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NOUS45 KBOU 240045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-242300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
645 PM MDT SAT MAY 23 2026
..THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY
18-26 IN 2023...SMOKE AND HAZE FROM MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN CANADA
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED AIR QUALITY AND VISIBILITY ACROSS
DENVER AND THE REST OF NORTHEAST COLORADO.
20-27 IN 2002...LIGHTNING SPARKED A WILDFIRE NEAR DECKERS THE
CONTINUED FROM THE 20TH TO THE 27TH. EXTREMELY DRY
CONDITIONS AND VERY STRONG WINDS THE FOLLOWING DAY ALLOWED
THE FIRE...KNOWN AS THE SCHOONOVER...TO CONSUME 3850 ACRES
BEFORE IT COULD BE CONTAINED. THIRTEEN STRUCTURES WERE
DESTROYED...INCLUDING 4 HOMES...RESULTING IN 2.2 MILLION
DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
23-24 IN 2002...FROM THE 23RD TO THE 24TH...A PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM
BROUGHT MUCH NEEDED SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS
WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW ON THE PLAINS. THE MOST SNOW
FELL FROM CENTRAL JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTHWARD. SNOW TOTALS
INCLUDED: 13 INCHES IN COAL CREEK CANYON...11 INCHES NEAR
EVERGREEN AND ATOP GOLD HILL...10 INCHES NEAR BLACKHAWK AND
CONIFER AND ATOP CROW HILL...9 INCHES NEAR ROLLINSVILLE...AND
8 INCHES NEAR GENESEE AND GOLDEN. RAIN WAS MIXED WITH SNOW
ACROSS THE CITY. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 0.61 INCH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SNOWFALL WAS LESS THAN AN INCH AT
THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE
STORM BROUGHT UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR TO METRO DENVER. THREE
TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET. LOW TEMPERATURE OF 31 DEGREES
ON THE 23RD WAS A RECORD MINIMUM FOR THE DATE...AS WAS THE
LOW OF 32 DEGREES ON THE 24TH. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF
ONLY 48 DEGREES EQUALED THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE.
24 IN 1953...A MICROBURST CAUSED A BRIEF WIND GUST TO 55 MPH AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1957...WALNUT SIZE HAIL...1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...FELL IN
EAST DENVER. ONLY 1/4 INCH HAIL WAS MEASURED AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT.
IN 1958...RAINFALL TOTALED 1 TO 2 INCHES ACROSS METRO DENVER.
RAINFALL WAS ONLY 0.37 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1974...A TORNADO WAS OBSERVED BRIEFLY NEAR WATKINS. NO
DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1980...STRONG GUSTY WINDS OF AT LEAST 60 MPH DAMAGED
BUILDINGS IN PARTS OF DENVER. SEVERAL BUILDINGS WERE
UNROOFED IN SHERIDAN. THE FLYING DEBRIS DAMAGED OTHER
STRUCTURES. STRONG MICROBURST WINDS GUSTED TO 52 MPH
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1991...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN OPEN COUNTRY NEAR
BENNETT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1994...WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED 2 FUNNEL CLOUDS OVER
AURORA AND A SHORT-LIVED WATERSPOUT ON CHERRY CREEK
RESERVOIR.
IN 1997...HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN BROOMFIELD
WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL MEASURED IN BOULDER.
IN 1998...A TORNADO STRUCK A WOODEN HANGAR AT THE AURORA
AIRPARK. THE HANGAR COLLAPSED...DAMAGING A CAR AND A
SINGLE ENGINE PLANE PARKED INSIDE. AN ADJACENT STEEL
HANGAR SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. THE TORNADO MOVED
NORTHEAST...HOPPED I-70...AND TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN IN AN
OPEN FIELD. EARLIER...A WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN
BRIEFLY IN AN OPEN FIELD 10 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BUCKLEY
FIELD.
IN 2003...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL OVER
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN METRO DENVER. HAIL AS LARGE AS
2 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED 10 MILES NORTHWEST
OF HUDSON AND TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER 10 MILES NORTHEAST
OF FORT LUPTON. ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL IN FORT
LUPTON. HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR PARKER
AND TO 3/4 INCH NEAR FRANKTOWN.
IN 2004...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVED ACROSS NORTHWEST AND
NORTH METRO DENVER. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER
FELL IN BROOMFIELD AND THORNTON WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL
MEASURED NEAR ARVADA AND HUDSON AND IN THE CITY OF
DENVER.
IN 2005...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL AS LARGE AS
1 INCH IN DIAMETER IN ARVADA AND THE CITY OF DENVER.
IN 2014...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN LAKEWOOD PRODUCED HAIL...
UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER.
