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NOUS45 KBOU 050045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-052300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
645 PM MDT SAT JUL 4 2026
..THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY
29-15 IN 2000...THE 29TH MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A NEAR RECORD HOT
STREAK FOR METRO DENVER. THE HIGH TEMPERATURES...AS RECORDED
AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...EXCEEDED THE 90 DEGREE MARK
FOR 17 CONSECUTIVE DAYS FROM JUNE 29TH THROUGH JULY 15TH.
THE RECORD OF 24 CONSECUTIVE 90 DEGREE OR ABOVE DAYS WAS
SET FROM JULY 13TH THROUGH AUGUST 5TH...2008.
1-18 IN 1874...A STREAK OF 18 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 90 DEGREES...FROM
THE 1ST TO THE 18TH...TIED FOR SECOND WITH ANOTHER STREAK
THAT WAS LATER SET IN THE SUMMER OF 1901. THE RECORD OF 24
CONSECUTIVE DAYS WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE SUMMER OF 2008.
4-5 IN 1875...FROM THE 4TH TO THE 5TH...NEARLY EVERY RAILROAD RUNNING
INTO THE CITY WAS DAMAGED BY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS. THE
HEAVY RAINS WASHED OUT WOODEN BRIDGES OVER NORMALLY DRY CREEKS.
SOME TRAINS WERE ENTIRELY SUSPENDED. IN THE CITY...HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAIN TOTALED 1.05 INCHES ON THE 4TH...BUT
ONLY 0.28 INCH ON THE 5TH.
4-8 IN 1989...ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE HEAT WAVES ON RECORD ROASTED
METRO DENVER. THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 100 DEGREES OR MORE
ON 5 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. THE CITY HAD PREVIOUSLY NEVER
RECORDED MORE THAN 2 STRAIGHT 100-DEGREE DAYS SINCE RECORDS
BEGAN IN 1872. WATER AND ELECTRICITY USAGE REACHED ALL TIME
HIGHS. THE HEAT WAVE CREATED EXTREMELY DRY WEATHER
CONDITIONS...WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO A MAJOR FOREST FIRE IN
BOULDER CANYON ON JULY 9TH. THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 103
DEGREES ON THE 8TH...AND THE MERCURY CLIMBED TO 101 DEGREES
ON BOTH THE 4TH AND 5TH...AND TO 102 DEGREES ON BOTH THE
6TH AND 7TH. THE LOW TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES ON THE 8TH
EQUALED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM FOR THE DATE.
5 IN 1908...A LATE EVENING THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED SUSTAINED NORTH
WINDS TO 40 MPH...HAIL...AND 0.45 INCH OF PRECIPITATION.
IN 1949...A DUST DEVIL...POSSIBLY A SMALL TORNADO...WAS OBSERVED
3 MILES TO THE NORTHWEST OF STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1973...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 100 DEGREES AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1974...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS DAMAGED A MOBILE HOME...A
BARN...TWO HOUSES...AND SEVERAL SHEDS NEAR WATKINS.
IN 1975...A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 53 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HAIL UP TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER FELL OVER THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS AND IN NORTHWEST
DENVER.
IN 1977 THREE HOUSES IN DENVER WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
SOME HEAVY DAMAGE AND FIRE OCCURRED.
IN 1990...LIGHTNING CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO HOUSES IN CASTLE
ROCK...LOUVIERS...AND LITTLETON.
IN 1996...LIGHTNING CAUSED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WHEN IT STRUCK
A HOME IN EVERGREEN. LIGHTNING FROM A FAST MOVING
THUNDERSTORM BLASTED A LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDE OF A HOUSE
IN LAKEWOOD. LIGHTNING TRIGGERED A MINOR POWER OUTAGE IN
THE BOULDER AREA. ABOUT 200 HOMES WERE AFFECTED.
IN 2001...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 60 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND TO 70 MPH...7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
THE AIRPORT.
IN 2008...MICROBURST WINDS DOWNED A LARGE TREE AND SOME POWER
LINES NEAR A DENVER APARTMENT COMPLEX. SEVERAL OF THE
TENANTS' VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED.
IN 2009...A WET MICROBURST PRODUCED VERY STRONG WINDS IN AND
JUST EAST OF DENVER. A PEAK WIND GUST OF 69 MPH WAS
MEASURED 1.5 MILES EAST OF DENVER. IN ADDITION...1.50
INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN 30 MINUTES. A PEAK WIND GUST TO
68 MPH WAS ALSO OBSERVED NEAR BYERS. SOUTHWEST WINDS
GUSTED TO 31 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE
AIRPORT ALSO RECIEVED 0.30 INCHES OF RAINFALL.
IN 2019...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL ALONG
THE I-25 CORRIDOR AND ADJACENT PLAINS. THE HAIL RANGED IN
SIZE FROM 1 TO 2 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...WITH THE LARGEST
HAIL REPORTED IN BOULDER COUNTY NEAR LOUISVILLE. OTHER
COUNTIES IMPACTED BY THIS EVENT INCLUDED: ADAMS...
