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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MDT SAT JUN 8 2024

...This week in metro Denver weather history...

7-9   In 1979...rain...at times with thunder on the 7th...fell almost
        continuously through the morning of the 9th.  Rainfall
        totaled 2.28 inches at Stapleton International Airport
        over the 3 days.  High temperature of only 49 degrees on
        the 8th was a record low maximum for the date.
9     In 1900...an apparent cold front produced north winds to
        42 mph with gusts to 47 mph.
      In 1923...heavy rainfall totaled 2.18 inches in downtown
        Denver...where northwest winds were sustained to 27 mph.
        Heavy rain also fell in Boulder...causing flooding on
        Boulder and South Boulder creeks.
      In 1939...post-frontal sustained northwest winds to 35 mph
        produced some blowing dust...which reduced the visibility
        to one mile at times during the afternoon.  Dusty
        conditions prevailed into the early evening.  The airport
        station reported a maximum wind of 56 mph.  A few minor
        injuries and some damage resulted.  A few trees were
        uprooted...some fruit was blown from trees...and a section
        of power lines was blown down.
      In 1959...dry thunderstorm winds...estimated to near 70 mph...
        toppled a 40-foot-high poplar tree...which was 4 to 5 inches
        in diameter...near Cherry Creek Dam.  The Colorado State
        Patrol reported a possible tornado 1 mile south of the dam.
      In 1960...strong gusty winds tore the roofs from 2 patios in
        Aurora.  One of the roofs was blown over a house and landed
        on a car damaging its top.  A house trailer was also
        overturned.  Other minor damage was reported to roofs...
        windows...and trees in Aurora.  A thunderstorm wind gust
        to 43 mph was recorded at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1963...golf ball size hail fell at Cherry Creek Reservoir.
      In 1967...a small tornado damaged trees and a dwelling in
        south Denver.  The storm touched down at the intersection
        of 1st Avenue and Harrison Street and moved northeast to
        the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Albion Street.
        Damage included 3 small roofs removed...15-20 large trees
        uprooted...one car overturned and thrown against a house...
        plus other minor damage.  A funnel cloud reported at the
        same time 10 miles north of Denver possibly touched ground.
        Later...funnel clouds were reported 12 miles south-southeast
        of Stapleton International Airport...10 miles southwest...and
        5 miles north.  A tornado was sighted 3 1/2 miles east of
        Stapleton International Airport by Weather Bureau personnel
        for a duration of 5 minutes.  Heavy rain and some hail fell
        over much of the area.
      In 1974...the start of the shortest seasonal snow free period
        on record...94 days...occurred with the last snow of the
        season...a trace...on the 8th.  The first snow of the next
        season occurred on September 11th when a trace of snow
        fell at Stapleton International Airport.  A funnel cloud
        was observed just east of Aurora and a small funnel was
        sighted just northeast of Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1985...a thunderstorm wind gust to 62 mph was reported at
        Golden Gate Canyon in the foothills west of Denver.
      In 1986...a thunderstorm...which dumped heavy rain and caused
        some street flooding across north metro Denver...produced
        a small tornado 5 miles east of Brighton.  No damage was
        reported.
      In 1987...strong thunderstorm wind gusts in Conifer destroyed
        a porch on a house; the wind gust apparently picked up the
        porch and dropped it on a man...killing him.  The wind also
        damaged the roof of the house and a nearby barn.  The same
        thunderstorm spawned a tornado...which touched down briefly
        just south of Lakewood.  No damage was reported.  Up to 3
        inches of rain fell in a short time 8 miles southwest of
        Littleton.  A few businesses in Englewood suffered minor
        water damage.  A tornado was sighted between Watkins and
        Bennett.  It was on the ground for 15 minutes.  A weak
        tornado also touched down 4 miles southwest of Castle Rock.
        The twister tossed an aluminum shed into the air and
        carried it about 100 feet.  A funnel cloud was sighted
        15 miles east-northeast of Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1988...golf ball size hail fell in Conifer along with 1.30
        inches of rain.  Three miles north of Louisville...1.10
        inches of rain fell in 20 minutes.  Ping pong ball size
        hail was measured in Arvada.
      In 1990...3/4 inch hail fell in Castle Rock.
      In 1991...hail two inches in diameter fell near Evergreen.
        Hail to 1 inch diameter fell in Lakewood where a funnel
        cloud was also sighted.  One inch diameter hail was also
        reported in Aurora.