IN 2016...A LONG-LIVED SUPERCELL FORMED OVER SOUTH DENVER
AND TRACKED ACROSS NORTHEAST ADAMS AND CONTINUED TO
PRODUCE SEVERE WEATHER AS INTO MOVED INTO YUMA COUNTY.
THE LENGTH OF ITS PATH WAS APPROXIMATELY 121 MILES.
THE STORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 1.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER IN
SOUTHEAST DENVER. AS IT MOVED ACROSS NORTHEAST ADAMS
COUNTY...SEVERAL POWER POLES WERE SHEARED OFF AT THE BASE
BY STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS TO 80 MPH SOUTHWEST OF LEADER.
THE DAMAGE PATH BECAME MORE EXTENSIVE AS THE STORM MOVED
INTO THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF COLORADO. AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.15 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION
FELL WHICH SET A NEW DAILY PRECIPITATION RECORD. THE
STORM PRODUCED HEAVIER RAINFALL ON ONE TO TWO INCHES
EAST OF DENVER...WITH OVER 4 INCHES IN CENTRAL ARAPAHOE
COUNTY.
24-26 IN 1996...FROM THE 24TH TO THE 26TH...A LATE SPRING STORM
DUMPED 4 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW OVER THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS. CONIFER PICKED UP 10 INCHES OF NEW SNOW;
ASPEN SPRINGS...9 INCHES; AND CENTRAL CITY...8 INCHES.
THE STICKY...HEAVY SNOW CLUNG TO POWER LINES AND PULLED
TREE BRANCHES DOWN...CAUSING POWER OUTAGES TO ABOUT
1200 HOMES IN THE CONIFER AREA. IT TOOK
UP TO 6 HOURS TO RESTORE POWER TO SOME RESIDENCES.
LIGHTNING STRUCK A TELEPHONE DATA CABINET IN CONIFER ON
THE 25TH...WHICH KNOCKED OUT PHONE SERVICE TO ABOUT 1500
CUSTOMERS. WIDESPREAD RAIN FELL ACROSS METRO DENVER...
WHERE RAINFALL TOTALED 2.07 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE
FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND 1.66 INCHES AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO
24 MPH ON THE 26TH.
IN 2010...FROM THE 24TH TO THE 26TH...HIGH WINDS PRECEDING A
COLD FRONT...SWEPT ACROSS THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS AND
URBAN CORRIDOR. IN AURORA...THE WIND DAMAGED THE ROOF OF
RANGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL. IN CONIFER AND DENVER...THE WIND
DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES AND CAUSED SEVERAL BRIEF
OUTAGES. THE DOWNED POWER LINES ALSO CAUSED SEVERAL CARS
TO CATCH FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF 1590 COOK ST. IN DENVER.
PEAK WIND GUSTS INCLUDED: 82 MPH AT HIGHLANDS RANCH...67
MPH...4 MILES EAST OF FRANKTOWN AND LONGMONT; 65 MPH IN
BOULDER...64 MPH IN CENTENNIAL AND DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...62 MPH NEAR PARKER AND 60 MPH IN ARVADA.
25 IN 1877...LIGHTNING KILLED ONE PERSON IN WEST DENVER AND
STRUCK SEVERAL HOUSES. THE BOLT STRUCK THE HOUSE OF THE
"HOME LAUNDRY" STUNNING THE OCCUPANTS AND KILLING A LADY
WHO WAS HOLDING ONE OF HER GRAND CHILDREN IN HER ARMS.
THE CHILD ESCAPED UNHURT. THE LIGHTNING ALSO STRUCK THE
TOP OF A TREE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND PARTIALLY PEELED
THE BARK OFF THE TREE. LIGHTNING STRUCK A CHURCH IN THE
EVANS ADDITION AND ANOTHER TREE IN EAST DENVER. LIGHTNING
STRUCK THE SWITCH ROOM AT THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE WHERE THE
OPERATOR SAW SMALL BALLS OF LIGHTNING PASS ACROSS THE ROOM
TO THE STOVE. THE THUNDERSTORM PELTED THE CITY WITH ONLY
PEA SIZE HAIL. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM TOTALED 0.40
INCH IN DOWNTOWN DENVER.
IN 1880...LIGHT RAIN ALL AFTERNOON TOTALED ONLY 0.24 INCH
IN THE CITY...BUT WAS VALUABLE TO STOCKMEN AND FARMERS
DUE TO THE VERY DRY...PARCHED WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE
PLAINS.
IN 1965...A TORNADO WAS SIGHTED BY A PILOT 30 MILES SOUTH
SOUTHEAST OF DENVER. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. ANOTHER
PILOT REPORTED 3/4 INCH HAIL 30 MILES EAST OF DENVER. THE
STATE PATROL REPORTED THAT A MAN WAS KILLED WHEN A FIERCE
GUST OF WIND SWEPT HIM FROM THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK IN
NORTHWEST DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE MAN WAS HOLDING A MATTRESS
IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK.