ARAPAHOE...DENVER...ELBERT AND WELD.
IN 2021...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A PEAK WIND GUST TO 68
MPH AT BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE.
6 IN 1876...THE HIGH TEMPERATURE REACHED 101 DEGREES IN
DOWNTOWN DENVER.
IN 1943...FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJURED BY LIGHTNING IN DENVER
DURING A SEVERE EARLY EVENING THUNDERSTORM. AT LEAST
TWO HOUSES WERE SET ON FIRE BY THE LIGHTNING. ONE HOUSE
HAD $1500 IN DAMAGE AND THE OTHER $1000.
IN 1959...WIND AND LIGHTNING CAUSED SOME DAMAGE IN METRO
DENVER. WIND GUSTS TO 67 MPH BLEW DOWN POWER LINES...SIGNS...
AND TREES. LIGHTNING STRUCK SEVERAL TRANSFORMERS...LEAVING
MANY AREAS WITHOUT POWER.
IN 1971...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 68 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1973...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED A HIGH OF 103 DEGREES.
THIS WAS THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE DAY WITH A TEMPERATURE
OF 100 DEGREES OR MORE.
IN 1984...A WEAK TORNADO MOVED THROUGH EASTERN AURORA. ABOUT
10 HOMES SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO ROOFS; SOME SECTIONS OF
FENCE WERE THROWN MORE THAN A BLOCK. SOFT HAIL...AN INCH IN
DIAMETER...FELL OVER CENTRAL AURORA...AND 1.35 INCHES OF RAIN
FELL IN JUST 45 MINUTES...5 MILES EAST OF BUCKLEY FIELD.
TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAIL STOPPED TRAFFIC ON I-225 IN CENTRAL
AURORA FOR 15 MINUTES. STREET FLOODING WAS WIDESPREAD. A
WIND GUST TO 57 MPH WAS RECORDED IN SOUTHEAST AURORA. A
WIND GUST TO 66 MPH WAS REPORTED AT FRONT RANGE AIRPORT NEAR
BENNETT. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE ONLY 1/8 INCH HAIL FELL.
IN 1986...ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL NEAR CONIFER IN THE
FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER. THE STORM PRODUCED 1.50 INCHES OF
RAIN IN AN HOUR WITH A STORM TOTAL OF 2.15 INCHES. NEARBY
BUFFALO CREEK WAS DRENCHED WITH 0.80 INCH OF RAIN IN
JUST 10 MINUTES.
IN 1996...3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL IN BENNETT...EAST OF
DENVER. HAIL...AS LARGE AS 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
DAMAGED SEVERAL VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE
COLORADO SPEEDWAY RACE TRACK NEAR DACONO NORTH OF DENVER.
SEVERAL TREES WERE ALSO DAMAGED.
IN 2001...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 59 MPH WAS
RECORDED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...ALONG WITH SMALL
HAIL.
IN 2009...HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS OBSERVED NEAR
LONGMONT.
IN 2010...HEAVY RAIN CAUSED FLASH FLOODING NEAR INTERSTATE 70
AT THE BYERS EXIT. TWO FEET OF WATER WAS OBSERVED MOVING
ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF EXIT RAMP. ONE CAR WAS WASHED INTO A
TREE BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. IN ADDITION...SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER
NEAR FRANKTOWN. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...ONLY 0.01
INCHES OF RAINFALL WAS OBSERVED. A PEAK WIND GUST TO 45
MPH FROM THE WEST WAS ALSO RECORDED.
6-23 IN 1901...FROM THE 6TH TO THE 23RD...A STREAK OF 18 CONSECUTIVE
DAYS OF 90 DEGREES TIED FOR SECOND WITH ANOTHER STREAK SET
IN THE SUMMER OF 1874. THE RECORD OF 24 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WAS
ESTABLISHED IN THE SUMMER OF 2008.
7 IN 1905...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED SUSTAINED NORTHEAST WINDS
TO 40 MPH...BUT ONLY A TRACE OF RAIN.
IN 1933...HEAVY CLOUDBURSTS DURING THE AFTERNOON IN THE
IDLEDALE AREA AND ON SAW MILL GULCH CAUSED FLASH FLOODING
ON BEAR CREEK RESULTING IN 7 DEATHS. FLOODING IN MORRISON
WAS COMPOUNDED WHEN A WALL OF WATER AS HIGH AS 15 FEET
SWEPT DOWN MOUNT VERNON CREEK. THE FLOODING CAUSED
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BEAR CREEK CANYON HIGHWAY.
IN 1959...WIND GUSTS TO 45 MPH AT STAPLETON AIRPORT...BUT HIGHER
IN OTHER AREAS...DAMAGED POWER LINES AND BUILDINGS AND CAUSED
WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE FROM FALLING TREES AND BROKEN LIMBS.
A FIELD HOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT ADAMS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
IN COMMERCE CITY SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE.
IN 1963...FARM BUILDINGS EAST OF BOULDER WERE POSSIBLY DAMAGED
BY A SMALL TORNADO AS THERE WERE UNCONFIRMED REPORTS OF A
FUNNEL CLOUD IN THE AREA.
