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NOUS45 KBOU 170045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-172300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
645 PM MDT SAT MAY 16 2026
..THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY
14-18 IN 1996...FROM THE 14TH TO THE 18TH...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.
16-17 IN 1981...FROM THE 16TH TO THE 17TH...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...FROM THE 16TH TO THE 17TH...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...FROM THE 16TH TO THE 17TH...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.
17 IN 1903...SOUTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 45 MPH FROM AN APPARENT MICROBURST WHICH PRODUCED ONLY
A TRACE OF RAIN.
IN 1960...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH DIAMETER WAS MEASURED IN THORNTON.
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL IN ARVADA.
IN 1972...MICROBURST WINDS GUSTED TO 51 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1975...HAIL 1/2 TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL OVER WESTERN
METRO DENVER.
IN 1978...A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN SOUTH AURORA
DAMAGING 40 HOMES...6 TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT. ONE GARAGE
WAS DEMOLISHED AND BLOWN ACROSS THE STREET. PARTS OF ROOFS
WERE COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. SEVERAL 2X4-INCH BOARDS WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDES OF HOUSES. ANOTHER SMALL TORNADO IN
PARKER DAMAGED TWO AIRPLANES. OTHER FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE
SIGHTED OVER NORTHGLENN AND NEAR GOLDEN.
IN 1985...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A TOTAL OF 1.50 INCHES OF
RAIN IN BRIGHTON WHERE 0.72 INCHES FELL IN 40 MINUTES.
SMALL HAIL COVERED THE GROUND...AND THERE WAS SOME STREET
AND BASEMENT FLOODING.
IN 1987...SMALL HAIL PILED UP 4 INCHES DEEP IN SOUTHWEST
AURORA. THERE WAS ALSO WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING AND A
FEW POWER OUTAGES. HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER
FELL AT CASTLE ROCK.
IN 2000...HIGH WINDS OCCURRED ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS...AS A DEEP SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER FORMED OVER
THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF COLORADO. AN AMUSEMENT PARK IN
NORTH BOULDER RECEIVED ABOUT 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PROPERTY
DAMAGE. PEAK WIND REPORTS INCLUDED: 88 MPH AT THE NATIONAL
WIND TECHNOLOGY CENTER...84 MPH IN BOULDER...AND 80 MPH AT THE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH MESA LABORATORY.
A POWDER KEG OF SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING TORNADOES AND
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND
HEAVY RAIN...OCCURRED OVER THE PLAINS TO THE NORTHEAST OF
DENVER. THE ONLY SEVERE WEATHER REPORTED ACROSS METRO
DENVER WAS 1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL IN LITTLETON.
17-19 IN 2017...A STRONG SPRING STORM DROPPED ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN...
AND THEN MOVED EASTWARD ACROSS COLORADO. ISOLATED BUT STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS PRECEDED THE SYSTEM ON THE 17TH WITH HAIL UP
TO NICKEL SIZE NEAR BOULDER AIRPORT AND BRIGHTON. SIGNIFICANT
SNOW FELL ACROSS THE FRONT RANGE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ALONG THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR...
RAIN TURNED TO SNOW ON THE MORNING OF THE 18TH...HEAVIEST FROM
AROUND BROOMFIELD NORTHWARD. THE HEAVY WET SNOW SNAPPED THE
LIMBS OF FULLY LEAVED TREES AND CAUSED SCATTERED POWER
OUTAGES. A BARNS COLLAPSED IN NORTHEAST LOVELAND. FIFTY-FIVE
HEAD OF CATTLE WERE INSIDE THE COLLAPSED BARN; THREE WERE
INJURED AND LATER EUTHANIZED. NUMEROUS BRANCHES AND TREES
SNAPPED IN THE FOOTHILLS. ELSEWHERE...SEVERAL SCATTERED
SMALLER POWER OUTAGES WERE REPORTED. THREE TO NEARLY FIVE
INCHES OF LIQUID PRECIPITATION OCCURRED...AS RAIN OR A MIX OF
RAIN AND SNOW...FELL AROUND GREELEY. STORM TOTALS IN THE FRONT
RANGE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS INCLUDED: 42.0 INCHES NEAR
ALLENSPARK...41.5 INCHES NEAR WARD...36 INCHES AT ESTES PARK...
32 INCHES NEAR PINECLIFFE...30.5 INCHES NORTHWEST OF GOLDEN...
30 INCHES NEAR NEDERLAND...26 INCHES NEAR BRECKENRIDGE...25
INCHES NEAR ASPEN SPRINGS AND BEAR LAKE STATE PARK...14
INCHES AT ASPEN SPRINGS...WITH 9.5 INCHES NEAR EVERGREEN.
ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR...STORM
TOTALS INCLUDED: 10 INCHES NEAR SUPERIOR AND LOUISVILLE...6
TO 8 INCHES IN AND AROUND FORT COLLINS...6 INCHES IN LAFAYETTE...
5 INCHES IN BROOMFIELD AND LOVELAND...AND 4 INCHES NEAR NIWOT.
18 IN 1864...HEAVY RAINS COMBINED WITH MELTING SNOW TO CAUSE MUCH
FLOODING ON NORTH CLEAR CREEK IN BLACKHAWK. MANY BRIDGES ON
THE ROAD TO DENVER WERE WASHED AWAY BY THE HIGH WATER ON
CLEAR CREEK.
IN 1893...NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 56 MPH WITH AN
EXTREME VELOCITY TO 60 MPH.
IN 1960...LARGE HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER DAMAGED ROOFS AND
CARS IN METRO DENVER. HEAVY SNOW AND RAIN IN THE FOOTHILLS
CAUSED ROCK AND LANDSLIDES...WHICH BLOCKED SOME HIGHWAYS.
THERE WAS WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE FROM LIGHTNING.
HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 1/8 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT WHERE WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH.
IN 1975...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY JUST SOUTH OF BUCKLEY
FIELD IN AURORA. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SAME TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN IN OPEN COUNTRY 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1985...3/4 INCH HAIL FELL JUST SOUTHEAST OF AURORA.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STARTED A FIRE AT A HOME IN THE FOOTHILLS
WEST OF BOULDER...CAUSING 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
IN 1995...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS RUMBLED ACROSS METRO DENVER
DROPPING MAINLY PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL. HOWEVER...HAIL
STONES AS LARGE AS 1 1/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL IN WHEAT
RIDGE AND DOWNTOWN DENVER. HAIL PILED UP TO 2 INCHES DEEP
IN WHEAT RIDGE AND NORTHWEST DENVER.
IN 1996...THE BUFFALO CREEK WILDFIRE STARTED AND SPREAD
RAPIDLY ON STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH. DRY
WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE...
WHICH BURNED NEARLY 12 THOUSAND ACRES AND DESTROYED 12
STRUCTURES INCLUDING SOME HOUSES.
IN 2001...A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING
AS HE WAS WALKING ALONG THE SHOULDER OF U.S. HIGHWAY 36 IN
WESTMINSTER.
IN 2003...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2010...A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR FIRESTONE BUT DID
NO DAMAGE.
18-19 IN 2011...FROM THE 18TH TO THE 19TH...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN
CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL
ON THE 18TH. LARGE HAIL FROM 1 INCH TO 1 3/4 INCHES IN
DIAMETER...WAS REPORTED IN COMMERCE CITY...NEAR FEDERAL
HEIGHTS...NORTHGLENN...AND 2 MILES SOUTH OF THORNTON. IN
COMMERCE CITY...THE STORM UPROOTED TREES AND KNOCKED OUT
POWER LINES. A CARPORT WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND
STRUCK THE POWER LINES OVERHEAD. HEAVY RAIN...FROM 1.0 TO
1.5 INCHES FELL IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS IN COMMERCE CITY AND
NEAR BRIGHTON. THE COMBINATION OF HAIL AND STRONG WINDS
BROKE WINDOWS IN NORTHGLENN. IN THE FOOTHILLS...MODERATE TO
HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVERNIGHT. STORM TOTALS
INCLUDED: 10.5 INCHES AT GOLD HILL...9.5 INCHES...3 MILES
WEST OF JAMESTOWN; 9 INCHES AT LAKE ELDORA; WITH 6 INCHES...
11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GILPIN AND 4 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF
NEDERLAND. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...TOTAL RAINFALL
OVER THE 2-DAY PERIOD TOTALED 1.71 INCHES. IN ADDITION...A
PEAK WIND GUST TO 37 MPH WAS RECORDED ON THE 18TH.
18-20 IN 1915...FROM THE 18TH TO THE 20TH...3.9 INCHES OF SNOW FELL
IN THE CITY. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT MELTED AS
IT FELL WAS 6.2 INCHES WHICH WOULD HAVE TOTALED AN
ESTIMATED 10.1 INCHES OF SNOWFALL. PRECIPITATION TOTALED
1.03 INCHES. NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 32 MPH ON THE
18TH. LOW TEMPERATURES DIPPED TO 25 DEGREES ON BOTH THE
18TH AND 20TH...ESTABLISHING RECORD MINIMUMS FOR BOTH DATES.
IN 1988...FROM THE 18TH TO THE 20TH...A PROLONGED HEAVY
RAINFALL DRENCHED METRO DENVER. THE EVENT BEGAN WHEN HEAVY
THUNDERSTORMS ON THE 18TH CAUSED SOME STREET FLOODING AND
POWER OUTAGES...FOLLOWED BY STEADY RAIN ON THE 19TH AND 20TH.
