive days from the 5th through the 15th. Daily low temperature records were set with 15 degrees below zero on the 5th\u202617 degrees below zero on the 6th\u2026 And 18 degrees below zero on the 10th.\u00a0 Daily record low maximum readings were set with 3 degrees on the 6th and 6 degrees on the 9th.\u00a0 The very cold temperatures were caused by 3 to 5 inches of snow cover and a Canadian air mass.<\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

In 1884\u2026a windstorm during the afternoon produced sustained northwest winds to 34 mph with higher gusts. The strong wind blew one of the wooden slats from the weather instrument shelter\u2026which broke the wet-bulb thermometer.<\/p>\n

In 1885\u2026north winds were sustained to 40 mph during the early morning hours.\u00a0 The strong winds were accompanied by a cold wave.<\/p>\n

In 1893\u2026northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph.\u00a0 The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 58 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1901\u2026Chinook winds sustained from the northwest at 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees in the city.<\/p>\n

In 1906\u2026rainfall of only 0.01 inch before daybreak was the only measurable precipitation of the month\u2026ranking the month the third driest December on record.<\/p>\n

In 1910\u2026cold west winds were strong all day with a sustained speed to 44 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1977\u2026northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1978\u2026high winds from 50 to near 150 mph occurred in the Boulder area.\u00a0 A pick-up truck was overturned\u2026and a camper top was blown off another truck.\u00a0 Some roof damage was reported.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 48 mph at Stapleton International Airport\u2026where the Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 57 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1980\u2026wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph occurred along the foothills.\u00a0 Southwest winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a record high of 69 degrees for the day.<\/p>\n

In 1991\u2026a volcanic ash cloud high in the atmosphere was clearly visible during the late afternoon being illuminated by the setting sun.<\/p>\n

In 1995\u2026very strong downslope winds gusting to 100 mph in the foothills knocked down trees and power lines\u2026 Triggering 800 power outages.\u00a0 Downed power lines sparked a half dozen brush fires ranging up to 4 acres in size. In Boulder\u2026a\u00a0 portion of an old drive-in movie screen was blown down\u2026and several car windows were shattered. The strongest wind gusts recorded were 100 mph at Golden Gate Canyon\u202699 mph at Rocky Flats environmental technology site\u202696 mph in north Boulder\u202694 mph at Wondervu\u202681 mph at Conifer\u2026and 77 mph in south Boulder. West-northwest winds gusted to only 29 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

4-5<\/p>\n

In 1912\u20265.2 inches of post-frontal snow fell in downtown Denver.\u00a0 Most of the snow fell on the 4th when northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 46 mph.<\/p>\n

In 1913\u2026a major winter storm produced heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions in the city.\u00a0 The snow fell continuously for 40 consecutive hours from 4:30 am on the 4th until just before midnight on the 5th and totaled 37.6 inches.\u00a0 The greatest accumulation on the ground was 32.6 inches at 6:00 pm on the 5th.\u00a0 Strong north winds accompanied the storm with sustained speeds of 30 mph or more for more than 25 hours.\u00a0 The highest sustained wind velocity was 44 mph during the afternoon of the 5th.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 46 mph on the 4th and to 47 mph on the 5th.\u00a0 The winds piled the snow into 4-and 5-foot drifts.\u00a0 By noon on the 4th traffic was interrupted\u2026and by evening the heavy wet snow had blocked most streets and highways.\u00a0 Street cars stalled when streets became blocked.\u00a0 Automobiles and other conveyances were abandoned in the streets.\u00a0 By the 5th\u2026 The blockage extended to steam railroads.\u00a0 Flat roofed buildings collapsed\u2026including the roof of the Calvary Baptist Church.\u00a0 Many downtown workers were unable to make it home on the night of the 4th and filled downtown hotels to overflowing.\u00a0 Some enjoyed the festive mood of the occasion and partied through the night.\u00a0 The city auditorium\u2026jail\u2026and several movie houses served as shelters for hundreds of people.\u00a0 The snow was remarkably moist for this time of year with a total water content of 3.44 inches.\u00a0 Temperatures during the storm were between 25 and 34 degrees.\u00a0 Cold weather followed the storm and snow remained on the ground for a long time.\u00a0 On some street car lines\u2026it took 6 to 7 days before the right of way could be cleared.\u00a0 The foothills measured even more snow from the storm.\u00a0 At Georgetown\u2026the 2 day snowfall totaled 71 inches. The 2.12 inches of precipitation measured on the 4th is the greatest calendar day precipitation ever recorded during the month of December in Denver.\u00a0 The 2.29 inches of precipitation measured from the 4th into the 5th is the greatest 24 hour precipitation ever recorded in the city during December.<\/p>\n

In 1972\u2026only 4.5 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport\u2026but high winds on the evening of the 4th caused blizzard conditions over the plains east of Denver.\u00a0 A 21-year-old university of Colorado student caught in the storm while cross country skiing west of Boulder froze to death.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 32 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1979\u2026the Front Range was hit by strong Chinook winds. The Boulder area was hardest hit with winds gusting to 119 mph at Rocky Flats and 92 mph in the city.\u00a0 A wind gust to 104 mph was recorded at Wondervu.\u00a0 Damage was widespread\u2026amounting to 1.2 million dollars mainly around Boulder.\u00a0 Roofs were blown off several buildings and homes\u2026 Hundreds of windows were broken\u2026and many cars were damaged by flying debris.\u00a0 Small planes were severely damaged at 3 airports in the area.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 5th.<\/p>\n

