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000
NOUS45 KBOU 100045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-102300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
645 PM MDT SAT MAY 09 2009
...THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY...
IN 1999...A 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...20 INCHES AT WONDERVU...19 INCHES AT
GENESEE...17 INCHES NEAR EVERGREEN AND NEDERLAND AND AT IDAHO
SPRINGS AND TINY TOWN...14 INCHES AT GEORGETOWN...13 INCHES AT
MORRISON...10 INCHES NEAR SEDALIA...9 INCHES IN SOUTH BOULDER...
8 INCHES AT HIGHLANDS RANCH AND WHEAT RIDGE...AND 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.
15 IN 1874...LIGHT 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...
TOTAL PRECIPITATION FROM THE MELTED SNOW WAS 0.95 INCH.
THIS WOULD MAKE THE ESTIMATED SNOWFALL NEARLY 10 INCHES.
IN 1963...HIGH 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.
IN 1998...ANOTHER 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...SLICK ROADS...AND CARELESS DRIVERS
LED TO THE MULTI-CAR PILEUPS. ONLY MINOR INJURIES WERE
REPORTED. THE ACCIDENTS FORCED THE CLOSURE OF ALL OF
I-70`S EASTBOUND LANES. SNOWFALL TOTALS INCLUDED 12
INCHES AT GENESEE AND 10 INCHES AT ASPEN SPRINGS...CHIEF
HOSA...GEORGETOWN...NEAR MORRISON...AND 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.
IN 2002...UNSEASONABLE 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.
15-16 IN 1900...HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALED 2.33 INCHES. A TRACE OF
SNOW WAS MIXED WITH THE RAIN AT TIMES.
IN 1950...THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN BEHIND A COLD FRONT
PRODUCED 2.13 INCHES OF RAIN IN 24 HOURS AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT.
IN 2003...A 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.
15-17 IN 1922...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 9.0 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW...6.0 INCHES...FELL 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.
16 IN 1960...A 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...POWER AND TELEPHONE
LINES...AND 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.
16-17 IN 1944...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 7.5 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER. NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 18 MPH ON
THE 16TH.
8-10 IN 1979...4.3 INCHES OF SNOW FELL AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH ON THE 8TH.
MOST OF THE SNOWFALL...2.3 INCHES...OCCURRED ON THE 9TH.
HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ONLY 35 DEGREES ON THE 9TH EQUALED THE
RECORD LOW MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE.
9-10 IN 1889...HEAVY RAINFALL TOTALED 2.15 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER. THE COLD RAIN WAS MIXED WITH SNOW AT TIMES
OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURES ON THE 10TH RANGED FROM A
HIGH OF 38 DEGREES TO A LOW OF 32 DEGREES WITH NORTH
WINDS SUSTAINED TO 22 MPH.
IN 2003...A LATE SPRING SNOWSTORM HAMMERED THE MOUNTAINS...
EASTERN FOOTHILLS...AND URBAN CORRIDOR. THE HEAVIEST
SNOWFALL OCCURRED NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70. THE HEAVY
WET SNOW CAUSED DAMAGE TO TREES THROUGHOUT METRO DENVER
AND DOWNED POWER LINES. ABOUT 40 THOUSAND PEOPLE ALONG
THE URBAN CORRIDOR WERE WITHOUT POWER. STORM TOTAL
SNOWFALL AMOUNTS INCLUDED: 11.5 INCHES IN LOUISVILLE...
8 INCHES IN BOULDER AND BROOMFIELD; 7 INCHES IN
THORNTON...BROOMFIELD...AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
AND AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT; AND 6 INCHES 4 MILES EAST OF DENVER. SNOWFALL
RANGED FROM 4 TO 9 INCHES ACROSS EXTREME SOUTHERN WELD
COUNTY. IN THE FOOTHILLS...15 INCHES OF SNOW FELL NEAR
JAMESTOWN...9 INCHES AT ROLLINSVILLE AND RAWAH...WITH
8 INCHES AT CHIEF HOSA AND ATOP LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
THE SNOW WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THUNDER ON THE AFTERNOON
OF THE 9TH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE WEST
WINDS GUSTED TO 25 MPH ON THE 9TH AND NORTH WINDS GUSTED
TO 22 MPH ON THE 10TH.