RAIN AMOUNTS ACROSS METRO DENVER TOTALED 3 TO 4 INCHES.
RAINFALL TOTALED 3.71 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH ON THE 20TH.
FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE 7
THOUSAND FEET.
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.
19 IN 1927...SOUTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 44 MPH.
IN 1956...A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 54 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1969...HAIL STONES TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WERE MEASURED IN
ARVADA AND AURORA. SOME MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL FELL IN WESTMINSTER.
IN 1972...A TORNADO WAS REPORTED BY AIRCRAFT ABOUT 5 TO 10
MILES EAST OF PARKER.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STARTED A FIRE AT A HOUSE IN THE DENVER
SUBURB OF GREENWOOD VILLAGE...CAUSING 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN
DAMAGE.
IN 1991...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER EAST METRO DENVER PRODUCED
WIND GUSTS OF 56 TO 60 MPH. THE STRONG WINDS DOWNED POWER
LINES...TREES...AND FENCES AT SOME LOCATIONS IN AURORA.
THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WINDS GUSTED TO 60 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1994...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS RUMBLED ACROSS METRO DENVER.
THE STORMS PRODUCED WIND GUSTS AVERAGING 65 MPH AND HAIL UP
TO DIME SIZE. WIND GUSTS TO 77 MPH WERE RECORDED IN
BRIGHTON. NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER POLES WERE DOWNED BY
THE WINDS. ONE POWER POLE FELL ONTO SPECTATORS AT A HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONY IN COMMERCE CITY...INJURING 6
PEOPLE. IN FORT LUPTON...TREES FELL ONTO 2 PARKED CARS...
KNOCKING OUT THE WINDSHIELDS. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER
WAS REPORTED IN LITTLETON. A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 52
MPH WAS RECORDED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1995...A SLOW MOVING TORNADO...WHICH WAS MAINLY DISCERNIBLE
BY ITS DUST AND DEBRIS CLOUD...WAS SPOTTED 2 MILES NORTHEAST
OF DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OR ABOUT 10 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BENNETT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 2007...LIGHTNING STRUCK A 33-FT STATUE OF JESUS AT MOTHER
CABRINI SHRINE...IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF GOLDEN. THE BLAST
BROKE OFF ONE OF THE STATUE'S ARMS AND A HAND...AND ALSO
DAMAGED A FOOT. IT COST AN ESTIMATED $200000 TO REPAIR.
IN 2009...LIGHTNING STRUCK THE ROOF OF A RESIDENCE IN HIGHLANDS
RANCH. THE HOME WAS NOT A TOTAL LOSS...BUT THE FIRE CAUSED
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
IN 2010...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 7/8 INCH IN
DIAMETER IN THORNTON.
19-20 IN 1864...FROM THE 19TH TO THE 20TH...A DEVASTATING MAJOR FLASH
FLOOD OCCURRED ON THE NORMALLY DRY AND SANDY CHERRY CREEK
IN DENVER. THE FLOOD WAS CAUSED BY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM
RAINFALL AND HAIL OVER THE PALMER RIDGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE
CITY IN BOTH THE CHERRY CREEK AND PLUM CREEK BASINS.
NINETEEN DEATHS OCCURRED ALONG THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER AND
CHERRY CREEK IN DENVER. THE TORRENT SWEPT CATTLE AND SHEEP
ALONG WITH LARGE TREES AND HOUSES BEFORE IT WASHING OUT
SEVERAL BRIDGES...AND MOVING LARGE STRUCTURES FROM THEIR
FOUNDATIONS. ALL CITY RECORDS WERE DESTROYED WHEN CITY HALL
WASHED AWAY. THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS BUILDING...BUILT ON
STILTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CREEK...WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED
BY THE RAGING WATERS...WHICH WERE AS DEEP AS 5 FEET ON THE
MORNING OF THE 20TH. ONCE THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDED...MUCH
SAND AND GRAVEL WAS LEFT BEHIND. PROPERTY DAMAGE FROM THE
FLOOD WAS ESTIMATED AT NEARLY ONE MILLION DOLLARS. THIS
WAS THE FIRST MAJOR FLOOD OF RECORD IN THE CITY.
20 IN 1874...AFTER A LIGHT LATE AFTERNOON SHOWER...3 RAINBOWS
WERE VISIBLE IN THE EASTERN SKY. THE TWO UPPER BOWS
WERE OF THE USUAL COLORS. THE LOWER BOW HAD A DEEP
VIOLET CENTER WITH A FAINT YELLOW AND WHITE RIM.