IN 1974...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 53 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A PILOT REPORTED A TORNADO
20 MILES EAST OF DENVER.
IN 1976...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN BOULDER...SHATTERING 2
LARGE TREES AND DAMAGING A TELEVISION SET.
IN 1997...HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR
WATKINS. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN BROOMFIELD
AND NEAR LOCHBUIE.
IN 2000...3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL AT CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR
IN AURORA. THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 51 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE SMALL HAIL FELL.
IN 2006...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED AN ESTIMATED WIND GUST
TO 70 MPH IN HUDSON. THE STRONG WINDS DAMAGED THE ROOF OF A
HOME. A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS TO 54
MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
25-26 IN 1950...FROM THE 25TH TO THE 26TH...A MAJOR STORM DUMPED 10.0
INCHES OF SNOWFALL DOWNTOWN AND 10.7 INCHES AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH ON THE 25TH.
THE STORM CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO UTILITY WIRES AND
TREES WHICH WERE IN FULL LEAF. A DAILY RECORD MINIMUM
TEMPERATURE OF 31 DEGREES OCCURRED ON THE 25TH. THIS WAS
THE COLDEST TEMPERATURE ON THIS DATE IN 79 YEARS AND FOR SO
LATE IN THE SEASON.
IN 1989...FROM THE 25TH TO THE 26TH...A LATE SEASON STORM
DROPPED SNOW AS LOW AS 6 THOUSAND FEET ALONG THE FRONT RANGE.
MOST PLACES IN THE FOOTHILLS HAD 2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.
OVERNIGHT RAINFALL TOTALED 0.33 INCH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 37 MPH ON
THE 25TH.
IN 1994...OVERNIGHT FROM THE 25TH TO THE 26TH...LIGHTNING
STRUCK A TELEVISION TRANSMITTER ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN NEAR
GOLDEN AND BURNED OUT A SWITCHER...WHICH DISRUPTED CABLE
SERVICE FOR 2 HOURS.
26 IN 1897...APPARENT POST-FRONTAL NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO
42 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 48 MPH.
IN 1942...THE ALL-TIME HIGHEST RECORDED TEMPERATURE IN MAY...95
DEGREES...OCCURRED.
IN 1978...TWO CHILDREN WERE STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING ON
A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PLAYGROUND IN PARKER.
IN 1987...1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL NEAR BOULDER AND
BENNETT. THE HAIL WAS FAIRLY SOFT AND CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 1993...DRY THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 81 MPH AT
JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD. SEVERAL TREES
WERE BLOWN DOWN BY THE STRONG WINDS. MICROBURST WINDS
GUSTED TO 51 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1995...A WOMAN WAS INJURED IN LITTLETON WHEN THE CAR SHE
HAD JUST ENTERED WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. ALL OF THE
WINDOWS IN THE CAR WERE BLOWN OUT BY THE STRIKE. A FUNNEL
CLOUD WAS SIGHTED NEAR LITTLETON.
IN 2000...A STRONG MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 92 MPH FLIPPED A
SMALL AIRPLANE ON ITS BACK AND BLEW A DC-3 LOOSE FROM ITS
MOORINGS...WHICH ALLOWED IT TO ROLL ONTO A GRASSY FIELD AT
FRONT RANGE AIRPORT NEAR WATKINS.
IN 2010...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POUNDED PARTS OF THE URBAN
CORRIDOR WITH VERY LARGE HAIL...HEAVY RAIN...DAMAGING WINDS
AND A TORNADO. THE HAIL...RANGING IN SIZE FROM 1 INCH TO
2 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER...STRUCK BRIGHTON...COMMERCE CITY
AND NORTHEAST DENVER THE HARDEST. THE STORMS CONTINUED TO
SPREAD DESTRUCTION TO THE NORTH AND EAST...IMPACTING
BYERS...HUDSON...DEER TRAIL AND PROSPECT VALLEY. THE
COMBINATION OF HAIL AND WIND STRIPPED THE BARK AND
BRANCHES FROM TREES. NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED
AS THE HAIL ACCUMULATED UP TO A FOOT DEEP. SNOWPLOWS
WERE CALLED OUT TO CLEAR THE ROADWAYS. FLASH FLOODING
OCCURRED ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 52 BETWEEN HUDSON AND
KEENESBURG...AND FORCING THE CLOSURE OF THE HIGHWAY.
WIDESPREAD CROP DAMAGE WAS ALSO REPORTED AS THE AREA
WAS INUNDATED WITH UP TO 18 INCHES OF WATER. EXTENSIVE
DAMAGE TO HOMES...BUSINESSES AND AUTOMOBILES WAS
REPORTED WITH THE DAMAGE ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 70
MILLION DOLLARS. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...BUT DID NO DAMAGE. LIGHTNING
STRUCK A CHILD IN COMMERCE CITY WHILE SHE WAS WATCHING
TELEVISION. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES TO HER LEG.