      In 2002...high temperatures...low relative humidities...and
        strong gusty winds allowed the Hayman Wildfire...located
        in the foothills to the southwest of Denver...to become
        the largest wildfire in the state`s history.  Although
        the fire was initially started by a U.S. Forest Service
        employee...the ongoing drought and dry conditions allowed
        the fire to spread rapidly out of control.  The wildfire
        consumed nearly 138 thousand acres of forest land and 133
        homes before it could be contained and finally extinguished
        on June 30th.  About 1800 households had to be evacuated
        during the blaze.  Southwest winds aloft swept the smoke
        plume directly over metro Denver...creating poor air quality
        and blocking the sun.  Much of metro Denver choked on smoke
        with the southern suburbs receiving the most.  Smoke and
        ash restricted surface visibilities to a mile or less at
        times in the Denver and Castle Rock areas and to 2 miles
        at Denver International Airport.
      In 2003...thunderstorm winds gusted to 51 mph at Denver
        International Airport.  The storm produced only a trace
        of rain.
      In 2004...severe thunderstorms produced large hail across
        portions of metro Denver for the second day in a row.
        The most extensive damage occurred across southern sections
        of metro Denver in Aurora...Lakewood...Littleton...and south
        Denver.  The combined damage to homes and vehicles...not
        including commercial buildings...was estimated at 146.5
        million dollars...making the event the 4th costliest
        insurance disaster in the state`s history.  Hail as large
        as 2 1/4 inches in diameter fell near southern Aurora with
        hail to 1 3/4 inches in the City of Denver and in Lakewood.
        Hail to 1 1/2 inches fell near Morrison with 1 inch hail
        measured in Thornton...near Buckley Air Force Base...and
        near Roggen.  Hail to 3/4 inch diameter fell in Littleton
        and near Conifer.  A small tornado touched down near
        Bennett...but did no damage.
9-10  In 1864...from the 9th to the 10th...high water from melting
        snow combined with heavy rains over the upper reaches of
        the South Platte River forced the river over its banks and
        caused flooding of low lying areas along the river in the
        city.  The amount of rainfall in the mountains and in the
        city is unknown.
10    In 1943...a man was killed by lightning while using a
        surveying instrument at Buckley Field.
      In 1969...hail stones 2 to 3 inches in diameter caused
        extensive damage to buildings and automobiles in an area
        from northeast of Boulder to Longmont.  Two funnel clouds
        were reported near Castle Rock.  A funnel cloud and 1 inch
        hail stones were reported 10 to 20 miles southeast of
        Stapleton International Airport.  Hail stones to 1 3/4
        inches fell 3 miles west of Littleton.  Hail to 3/4 inch
        diameter fell over southeast Denver.
      In 1988...thunderstorm winds clocked to 60 mph unroofed a
        porch and downed a fence at a home near Stapleton
        International Airport.  A small tornado touched down
        briefly in northeast Aurora.  Another small tornado
        touched down for 3 minutes in southeast Aurora.  No
        damage was reported from either twister.
      In 1989...a National Weather Service observer saw lightning
        strike 2 storage tanks at 40th and Havana...3/8 mile
        northeast of Stapleton International Airport.  The strike
        temporarily knocked out some weather observing equipment
        at the National Weather Service.
      In 1991...a tornado was sighted 2 miles south of Castle Rock.
        No damage was reported.  The funnel cloud associated with
        the tornado was sighted for 5 minutes by National Weather
        Service observers at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1994...lightning struck a home in Denver...which started a
        fire in the attic and caused minor damage.
      In 1997...lightning struck a security guard at the Castle
        Pines Golf Course near Castle Rock.  He received only
        minor injuries.
      In 1999...severe thunderstorms rolled off the foothills over
        metro Denver...producing large hail and damaging winds.  Hail
        to 1 inch diameter fell near Evergreen with 1 3/4 inch hail
        measured west of Golden.  Hail to 1 1/2 inches fell in
        Commerce City with one inch hail in Lakewood...Wheat Ridge...
        the City of Denver and at Denver International Airport
        where thunderstorm winds gusted to 58 mph.  As the storms
        moved east...3/4 inch hail was reported in Aurora...and
        damaging thunderstorm winds developed between Bennett and
        Strasburg.  Winds gusting as high as 69 mph blew half a
        metal roof from a shed in a Bennett lumberyard.  A small
        barn was also leveled between Bennett and Strasburg.  Winds
        also gusted to 58 mph near Manilla.
      In 2000...a dry microburst produced a wind gust to 58 mph
        at Jefferson County Airport.  Thunderstorm winds gusted
        to 55 mph at Denver International Airport.