IN 1892...APPARENT POST-FRONTAL NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO
40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 48 MPH. A TRACE OF SNOW WAS THE LAST
SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON.
IN 1899...SNOW PELLETS FROM 1/4 TO 3/8 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL
FROM A THUNDERSHOWER DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON. WEST WINDS
WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 48 MPH.
IN 1904...SOUTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH AN
EXTREME VELOCITY OF 42 MPH PRODUCED BY A THUNDERSTORM.
IN 1961...A TORNADO TORE THROUGH CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY...1 1/2
MILES NORTH OF CASTLE ROCK. THE STORM STRUCK 2 RANCHES AND
THE PROPERTY OF A DRILLING COMPANY. A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY
WAS LIFTED OFF THE ROAD AND SLAMMED INTO A TRUCK...INJURING
THE TWO OCCUPANTS.
IN 1983...HEAVY RAIN FELL IN AURORA WITH 1.00 TO 1.50 INCHES
OF PRECIPITATION. LOCAL FLOODING OCCURRED IN LAKEWOOD.
IN 1990...1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL FELL AT BUCKLEY FIELD IN
AURORA. MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED TO AUTOS...BUILDINGS AND
SIGNS.
IN 1995...HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR
BENNETT WHERE A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED.
IN 2001...DAMAGING WINDS DEVELOPED BEHIND A VIGOROUS COLD
FRONT THAT MOVED SOUTH FROM WYOMING INTO METRO DENVER.
HIGH WINDS...GUSTING TO 58 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES AND KICKED UP BLOWING
DUST...DIRT...AND DEBRIS...REDUCING THE VISIBILITY TO NEAR
ZERO AT TIMES. THE POOR VISIBILITY CAUSED A MULTI-VEHICLE
ACCIDENT ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 85 NORTH OF FORT LUPTON. SIX
PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES. SEVERAL VEHICLES...
INCLUDING SEMI-TRAILERS...WERE BLOWN OFF I-70 EAST OF DENVER.
ABOUT 32 THOUSAND XCEL ENERGY CUSTOMERS IN METRO DENVER WERE
WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR UP TO 2 HOURS. AT LEAST A DOZEN
INCOMING FLIGHTS AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WERE
DIVERTED TO OTHER AIRPORTS. ALL DEPARTING FLIGHTS WERE
GROUNDED FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. AT SOUTHWEST PLAZA...SHOPPERS
WERE EVACUATED AS ROCKS HOLDING A TARP ON A PORTION OF A
ROOF UNDER REPAIR TOPPLED INTO THE MALL. AFTER THE PASSAGE
OF THE COLD FRONT...TEMPERATURES PLUNGED FROM THE LOWER 70'S
TO THE MID 30'S IN ONE HOUR AS LIGHT SNOW DEVELOPED. HEAVY
SNOW DEVELOPED IN THE FOOTHILLS DURING THE EVENING. PEAK
WIND REPORTS INCLUDED 68 MPH NEAR PARKER AND 63 MPH NEAR
SEDALIA. SNOWFALL TOTALS INCLUDED: 7 INCHES NEAR BLACKHAWK...
AT KEN CARYL RANCH...AND NEAR SEDALIA; 6 INCHES IN COAL CREEK
CANYON...AT ELDORADO SPRINGS...AND ATOP LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN; 5
INCHES AT CHIEF HOSA...IN LOUISVILLE...ROLLINSVILLE...AND WHEAT
RIDGE; AND 4 INCHES IN AURORA...BAILEY...PARKER...CASTLE ROCK
AND NEAR MORRISON. LOW TEMPERATURE OF 31 DEGREES DURING THE
EARLY MORNING OF THE 21ST EQUALED THE RECORD LOW FOR THE
DATE LAST SET IN 1931.
IN 2004...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL AS LARGE AS 1.25
INCHES NEAR FT. LUPTON AND HAIL TO 1.50 INCHES 10 MILES
NORTH OF FT. LUPTON.
IN 2014...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL...FROM 1 TO 1 1/4
INCHES IN DIAMETER...ACROSS PARTS OF AURORA...DENVER...
ENGLEWOOD AND LAKEWOOD.
20-21 IN 1891...FROM THE 20TH TO THE 21ST...HEAVY RAIN WAS MIXED WITH
SNOW AT TIMES AND TOTALED 2.02 INCHES IN THE CITY. SNOWFALL
WAS 1.0 INCH. NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 28 MPH ON THE 20TH.
20-22 IN 1959...FROM THE 20TH TO THE 22ND...THE THREE-DAY RAIN CAUSED
SOME FLOODING IN METRO DENVER WHERE RAIN TOTALED 1.68 INCHES
AT STAPLETON AIRPORT. SHOWERS...ACCOMPANIED BY HAIL NEAR
BRIGHTON...CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO TRUCK CROPS. HEAVY SNOW IN
THE FOOTHILLS CAUSED DAMAGE TO POWER AND TELEPHONE LINES.