AT THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENAL WILDLIFE REFUGE...A
LIGHTNING STRIKE KILLED A BISON. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...ONLY 0.01 INCH OF RAINFALL WAS OBSERVED...ALONG
WITH A PEAK WIND GUST TO 48 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST.
IN 2016...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL UP TO ONE INCH
IN DIAMETER NEAR CASTLE ROCK...THE PINERY AND WATKINS.
IN 2019...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BROKE OUT ACROSS PARTS OF
ADAMS...ARAPAHOE...DENVER...AND SOUTHERN WELD COUNTIES DURING
THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE HAIL RANGED
FROM 1 TO 1 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...UP TO 3 INCHES OF HAIL ACCUMULATED ON RUNWAY
SURFACES. CONSEQUENTLY...DOZENS OF FLIGHTS WERE EITHER
DELAYED OR CANCELLED SO RUNWAYS COULD BE CLEARED AND
AIRCRAFT INSPECTED FOR HAIL DAMAGE. A PEAK WIND GUST
TO 44 MPH WAS OBSERVED FROM THE WEST AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...WITH 0.65 INCH OF RAINFALL.
26-31 IN 1995...FROM THE 26TH THROUGH THE 31ST...A COOL PERIOD
WITH LIGHT MORNING SHOWERS AND MODERATE TO HEAVY
AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS PUSHED RIVERS
ALREADY SWOLLEN FROM MOUNTAIN SNOW MELT OVER THEIR BANKS
CAUSING MINOR FLOODING. STREAMS AND RIVERS SUCH AS THE
SOUTH PLATTE AND BOULDER CREEK FLOODED MEADOWLANDS...BIKE
PATHS...ROADS NEAR STREAMS...AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS.
NO SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS REPORTED AND CROP
DAMAGE WAS UNKNOWN. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.79 INCHES AT THE
SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND
ONLY 1.51 INCHES AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
27 IN 1874...AN APPARENT THUNDERSTORM GUST FRONT REACHED THE
CITY AT 6:40 PM. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED TO
48 MPH FOR A FEW MINUTES PRODUCED LARGE COLUMNS OF
DUST IN THE CITY AND ON THE PRAIRIE. THERE WAS NO
RAIN IN THE CITY.
IN 1942...A DUSTSTORM SWEPT INTO THE CITY...BUT NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED. WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 23 MPH.
IN 1953...A HEAVY HAILSTORM CAUSED AN ESTIMATED 100 THOUSAND
DOLLARS DAMAGE ACROSS METRO DENVER. LARGER THAN GOLF BALL
SIZE HAIL FELL IN WESTMINSTER AND NORTH DENVER. ONLY 1/8
INCH HAIL WAS MEASURED AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1955...WEST-NORTHWEST WINDS AT 35 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH
AS 58 MPH BRIEFLY REDUCED THE VISIBILITY TO 1/2 MILE IN
BLOWING DUST AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1981...LIGHTNING DAMAGED POWER LINES WEST OF LAKEWOOD AND
BLEW UP A TRANSFORMER AT THE DENVER FEDERAL CENTER. HAIL
1 TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED IN LAKEWOOD AND
ON I-25 SOUTH OF DENVER.
IN 2001...HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED
NEAR COMMERCE CITY.
IN 2003...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR CENTRAL
CITY.
IN 2006...UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER FOR LATE MAY PRODUCED TWO
TEMPERATURE RECORDS. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 93 DEGREES
WAS A RECORD MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE. THE LOW TEMPERATURE
OF 59 DEGREES EQUALED THE RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE
FOR THE DATE. BOTH PREVIOUS RECORDS OCCURRED IN 1895.
28 IN 1884...A THUNDERSTORM APPARENTLY PRODUCED LARGE HAIL.
THE HAIL STONES WERE NOTED AS UNUSUALLY LARGE...BUT THE
DIAMETER OF THE STONES WAS NOT MEASURED. THE HAIL FELL
FOR ONLY 5 MINUTES. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM WAS
ONLY 0.05 INCH.
IN 1898...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL TOTALED 1.74 INCHES
IN DOWNTOWN DENVER. HAIL OF UNKNOWN SIZE ACCOMPANIED
THE STORM.
IN 1981...A WOMAN IN AURORA WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY
LIGHTNING. ANOTHER BOLT INJURED A BOY ON A BICYCLE AT
ABOUT THE SAME TIME A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. ABOUT HALF AN
INCH OF RAIN IN 20 MINUTES CAUSED STREET FLOODING IN THE
AREA. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES SOME 3
MILES NORTH OF STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1982...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
IN SOUTHEAST DENVER...AURORA...AND STRASBURG. THE LARGE
HAILSTONES UNDOUBTEDLY DAMAGED SOME CARS IN THE AREA.