      In 2003...hail as large as 1 3/4 inches was measured at
        Centennial Airport and near Parker.
      In 2005...hail to 7/8 inch in diameter was reported near
        Parker with 3/4 inch hail measured near Castle Rock.
      In 2009...lightning struck an apartment complex...a
        veterinary hospital in Boulder and caused minor
        damage.  Lightning also struck two oil tanks...one
        in Boulder and the other at Front Range Airport north
        of Watkins.  The oil tanks in both instances were set
        on fire and suffered extensive damage.
      In 2010...a complex of severe thunderstorms hammered portions
        of eastern Arapahoe...eastern Douglas and western Elbert
        Counties.  The hail ranged from 1 inch to 3 inches in diameter.
        The largest hail was observed near Elizabeth.  Areas in and
        around Aurora...Byers...Parker and Thornton were also impacted
        by large hail.  One weak tornado touched down near Prospect
        Valley but did no damage. At Denver International Airport...a
        peak wind gust to 35 mph was observed from the northwest.
10-11 In 1882...heavy thunderstorm rains on the morning of the
        10th caused a rapid rise in Dry Creek...which enters the
        South Platte River at Fairview in present day south
        Denver.  This...combined with additional heavy rainfall
        on the 11th caused the South Platte River to overflow.
        Five people drowned and several houses were destroyed.
        Total losses in the city and suburbs was estimated at 75
        thousand dollars.  Total rainfall in central Denver was
        2.21 inches over the 2 days.
      In 2013...the high temperature of 99 degrees on the 10th
        broke the previous record maximum temperature of 97 for
        the date.  Also...the minimum temperature of 68 and high
        temperature of 100 degrees on the 11th established a new
        record for highest minimum and maximum temperature for
        the date.
11    In 1947...a trace of snow fell over downtown Denver.  Low
        temperature of 34 degrees was a record minimum for the
        date.
      In 1962...hail caused extensive crop damage near Hudson
        northeast of Denver.
      In 1970...stratiform rainfall totaled 3.16 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport.  This was the greatest amount of
        precipitation ever recorded on a calendar day in June.
        In addition...it was the greatest amount of precipitation
        ever measured during any 24-hour period in June.  The high
        temperature climbed to only 51 degrees...which was a record
        low maximum for the date.
      In 1973...large hail from 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter fell
        west of Boulder.
      In 1977...golf ball size hail was reported just south of
        Arapahoe County Airport...now Centennial Airport.  Lightning
        struck a home in Lakewood.
      In 1988...a 30-year-old man was seriously injured by lightning
        while mowing his lawn in Denver.
      In 1992...lightning started two house fires in the southern
        Denver suburbs where 3/4 inch hail fell and a funnel cloud
        was sighted.
      In 1999...severe thunderstorms formed over the Palmer Divide
        and moved across Douglas...Elbert...and Adams counties.
        Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter was reported in and
        near Castle Rock...Sedalia...Franktown...and Aurora.  Hail
        as large as golfballs accumulated several inches deep
        and caused a large section of a corrugated metal roof of
        a greenhouse complex to collapse near Franktown.  About a
        third of the roof covering the 30 thousand square foot
        building collapsed.  Thirty-five workers were trapped in
        the debris...but only 3 were treated for minor injuries.
        Hail 1 to 2 feet deep blocked the roadways and slowed the
        arrival of emergency vehicles.  Damage to the building
        was estimated to be around 3 million dollars.
      In 2006...a man was struck and killed by lightning as he was
        returning to his car after leaving the Mile High Flea
        Market near Henderson.  Two others were knocked down...but
        not injured by the lightning strike.  Severe thunderstorms
        produced large hail across the northern portion of metro
        Denver.  Hail to 1 1/4 inches in diameter was measured in
        Arvada...with 1 inch diameter hail reported near Fort
        Lupton.  Hail to 7/8 inch in diameter was recorded near
        Brighton...and hail...3/4 inch in diameter...fell near
        Keenesburg.
      In 2009...large hail pummelled portions of Adams...Arapahoe...
        Elbert and Douglas Counties.  Hail up to 1 1/2 inches in
        diameter was measured near Parker.
      In 2010...severe thunderstorms producing very large hail
        pummeled portions of Front Range Foothills and Urban
        Corridor.  The large hail ranged in size from 1 to
        2 1/2 inches...caused extensive damage to home and
        vehicles. The hardest hit areas included:  Brighton...
