{"id":2678,"date":"2010-04-25T07:02:43","date_gmt":"2010-04-25T13:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/?p=2678"},"modified":"2010-04-25T08:05:50","modified_gmt":"2010-04-25T14:05:50","slug":"april-25-to-may-1-this-week-in-denver-weather-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/weather-history\/april-25-to-may-1-this-week-in-denver-weather-history\/","title":{"rendered":"April 25 to May 1 – This week in Denver weather history"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"April<\/a>
April 25 to May 1 \u2013 This week in Denver weather history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Snow continues to be a big part of the weather we can expect this time of year as we peer back in the Denver weather history books.\u00a0 However, we also see more and more occurrences of spring severe weather including hail, damaging winds, dangerous lightning and even a tornado.<\/p>\n

23-25<\/p>\n

In 1935…heavy wet snow fell across metro Denver.\u00a0 The storm started as rain on the 23rd and changed to snow early on the morning of the 24th.\u00a0 There was continuous precipitation for a period of 48 hours.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 19.0 inches over the city and 20.0 inches at Denver municipal airport.\u00a0 However… Due to warm temperatures in the 30’s…much of the snow melted as it fell and did not seriously disrupt traffic. The greatest snow accumulation on the ground downtown was 12 inches…but it quickly melted.\u00a0 The highest sustained wind speed recorded during the storm was 28 mph from the north on the 23rd.\u00a0 The storm contained 3.16 inches of moisture.<\/p>\n

24-25<\/p>\n

In 1890…rain changed to snow and totaled 7.0 inches in downtown Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1931…heavy snowfall totaled 9.3 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 Winds were light during the storm.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1996…the second wind storm in less than a week developed east of the continental divide and spread over metro Denver.\u00a0 High winds gusted from 60 to 90 mph.\u00a0 Several power lines and poles were downed.\u00a0 Some of the stronger wind gusts included:\u00a0 91 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver…90 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder…85 mph in Golden Gate Canyon…and 82 mph at Wondervu.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport on the 25th.<\/p>\n

24-26<\/p>\n

In 1924…post-frontal rain changed to snow…which became heavy and totaled 10.2 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 The greatest amount of snow on the ground was 6.0 inches on the 25th due to melting.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 38 mph with gusts to 42 mph on the 24th.<\/p>\n

25<\/p>\n

In 1902…northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 48 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1908…north winds were sustained to 40 mph behind an apparent cold front.\u00a0 Snowfall was 0.5 inch.
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\nIn 1928…rain changed to snow…which became heavy and totaled 7.4 inches in downtown Denver.\u00a0 Due to melting…the maximum snow depth on the ground was 4.0 inches at 6:00 pm.\u00a0 This was the last snow of the season.\u00a0 Southeast winds were sustained to 19 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
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\nIn 1976…a south wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 The high winds toppled a 70-foot high cottonwood tree onto the rear of house and a neighboring residence in central Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1989…lightning caused heavy damage to a radio transmitter in Parker…knocking a Denver area radio station off the air for 3 hours.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1994…weather spotters reported dime-size hail at the intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and C470 in Jefferson County.\u00a0 Marble-size hail covered the ground near Golden to a depth of 1 inch.\u00a0 Pea-size hail was reported covering the ground to a depth of 3 inches in Arvada.<\/p>\n

25-26<\/p>\n

In 1985…a spring storm brought much rain and snow to metro Denver.\u00a0 The foothills were buried with 15 inches of snow at conifer and 12 inches at Evergreen.\u00a0 At lower elevations… An inch or more of rain fell in Denver and Boulder.\u00a0 The heavy precipitation caused brief power outages in the Denver area.\u00a0 Precipitation totaled 1.06 inches at Stapleton International Airport…including only 0.7 inch of snowfall.<\/p>\n

25-27<\/p>\n

In 1877…snow ended around 7:00 am on the morning of the 27th… After falling continuously for 48 hours and totaling an estimated 13 inches in the city.\u00a0 The storm…likely accompanied by strong winds…caused trains to be delayed for 2 to 3 days.\u00a0 One or two roofs of small buildings were crushed by the weight of the snow…and many tree branches were broken in the city.\u00a0 There were a number of reports of livestock losses.\u00a0 One stockman lost 17 horses and several cattle from the snow and cold.\u00a0 Precipitation totaled 1.30 inches from the storm.<\/p>\n