10 IN 1875...A WINDSTORM SAND-BLASTED THE CITY FROM 10:00 AM
UNTIL MIDNIGHT. NORTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 60 MPH
BROUGHT CLOUDS OF SAND...WHICH CAUSED HIGH DAMAGE TO
UNFINISHED BUILDINGS.
IN 1912...A VIGOROUS COLD FRONT PRODUCED STRONG NORTH WINDS
AND RAIN. NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH WITH GUSTS
AS HIGH AS 60 MPH. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.10 INCH.
IN 1935...NO PRECIPITATION OCCURRED...MAKING THIS ONE OF
ONLY TWO DAYS WITHOUT PRECIPITATION DURING THE ENTIRE
MONTH. THE OTHER DAY WAS THE 21ST. PRECIPITATION
TOTALED 4.95 INCHES FOR THE MONTH.
IN 1956...NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 53 MPH AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT WHERE THE VISIBILITY WAS BRIEFLY REDUCED TO 1/2
MILE IN BLOWING DUST.
IN 1974...STRONG WINDS CAUSED 30 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE
TO A BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN LAKEWOOD. MICROBURST
WINDS GUSTED TO 46 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOUSE IN BOULDER...SETTING IT
AFIRE. THE HOUSE...VALUED AT 170 THOUSAND DOLLARS...WAS A
TOTAL LOSS.
IN 1989...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL OVER SOUTHEAST DENVER NEAR
THE JUNCTION OF I-25 AND I-225. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER FELL OVER SOUTHEAST AURORA. ONLY 3/8 INCH HAIL
FELL AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1991...HIGH WINDS UP TO 63 MPH RAKED THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS.
WINDS ESTIMATED TO 50 MPH TORE A ROOF FROM A HOME IN
LAFAYETTE. A TOWER AT JEFFERSON COUNTY STADIUM IN WEST
METRO DENVER WAS BLOWN OVER BY THE HIGH WINDS. NO
INJURIES WERE REPORTED. SOUTHEAST WINDS GUSTING TO 48 MPH
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRODUCED SOME BLOWING
DUST. THE TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO A HIGH OF 86 DEGREES...
EQUALING THE RECORD MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE.
IN 2005...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL AS LARGE AS
2 INCHES IN DIAMETER IN AND NEAR LONGMONT.
10-11 IN 1918...POST-FRONTAL SNOWFALL TOTALED 4.7 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 19 MPH ON THE 10TH.
IN 1923...WINDS WERE STRONG AND GUSTY ON BOTH DAYS. NORTHWEST
WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 44 MPH ON THE
10TH. NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 39 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
46 MPH BEHIND AN APPARENT COLD FRONT ON THE 11TH.
11 IN 1879...AN APPARENT COLD FRONT DURING THE AFTERNOON PRODUCED
SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH AND GREAT CLOUDS OF
BLOWING DUST. THE DUST FILLED THE AIR UNTIL THE THUNDERSTORM
RAIN BEGAN...WHICH PRODUCED 1.46 INCHES OF RAINFALL. THE RAIN
ENDED DURING THE EVENING.
IN 1900...SOUTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 46 MPH.
IN 1958...A MICROBURST CAUSED A BRIEF WIND GUST TO 55 MPH AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1963...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 48 MPH AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT. WINDS MAY HAVE BEEN STRONGER OVER WEST DENVER
WHERE SOME BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED.
IN 1998...LARGE HAIL FELL OVER SOUTH METRO DENVER. HAIL
AS LARGE AS 1 1/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED IN
PARKER WITH 1 INCH HAIL RECORDED IN LITTLETON AND 4 MILES
SOUTH OF LAKEWOOD IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH
DIAMETER WAS MEASURED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY...11 MILES WEST-
NORTHWEST OF PARKER.
12 IN 1875...TWO FOREST FIRES ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE
FOOTHILLS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE CITY.
IN 1904...NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 48 MPH.
IN 1950...BRILLIANT AND COMPLETE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
RAINBOWS ARCHING ACROSS THE SKY WERE OBSERVED FROM
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1951...A WIND GUST TO 51 MPH WAS RECORDED AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT.