        Castle Rock...Greenland...Idledale...Mountain View and
        Thornton. The combination of heavy rain and hail
        destroyed 50 thousand acres of cropland in southeast Weld
        County.  Flash flooding forced the closure of State
        Highway 52...east of Prospect Valley. Several county roads
        were either flooded or completely washed out.  At Denver
        International Airport...0.69 inches of rainfall was
        observed.
      In 2015...thunderstorms produced flash flooding in Denver
        and parts of the metropolitan area.  In downtown Denver...
        parked cars had standing water rising midway up the wheels.
        Denver fire crews had to rescue motorists from flooded
        intersections and roads. In Glendale...two lanes of
        northbound Colorado Blvd. at Exposition Ave. were closed
        due to flooding. In Aurora...water was reportedly flowing
        over the roads at East 6th Ave. and South Pacadilly Road.
        Additional flooding was reported on South Gun Club Road...
        between East Alameda Ave. and East Exposition Avenue...
        forcing the closure of the road. Flooding occurred along
        Plum Creek and its tributaries. Four trails in Castle
        Rock were closed due to flooding. Plum Creek remained
        above flood stage for approximately 2 1/2 hours...with
        moderate flooding along and east of the creek. Near
        Cherry Creek Dam...2.02 inches of rain fell.  At
        Denver International Airport 0.56 inches of rainfall
        was recorded.  A peak wind gust to 34 mph was also
        observed from the north.
11-14 In 1999...damage from several hailstorms...from the 11th to
        the 14th...in and near metro Denver totaled 35 million
        dollars.  About 17.5 million dollars was from automobile
        claims with another 17.5 million in homeowner claims. The
        areas hardest hit by the storms included Castle Rock...
        Commerce City...Evergreen...and Golden.
12    In 1901...south winds were sustained to 45 mph with an extreme
        velocity to 47 mph.
      In 1917...northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
        to 45 mph.
      In 1927...flooding on Little Dry Creek in Englewood resulted in
        two deaths.
      In 1947...a trace of snow fell over downtown Denver during the
        early morning.  This was the latest last snow of the season
        (trace or more).  This also marked the end of the longest
        snow season...264 days...from the first snow...a trace...on
        September 22...1946.  High temperature of 43 degrees was a
        record low maximum for the date.  Minimum temperature of 33
        degrees was a record low for the date.
      In 1971...a funnel cloud sighted over Arvada possibly touched
        down at the base of the foothills.  The public reported
        3/4 inch to 1 inch diameter hail over the City of Denver.
      In 1974...strong thunderstorm winds caused damage to power
        lines in metro Denver.  Northwest winds gusted to 45 mph
        at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1975...a thunderstorm wind gust to 56 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1982...three small tornadoes were sighted near Bennett.
        One of the twisters caused minor crop and road damage along
        its path.  A brief tornado was sighted by National Weather
        Service observers at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1983...3/4 inch hail fell in Boulder.  Golf ball to 3/4 inch
        size hail fell in Arvada...denting cars and house roofs.
        Over a thousand hail damage insurance claims were filed from
        the area.  Golf ball size hail also fell in Northglenn and
        Bennett...1 to 2 inch hail in Thornton...2 1/2 inch hail in
        northeast of Denver.  A tornado was sighted 10 miles
        northeast of Stapleton International Airport; it was only
        on the ground for 1 to 2 minutes.
      In 1984...large hail pelted many parts of southern metro
        Denver.  Fifteen aircraft were damaged by golf ball
        size hail at Centennial Airport.  Golf ball size hail was
        reported in south Denver...and 3/4 inch hail was measured
        in southeast Aurora.
      In 1987...a small weak tornado touched down for about 3
        minutes near the intersection of I-70 and Colorado Blvd.
        in northeast Denver.  No damage was recorded.  A microburst
        wind gust to 53 mph was recorded at Stapleton International
        Airport.
      In 1991...in the City of Denver...lightning struck a tree under
        which seven people were picnicking.  One person was
        critically injured.  The others received only minor
        injuries.
      In 1992...golf ball size hail fell in Evergreen.
      In 1994...microburst winds gusting to 53 mph kicked up some
        blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1996...lightning struck a house in Parker...which sparked a
        fire.  The bolt was strong enough to blow nails out of the
        drywall in one room.  About 85 percent of the house was
        damaged.  No dollar estimate of the damage was available.
        Lightning also struck a power line in Boulder...which left
        250 customers without electricity for a short time.