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.
21 IN 1874...AN EXTENSIVE FIRE AT CENTRAL CITY IN THE MOUNTAINS TO
THE WEST OF DENVER PRODUCED LARGE COLUMNS OF SMOKE THAT WERE
VISIBLE FROM THE CITY. IN THE AFTERNOON...THE SMOKE AND FIRE
PRODUCED A DARK INKY BLACK CONVECTIVE CLOUD...WHICH SPREAD OVER
THE CITY AND PRODUCED BRIEF STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH
A FEW SPRINKLES OF RAIN.
IN 1880...WEST WINDS INCREASED TO A SUSTAINED VELOCITY OF 40 MPH
DURING THE AFTERNOON.
IN 1893...NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH.
IN 1914...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS ATTENDED BY HAIL...EXCESSIVE
RAINFALL WHICH TOTALED 1.94 INCHES...AND AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT
OF VIVID LIGHTNING. THE HEAVY RAINFALL OF 0.83 INCH IN 15
MINUTES PRODUCED FLOODING...WHICH CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE
TO BOTTOM LANDS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE CITY.
MANY GARDEN TRACTS AND CELLARS WERE FLOODED. SOUTHWEST
WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 29 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 34 MPH.
IN 1935...NO PRECIPITATION OCCURRED...MAKING THIS ONE OF
ONLY TWO DAYS WITHOUT PRECIPITATION DURING THE ENTIRE
MONTH. THE OTHER DAY WAS THE 10TH. PRECIPITATION
TOTALED 4.95 INCHES FOR THE MONTH.
IN 1952...A TORNADO PRODUCED A HIGH COLUMN OF DUST AND DIRT
OVER NORTHWEST DENVER. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1988...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 52 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2002...VERY STRONG WINDS OCCURRED OVER METRO DENVER AND
NORTHEASTERN COLORADO AS A DEVELOPING SURFACE LOW PRESSURE
CENTER INTENSIFIED. TREES AND BRANCHES SNAPPED...DOWNING
POWER LINES ACROSS PARTS OF METRO DENVER. ABOUT 20 THOUSAND
RESIDENTS LOST ELECTRICITY. THE STRONG WINDS PRODUCED MUCH
BLOWING DUST AND DIRT ESPECIALLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF METRO
DENVER. WINDS GUSTED TO 61 MPH AT PARKER. SOUTH WINDS
GUSTED TO 58 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2006...A LARGE DUST DEVIL FORMED NEAR QUINCY RESERVOIR IN
SOUTH AURORA. THE TALL COLUMN RESEMBLING A TORNADO OR
SMOKE PLUME EXTENDED UPWARD INTO SMALL HIGH-BASED CUMULUS
CLOUDS AND WAS VISIBLE FOR MILES ACROSS SOUTHERN AURORA
AND EASTERN CENTENNIAL. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 2014...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED IN AND AROUND METRO
DENVER. THE STORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL...FROM QUARTER TO
GOLFBALL SIZE. FRONTIER AIRLINES CANCELED 16 FLIGHTS...WHEN
SEVERAL PLANES SUSTAINED HAIL DAMAGE. FORTY FLIGHTS AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WERE EITHER DELAYED OR CANCELED. SOME
HOMES IN GREEN VALLEY RANCH...EAST OF DENVER...WERE DAMAGED BY
HAIL. SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE ALSO DAMAGED. FIVE SHORT LIVED
TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN NEAR BENNETT AND BYERS BUT NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED. THE STORMS ALSO PRODUCED HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG
DAMAGING WINDS. THE WIND DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES EAST OF
DENVER. THE HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL...UP TO 6 INCHES DEEP IN
SPOTS...CAUSED STREET FLOODING AROUND THE METRO AREA. THE
HAILSTORM AT DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK KNOCKED OUT POWER TO
THE STADIUM WHERE THE 4A AND 5A GIRLS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
GAMES WERE ABOUT TO BE PLAYED. THE INCLEMENT WEATHER SNARLED
TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 70...PE A BOULEVARD...U.S. 85 AND
ELSEWHERE DUE TO THE FLOODED ROADS. IN SOME AREAS...SNOW PLOWS
WERE CALLED OUT TO CLEAR THE HAIL. PARTS OF TOWER ROAD AND
PEORIA STREET...AND OTHER ROADS IN COMMERCE CITY...WERE CLOSED
THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS...BECAUSE OF STANDING WATER.
SEVERAL VEHICLES STALLED IN STANDING WATER WHERE WATER POOLED
IN THE UNDERPASSES. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.2
INCHES OF WATER WAS OBSERVED...ALONG WITH A WIND GUST TO 42
MPH FROM THE NORTHWEST.