26<\/p>\n

In 1965…while only 0.40 inch of rain fell at Stapleton International Airport…some communities in the foothills west of Denver reported over 30 inches of snow from the storm.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1972…a spring snow storm accompanied by thunder dumped 15.8 inches of heavy wet snow on metro Denver.\u00a0 Strong northwest winds gusting to 35 mph produced blowing snow. The storm was quite intense and greatly hampered travel. High winds caused drifts 10 to 15 feet deep in some areas… Blocking roads and stranding hundreds of motorists.\u00a0 An estimated 500 to 600 people were stranded in the Castle Rock area.\u00a0 Rescue service was provided by heavy army equipment from Fort Carson.\u00a0 Power lines were downed…power poles were toppled…and a number of steel towers carrying high voltage power lines were downed.\u00a0 Some areas northeast of Denver were without power for a week.\u00a0 A large number of cattle and sheep were killed by the storm.\u00a0 The greatest snow depth on the ground at Stapleton International Airport was 12 inches.\u00a0 Warm temperatures following the storm quickly melted the snow.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1995…the third major snow storm of the month dumped heavy snow in and near the Front Range foothills.\u00a0 Six to 12 inches of heavy wet snow fell in the western metro suburbs with the heaviest amounts above 6 thousand feet.\u00a0 Both Boulder and Golden measured 10 inches of snow.\u00a0 Only 2.4 inches of snowfall were measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 North winds gusted 28 mph at Denver International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1998…the last in a series of April storms blanketed the foothills with heavy snow.\u00a0 Snowfall amounts included:\u00a0 17 inches near Blackhawk…15 inches at Idaho Springs…14 inches at Georgetown…11 inches near Conifer and Morrison. Only a trace of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 28 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

26-27<\/p>\n

In 1906…rain changed to heavy snow overnight and totaled 7.0 inches over downtown Denver.\u00a0 North winds were sustained to 16 mph on both days.\u00a0 Precipitation totaled 2.16 inches.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1932…the temperature remained below freezing for more than 30 consecutive hours.\u00a0 For about 4 of those hours the temperature hovered around 24 to 25 degrees.\u00a0 At this time some early cherry trees were in bloom and apple and lilac blossoms were beginning to open.\u00a0 The leaves of many plants were partly unfurled and vegetation in general was correspondingly advanced due to the warm weather from the 11th to the 22nd.\u00a0 However…there was little apparent injury to foliage and blossoms…but some of the early cherry and apple blossoms were injured.\u00a0 Rain changed to snow on the 26th and continued intermittently through the 27th.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled only 2.0 inches and northeast winds gusted to 22 mph on the 26th.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1964…strong winds caused damage to buildings…trees…and power lines.\u00a0 Sustained winds of 37 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph were recorded in metro Denver.\u00a0 West-northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.<\/p>\n

27<\/p>\n

In 1955…west winds at 43 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 3\/8 mile.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1966…a northwest wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.<\/p>\n

27-28<\/p>\n

In 1919…rainfall totaled 2.03 inches for the two days… Along with a trace of snowfall.\u00a0 Northwest winds were sustained to 24 mph with gusts to 26 mph on the 27th.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1975…high winds gusting to 85 mph severely damaged a mobile home in Boulder and caused other minor damage. West winds gusted to 46 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 28th.
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\nIn 1996…heavy snow fell over portions of the Front Range foothills west of Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches.\u00a0 Only 0.3 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport on the 27th.<\/p>\n

28<\/p>\n

In 1894…southwest winds were sustained to 35 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.
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\nIn 1896…apparent post-frontal Bora winds from the northwest were sustained to 43 mph with gusts as high as 56 mph. Rainfall totaled 0.22 inch.
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\nIn 1990…high winds raked the northeastern plains and eastern foothills from Boulder north.\u00a0 Wind gusts to 70 mph were recorded in Boulder.\u00a0 West winds gusted to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2001…a 21-year-old man was struck by lightning along the shoulder of I-225 near Parker road.\u00a0 His brother’s car had broken down and he stopped to help.\u00a0 The bolt briefly stopped the man’s heart and caused the right side of his body to go numb.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2003…severe thunderstorms produced large hail across southern metro Denver.\u00a0 Hail to 1 3\/4 inches in diameter fell in Englewood and 2 miles east of centennial airport. Hail as large as 1 1\/2 inches in diameter fell in Aurora near Cherry Creek.\u00a0 Other large hail reports included 1 inch hail near Bennett…and 7\/8 inch hail in greenwood village and at centennial airport.<\/p>\n