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...ONLY 1/2 INCH DIAMETER
HAIL WAS MEASURED.
IN 1991...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL IN BRIGHTON. NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED. LATER...HAIL RANGING IN SIZE FROM 3/4 INCH
TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL OVER SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONS
OF METRO DENVER. IN SOME AREAS...HAIL PILED UP A FEW INCHES
IN DEPTH.
IN 1994...THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 65 MPH DAMAGED 16 SMALL
AIRPLANES AND A HANGAR AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT.
IN 2001...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL ACROSS
METRO DENVER. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL
IN LAKEWOOD...WHEAT RIDGE...NORTHWEST DENVER...NEAR WATKINS...
BENNETT...AND KEENESBURG. HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER FELL
IN BRIGHTON. THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 58 MPH AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A SMALL TORNADO (F0)
TOUCHED DOWN NEAR BENNETT...BUT DID NO DAMAGE.
IN 2019...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM BROKE OUT OVER METRO DENVER
DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOME DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO
CARS AND VEGETATION. THE HAIL RANGED IN SIZE 7/8 INCH TO
1 1/4 INCH IN DIAMETER. BROADCAST MEDIA REPORTED DAMAGE
TO 16 DIFFERENT GREENHOUSES AROUND DENVER; SEVEN
EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IN ADDITION...TWO SEPARATE
STORMS PASSED ACROSS DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE
HAIL ACCUMULATED ON THE RUNWAYS BUT NO DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT
WAS REPORTED.
29 IN 1934...THE LOW TEMPERATURE DIPPED TO ONLY 66 DEGREES...THE
ALL-TIME RECORD HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH
OF MAY.
IN 1958...A MICROBURST CAUSED A BRIEF WIND GUST TO 56 MPH AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1964...HEAVY RAIN CAUSED FLOODING IN THE HARVEY GULCH
AREA OF SOUTHEAST DENVER. THE HIGH WATER DAMAGED HOMES...
BUSINESSES...STREETS...AND BRIDGES. AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.33 INCHES OF RAIN WERE MEASURED
WITH 1.76 INCHES TOTAL RAINFALL ON THE 29TH AND 30TH. THE
HEAVY RAIN DURING THE LAST WEEK OF THE MONTH WAS THE FIRST
SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION SINCE APRIL 3RD.
IN 1967...3/4 TO 1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL STONES FELL IN THE CITY
OF DENVER...BUT CAUSED NO REPORTED DAMAGE. HAIL AS LARGE AS
3/4 INCH WAS MEASURED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1975...THE HEAVIEST LAST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON OCCURRED
WHEN 5.6 INCHES OF SNOW WERE MEASURED AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. RAIN ALL DAY ON THE 28TH CHANGED
TO SNOW ON THE 29TH AND ACCUMULATED TO A DEPTH OF 4 INCHES
ON THE GROUND. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 31 MPH.
PRECIPITATION (RAIN AND MELTED SNOW) ON THE 28TH AND 29TH
TOTALED 1.48 INCHES.
IN 1982...ONE MAN WAS KILLED AND TWO OTHERS INJURED BY A
LIGHTNING STRIKE AS THEY STOOD UNDER A TREE IN THE CITY OF
DENVER'S WASHINGTON PARK.
IN 1987...7/8 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL NEAR CASTLE ROCK.
IN 1990...THUNDERSTORMS OVER METRO DENVER PRODUCED SEVERAL
SMALL FUNNEL CLOUDS AND TWO SMALL TORNADOES. THE FIRST
TORNADO (F0) TOUCHED DOWN IN NORTHWEST DENVER AND CAUSED
ROOF DAMAGE TO A HOUSE AND SNAPPED OFF THE TOPS OF SEVERAL
TREES. A SECOND TORNADO (F1) TOUCHED DOWN IN NORTHGLENN
AND MOVED INTO THORNTON DAMAGING A GROUP OF SELF STORAGE
GARAGES...SEVERAL VEHICLES...A WOODEN FENCE...SEVERAL TREES...
AND THE ROOF OF AN AUTO PARTS STORE. NO INJURIES WERE
REPORTED. THE STORMS ALSO CAUSED MINOR STREET FLOODING
ACROSS NORTHERN AND WESTERN SECTIONS OF METRO DENVER.
RAINFALL TOTALS RANGED FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES. LIGHTNING
STARTED A SMALL FIRE AT A HOME IN NORTHWEST DENVER. THE
FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE FRONT ROOMS AND WAS QUICKLY
EXTINGUISHED. SNOW PLOWS WERE USED TO CLEAR 2 TO 4 INCHES
OF PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL FROM A STRETCH OF U.S. HIGHWAY
285 IN TURKEY CREEK CANYON. LIGHTNING FELLED A TREE IN
NORTHEAST DENVER...WHILE STRONG WINDS SNAPPED OFF SEVERAL
LARGE TREE LIMBS IN THE SAME AREA. THUNDERSTORM RAINFALL
TOTALED 0.82 INCH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WHERE SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH.