      In 1997...a tornado touched down near Parker...damaging some
        construction equipment.  Hail to 2 inches in diameter was
        measured in Henderson.  One inch diameter hail fell in the
        City of Denver with 3/4 inch hail measured in Lakewood.
      In 1999...hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter struck
        Hudson.  A funnel cloud was sighted by ramp personnel to
        the east of Denver International Airport.
      In 2003...lightning blew a hole in the roof of a house in
        Highlands Ranch.  The bolt knocked several holes in the
        bedroom ceiling and damaged the home`s electrical system.
      In 2004...lightning struck a home in Louisville...but caused
        only minor damage.
      In 2006...a strong microburst wind gust...estimated at 69 mph...
        ripped the roof off a horse barn near the intersection of
        Havana Street and Smith Road in Denver.  A 13 year old
        girl was injured...when she was thrown from a horse inside
        the barn at the time the roof was being torn off.  A
        thunderstorm produced a microburst wind gust to 54 mph
        and a trace of rainfall at Denver International Airport.
        A severe thunderstorm produced hail to 3/4 inch diameter
        near Watkins.
      In 2022...a short-lived landspout was observed north of Denver
        International Airport. No damage was observed.
12-17 In 2000...two large wildfires developed in the Front Range
        foothills on the 12th and continued through the 17th...as
        careless campers and very dry conditions proved to be a
        dangerous combination.  Strong winds gusting in excess of
        60 mph on the 13th fanned the flames...spreading both
        wildfires out of control.  Winds gusted to 78 mph atop
        Niwot Ridge near the Continental Divide west of Boulder.
        The Hi Meadows Wildfire...about 35 miles southwest of Denver...
        consumed nearly 11 thousand acres and 80 structures...mostly
        high priced homes.  The Bobcat Wildfire...located about 12
        miles southwest of Fort Collins...consumed nearly 11
        thousand acres and 22 structures.  Late on the 16th...a
        strong cold front moved south over the Great Plains into
        northeastern Colorado.  Low level upslope developed in
        the wake of the front...producing 2 to 4 inches of snowfall
        overnight at elevations above 8 thousand feet.
        Firefighters were able to contain both fires shortly
        thereafter.
13    In 1956...a microburst caused a brief wind gust to 59 mph at
        Stapleton Airport.
      In 1957...an unconfirmed tornado appeared to touch the ground
        in the vicinity of Franktown.  No damage was reported from
        the twister.
      In 1968...a violent gust of wind...possibly associated with a
        thunderstorm...caused 75 hundred dollars damage in Boulder.
      In 1973...hail...1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter...fell over
        Lakewood.  Flash flooding occurred in west Denver from the
        same storm.
      In 1974...a thunderstorm wind gust to 64 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1977...hail the size of table tennis balls...1 1/2 inches in
        diameter...was reported in Boulder.
      In 1981...large hail to golf ball size fell in Denver...
        Northglenn...and Brighton.  Hail as large as baseballs was
        reported in Federal Heights.
      In 1984...one of the worst hailstorms ever experienced in metro
        Denver struck the northwestern suburbs of Arvada...Wheat
        Ridge...and Lakewood...but large hail also fell in Golden...
        southeast Denver...and Aurora.  Homes and other buildings
        sustained around 200 million dollars in damage.  Thousands
        of cars were battered by giant hailstones...and total damage
        to vehicles was estimated at 150 million dollars.  In some
        areas...1 3/4 inch diameter hail fell continuously for 30 to
        40 minutes.  Some places were pelted with a few stones as
        large as grapefruits!  Roofs on thousands of structures
        were severely damaged.  Uncounted car windshields were
        broken; two-thirds of Arvada`s police cars were rendered
        inoperable.  Torrential rains...with as much as 4.75 inches
        in Lakewood clogged drains and caused widespread damage
        from flooding.  In some places hail was washed into drifts
        several feet deep.  About 20 people were injured by the
        giant hailstones.  One couple was hospitalized.  A woman
        drowned when she was trapped under a trailer by high water.
        Only pea size hail fell at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1988...2 inch hail fell in Parker.  Soft hail 1 inch in
        diameter fell at the mouth of Turkey Creek Canyon 5 miles
        southeast of Morrison.  Hail between 1 inch and 1 3/4
        inches fell at both Bennett and Strasburg.  A tornado
        touched down briefly at Strasburg.  A brief funnel cloud
        was sighted by National Weather Service observers 15 miles
        southwest of Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1991...a Boulder man was injured when struck by lightning
        while in a tent.  He received only minor burns.