IN 1984...WINDS GUSTED TO 69 MPH IN BOULDER. NORTHWEST WINDS
GUSTED TO 47 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1987...A SMALL WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN FOR ABOUT 2
MINUTES IN SOUTHEAST DENVER. THE TWISTER HIT A CAR
DEALERSHIP...BLOWING ABOUT A DOZEN WINDOWS OUT OF CARS AND
SHATTERING FOUR SKYLIGHTS ON THE BUILDING. SOME TIN
ROOFING WAS BLOWN OFF A PATIO A BLOCK AND A HALF AWAY. THE
TORNADO ALSO DOWNED A POWER POLE. DAMAGE AT THE DEALERSHIP
WAS ESTIMATED AT 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS. A MAN WAS SLIGHTLY
INJURED BY LIGHTNING IN NORTHWEST AURORA.
IN 1995...SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE SIGHTED NEAR PARKER.
ONE OF THE FUNNELS PRODUCED A SHORT-LIVED DEBRIS CLOUD
ON THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
12-13 IN 1907...THE TEMPERATURE WARMED TO A HIGH OF 73 DEGREES ON
THE 12TH...BEFORE A COLD FRONT PRODUCED A THUNDERSTORM...
NORTHEAST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH...AND RAIN CHANGING TO
LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT. SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 2 INCHES...BUT
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON THE 13TH WAS ONLY 39 DEGREES.
IN 1961...A STORM THAT COVERED METRO DENVER WITH RAIN AND SNOW
STARTED AS THUNDERSTORMS ON THE EVENING OF THE 12TH. HAIL
TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED 10 MILES NORTHWEST
OF STAPLETON AIRPORT. RAIN CONTINUED OVERNIGHT AND CHANGED
TO SNOW ON THE 13TH. SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.4 INCHES AND
PRECIPITATION (RAIN AND MELTED SNOW) 1.96 INCHES AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH. THE
RAIN AND HEAVY WET SNOW CAUSED ICING DAMAGE TO UTILITY
LINES. HEAVY SNOW OCCURRED IN THE FOOTHILLS.
IN 1982...A MAJOR STORM DUMPED 1.50 TO 3.50 INCHES OF RAIN
ACROSS NORTHEAST COLORADO AND DEPOSITED PRODIGIOUS AMOUNTS
OF SNOW IN THE FOOTHILLS. COAL CREEK CANYON SOUTHWEST OF
BOULDER WAS BURIED UNDER 46 INCHES OF SNOW WITH 39 INCHES
AT NEDERLAND. THE HEAVY WET SNOW DOWNED MANY POWERLINES IN
THE FOOTHILLS. IN THORNTON...THE ROOF OF A SCHOOL WAS
DAMAGED BY WATER FROM THE HEAVY RAIN. AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.49 INCHES OF RAIN WERE MEASURED
OVER THE TWO DAY PERIOD. THE HEAVY RAIN ENDED A SEVERE AND
PROLONGED DROUGHT.
IN 2004...A WINTER STORM PRODUCED HEAVY SNOW IN EXCESS OF A
FOOT IN THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE 6 THOUSAND FEET WHILE HEAVY
RAIN FELL ACROSS THE CITY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW OCCURRED IN
THE HIGH COUNTRY OF BOULDER COUNTY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
WAS 14.5 INCHES NEAR JAMESTOWN. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.81 INCH
AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITH 0.94 INCH RECORDED AT
DENVER STAPLETON. A TRACE OF SNOW WAS RECORDED AT BOTH
LOCATIONS. EAST WINDS GUSTED TO 24 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 12TH.
13 IN 1905...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 0.57 INCH.
13-14 IN 1912...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 12.4 INCHES OVER THE CITY.
MOST OF THE SNOW...9.9 INCHES...FELL ON THE 13TH...WHICH WAS
THE GREATEST 24 HOUR SNOWFALL IN MAY AT THE TIME. THIS
WAS THE LAST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON. THE LOW TEMPERATURE
DIPPED TO 27 DEGREES ON THE MORNING OF THE 14TH.
IN 1989...A SPRING STORM BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW TO THE
FOOTHILLS. METRO DENVER WAS SOAKED WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES
OF RAIN. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.26 INCHES AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IN THE FOOTHILLS...ECHO LAKE
RECEIVED 20 INCHES OF SNOW. A 30-TON BOULDER SLID ONTO
I-70 EAST OF THE EISENHOWER TUNNEL...CLOSING THE FREEWAY
FOR 2 HOURS.