28-29<\/p>\n

In 1950…snowfall totaled 6.3 inches at Stapleton Airport…but only 3.5 inches over downtown Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1960…heavy snow fell at Stapleton Airport where 8.6 inches of snow were measured.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 38 mph.\u00a0 Most of the snow…6.9 inches…fell on the 29th.<\/p>\n

29<\/p>\n

In 1898…apparent thunderstorm winds were sustained from the southwest to 58 mph with gusts to 66 mph.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1909…north winds were sustained to 44 mph behind an apparent cold front.\u00a0 These were the strongest measured winds of the month that year.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1962…heavy snowfall totaled 6.4 inches at Stapleton Airport where northeast winds gusted to only 17 mph. Snow fell all day…but the most on the ground was only 1 inch due to melting.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1991…two men were struck by lightning while golfing in cherry hills just south of Denver.\u00a0 The two received only minor burns.\u00a0 Shortly afterward…lightning struck a home in cherry hills village several times…leaving numerous holes in the roof.\u00a0 No injuries were reported.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1993…localized strong winds occurred at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield where gusts to 63 mph were recorded. The strong winds were the result of a probable microburst.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2000…several severe thunderstorms producing large hail and destructive winds rumbled across northern metro Denver. Thunderstorm wind gusts reached 81 mph near Hudson with hail as large as 3\/4 inch in diameter at Longmont.\u00a0 Several homes and vehicles sustained damage.\u00a0 The strong winds uprooted trees and downed utility poles…causing scattered outages.\u00a0 Lightning sparked a house fire in Boulder.\u00a0 The fire damaged a portion of the roof and a bedroom on the third floor.\u00a0 Thunderstorm winds gusted to 53 mph at Denver International Airport.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2003…lightning struck a chimney at a residence in Hiwan in Evergreen…sending stones flying as far as 150 feet. Electrical equipment in some nearby homes also failed. Damage to the residence…in addition to electrical equipment…was estimated at 100 thousand dollars. Severe thunderstorms produced large hail to 1 inch in diameter near Hudson and Sedalia and to 3\/4 inch near Parker.\u00a0 Hail as large as 1 3\/4 inches was measured 9 miles north of Sedalia.<\/p>\n

29-30<\/p>\n

In 1964…several weeks of dry weather and windy conditions across the great plains to the east caused noticeable suspended dust to invade metro Denver.\u00a0 At Stapleton International Airport east winds gusted to 28 mph and visibility was reduced to 5 miles.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1989…a late season snowstorm dropped 2 to 4 inches of snow across metro Denver with 6 to 12 inches in the foothills.\u00a0 Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 23 mph and the greatest snow depth on the ground was 2 inches due to melting.
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\nIn 1991…a Pacific storm dumped heavy wet snow across metro Denver.\u00a0 The foothills were hit the hardest where snowfall amounts ranged from 16 inches at Evergreen to 5 inches at Idaho Springs.\u00a0 Lower elevations of metro Denver received 5 to 9 inches of snowfall with 5 inches in Boulder and 7.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 25 mph.\u00a0 The weight of the snow caused power lines to fall and tree limbs to snap…producing power outages in parts of Denver…Aurora…and Westminster.
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\nIn 1999…heavy snow fell overnight in the foothills above 7500 feet elevation.\u00a0 Snowfall totals included:\u00a0 13 inches near Rollinsville…10 inches near Evergreen…8 inches at Blackhawk and Nederland…and 7 inches at Conifer.\u00a0 Only rain fell across the city with 2.13 inches recorded at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

29-2\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1954…a major storm dumped 10.1 inches of snowfall at Stapleton Airport.\u00a0 Most of the snow…7.5 inches…fell on the 29th and 30th.\u00a0 The maximum snow depth on the ground was 5 inches on the 30th due to melting.\u00a0 No strong winds accompanied the storm.<\/p>\n