IN 1991...LIGHTNING STRUCK A 13 YEAR OLD BOY IN A FIELD IN
FORT LUPTON. THE BOY WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION IN AN AREA
HOSPITAL FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE RECOVERING.
IN 1995...LIGHTNING STRUCK A SOCCER GOAL POST AND INJURED
6 ADULTS VIEWING A SOCCER GAME IN ARVADA. ALTHOUGH NO
ONE RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT FROM THE LIGHTNING...ALL ESCAPED
WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES...EXCEPT ONE WOMAN WHO WAS
HOSPITALIZED.
IN 1996...LARGE HAIL...3/4 TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER...
STRUCK LAKEWOOD AND WEST DENVER. LIGHTNING SPARKED A
SMALL FIRE WHEN IT STRUCK AN OIL STORAGE TANK 5 MILES
WEST OF BRIGHTON.
IN 2001...LIGHTNING SPARKED A FIRE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN
AURORA...FORCING THE EVACUATION OF 24 UNITS. MOST OF THE
FIRE DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE ATTIC. DAMAGE WAS
ESTIMATED AT 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
IN 2004...A MAN AND HIS SON WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE
PRACTICING ON THE DRIVING RANGE AT THE MEADOWS GOLF CLUB
IN SOUTHWEST METRO DENVER. THE FATHER WAS KILLED BY THE
BOLT...AND HIS 16 YEAR OLD SON SERIOUSLY INJURED. THREE
OTHER PEOPLE STANDING NEARBY RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.
IN 2010...HAIL UP TO 7/8 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED IN
BROOMFIELD.
IN 2017...AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 7/8
INCH IN DIAMETER NEAR CENTENNIAL.
29-1 IN 1894...FROM THE 29TH TO THE 1ST OF THE MONTH...HEAVY
RAIN COMBINED WITH SNOWMELT RUNOFF CAUSED WIDESPREAD
FLOODING OVER THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN.
RAINFALL WAS HEAVIEST IN THE FOOTHILLS WHERE 5 TO 8
INCHES WERE MEASURED OVER THE 4 DAYS. HEAVY RAINFALL
WEST OF BOULDER FLOODED MINING TOWNS AND DAMAGED MINING
PROPERTIES. IN THE CANYONS ABOVE BOULDER...RAILROADS
AND ROADS WERE WASHED OUT ALONG WITH MANY BRIDGES. THE
FLOODWATERS SPREAD INTO CENTRAL BOULDER AND COVERED A
WIDE AREA FROM UNIVERSITY HILL NORTH TO NEAR MAPLETON
HILL TO A MAXIMUM DEPTH OF 8 FEET. MANY HOUSES WERE
SWEPT AWAY...AND EVERY BRIDGE IN BOULDER WAS DESTROYED.
A FEW PEOPLE...TRAPPED IN THEIR HOMES BY THE FLOODWATERS...
HAD TO BE RESCUED. HOWEVER...THE GRADUAL RISE OF THE FLOOD
WATERS RESULTED IN ONLY ONE DEATH. BOULDER CREEK SPREAD TO
A WIDTH OF NEARLY ONE MILE IN THE PASTURE LAND TO THE EAST
OF BOULDER. EXTENSIVE FLOODING ON LEFT HAND CREEK NORTH
OF BOULDER WASHED AWAY RAILROAD AND WAGON BRIDGES. THE
HEAVY CLOUDBURSTS CAUSED FLOODING ON BEAR CREEK...WHICH
WASHED AWAY BRIDGES...RAILROAD TRACKS...AND STRUCTURES AND
DESTROYED THE CANYON ROADWAY. MORRISON SUSTAINED THE
HEAVIEST FLOOD DAMAGE ON BEAR CREEK. IN DENVER...RAINFALL
TOTALED ONLY 1.50 INCHES ON THE 30TH AND 31ST...BUT THE
HEAVY RAINFALL ON UPSTREAM TRIBUTARIES OF THE SOUTH PLATTE
RIVER CAUSED THE RIVER TO RISE AS MUCH AS 10 FEET ABOVE THE
LOW WATER MARK IN THE CITY...WHICH CAUSED SOME FLOODING OF
PASTURE LAND DOWNSTREAM TO A DEPTH OF 6 FEET NEAR BRIGHTON.
30 IN 1875...A WINDSTORM LASTING ALMOST ALL DAY PRODUCED
SUSTAINED WINDS TO 42 MPH.