14 IN 1910...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED STRONG WINDS DURING THE
AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH.
IN 1913...LIGHT MOIST SNOW AND LIGHT HAIL FELL DURING SHORT
INTERVALS...ALTHOUGH NO THUNDER WAS HEARD. THE TRACE OF
SNOWFALL WAS THE ONLY SNOW OF THE MONTH. PRECIPITATION...
MOSTLY RAIN...TOTALED 0.44 INCH.
IN 1984...A PILOT REPORTED A TORNADO 16 MILES EAST OF
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 58 MPH WIND GUST IN BRIGHTON.
THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 48 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1989...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN EVERGREEN...SETTING IT
AFIRE.
IN 1992...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS OF UNKNOWN VELOCITY...
KNOCKED OVER AND DAMAGED THE INFIELD TOTE BOARD AT
ARAPAHOE PARK RACETRACK JUST SOUTHEAST OF AURORA.
DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS. NO
INJURIES WERE REPORTED. LIGHTNING STARTED TWO HOUSE
FIRES...CAUSING 35 HUNDRED DOLLARS IN DAMAGE IN ADAMS
COUNTY JUST 9 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF DENVER.
IN 1994...A SUDDEN WIND GUST...ESTIMATED AT 40 MPH...BLEW A
PORTION OF THE ROOF OFF A SHOPPING CENTER IN LAFAYETTE.
THE ROOF ALSO DAMAGED TWO PARKED CARS IN AN ADJACENT LOT.
IN 2001...A CONSTRUCTION WORKER IN CASTLE ROCK RECEIVED MINOR
INJURIES WHEN LIGHTNING STRUCK CLOSE-BY.
IN 2002...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 53 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2007...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...VERY
HEAVY RAIN...AND TORNADOES IMPACTED THE URBAN CORRIDOR AND
ADJACENT PLAINS. HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAUSED FLOODING ALONG A SMALL TRIBUTARY
DRAINING INTO THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. THE INCIDENT TOOK
PLACE AT 13TH AND DECATUR ST....NEAR INVESCO FIELD. THE
FLOODWATERS INUNDATED THE BIKE TRAIL ADJACENT TO THE CREEK.
A WOMAN WITH HER CHILD SOUGHT REFUGE UNDER A BRIDGE AND
BECAME TRAPPED BY THE HIGH WATER. THE WOMAN SLIPPED AND
THE STROLLER CONTAINING THE CHILD WAS SWEPT INTO THE SWIFT
CURRENT. THE CHILD DROWNED. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.42 INCHES
AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ELSEWHERE...GOLFBALL HAIL
WAS REPORTED NEAR HUDSON. HAIL...UP TO ONE INCH IN
DIAMETER...WAS OBSERVED IN BOULDER AND LYONS.
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED TO 70 MPH WERE REPORTED
NEAR BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE...WITH A PEAK WIND GUST TO 37
MPH OBSERVED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A SMALL
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR FT. LUPTON BUT DID NO DAMAGE.
14-15 IN 1977...HIGH WINDS UP TO 100 MPH FELLED HUNDREDS OF TREES IN
GILPIN COUNTY AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TELEPHONE AND
POWER LINES. LUMBER AND STEEL TANKS WERE BLOWN AROUND IN
BOULDER CANYON. WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 46 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 15TH.
14-18 IN 1996...A PERIOD OF UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER RESULTED IN
4 RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES IN 5 DAYS. THE RECORD HIGH
TEMPERATURES WERE 87 DEGREES ON THE 14TH...89 DEGREES ON
THE 15TH...AND 93 DEGREES ON BOTH THE 16TH AND 18TH. THE
TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO ONLY 81 DEGREES ON THE 17TH WHICH
WAS NOT A RECORD.
15 IN 1894...SOUTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 38 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
IN 1910...AN APPARENT COLD FRONT PRODUCED SUSTAINED NORTHEAST
WINDS TO 48 MPH.
IN 1986...A THUNDERSTORM DUMPED AN INCH OF RAIN IN AN HOUR
OVER THE EASTERN PART OF AURORA. TOTAL RAINFALL FROM THE
STORM WAS 1.62 INCHES.