21-22 IN 1878...OVERNIGHT...FROM THE 21ST TO THE 22ND...HEAVY RAINS OF
CLOUDBURST INTENSITY ON THE PALMER DIVIDE TO THE SOUTH OF
THE CITY CAUSED FLASH FLOODING ON CHERRY CREEK IN DENVER...
WHICH RESULTED IN 2 DEATHS. A WALL OF WATER SWEPT THROUGH
THE CITY BETWEEN 2:00 AM AND 3:00 AM ON THE MORNING OF THE
22ND. THE FLOOD WAS SO SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED THAT HOMES
ALONG THE CREEK IN THE CITY WERE SUBMERGED IN WATER KNEE
DEEP BEFORE THE SLUMBERING OCCUPANTS KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BY DAYBREAK THE BANKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CREEK WERE LINED
BY RESIDENTS VIEWING THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE RAGING
WATERS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. SEVEN BRIDGES ACROSS THE
CREEK WERE DESTROYED IN THE CITY. DAMAGE TO PRIVATE AND
CITY PROPERTY WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 30 AND 50 THOUSAND
DOLLARS. QUITE A NUMBER OF CATTLE AND SHEEP WERE KILLED
ALONG THE REACH OF THE CREEK. ONLY 0.01 INCH OF RAIN
FELL IN THE CITY ON THE 21ST WITH A TRACE OF RAIN ON THE
22ND. FLASH FLOODING ALSO OCCURRED ON KIOWA CREEK NEAR
BENNETT ON THE NIGHT OF THE 21ST WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS
WASHED OUT THE KANSAS PACIFIC RAILROAD BRIDGE. AN EAST
BOUND FREIGHT TRAIN PLUNGED INTO THE TURBULENT WATERS
KILLING THE THREE CREWMEN. THE LOCOMOTIVE WAS COMPLETELY
BURIED IN THE SAND AND NEVER FOUND TO THIS DAY!
21-23 IN 1876...FROM THE 21ST TO THE 23RD...SNOW CHANGED TO HEAVY
RAIN OVER THE CITY...RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD FLOODING
ALONG CHERRY CREEK AND THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER...NEARLY AS
GREAT AS THE FLASH FLOOD OF MAY 19-20...1864. HOWEVER...
DAMAGE WAS GREATER BECAUSE THE CITY HAD GROWN MUCH LARGER
AND THERE WERE MORE BRIDGES FOR THE FLOOD WATERS TO
DESTROY. PRECIPITATION IN THE CITY TOTALED 6.70 INCHES
FROM 10:00 PM ON THE 21ST THROUGH 3:00 AM ON THE 23RD. THE
GREATEST PRECIPITATION EVER RECORDED IN DENVER IN 24 HOURS...
6.53 INCHES...OCCURRED ON THE 21ST AND 22ND. SMALL
BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES ALONG CHERRY CREEK WERE WASHED AWAY
BY THE FLOOD WATERS. BRIDGES OVER THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
WERE DAMAGED. THE CITY IRRIGATION DITCH WAS DAMAGED AND
RENDERED UNFIT FOR SERVICE. STRONG WINDS AT SPEEDS OF 30
TO 40 MPH DROVE THE HEAVY RAIN THROUGH BRICK WALLS 12 TO
16 INCHES THICK. MANY SHEEP AND CATTLE WERE EITHER KILLED
BY LIGHTNING OR DROWNED...INCLUDING SOME 100 HEAD OF CATTLE
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ALONE. THERE WAS IMMENSE DAMAGE TO
RAILROAD TRACKS...ESPECIALLY THE KANSAS PACIFIC LINE TO THE
EAST OF THE CITY. THE COLORADO CENTRAL SUFFERED ESTIMATED
DAMAGE OF 10 TO 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS. IN ADDITION...THE
HEAVY RAIN CAUSED EXTENSIVE FLOODING ON SODA AND BEAR CREEKS
IN THE FOOTHILLS. FLOODING ALONG BOULDER CREEK INUNDATED
FARM AND PASTURE LAND IN THE BOULDER VALLEY AND DAMAGED A
FEW BRIDGES. RAIL TRAVEL HAD TO BE SUSPENDED IN THE AREA
FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
22 IN 1876...THE MOST PRECIPITATION IN DENVER ON ANY CALENDAR
DAY...6.50 INCHES...OCCURRED.
IN 1901...NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 41 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 45 MPH.
IN 1903...WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
55 MPH FROM AN APPARENT MICROBURST...WHICH PRODUCED A TRACE
OF RAIN.