IN 1967...A STORM OF CLOUDBURST PROPORTION CAUSED DAMAGE FROM
FLOODING IN SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH DENVER. UNOFFICIAL REPORTS
INDICATED RAINFALL OF 2.00 INCHES IN 30 MINUTES AND MORE
THAN 3.00 INCHES TOTAL FROM THE STORM. STREETS AND
BUILDINGS WERE FLOODED BY THE HEAVY RUN-OFF. HAIL IN SOME
AREAS CONTRIBUTED TO FLOODING BY BLOCKING STORM DRAINS.
WATER ACCUMULATED 12 TO 14 FEET DEEP IN SEVERAL UNDERPASSES
AND SOME STREET INTERSECTIONS. A YOUNG WOMAN DROWNED WHEN
SHE TRIED TO CROSS A FLOODED STREET AND WAS SWEPT OFF HER
FEET AND TRAPPED UNDER A PARKED CAR. WATER REACHED A DEPTH
OF 5 FEET IN THE STREET. POLICE RESCUED NUMEROUS STRANDED
MOTORISTS. THE ROOF AND WALL OF A FLAT ROOFED STORE
BUILDING COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF DEEP WATER ON THE
ROOF. CARS WERE WASHED OVER CURBS IN MANY AREAS. IN
SOUTHWEST METRO DENVER...100 TO 150 HOMES WERE FLOODED.
HAIL CAUSED DAMAGE IN OTHER AREAS OF DENVER AND IN AURORA.
WIND TOPPLED TREES IN SEVERAL AREAS. SNOWPLOWS WERE CALLED
OUT TO CLEAR HAIL FROM SOME HIGHWAYS AND RUNWAYS AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. LIGHTNING DAMAGED TREES
AND POWER LINES AND STARTED A FIRE...WHICH EXTENSIVELY
DAMAGED AN AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP. THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL
TOTALED 0.83 INCH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1981...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED 3/4 INCH HAIL OVER
EAST DENVER. ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN
LITTLETON. THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 45 MPH AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1983...TENNIS BALL SIZE HAIL FELL ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF
BOULDER; IT WAS SOFT AND CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 1987...A WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN CASTLE ROCK. SEVERAL
WEAK TORNADOES WERE OBSERVED IN THE AREA. NO DAMAGE WAS
REPORTED.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STRUCK A SIGN AT A BANK NEAR LOUISVILLE...
DAMAGING IT AND CAUSING A SMOLDERING FIRE THAT RESULTED IN
SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE BANK AND AN ADJACENT BUILDING. HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAIN...ACCOMPANIED BY 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...BRIEFLY REDUCED THE
VISIBILITY TO 1/4 MILE. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.41 INCHES...
BUT 1.12 INCHES FELL IN 32 MINUTES.
IN 2001...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DUMPED LARGE HAIL ACROSS NORTH
METRO DENVER. HAIL TO 1 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR
ERIE WITH 7/8 INCH HAIL MEASURED IN THORNTON.
IN 2004...A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE AT
A PLAYGROUND IN ARVADA. THE UMPIRE AT A NEARBY BASEBALL
GAME...ALONG WITH 2 PASSERS-BY...ADMINISTRATED CPR AND
RESUSCITATED THE BOY WHO HAD QUIT BREATHING. THE BOY
SUFFERED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS...BUT WAS RELEASED
FROM THE HOSPITAL IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. A DRY MICROBURST
OVER DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRODUCED A PEAK WIND GUST
TO 61 MPH.
IN 2006...UP TO 3 INCHES OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL IN
THE HAYMAN WILDFIRE BURN AREA PRODUCED DESTRUCTIVE FLASH
FLOODING ALONG WEST CREEK BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF DECKERS AND
WESTCREEK IN SOUTHWEST DOUGLAS COUNTY. HORSE CREEK...WHICH
DRAINS INTO WEST CREEK...SWELLED FROM A NORMALLY SMALL CREEK
INTO A RAGING TORRENT...25 TO 30 FEET DEEP AND 300 FEET WIDE.
THE WALL OF WATER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED ABOUT 30 SECTIONS OF
A 5 MILE STRETCH OF STATE HIGHWAY 67...WHICH PARALLELS WEST
CREEK. SEVERAL HOMES WERE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED...BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TO BE
RESCUED...DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ACCESS ROADS AND BRIDGES
IN THE AREA. RECONSTRUCTION WAS ESTIMATED AT 13.3 MILLION
DOLLARS.
IN 2011...HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH A WET MICROBURSTS PRODUCED
OVER 3 INCHES OF RAIN IN 90 MINUTES ACROSS SOUTHEAST DENVER.