IN 1989...A 47 YEAR OLD MAN...A LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICER...WAS
STRUCK AND INJURED BY LIGHTNING. SMALL HAIL PILED UP 3
TO 4 INCHES DEEP NEAR GOLDEN. THERE WAS REPORTED STREET
FLOODING FROM HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS OVER WESTERN METRO
DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.76 INCH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1990...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A WIND GUST TO 69 MPH AT
JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT IN BROOMFIELD. THUNDERSTORM WINDS
GUSTING TO 49 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PRODUCED SOME BLOWING DUST.
IN 1991...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED NEAR MORRISON. LATER...
HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES DEEP COVERED U.S. HIGHWAY 285 AT SOUTH
TURKEY CREEK ROAD IN WEST METRO DENVER. BASEBALL SIZE HAIL
WAS REPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF LITTLETON. DIME SIZE HAIL
WAS REPORTED IN BOULDER.
IN 1993...LIGHTNING STARTED A FIRE WHICH DAMAGED A HOME IN
BOULDER. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
IN 1997...A WIND GUST TO 58 MPH WAS RECORDED AT THE SITE
OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A STREET
SIGN WAS BLOWN DOWN AT THE HAVANA STREET EXIT ALONG I-70.
IN 1999...LIGHTNING IGNITED A SMALL FIRE IN A 3-STORY
STRUCTURE IN SUNSHINE CANYON ABOVE BOULDER. THE FIRE
WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED AND CAUSED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.
IN 2003...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CENTRAL
BOULDER COUNTY. RAINFALL RANGED FROM 1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES
IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS. WATER RANGING IN DEPTH FROM 6 TO 9
INCHES COVERED STATE HIGHWAY 119 IN BOULDER CANYON. DIRT
AND ROCKS ALSO WASHED OVER THE ROADWAY. SOME BASEMENTS
WERE FLOODED IN THE SUGARLOAF AREA. ROCKSLIDES WERE ALSO
REPORTED AT BOULDER FALLS...LEFTHAND CANYON...AND FOURMILE
CANYON.
15-16 IN 1957...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 8.8 INCHES AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT. THE GREATEST AMOUNT ON THE GROUND WAS 3 INCHES.
IN 1986...A SPRING STORM DUMPED 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN OVER
METRO DENVER...BUT 2.71 INCHES FELL AT BUCKLEY FIELD IN
AURORA. RAINFALL ONLY TOTALED 0.84 INCH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WITH
7 INCHES RECORDED IN COAL CREEK CANYON SOUTHWEST OF
BOULDER.
16 IN 1875...A HEAVY HAIL STORM TURNED INTO HEAVY RAIN DURING
THE AFTERNOON. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.86 INCH IN JUST 37
MINUTES...WHILE THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED 22 DEGREES IN
22 MINUTES. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 0.90 INCH.
IN 1894...WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 56 MPH.
IN 1949...A TORNADO WAS OBSERVED FOR 16 MINUTES...20 MILES TO
THE SOUTHEAST OF STAPLETON AIRPORT. THE TORNADO MOVED 5
MILES TO THE NORTHEAST BEFORE DISSIPATING. NO DAMAGE WAS
REPORTED.
IN 1963...INTENSE LIGHTNING STARTED SEVERAL FOREST FIRES IN
THE FOOTHILLS SOUTHWEST OF DENVER NEAR DECKERS AND
CHEESEMAN LAKE. LITTLE PRECIPITATION FELL FROM THE STORMS
TO ALLEVIATE THE UNUSUAL DRY CONDITIONS SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
IN 1978...THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAUSED DAMAGE IN SOUTHEAST
AURORA. WINDS OF 60 TO 80 MPH BLEW DOWN NUMEROUS FENCES AND
DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HIGH WINDS TORE
DOCKS LOOSE AT CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR...SINKING 3 OR 4 BOATS
AND DAMAGING ABOUT 15 OTHERS. AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHERE WINDS GUSTED TO 60 MPH...A 727 JET SUFFERED
15 HUNDRED DOLLARS DAMAGE WHEN WIND TOPPLED A RUNWAY LIGHT
ONTO IT. THE PUBLIC REPORTED AN UNCONFIRMED TORNADO 7 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1990...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS METRO DENVER
UPROOTED A LARGE ASH TREE...WHICH FELL AND BLOCKED THE
OUTSIDE DOORS TO A DENVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...BRIEFLY
TRAPPING THE STUDENTS INSIDE. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO
69 MPH WERE REPORTED AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT.
NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 1991...TWO TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN CASTLE ROCK...