IN 1976...THE PUBLIC REPORTED 3/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AND WIND
GUSTS TO 53 MPH NEAR LITTLETON.
IN 1987...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL IN THE LORRETTO HEIGHTS
AREA OF SOUTH METRO DENVER.
IN 1991...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN CASTLE ROCK. NO
INJURIES WERE REPORTED.
IN 1993...AN OFF DUTY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEE
REPORTED HAIL UP TO GOLF BALL SIZE JUST WEST OF THE CITY
OF DENVER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS
REACHED 58 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT NEAR BROOMFIELD
AND 33 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1996...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PUMMELED NORTHWEST AND
NORTHERN SECTIONS OF METRO DENVER WITH LARGE HAIL RANGING
IN SIZE FROM 3/4 TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE CITIES OF
ARVADA AND WESTMINSTER WERE THE HARDEST HIT. THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY ESTIMATED 60 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO HOMES
AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND 62 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO
AUTOMOBILES...FOR A TOTAL OF 122 MILLION DOLLARS IN INSURED
LOSSES. THIS ESTIMATE ALSO INCLUDED THE CITIES OF GOLDEN...
THORNTON...AND WHEAT RIDGE. THIS WAS THE FOURTH WORST
HAILSTORM TO HIT METRO DENVER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
IN 1998...LARGE HAIL FELL ACROSS NORTH METRO DENVER. HAIL
AS LARGE AS 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED IN
BROOMFIELD AND HUDSON. HAIL TO 1 1/4 INCHES FELL IN
ROGGEN. HAIL TO 1 INCH FELL IN BRIGHTON...NEAR KEENESBURG...
IN WATKINS...AND IN THE CITY OF DENVER. LIGHTNING IGNITED
A HOUSE FIRE IN FT. LUPTON. A WAREHOUSE WORKER IN DENVER
WAS INJURED WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OFF A LOADING DOCK BY
A LIGHTNING BOLT. THE BOLT SKIPPED OFF A NEARBY RADIO
TOWER AND STRUCK HIM IN THE ARM. HE WAS TREATED FOR
NUMBNESS IN HIS RIGHT ARM AND RELEASED.
IN 1999...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED 7/8 INCH DIAMETER
HAIL OVER THE CITY OF DENVER...WITH ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL
REPORTED IN AURORA...AND 3/4 INCH HAIL NEAR WATKINS.
IN 2006...A LIGHTNING STRIKE SPARKED A FIRE AND DAMAGED THE
ROOF OF A RECREATION CENTER IN EVERGREEN. THE FIRE SPREAD
INTO SOME BRUSH AND CONSUMED ABOUT ONE QUARTER ACRE BEFORE
IT WAS EXTINGUISHED. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED STRONG
WIND GUSTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF METRO DENVER. WINDS GUSTED
TO 72 MPH IN GEORGETOWN...62 MPH NEAR PARKER AND BENNETT...
60 MPH IN CASTLE ROCK...AND 59 MPH IN LONGMONT. THE WINDS
CAUSED NO REPORTABLE DAMAGE. A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED
SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS TO 52 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 2008...A POWERFUL TORNADO SWEPT NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS
WELD COUNTY...CARVING A PATH OF DESTRUCTION NEARLY 39 MILES
IN LENGTH. THE TORNADO...UP TO ONE-MILE WIDE AT TIMES...
INITIALLY TOUCHED DOWN NORTHEAST OF PLATTEVILLE AND FINALLY
LIFTED 6 MILES WEST-NORTHWEST OF WELLINGTON. A TORNADO
ASSESSMENT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO REVEALED
EXTENSIVE AREAS OF DAMAGE. ON THE ENHANCED FUJITA SCALE...
THERE WERE POCKETS OF EF3 DAMAGE NEAR THE MISSLE SILO PARK
CAMPGROUND AND TO BUSINESSES AND A HOME IN EASTERN WINDSOR.
FARMERS REPORTED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CROPS AND IRRIGATION
EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS ONE FATALITY AND 78 INJURIES...
RANGING FROM BROKEN BONES TO MINOR CUTS AND LACERATIONS.
ONE MAN WAS KILLED WHEN HE TRIED TO ESCAPE A TRAILER PARK
IN HIS MOTOR HOME. TRACTOR TRAILERS WERE FLIPPED ALONG
U.S. HIGHWAY 85...AND OVER 200 POWER POLES WERE SNAPPED OR
BLOWN DOWN. APPROXIMATELY 60000 PEOPLE WERE LEFT WITHOUT
ELECTRICITY. THE TORNADO OVERTURNED 15 RAILROAD CARS AND
DESTROYED A LUMBER CAR. THE TORNADO ALSO FLATTENED THE
MAIN FEEDLOT IN WINDSOR AND DESTROYED A DAIRY BARN. MOST
OF THE 400 COWS WERE KILLED IN THE TORNADO OR DESTROYED
LATER. THE THUNDERSTORM ALSO PRODUCED HAIL UP TO THE SIZE
OF BASEBALLS. ANOTHER TORNADO FROM A SEPARATE THUNDERSTORM...
