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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT MON JUN 3 2024

...Today in metro Denver weather history...

1-4   In 1977...unusually warm weather for this early in June
        resulted in 3 maximum temperature records being equaled
        at the time:  88 degrees on the 1st...90 degrees on the 2nd...
        and 93 degrees on the 4th.  Maximum of 91 degrees on the
        3rd was not a record.
2-4   In 1989...from the 2nd to the 4th...heavy rain drenched metro
        Denver with the greatest amounts recorded on the 3rd.
        Total rainfall ranged from 1 1/2 to 3 inches.  Roads were
        washed out in Boulder County...and flooded basements caused
        water damage to houses in the Gunbarrel section of Boulder.
        In suburban Denver...heavy rain caused minor flooding along
        Lena Gulch in Jefferson County where two mobile home parks
        were evacuated. Rainfall totaled 1.66 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport.
2-7   In 1921...heavy rainfall for nearly a week...from the 2nd to
        the 7th...on top of streams already swollen by mountain
        snowmelt...produced widespread flooding over the South
        Platte River basin...including the tributaries through the
        canyons to the west and southwest of Denver.  Heavy
        rainfall over the 6-day period totaled 3.36 inches in
        Boulder...4.98 inches in Morrison...4.27 inches
        in Castle Rock...and 2.94 inches in the City of Denver.
        Rainfall amounts in the foothills were estimated between
        3 and 6 inches.  The narrow-gage tracks of the Colorado and
        Southern Railroad were destroyed in the Platte canyon.  From
        the mouth of the canyon through the city to near Brighton...
        the river spread from 1/2 to nearly 1 1/2 miles wide...
        flooding farm and pasture land and destroying or damaging
        many bridges.  In the city...many businesses along with as
        many as 500 homes were inundated...forcing their evacuation.
        Bridges were swept away.  The high waters flooded the rail
        yards and stock yards in lower downtown...closing three
        adjacent packing houses.  The heavy rains also caused
        flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder on the 6th.
3     In 1951...a trace of snow fell at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1961...torrential rains fell 10 to 30 miles north of
        Denver...causing flooding in the town of Frederick.  The
        rush of water broke through and over a retaining dike
        sending a 5-foot wall of water into the town...flooding
        homes and damaging sewer lines...roads...and streets.
        Golf ball size hail fell in Derby...west Denver...and
        Lakewood...causing more than one million dollars in damage.
      In 1981...severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes over metro
        Denver.  The first tornado touched down at the intersection
        of Alameda Ave. and Sheridan Blvd.  The twister moved north
        along Sheridan Blvd....damaging businesses...apartment
        buildings...homes...and vehicles.  Over ten homes were
        unroofed.  The roof of one landed in the middle of a
        neighborhood park.  At least 10 mobile homes were wrecked.
        The tornado curved to the northeast into northwest Denver...
        hopping up and down in several places.  Very strong winds
        outside the actual funnel caused 20 to 30 thousand dollars
        in damage in downtown Denver.  The third floor of one old
        building was demolished.  No major injuries were reported
        from the tornado...although several people were hurt
        slightly in traffic accidents on Sheridan Blvd. in the
        confusion caused by the storm.  Damage in Lakewood alone
        was estimated at 200 thousand dollars.  At the same time...
        the worst tornado to ever hit metro Denver struck Thornton.
        Coming from the same thunderstorm that spawned the Denver
        twister...the Thornton tornado tore a swath through the
        heart of the city.  87 homes were destroyed...110 others
        damaged at least moderately.  In all...600 homes in a 100
        block area sustained some damage.  The twister also hit
        shopping centers...several restaurants...and other buildings.
        Seven of the 42 injured were considered serious.  The storm
        was strong enough to snap lamp posts in half and drive a 6-
        inch slab of wood 2 feet into the ground.  Damage was
        estimated at up to 50 million dollars.  The same storm that
        struck Thornton produced another damaging tornado that
        touched down in the northwest section of Fort Lupton.  This
        twister damaged 16 homes and numerous cars and campers.
        Two children were slightly injured when the car they were
        in was knocked about and its windows shattered by the