IN 1935...SOUTHEAST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 29 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
34 MPH PRODUCED A MODERATE DUSTSTORM DURING THE AFTERNOON.
IN 1938...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAIN AND HAIL PUMMELED DOWNTOWN
DENVER DURING THE EVENING HOURS. RAINFALL ACCUMULATED TO
1.63 INCHES. HAIL ACCUMULATED TO A DEPTH OF 18 INCHES.
IN 1948...A LOCALIZED THUNDERSTORM CAUSED FLOODING ON SAND
CREEK IN AURORA AND NORTHEAST DENVER. RAINFALL WAS ONLY
0.49 INCH IN DOWNTOWN DENVER WHERE LIGHT HAIL ALSO FELL.
IN 1963...A GOLFER DIED OF INJURIES RECEIVED WHEN STRUCK
BY LIGHTNING ON A GOLF COURSE SOUTHWEST OF DENVER. A
WAREHOUSE IN DENVER WAS DAMAGED AND ITS CONTENTS DESTROYED
BY A LIGHTNING-CAUSED FIRE.
IN 1967...UP TO 4.00 INCHES OF RAIN IN LAKEWOOD AND WHEAT
RIDGE CAUSED FLOODING OF ROADS AND BASEMENTS. WATER WAS
SEVERAL FEET DEEP IN SOME YARDS. MANY STREETS WERE
TEMPORARILY CLOSED. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER
FELL IN WHEAT RIDGE. HAIL PILED UP TO 2 FEET DEEP IN SOME
LOW LYING AREAS OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST DENVER. SNOWPLOWS
WERE EMPLOYED TO REMOVE THE HAIL. STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...WHERE WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH...RECEIVED 1.51
INCHES OF RAIN AND HAIL...WHICH FORCED THE CLOSURE OF THE
RUNWAYS FOR AN HOUR. HAIL STONES TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER
WERE MEASURED AT BUCKLEY FIELD. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED
NEAR SOUTH WADSWORTH BLVD. AND BEAR CREEK. A TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN THE VICINITY OF 60TH AND 62ND
AVENUES NEAR NORTH WASHINGTON STREET. THE STORM UPROOTED
TREES AND DAMAGED ONE BUILDING. DOORS WERE RIPPED FROM A
BUSINESS HOUSE...WIDELY SCATTERING IRRIGATION PIPE. IN
ADDITION...A TOTAL OF 3 FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE SIGHTED IN THAT
AREA.
IN 1970...HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1976...A SINGLE THUNDERSTORM CROSSED SOUTH METRO DENVER
PRODUCING A FUNNEL CLOUD 2 MILES SOUTH OF ARAPAHOE ROAD
AND BROADWAY. THE STORM MOVED OVER BUCKLEY FIELD PRODUCING
A FUNNEL CLOUD AND 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL. AS THE STORM
MOVED NORTHEAST OF THE CITY...A LARGE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN
NEAR EAST 59TH AVE AND TOWER ROAD AND WAS ON THE GROUND FOR
20 MINUTES. IT DEMOLISHED A 60-FOOT-LONG CINDERBLOCK COW
SHED...TORE A WALL FROM A MACHINERY SHED...TORE SHINGLES OFF
THE ROOF OF A FARMHOUSE NEARBY...AND FELLED 12 TREES ON ONE
FARM. A BOY IN A FEED SHED 20 FEET FROM A DESTROYED
BUILDING WAS NOT INJURED.
IN 1977...3/4 TO 1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL AT OR NEAR
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ONE INCH TO BASEBALL
SIZE HAIL FELL IN SOUTH DENVER...DAMAGING SOME HOMES AND
EXTENSIVELY DAMAGING SOME AIRPLANES AT ARAPAHOE COUNTY
AIRPORT...NOW CENTENNIAL AIRPORT. HAIL COVERED HIGHWAYS
TO A DEPTH OF 6 TO 8 INCHES IN SOUTH DENVER.
IN 1978...TWO FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE SIGHTED 5 MILES SOUTH OF
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HAIL UP TO 1 1/4 INCHES IN
DIAMETER WAS REPORTED IN WHEAT RIDGE AND NORTHWEST DENVER.
ONLY 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 1989...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL AT THE JUNCTION OF I-25 AND
I-225. ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL IN LITTLETON.
IN 1990...A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CROSSED METRO DENVER...
PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH AND SCATTERED AREAS OF
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL. SMALL TREES AND BRANCHES WERE
BLOWN DOWN BY THE STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS...WHICH ALSO
CAUSED MINOR POWER OUTAGES ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
SECTIONS OF METRO DENVER. THE STRONG WINDS UPROOTED A 25-
TO 30-FOOT TREE IN THE ACRES GREEN SUBDIVISION OF NORTHERN
DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE TREE BLOCKED A BUSY STREET FOR SEVERAL
HOURS. A PILOT REPORTED HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 1/2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER COVERING THE GROUND NEAR THE NORTH END OF A RUNWAY
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HEAVY RAIN CAUSED A
ROCK AND MUD SLIDE THAT PARTIALLY CLOSED THE BOULDER CANYON
HIGHWAY 10 MILES WEST OF BOULDER. THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED
TO 41 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2001...LIGHTNING IGNITED A FIRE WHICH DESTROYED A LUXURY
HOME ON BEAR MOUNTAIN NEAR EVERGREEN. ESTIMATED DAMAGE
WAS SET AT 1 MILLION DOLLARS.
IN 2003...FLASH FLOODING OCCURRED IN THE HAYMAN FIRE BURN AREA
AFTER AS MUCH AS 1 INCH OF RAIN FELL IN 30 MINUTES. THE
HEAVY RAINFALL WASHED OUT MANY ACCESS ROADS AND CLOSED STATE
HIGHWAY 67 BETWEEN DECKERS AND WEST CREEK. A 3-FOOT WALL OF
WATER RAN DOWN FOURMILE CREEK FROM THE YMCA CAMP AT SHADY
BROOK...DAMAGING ONE BUILDING IN THE CAMP AND FLOODING ROADS.
HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR ROGGEN IN
WELD COUNTY.
IN 2005...LIGHTNING STRUCK AS LEAST 20 HOMES IN WESTMINSTER.
ONLY MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCED HAIL AS LARGE AS 1.25 INCHES IN AND NEAR FORT
LUPTON AND HAIL TO 3/4 INCH NEAR INDIAN HILLS IN JEFFERSON
COUNTY.
IN 2014...HEAVY RAINFALL...NEARLY 1.2 INCHES IN 30 MINUTES...
PRODUCED LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING IN BOULDER. THE HEAVY
RAIN COUPLED WITH THE ALREADY SWOLLEN CREEKS FROM THE SPRING
RUNOFF ALONG BOULDER CREEK RESULTED IN THE FLOODING. STREET
FLOODING WAS REPORTED AT 6TH ST AND CANYON BLVD AND AT
BASELINE ROAD. SOME CARS WERE STRANDED IN THE HIGH WATER IN
LOW LYING AREAS AND ONE PERSON REPORTED BEING TRAPPED IN HIS
VEHICLE.
IN 2024...DURING THE LATE EVENING HOURS...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
MOVED ACROSS DENVER AS WELL AS THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN
SUBURBS...INCLUDING BROOMFIELD...AURORA...AND COMMERCE CITY.
QUARTER TO BASEBALL SIZED HAIL LEFT A LARGE SWATH OF
DAMAGE. THESE STORMS AND THE RESULTING HAIL CAUSED AN
ESTIMATED $1.9 BILLION IN DAMAGES. THAT MOSTLY INCLUDES
HOMES...AUTOS...AND BUSINESSES. THE TOTAL DAMAGE CAUSED MAKES
THIS SECOND ONLY TO THE MAY 8...2017...STORM...WHICH WAS THE
WORST HAILSTORM IN COLORADO HISTORY.
30-31 IN 1935...FROM THE 30TH TO THE 31ST...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS
OVERNIGHT CAUSED FLASH FLOODING EAST OF THE CITY ON BOTH
KIOWA AND BIJOU CREEKS...RESULTING IN A TOTAL OF 9 DEATHS.
MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS ON KIOWA CREEK WHERE THERE WERE MORE
STRUCTURES. THE WATER ROSE RAPIDLY DURING THE STORM...
RIPPING HOUSES AND STORES FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND
SWEEPING THEM DOWNSTREAM. PRECIPITATION IN DENVER TOTALED
ONLY 0.01 INCH. HAIL FELL IN THE CITY FOR A SHORT TIME. THE
HAIL WAS VERY SMALL AND CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 1983...FROM THE 30TH TO THE 31ST...A LATE STORM OF RAIN AND
SNOW HIT THE FRONT RANGE. OVER AN INCH OF RAIN FELL AT SOME
SPOTS...AND ABOVE 7 THOUSAND FEET...1 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW
WHITENED THE GROUND. SOME SNOW FLAKES EVEN FELL IN THE
WESTERN SUBURBS OF METRO DENVER ON THE NIGHT OF THE 30TH.
IN 2002...FROM THE 30TH TO THE 31ST...UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER
AT THE END OF THE MONTH RESULTED IN 3 TEMPERATURE RECORDS.
HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 91 DEGREES ON THE 30TH EQUALED THE
RECORD MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE. LOW TEMPERATURE OF 61 DEGREES
ON THE 31ST WAS A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM FOR THE DATE. HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 93 DEGREES ON THE 31ST WAS A RECORD MAXIMUM
FOR THE DATE.
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