BUT NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE RECORDED. HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAINS OF 0.50 TO 1.10 INCHES IN A COUPLE OF
HOURS CAUSED LENA GULCH NEAR GOLDEN TO FLOOD. NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED.
IN 1996...DRY MICROBURST WINDS OF UNKNOWN STRENGTH OVERTURNED
A TRAILER AND DAMAGED STORAGE SHEDS IN STRASBURG EAST OF
DENVER.
16-17 IN 1981...A HEAVY RAIN STORM DUMPED 1 TO 2 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN
ACROSS METRO DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.27 INCHES AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED
TO 38 MPH ON 17TH.
IN 1983...A VERY STRONG LATE SPRING STORM DUMPED HEAVY SNOW
OVER THE FRONT RANGE. STRONG WINDS WITH THE STORM PRODUCED
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. SUSTAINED WINDS WERE 20 TO
40 MPH WITH A PEAK GUST TO 55 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT. THE FOOTHILLS RECEIVED 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW
WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES ALONG THE FOOTHILLS. HOWLING WINDS
WHIPPED THE SNOW INTO DRIFTS SEVERAL FEET DEEP...CLOSING
SCHOOLS AND HIGHWAYS. STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS
FORCED TO REDUCE FLIGHT OPERATIONS...CLOSING 2 OF 4 RUNWAYS
AND STRANDING HUNDREDS OF TRAVELERS. MOST OF THE DAMAGE
AND INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE STORM WAS IN POWER OUTAGES...
WHICH OCCURRED WHEN WIND AND HEAVY WET SNOW CAUSED HUNDREDS
OF POWER POLES TO SNAP AND TOPPLE. ABOUT 20 SQUARE MILES
OF DENVER WERE BLACKED OUT. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM
TOTALED 1 TO 3 INCHES. AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
SNOWFALL TOTALED 7.1 INCHES WITH A MAXIMUM SNOW DEPTH ON
THE GROUND OF ONLY 2 INCHES DUE TO MELTING. THE HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 40 DEGREES ON THE 17TH WAS A RECORD LOW
MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE. DUE TO THE HEAVY MOISTURE CONTENT
OF THE STORM...WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING OCCURRED ON THE
18TH WHEN MUCH OF THE SNOW MELTED UNDER THE WARM MAY SUN
AND TEMPERATURES CLIMBED TO A HIGH OF 57 DEGREES.
IN 1995...SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE FLOW CAUSED
FLOODING ACROSS METRO DENVER. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS...
WHICH BEGAN ON THE EVENING OF THE 16TH...DEVELOPED IN THE
FOOTHILLS AND SPREAD EASTWARD OVER METRO DENVER THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT. THE HEAVY RAINS BROUGHT MANY CREEKS AND SMALL
STREAMS TO BANKFULL OR SLIGHTLY OVER. LOCATIONS ALONG THE
FOOTHILLS RECEIVED BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL FROM
THE STORM. BOULDER RECEIVED 3.60 INCHES OF RAINFALL FOR
THE 24-HOUR PERIOD...CAUSING MINOR STREET FLOODING NEAR
SMALL STREAMS. TO THE NORTHWEST OF BOULDER...A BRIDGE WHICH
CROSSED FOURMILE CREEK WAS WASHED OUT. NUMEROUS ROCK AND
MUDSLIDES OCCURRED IN FOOTHILLS CANYONS...CLOSING PORTIONS
OF U.S. HIGHWAYS 6 AND 40 AND STATE HIGHWAY 119 FOR A FEW
HOURS AT A TIME. ROCKS WERE PILED 6 FEET DEEP ON A STRETCH
OF STATE HIGHWAY 119 ALONG WITH BOULDERS AS LARGE AS CARS ON
U.S. HIGHWAY 6. A PARKING LOT NEAR A CREEK IN GOLDEN CAVED
IN LEAVING A HOLE THE SIZE OF AN 18-WHEELER. RUSHING WATER
WASHED OUT A 50-FOOT STRETCH OF A ROAD IN WESTMINSTER.
RAINFALL TOTALED 1.75 INCHES AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...BUT ONLY 1.42 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
$$