        storm.  The twister also damaged two commercial
        buildings.  Damage was very spotty...and observers said
        the storm hopped up and down at least 3 times.  Dollar
        damage was estimated at 500 thousand dollars.  The
        thunderstorm complex that produced 3 damaging tornadoes
        also dropped large hail which damaged many cars over
        northwest Denver.  One to 2 inches of rain fell in less
        than an hour...flooding a mobile home park with 3 to 4 feet
        of water on the northwest edge of Denver.  The high water
        damaged about half of the 392 homes in the park.  Local
        flooding was also reported in other areas across metro
        Denver.  A tornado was also sighted near Franktown...but
        caused no damage.  A thunderstorm wind gust to 52 mph was
        recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1982...a cold air funnel cloud touched down briefly in
        southwest Denver.  Two tornadoes were briefly spotted near
        Watkins.  No damage was reported from these storms.  A
        brief funnel cloud was sighted by National Weather Service
        observers at Stapleton International Airport where 1/4 inch
        hail fell.
      In 1984...there were several sightings of tornadoes around
        Parker.  No damage was reported.
      In 1985...a tornado just southeast of Aurora was spotted by a
        National Weather Service employee.  No damage was reported.
        Severe thunderstorms pummeled the metro area with hail.
        One inch to baseball size hail was reported in south
        Lakewood...one inch hail in Littleton...3/4 inch to 1 inch
        hail in Aurora...and golf ball size hail in south Denver.
      In 1989...hail up to golf ball size fell over Arvada.  A golf
        course had to be evacuated as the hail accumulated up to 3
        inches deep in some places.  One inch diameter hail fell in
        west Denver and Westminster.
      In 1993...an early morning thunderstorm produced lightning...
        which caused an attic fire at a residence in Niwot
        northeast of Boulder.  Damage was estimated at 40 thousand
        dollars.  No one was injured.
      In 1994...hail to 1 1/2 inch diameter fell just northeast of
        Boulder.  One inch diameter hail fell in Golden.
        Thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph were recorded in Erie.
      In 1995...a tornado was sighted over open country near
        Strasburg.  No damage was reported.  A funnel cloud was
        sighted 11 miles east of Aurora where 3/4 inch hail fell.
      In 2001...severe thunderstorms produced large hail over east
        and southeast metro Denver.  Hail as large as 1 3/4 inches
        in diameter fell at Centennial Airport with 1 1/2 inch
        hail near Buckley Field...1 1/4 inch hail in Parker...1 inch
        hail near Elizabeth...7/8 inch hail at Cherry Creek
        Reservoir...and 3/4 inch hail 20 miles north of Kiowa in
        Elbert County.
      In 2002...severe thunderstorms dumped large hail across metro
        Denver.  Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell over
        southeast Denver and 4 miles north of Aurora.  Hail to
        1 1/4 inches pelted Parker.  One inch hail was measured
        near Ft. Lupton...and 3/4 inch hail fell 9 miles southeast
        of Buckley Field...near Strasburg...and at the site of the
        former Stapleton International Airport.
      In 2005...thunderstorms producing heavy rain and hail caused
        flash flooding over parts of southeast metro Denver.
        People became trapped in their vehicles by the high water...
        and numerous water rescues were required.  The hardest hit
        areas included the vicinity of I-25 and Alameda Avenue...as
        well as the intersection of Yale Avenue and Quebec Street.
        Several basements were flooded along Eastman Place.
        Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and hail to
        eastern Centennial and southeastern Aurora.  Up to 3 feet
        of standing water was reported on east Orchard Road where
        several motorists were stranded in their vehicles and needed
        to be rescued.  Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell in the
        area.  Ten vehicles were stranded on Grand Avenue...and most
        had to be towed once the floodwaters receded.  Water was
        reportedly chest deep at one location on Girard Avenue.
        Hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter also was reported in
        Littleton...near Parker...and near Buckley Air Force Base.
        Hail to 7/8 inch was measured near Sheridan and Cherry
        Creek Reservoir.
3-4   In 1904...a thunderstorm during the early morning of the
        3rd turned into widespread general rain...which continued
        into the early afternoon of the 4th.  Rainfall totaled
        2.04 inches.

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