30<\/p>\n

In 1896…northwest winds were sustained to 55 mph with gusts as high as 64 mph in the city.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1960…the minimum temperature dipped to 22 degrees at Stapleton Airport.\u00a0 The sub-freezing cold damaged fruit trees and some other crops in the area.
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\nIn 1967…west winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 Winds were strong and gusty across all of metro Denver.
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\nIn 1972…hail 1\/2 to 3\/4 inches in diameter fell at Stapleton International Airport.\u00a0 Northwest winds gusted to 35 mph.
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\nIn 1980…a cold air funnel touched down several times near Louisville.
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\nIn 1983…mothball-size hail fell in Wheat Ridge.
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\nIn 1992…the all-time highest recorded temperature in April… 90 degrees…occurred.\u00a0 This is also the earliest 90 degree reading for the season.\u00a0 In addition…the temperature dipped to a low of only 56 degrees…setting a record high minimum for the date.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1995…hail…up to 3\/4 inch in diameter…fell at Denver International Airport.\u00a0 The hail was soft…lasted for only 8 to 10 minutes…and caused no damage.
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\nIn 2002…drought conditions started to have an effect on greater metro Denver.\u00a0 April…normally the third snowiest month of the year in Denver averaging just over 9 inches of snow…ended with only a trace of snow…ranking the month… Along with previous Aprils…the 2nd least snowiest on record.\u00a0 The month ended with only 0.23 inch of liquid precipitation making the month the 3rd driest on record. Mountain snowpack was less than half of normal for this time of year.\u00a0 A statewide drought emergency was declared by the governor.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2003…a small tornado touched down 10 miles east of Hudson… But did no damage.\u00a0 Hail as large as 3\/4 inch in diameter fell in Aurora near Cherry Creek.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2004…post-frontal upslope flow produced light snowfall across metro Denver.\u00a0 Snowfall was 4.0 inches at Denver Stapleton…while the temperature hovered in the lower 30’s all day.\u00a0 The high temperature was only 33 degrees…a record low maximum for the date.\u00a0 The low temperature of 30 degrees was not a record.\u00a0 North winds gusted to 20 mph at Denver International Airport.<\/p>\n

30-1\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1980…to the west of Denver…heavy rain changing to snow buried the foothills above 7 thousand feet in 4 to 8 inches of snow.\u00a0 Precipitation in the foothills ranged from 1 to 3 inches…which caused some local flooding.\u00a0 Rain fell at lower elevations.\u00a0 Rainfall at Stapleton International Airport totaled 1.05 inches from the storm.<\/p>\n

1<\/p>\n

In 1902…northwest winds were sustained to 68 mph with gusts as high as 74 mph in the city during the early morning.\u00a0 The apparent very strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 78 degrees.
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\nIn 1912…south winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph.\u00a0 South to southwest winds were strong all afternoon.
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\nIn 1935…a moderate duststorm blew into the city at around 2:00 pm on northwest winds sustained to 17 mph with gusts to 19 mph.\u00a0 Later in the afternoon…the dust receded to the east in advance of a rainstorm from the west.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1988…very strong winds behind a vigorous cold front produced a blinding dust storm that closed I-70 east of Denver.\u00a0 Northeast winds over metro Denver peaked to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport…but only kicked up some blowing dust.\u00a0 The temperature plunged from a high of 76 degrees at midday to 36 degrees at midnight as light rain changed to light snow.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1991…3\/4 inch diameter hail fell at Standley Lake in northwest metro Denver.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 1999…heavy snow developed in the foothills above 7 thousand feet elevation.\u00a0 Snow totals included: 10 inches at Rollinsville…7 inches near conifer…and 6 inches atop Crow Hill.\u00a0 Rain fell across metro Denver.<\/p>\n

1-2\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1903…post-frontal rain changed to light snow overnight… But totaled only 2.0 inches.\u00a0 This was the last snow of the season.\u00a0 Northeast winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts to 48 mph on the 1st.<\/p>\n

1-5\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 1898…snowfall totaled 15.5 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow…6.2 inches…fell on the 3rd.\u00a0 Most of the snow melted as it fell.\u00a0 The greatest snow depth on the ground was only 2.5 inches on the 3rd at 8:00 pm. This was the only snowfall during the month.\u00a0 Northeast winds were sustained to 22 mph on the 1st.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Snow continues to be a big part of the weather we can expect this time of year as we peer back in the Denver weather history books.\u00a0 However, we also see more and more occurrences of spring severe weather including hail, damaging winds, dangerous lightning and even a tornado. 23-25 In 1935…heavy wet snow fell … Continue reading April 25 to May 1 – This week in Denver weather history<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[81,106,62,741],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678"}],"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=2678"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2681,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2678\/revisions\/2681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thorntonweather.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}