In 1996\u2026persistent westerly flow aloft produced more high winds in and near the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 Several locations reported hurricane force winds with peak gusts of 100 to 120 mph.\u00a0 The high winds downed trees and power lines\u2026leaving 700 residents without power for nearly 4 hours in the communities of Beaver Brook\u2026Blue Valley\u2026 Conifer\u2026Evergreen\u2026and Floyd Hill.\u00a0 A wall of a building under construction in Lafayette was toppled\u2026a semi-truck was blown over near the Boulder turnpike damaging a concrete barrier\u2026and a 60-foot tree crushed a parked pick-up truck at a Denver residence.\u00a0 High wind gusts included:\u00a0 an estimated 120 mph at Blackhawk\u2026115 mph at aspen springs\u2026100 mph at the Eldora ski resort\u202675 mph atop Shanahan Ridge near Boulder\u202674 mph near Conifer\u2026and 71 mph at the Rocky Flats environmental test facility. At Denver International Airport\u2026west winds gusted to 51 mph on the 4th and to only 38 mph on the 5th.<\/p>\n

4-6<\/p>\n

In 1960\u2026heavy snowfall totaled 12.0 inches over the 3 days with 5.1 inches on the 4th\u20265.2 inches on the 5th\u2026and 1.7 inches on the 6th.\u00a0 Rain changed to snow early on the 4th and ended by early afternoon.\u00a0 Snow started again early on the 5th and continued through midday on the 6th.\u00a0 West northwest winds gusted to 30 mph on the 4th.\u00a0 Post cold frontal temperatures cooled from a high of 38 degrees on the 4th to a low of 7 degrees below zero on the 6th.<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

In 1897\u2026west Chinook winds sustained to 48 mph with gusts to 60 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 60 degrees.<\/p>\n

In 1906\u2026only a trace of snow fell in downtown Denver. This\u2026along with a trace of snow on both the 28th and 29th\u2026 Was the only snow of the month\u2026ranking the month the second least snowiest December on record.<\/p>\n

In 1939\u2026the highest temperature ever recorded in December\u2026 79 degrees\u2026occurred.<\/p>\n

In 1979\u2026strong Chinook winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 1993\u2026strong winds in and near the foothills swept across metro Denver.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 71 mph were recorded atop squaw mountain and 68 mph at Rollinsville.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 69 mph were observed at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield\u2026and to 68 mph on Table Mesa in southwest Boulder.\u00a0 Northwest wind gusts to 44 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

In 2002\u2026only a trace of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 This\u2026along with the trace of snow on the 18th\u2026was the only snow of the month\u2026ranking the month the 2nd least snowiest on record.<\/p>\n

In 2005\u2026high winds in Boulder broke windows\u2026damaged roofs\u2026 And produced power outages that left around 10 thousand people without electricity.\u00a0 In the Golden area along c-470\u2026I-70\u2026and the McIntyre Parkway\u2026seven tractor trailers were overturned by strong cross-winds.\u00a0 Peak wind gusts included:\u00a0 98 mph near Eldorado Springs\u202690 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder\u2026 85 mph near Evergreen\u202683 mph at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield\u202680 mph near Golden\u2026and 76 mph near Longmont.\u00a0 West to northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

5-6<\/p>\n

In 1883\u2026a major snow storm hit the city.\u00a0 Heavy snow fell from 10:00 am on the 5th to 7:30 am on the 6th.\u00a0 The amount of snowfall was not recorded\u2026but precipitation from melted snow totaled 1.75 inches\u2026which would give an estimated snowfall of nearly 18 inches.\u00a0 Temperatures during the storm were in the 30\u2019s\u2026so some of the snow May have melted as it fell.\u00a0 However\u2026railroads were blocked and telegraph lines were downed in all directions.\u00a0 Telephone wires and poles were nearly all broken down.\u00a0 The company manager estimated the damage at 30 thousand dollars.\u00a0 Northeast winds were sustained to 24 mph in the city.<\/p>\n

In 1892\u2026heavy snow totaled 6.2 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow\u20266.0 inches\u2026fell on the 6th.<\/p>\n

In 2001\u2026high winds developed in the foothills northwest of Denver.\u00a0 Winds gusted to 74 mph at aspen springs.\u00a0 West- northwest winds gusted to 35 mph at Denver International Airport\u2026where the temperature warmed to a high of 55 degrees on the 6th.<\/p>\n

5-7<\/p>\n

In 1978\u2026a major storm dumped heavy snow across metro Denver. At Stapleton International Airport\u2026snowfall totaled 8.5 inches\u2026northeast winds gusted to 46 mph\u2026and temperatures plunged from a high of 49 degrees on the 5th to a low of only 6 degrees on the 6th.\u00a0 Maximum temperature of 6 degrees on the 7th was a new daily record low maximum reading.\u00a0 Most of the snow\u20266.7 inches\u2026fell on the 5th.<\/p>\n

5-8<\/p>\n

In 1983\u2026high winds occurred in and near the foothills each day.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 63 mph were registered in Golden Gate Canyon on the evening of the 5th.\u00a0 On the evening of the 6th\u2026winds knocked down trees\u2026snapped power lines\u2026and blew out windows across metro Denver.\u00a0 Gusts were clocked to 102 mph in southwest metro Denver\u2026while wind gusts to 38 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 On the 7th\u2026winds overturned a tractor trailer near Castle Rock. After midnight on the 8th\u2026gusts to 97 mph were reported in southeast Boulder.\u00a0 Wind speeds of 60 to 70 mph were reported in other parts of metro Denver.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As always, our look back at Denver\u2019s weather history books is very eventful.\u00a0 As we start to get closer to winter, we begin to see many more multi-day snow events that are notable and this week\u2019s look is no different.\u00a0 We see many major snow events and also of note are the damaging high wind … Continue reading November 29 to December 5: 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":[81,156,106,62,104,741],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21166"}],"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=21166"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21167,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21166\/revisions\/21167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}