IN DENVER...SOME UNDERPASSES WERE FLOODED WITH SEVERAL FEET
OF WATER WHICH STRANDED MOTORISTS. AS A RESULT...THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED AT LEAST 10 WATER RESCUES. SOME
BASEMENTS WERE INUNDATED WITH UP TO 4 FEET OF WATER WHICH
CAUSED EXTENSIVE FLOOD DAMAGE. THE PLATTE VALLEY AND
WESTERN MODEL RAILROAD CLUB'S MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY IN UNION
STATION WAS ALSO DAMAGED WHEN 3 TO 4 INCHES OF MUD AND WATER
SPILLED OVER SOME OF THE COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS. SEVERAL
DISPLAY MODULES AND SCENERY PIECES IN A STORAGE ROOM WERE
ALSO DAMAGED. THE ENTIRE DISPLAY SPANNED MORE THAN ONE
THOUSAND FEET OF TRACK IN A ROOM THAT WAS ONCE USED AS THE
JAIL AT UNION STATION IN THE 1900S. URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOODING WAS REPORTED ACROSS THE SURROUNDING DENVER SUBURBS.
THE STORM LEFT ABOUT 28000 XCEL CUSTOMERS WITHOUT POWER WHEN
THE STORM SNAPPED TREES AND POWER LINES. IN ADDITION...HEAVY
RAIN PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING IN THE FOUR MILE CANYON BURN
SCAR. FOUR DEBRIS SLIDES OCCURRED ALONG FOUR MILE CANYON
DRIVE...INCLUDING ONE THAT WAS 100 YARDS WIDE AND 4 FEET DEEP.
SEVERAL ROCKSLIDES WERE REPORTED IN LEFTHAND AND BOULDER
CANYONS. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.04 INCHES OF
RAIN WAS OBSERVED. A PEAK WIND GUST OF 46 MPH FROM THE
SOUTHEAST WAS ALSO OBSERVED.
IN 2012...HEAVY RAIN PRODUCED FLASH FLOODING IN BOULDER COUNTY
NEAR JAMESTOWN. JAMES CANYON DRIVE WAS CLOSED AFTER HEAVY
RAIN WASHED OUT A SECTION OF THE ROADWAY. HEAVY RAIN WASHED
OUT A SECTION OF MAGNOLIA ROAD...EAST-SOUTHEAST OF NEDERLAND.
NEARBY...A TRAINED SPOTTER 4 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF NEDERLAND...
MEASURED 2.20 INCHES OF RAINFALL. FLASH FLOODING WAS ALSO
REPORTED IN THE FOURMILE BURN AREA ALONG SUMMERVILLE ROAD.
IN DACONO...IN SOUTHERN WELD COUNTY...THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION USED SNOWPLOWS TO CLEAR STANDING WATER...UP
TO 6 INCHES DEEP...FROM A SECTION OF INTERSTATE 25. THE
INTERSTATE WAS CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS.
SOUTH OF THE DENVER...IN CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY...FLASH
FLOODING WAS REPORTED NEAR PERRY PARK...WHERE 2.5 INCHES OF
RAIN FELL IN ONE HOUR.
IN 2014...AN ARVADA RESIDENT WAS INJURED BY A NEARBY LIGHTNING
STRIKE WHILE HE RECORDED A VIDEO OF A THUNDERSTORM WITH HIS
CELL PHONE. HE WAS STANDING IN HIS GARAGE...WHEN A NEARBY
LIGHTNING BOLT KNOCKED HIM OUT. HE SUFFERED OVERALL BODY ACHES
AND HAD A RINGING SENSATION IN ONE OF HIS EARS. IN DENVER...
LIGHTNING CAUSED A POWER OUTAGE THAT AFFECTED THE RTD LIGHT
RAIL LINES FOR A SHORT TIME. IN CASTLE PINES...LIGHTNING
SPARKED A SMALL ATTIC FIRE. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED
LARGE HAIL FROM 1 TO 1 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER...ALONG WITH
DAMAGING WINDS ACROSS ARAPAHOE...BOULDER AND JEFFERSON
COUNTIES INCLUDING: NORTHWEST ARVADA...LITTLETON AND
LOUISVILLE. FLASH FLOODING WAS REPORTED NEAR EVERGREEN IN
CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY. HEAVY RAIN...UP TO 2 INCHES IN ONE
HOUR...FLOODED SEVERAL RESIDENCES AND WASHED OUT SEVERAL
BRIDGES ALONG FOREST ESTATE ROAD. HEAVY RAINFALL ALSO
PRODUCED STREET FLOODING IN DENVER ALONG WITH SOME BASEMENT
FLOODING. THE STRONG WINDS...ESTIMATED TO 60 MPH...DOWNED
TREES AND POWER LINES IN SOUTHWEST LITTLETON. AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...0.15 INCHES OF RAINFALL WAS OBSERVED
ALONG WITH A PEAK WIND GUST TO 42 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST.
IN 2020...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A PEAK WIND GUST TO 63 MPH
NEAR BENNETT.
7-25 IN 1934...A STREAK OF 15 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 90 DEGREES...FROM THE
7TH TO THE 25TH...RANKED 5TH ON THE LIST OF HOT STREAKS. THE
RECORD OF 24 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE SUMMER OF
2008.
8 IN 1905...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED 0.82 INCH OF RAINFALL AND
NORTHEAST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH.
IN 1977...STRONG WINDS TURNED OVER 2 LIGHT AIRCRAFT AT ARAPAHOE
COUNTY AIRPORT...NOW CENTENNIAL AIRPORT.