RATED AN EF1...BRIEFLY TOUCHED DOWN NEAR DACONO AND
DESTROYED 5 BUILDINGS. THE TORNADO OVERTURNED A FIVE-WHEEL
TRAILER AND INJURED A MAN SITTING INSIDE. PRELIMINARY
ESTIMATES FROM FEMA INDICATED 850 HOMES WERE DAMAGED...AND
NEARLY 300 HOMES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
THE POUDRE VALLEY RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATED REPORTED $1
MILLION OF DAMAGE TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES.
PRIVATELY INSURED DAMAGES TOTALED $147 MILLION...MAKING IT
THE STATE'S 4TH COSTLIEST DISASTER. LARGE HAIL UP TO 1 1/2
INCHES IN DIAMETER...WAS REPORTED IN THE VICINITIES OF
GOLDEN AND LONGMONT.
IN 2014...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DENVER AREA PRODUCED NICKEL
TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN PARTS OF WEST DENVER AND NEAR
BENNETT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL PRODUCED SOME MINOR
STREET FLOODING IN PARTS OF METRO DENVER. THE HEAVY
RAINFALL PRODUCED LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING NEAR BENNETT.
RAINFALL TOTALED 0.54 INCHES AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
22-23 IN 1933...FROM THE 22ND TO THE 23RD...HIGH WINDS AND GALES
OVERNIGHT CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN AND NEAR THE CITY.
MUCH GREENHOUSE GLASS WAS BROKEN...WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO
SHELTERED PLANTS. GREAT NUMBERS OF PLANTS GROWING IN THE
OPEN WERE DAMAGED OR KILLED BY WIND-DRIVEN SAND AND SOIL.
FIELDS WERE ERODED BY THE WIND AND A FEW TREES WERE
UPROOTED. WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 38 MPH WITH GUSTS
AS HIGH AS 65 MPH IN DOWNTOWN DENVER ON THE 22ND.
23 IN 1916...SOUTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 43 MPH WITH
GUSTS AS HIGH AS 52 MPH. THE WINDS WERE STRONG FOR
SEVERAL HOURS DURING THE AFTERNOON.
IN 1965...THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW WIND GUSTS TO 59 MPH WERE
RECORDED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1987...SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS BOMBARDED METRO DENVER.
ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL WAS REPORTED IN SOUTH CENTRAL
DENVER. TORRENTIAL RAIN CAUSED WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING...
STALLING TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT THE AREA. RAINFALL TOTALED
2.10 INCHES IN JUST 25 MINUTES IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST AURORA.
MANY OTHER LOCATIONS IN AURORA AND EAST DENVER REPORTED 1 TO
1 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THUNDERSTORM
RAINFALL TOTALED 1.33 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHERE 1/4 INCH DIAMETER HAIL WAS MEASURED AND NORTH
WINDS GUSTED TO 40 MPH. A MAN WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BY
LIGHTNING NEAR STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. LIGHTNING
ALSO STARTED A FIRE THAT SEVERELY DAMAGED A HOUSE IN AURORA.
IN 1990...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 52 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRODUCED SOME BLOWING DUST.
IN 1991...THUNDERSTORMS MOVING FROM SOUTHWESTERN SECTIONS OF
METRO DENVER TO THE EAST OF DENVER PRODUCED LARGE HAIL UP
TO GOLF BALL SIZE. AN ESTIMATED 5 THOUSAND HOMES AND
8 THOUSAND CARS RECEIVED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. EARLY
ESTIMATES PLACED DAMAGE COSTS AROUND 60 MILLION DOLLARS.
THREE FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE ALSO REPORTED...TWO BY PERSONNEL
AT BUCKLEY FIELD AND THE OTHER BY A STORM SPOTTER. HEAVY
RAIN PRODUCED STREET FLOODING IN AURORA WHERE HAIL
ACCUMULATED TO A DEPTH OF 6 INCHES. AS THE STORMS MOVED
TO THE EAST...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT STRASBURG.
IN 1997...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH DIAMETER FELL IN BROOMFIELD.
IN 2002...A VERY STRONG MICROBURST NEAR STRASBURG SWEPT A
WOMAN INTO A SWIRL OF DIRT AND CARRIED HER ABOUT 150 FEET.
THE WOMAN WAS IN AN OPEN FIELD...CORRALLING A YEARLING HORSE...
WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY...SHE RECEIVED ONLY
MINOR INJURIES.
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.
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