IN 1987...A WEAK TORNADO WAS OBSERVED NEAR BENNETT.
IN 1988...THREE SEPARATE TORNADOES WERE SIGHTED NEAR BENNETT.
NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL WAS ALSO
REPORTED.
IN 1991...LIGHTNING STARTED THREE HOUSE FIRES IN CASTLE ROCK.
DAMAGE TOTALED 13 THOUSAND DOLLARS. NO INJURIES WERE
REPORTED.
IN 1993...A DRY THUNDERSTORM MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 55 MPH
BRIEFLY REDUCED THE SURFACE VISIBILITY TO 3 MILES AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1997...ONE CONSTRUCTION WORKER WAS KILLED AND TWO OTHERS
INJURED WHEN A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST CAUSED THE
SCAFFOLDING THEY WERE STANDING ON TO COLLAPSE NEAR PARKER.
A DRY MICROBURST PRODUCED A WIND GUST TO 54 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1998...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAIN FORCED THE CLOSURE OF
HAMPDEN AVENUE BETWEEN I-25 AND HAVANA STREET IN SOUTHEAST
DENVER. THE HIGH WATER MADE 2 OR 3 LANES OF THE STREET
IMPASSABLE.
IN 2001...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS...AND HEAVY RAIN ACROSS SOUTH METRO DENVER. TWO
PEOPLE RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WIND GUST TO 58 MPH BLEW OVER SEVERAL TENTS AT THE CHERRY
CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL. THE SAME STORM CAUSED THE ROOF OF A
HARDWARE STORE IN TAMARAC SQUARE TO COLLAPSE. ONE EMPLOYEE
RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY
FALLING DEBRIS. THE COMBINATION OF INTENSE RAIN AND WIND
DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES. ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGES
AFFECTED 35 THOUSAND HOMES AND BUSINESSES. AT LEAST 50
TREES IN CITY PARKS ACROSS SOUTH DENVER WERE DAMAGED. UP
TO 4.50 INCHES OF THUNDERSTORM RAIN FELL ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST METRO DENVER. THE UNDERPASS AT I-25 AND PARKER
ROAD WAS INUNDATED WITH 5 FEET OF WATER. SEVERAL OTHER
STREETS AND UNDERPASSES IN AURORA WERE ALSO CLOSED DUE TO
HIGH WATER. HEAVY RAIN CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO SEVERAL
EXHIBITS AT THE CHERRY CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL. FLASH FLOODING
OCCURRED WHEN HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL CAUSED TOLL GATE
CREEK TO JUMP ITS BANKS. SEVERAL UNDERPASSES ACROSS SOUTH
DENVER HAD TO BE CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER. A MAN RECEIVED
MINOR INJURIES WHEN LIGHTNING STRUCK A NEARBY TREE AT THE
WELLSHIRE GOLF COURSE. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 1/4 INCHES IN
DIAMETER FELL IN ENGLEWOOD WITH 1 INCH HAIL IN THE CITY OF
DENVER...AND 3/4 INCH HAIL IN LITTLETON. THUNDERSTORM WINDS
GUSTED TO 63 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND TO 62
MPH IN ENGLEWOOD.
IN 2005...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY NEAR BRIGHTON...BUT
CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 2011...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL...UP TO 1 INCH
IN DIAMETER...AND WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ACROSS PARTS OF
ADAMS...BROOMFIELD AND DENVER COUNTIES. AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...A PEAK WIND GUST TO 59 MPH FROM THE
WEST.
IN 2017...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 7/8 INCH
IN DIAMETER IN SOUTHWEST DENVER.
IN 2019...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 1 INCH
IN DIAMETER NEAR DACONO.
IN 2023...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL MAINLY
OVER SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN PORTION OF METRO DENVER. THE
HAIL RANGED IN SIZE FROM 1 TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER
AROUND COLUMBINE...HIGHLANDS RANCH AND LITTLETON. IN
ADDITION...HEAVY RAIN FLOODED AN UNDERPASS ALONG HIGHWAY 36
EAST OF DENVER BETWEEN BENNETT AND STRASBURG...WITH 3 FEET
OF STANDING WATER WHICH CLOSED THE ROADWAY FOR SEVERAL
HOURS.
9 IN 1872...A VERY BRISK WIND BETWEEN 2:00 PM AND 3:00 PM
SPREAD A CLOUD OF DUST AND SAND INTO THE CITY.
IN 1874...NORTHEAST WINDS AT SUSTAINED SPEEDS UP TO 36 MPH
BLEW IMMENSE CLOUDS OF DUST FROM THE PRAIRIE THROUGH THE
STREETS OF THE CITY AROUND MID-MORNING. THE HOUSES
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WEATHER STATION WERE NOT
VISIBLE AT THE PEAK OF THE STORM.
IN 1875...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAUSED STREAM FLOODING...
WHICH DAMAGED NEARLY ALL RAILROADS INTO THE CITY. RAINFALL
IN THE CITY WAS ONLY 0.14 INCH.
IN 1953...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAUSED AN ESTIMATED
2 MILLION DOLLARS DAMAGE FROM FLOODED STORES AND BASEMENTS
ACROSS METRO DENVER. THE FLOOD WATERS REACHED A DEPTH OF
3 FEET ON STREETS IN SOME SECTIONS OF THE CITY...DAMAGING
STREETS AND AUTOMOBILES. THE HEAVY RAINFALL AT LOWRY AIR
FORCE BASE TOTALED 3.90 INCHES. AT STAPLETON AIRPORT WHERE
THE HEAVY RAIN BRIEFLY REDUCED THE SURFACE VISIBILITY TO
1/2 MILE...ONLY 1.05 INCHES OF RAIN WERE MEASURED. NORTH
WINDS GUSTING TO 52 MPH CAUSED SOME DAMAGE IN EAST DENVER.
IN 1982...TWO SMALL TORNADOES WERE SPOTTED EAST OF ROCKY FLATS...
AND A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY 5 MILES EAST OF BRIGHTON.
NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1984...HEAVY RAIN FELL OVER SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF METRO
DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.50 INCHES IN JUST 15 MINUTES
BETWEEN LITTLETON AND SEDALIA.
IN 1987...A THUNDERSTORM MICROBURST PRODUCED A WIND GUST OF 58
MPH AT ERIE NORTH OF DENVER.
IN 1988...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER PILED UP 2 TO 4 INCHES
DEEP IN IDAHO SPRINGS. SOME BASEMENTS WERE FLOODED AND
SEVERAL THOUSAND GALLONS OF FUEL WERE CONTAMINATED WHEN
WATER FLOODED A GASOLINE STORAGE TANK. A TORNADO SIGHTED
NEAR MANILLA 5 MILES WEST OF BENNETT REMAINED ON THE
GROUND FOR 9 MINUTES. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1990...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A TORNADO AND HEAVY
RAIN OVER NORTHEAST METRO DENVER. AS MUCH AS 4 INCHES OF
RAIN FELL IN JUST 20 MINUTES IN COMMERCE CITY...CAUSING THE
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER TO RISE QUICKLY AND FLOOD LOWLAND AREAS.
THE RAGING FLOOD WATERS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A 30-FOOT
STRETCH OF RAILROAD TRACK EMBANKMENT...DESTROYED A RAILROAD
TRESTLE AND A NEARBY GARAGE...AND WASHED AWAY A VINTAGE
1960'S SHOW CAR NEAR EAST 58TH AVENUE AND YORK STREET. THE
CAR WAS FOUND A COUPLE OF MILES DOWNSTREAM IN A POOL OF DEEP
MUD AND MURKY WATER. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.34 INCHES AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
FELL. THE SAME THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A BRIEF TORNADO IN A
VACANT FIELD NEAR 64TH AVENUE AND TOWER ROAD JUST EAST OF
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENAL. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED FROM THE
TWISTER. LIGHTNING FROM THE STORM CAUSED POWER OUTAGES TO
AS MANY AS 7 THOUSAND HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
IN 1996...A TORNADO (F0) WAS REPORTED 5 MILES SOUTH OF HUDSON.
NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. TWIN WEAK TORNADOES (F0) FORMED
FOR A SHORT TIME NEAR THE NORTHEAST RUNWAYS AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. LESS THAN 15 MINUTES LATER...A WEAK
TORNADO (F0) TOUCHED DOWN IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT AT
DIA. SEVERAL CAR WINDOWS WERE BLOWN OUT...AND A FEW VEHICLES
SUSTAINED MINOR BODY DAMAGE FROM FLYING DEBRIS. SEVERAL
SIGNS WERE ALSO BLOWN DOWN. LATER...TWIN WEAK TORNADOES (F0)
TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN IN OPEN COUNTRY BETWEEN DIA AND WATKINS.
IN 2004...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER NEAR TINY TOWN AND WIND GUSTS TO 66 MPH IN BENNETT.
A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 56 MPH WAS MEASURED AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2005...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A WIND GUST TO 54 MPH AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2020...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED DAMAGING WINDS AND
LARGE HAIL OVER PARTS OF ADAMS...ARAPAHOE...AND WELD COUNTIES.
THE HAIL GENERALLY RANGED FROM 1 TO 1 3/4 INCHES. THE
LARGEST REPORTS INCLUDED 2 INCH HAIL IN WATKINS...WITH 2 1/2
INCH HAIL...11 MILES EAST OF ARAPAHOE PARK. NEAR BRIGHTON
AND HENDERSON...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH CAUSED
MINOR TREE DAMAGE. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...A PEAK
WIND GUST TO 36 MPH WAS OBSERVED FROM THE NORTHWEST. IN
ADDITION...0.03 INCHES OF RAINFALL WAS REPORTED.
9-10 IN 1980...FROM THE 9TH TO THE 10TH...A SERIES OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS HIT METRO DENVER...DUMPING HEAVY RAIN AND
PRODUCING A SPECTACULAR LIGHTNING DISPLAY LASTING FOR SEVERAL
HOURS. A NUMBER OF HOMES WERE DAMAGED BY LIGHTNING. WINDS
GUSTED TO 60 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE
ABOUT HALF AN INCH OF RAIN FELL IN JUST 10 MINUTES ALONG WITH
1/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL. THE EVENING THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED
INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH TOTAL RAINFALL OF 1.35
INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1998...FROM THE 9TH TO THE 10TH...THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL TOTALED
2.04 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
10 IN 1878...A LUNAR RAINBOW WAS OBSERVED DURING A LIGHT MIST AND
FOG.
IN 1895...THE TEMPERATURE WARMED TO A HIGH OF ONLY 53 DEGREES...
THE ALL-TIME RECORD LOWEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH
OF JULY.
IN 1967...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL DAMAGED AIRCRAFT AT JEFFERSON
COUNTY AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD.
IN 1983...TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED WHEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
JUST SOUTHWEST OF MORRISON. A MAN WAS INJURED WHEN HE WAS
SWEPT DOWNSTREAM BY A FLASH FLOOD ON A TRIBUTARY OF CLEAR
CREEK IN THE CANYON 8 MILES WEST OF GOLDEN. HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAUSED MUDSLIDES WHICH CLOSED SEVERAL
ROADS. RAINFALL AMOUNTS INCLUDED: 1.75 INCHES IN 20
MINUTES IN SOUTHEAST DENVER...1.26 INCHES IN 35 MINUTES IN
BOULDER...2.14 INCHES IN 2 HOURS IN LAKEWOOD...1.70 INCHES IN
45 MINUTES IN AURORA...AND 1.25 INCHES IN 30 MINUTES ATOP
FLOYD HILL IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER.
IN 1992...STORM SPOTTERS REPORTED 3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
NEAR THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE NEW DENVER AIRPORT JUST
NORTHEAST OF THE CITY.
IN 1995...MICROBURST WINDS TOPPLED A PINE TREE 60 FEET HIGH
AND 2 FEET IN DIAMETER IN DENVER. THE TREE FELL AND
INJURED A MAN NEARBY. MICROBURST WINDS TO 59 MPH BROKE THE
GLASS ON A DOOR AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST
OFFICE AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 1998...THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL TOTALED 2.35 INCHES AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2000...THREE CHILDREN WERE INJURED...ONE CRITICALLY...WHEN
LIGHTNING HIT A NEARBY TREE AT PANORAMA POINT ATOP
FLAGSTAFF MOUNTAIN JUST WEST OF BOULDER. LIGHTNING HIT
THE TREE...ENTERED THE GROUND...THEN STRUCK THE CHILDREN.
LIGHTNING SPARKED A GRASSFIRE THAT BURNED ABOUT 50 ACRES
AT THE ROCKY FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL TEST FACILITY. ALSO...
LIGHTNING SPARKED AT LEAST 6 FIRES IN THE HUDSON AND
KEENESBURG AREAS AS THUNDERSTORMS...ACCOMPANIED WITH HEAVY
RAIN...LARGE HAIL...AND TORNADOES...MOVED THROUGH SOUTHERN
WELD COUNTY. OVER 2 INCHES OF VERY HEAVY RAIN CAUSED
FLOODING ALONG AN I-76 EXIT RAMP NEAR KEENESBURG. THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUED 15 STRANDED MOTORISTS AS HIGH
WATER INUNDATED SECTIONS OF THE EXIT RAMP AND ADJACENT
HIGHWAY. BASEMENTS WERE ALSO FLOODED IN KEENESBURG.
ONE HOME REPORTEDLY HAD 7 FEET OF STANDING WATER IN THE
BASEMENT BEFORE THE RAIN SUBSIDED. A WEAK TORNADO (F0)
TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY NEAR BRIGHTON...BUT CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 2001...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DUMPED 7/8 INCH DIAMETER
HAIL IN WHEAT RIDGE.
IN 2002...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PELTED THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS
OF METRO DENVER WITH LARGE HAIL. HAIL AS LARGE AS
3 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PARKER.
OTHER LARGE HAIL REPORTS INCLUDED 2 INCH DIAMETER
HAIL AROUND CENTENNIAL AIRPORT AND 3/4 INCH HAIL NEAR
SEDALIA AND DECKERS. HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH WAS
ALSO REPORTED IN BROOMFIELD. RUNOFF FROM HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL IN THE HAYMAN FIRE BURN AREA
FLOODED LOST CREEK RANCH WITH UP TO 18 INCHES OF WATER
JUST OFF STATE HIGHWAY 126. FLOODWATERS DAMAGED A VERY
EXPENSIVE RUG IN THE LODGE. A DRIVEWAY TO A RESIDENCE
WAS WASHED AWAY. IN DOUGLAS COUNTY...RUNOFF DAMAGED
FOREST ACCESS ROADS IN THE TURKEY CREEK DRAINAGE.
IN 2011...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED INTENSE
MICROBURST WINDS IN SOUTHEAST BOULDER COUNTY. A PEAK
WIND GUST TO 75 MPH WAS RECORDED IN SUPERIOR WITH
GUST TO 58 MPH...2 MILES SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE. AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...A PEAK WIND GUST OF 31 MPH WAS
RECORDED.
11 IN 1872...HEAVY RAINFALL STARTED AT 4:00 PM AND CONTINUED
INTO THE NIGHT. THE HEAVY RAINFALL DAMAGED HOMES AND
BUILDINGS IN ALL PARTS OF THE CITY. RAINFALL TOTALED
1.64 INCHES.
IN 1888...THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 100 DEGREES IN DOWNTOWN
DENVER.
IN 1954...THE HIGH TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO 102 DEGREES AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1970...A GIRL WALKING IN A PARK IN SOUTHEAST DENVER
RECEIVED EYE AND FACIAL INJURIES WHEN LIGHTNING STRUCK
NEARBY. LIGHTNING ALSO CAUSED NUMEROUS POWER OUTAGES
AND HEAVY RAINFALL PRODUCED LOCAL FLOODING AT SEVERAL
LOCATIONS ACROSS METRO DENVER.
IN 1974...LARGE HAIL UP TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL IN
THORNTON.
IN 1990...THE WORST HAILSTORM IN AMERICAN HISTORY IN TERMS OF
DOLLAR DAMAGE AT THE TIME BATTERED METRO DENVER. STORM
DAMAGE TOTALED 605 MILLION DOLLARS...AS IT CUT A 5-TO 10-MILE
WIDE SWATH FROM JUST SOUTHEAST OF ESTES PARK TO NORTHEAST OF
COLORADO SPRINGS. HAIL AS LARGE AS BASEBALLS (2 3/4 INCHES)
POUNDED METRO DENVER. HARDEST HIT AREAS WERE SOUTHEAST
BOULDER COUNTY...THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT IN BROOMFIELD...
ARVADA...EAST WHEAT RIDGE...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH-CENTRAL
WESTMINSTER...WEST THORNTON...NORTHWEST...WEST-CENTRAL AND
DOWNTOWN DENVER...NORTHEAST AND EAST-CENTRAL LAKEWOOD...JUST
EAST OF LITTLETON...PORTIONS OF ARAPAHOE COUNTY WEST OF I-25...
AND NORTHERN AND CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY NEAR CASTLE ROCK
AND FRANKTOWN. GOLF BALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL SEVERELY
DAMAGED ROOFS ON THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUILDINGS...BATTERED
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AUTOMOBILES...WINDOWS...SIGNS...STREET
LIGHTS...AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS...STRIPPED PAINT...AWNINGS...AND
TRIM FROM BUILDINGS...PUNCHED HOLES IN THE ROOFS OF TWO HOMES
IN ARVADA...KNOCKED OUT POWER AND TELEPHONE SERVICE TO
THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES...DEFOLIATED THOUSANDS OF
TREES...RIPPED UP GREENS AND FAIRWAYS ON A NUMBER OF GOLF
COURSES...AND SEVERELY DAMAGED SEVERAL AIRCRAFT TIED DOWN AT
JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT. HAIL THE SIZE OF BASEBALLS FELL
FOR SEVERAL MINUTES IN OLD TOWN ARVADA. LATER...GOLF BALL
SIZE HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN PUMMELED TWO NORTHWEST DENVER
AMUSEMENT PARKS. HARDEST HIT WAS ELITCH GARDENS AMUSEMENT
PARK WHERE 47 PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND RECEIVED TREATMENT
FOR BUMPS...CUTS...AND BRUISES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS. MANY OF THE
INJURED WERE STRANDED ON RIDES DURING THE STORM WHEN POWER
FAILED. HAIL CLOGGED STORM SEWERS...CAUSING RAIN WATER TO
BACK UP 3 TO 6 FEET DEEP ON SOME ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS IN
ARVADA. SEVERAL BASEMENTS WERE FLOODED. IN SOME PLACES
HAIL WAS WASHED INTO DRIFTS SEVERAL FEET DEEP. IN ADDITION...
THE STORM SPAWNED 2 SMALL TORNADOES. ONE TOUCHED DOWN
BRIEFLY IN LAKEWOOD NEAR 6TH AVENUE AND KIPLING BLVD....BUT
DID NO DAMAGE. IN CASTLE ROCK...A TORNADO (F1) DID HEAVY
DAMAGE TO SOME HOMES AND VEHICLES IN THE FOUNDERS VILLAGE
DEVELOPMENT NEAR RIDGE ROAD.
IN 2001...LIGHTNING STRUCK TWO HOMES IN THORNTON. MOST OF THE
DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ATTICS OF BOTH HOMES. HAIL AS
LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN KEENESBURG...LONGMONT...
AND NEAR BOULDER.
IN 2015...A PEAK WIND GUST TO 55 MPH WAS MEASURED FROM THE
NORTHWEST AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A TRACE OF
RAINFALL WAS ALSO OBSERVED.
11-12 IN 1872...HEAVY RAIN...FROM 4:00 PM ON THE 11TH UNTIL 2:00 AM
ON THE 12TH...CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.76
INCHES.
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