      In 1997...lightning struck a home in Denver.  The extent of
        the damage was unknown.  A home in Littleton was also
        struck.  The house caught fire...but the extent of the
        damage was not known.
      In 1998...a strong mountain wave produced a brief period of
        high winds along the Front Range.  A small building atop
        Squaw Pass west of Denver was blown down.  Tree limbs
        were downed across metro Denver.  Peak wind gusts
        included:  80 mph on Squaw Pass...69 mph at Jefferson
        County Airport near Broomfield...and 60 mph in Westminster
        and at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in
        Boulder.  West-northwest winds gusted to 51 mph at Denver
        International Airport.
      In 2001...high winds developed briefly in Boulder County.
        A peak wind gust to 76 mph was recorded at the National
        Center for Atmospheric Research atop the mesa in Boulder.
        A wind gust to 72 mph was recorded at Southern Hills Middle
        School in Boulder.  Lightning started a small fire...which
        damaged the roof of a house in Greenwood Village.
      In 2009...severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 1 inch
        in diameter near Arvada and Byers...as well as 7 miles
        north-northwest of Front Range Airport near Watkins.
13-14 In 2006...the high temperature of 99 degrees on the 13th
        equaled the record maximum temperature for the date first
        set in 1994.  The high temperature of 102 degrees on the
        14th was a new record maximum temperature for the date.
14    In 1877...an evening thunderstorm produced lightning which
        struck several houses and killed a cow in the bottom land
        of the South Platte River
      In 1886...hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell in the
        city.  Precipitation was only 0.10 inch.
      In 1887...south winds were sustained to 41 mph.
      In 1900...a thunderstorm produced northwest winds to 51 mph
        with gusts to 61 mph...but only a trace of rain.
      In 1923...a severe thunderstorm pelted the city with hail.
        The stones ranged in diameter from 0.2 to 0.8 inch.
        Gardens and greenhouses suffered considerable damage.
        Rainfall was only 0.14 inch downtown.
      In 1960...one workman was killed and 4 others injured in
        Lakewood when a partly built apartment building collapsed
        in strong winds.  Microburst wind gusts to 54 mph caused
        some blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1967...tornadoes touched down briefly 3 miles west of
        Franktown and 4 miles northeast of Parker.  No damage was
        reported.  Numerous funnel clouds were reported over south
        metro Denver...one 5 miles south of Denver...one 2 to 3 miles
        north of Castle Rock...and two near Littleton.
      In 1968...a microburst wind gust to 52 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1972...1 3/4 inch hail was reported in Wheat Ridge.
      In 1976...high winds...unusually strong for this late in the
        season...raked metro Denver.  Wind gusts estimated to 100
        mph tore 24 boats from their moorings and damaged a total
        of 47 boats at Boulder Reservoir.  Wind gusts to 82 mph
        were recorded in Boulder.  The strong winds toppled the
        wind mast at a radio station in Boulder.  An automobile
        was smashed by a fallen tree in Boulder.  Other damage in
        Boulder was minor...but power outages occurred when tree
        limbs fell on  power lines.  At Jefferson County Airport
        near Broomfield...wind gusts to 78 mph were recorded with
        87 mph gusts clocked at Rocky Flats Nuclear plant south of
        Boulder.  Wind gusts to 66 mph were observed in Littleton...
        and northwest winds gusted to 46 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport.  The strong winds collapsed a barn
        near Arvada.  Several horses received minor injuries.
        Thirty trees were uprooted or broken in Denver.  Four major
        power outages occurred from west Denver and Lakewood to the
        foothills.
      In 1982...the worst hailstorm in 17 years struck Commerce
        City.  The storm left 4 to 8 inches of hail on the ground.
        A few of the stones were as large as golf balls.  Many
        vehicles were dented...and some windshields were shattered.
        Roofs of homes were damaged.   Total damage was estimated
        at over one million dollars.  Hail to 1 inch in diameter
        also fell in Littleton.  Only 1/4 inch hail was measured
        at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1988...lightning ripped a small hole in the roof of a home
        in the southern part of Boulder.  There were some power
        outages in the area.
      In 1992...an off duty National Weather Service employee
        reported hail to 1 inch diameter in Westminster.
      In 1997...one inch diameter hail fell in Bennett...and 3/4
        inch hail was measured in Littleton.
      In 1999...hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter hit Aurora.
        Lightning sparked two small fires at separate residences
        near the Hiwan Country Club in Evergreen.
      In 2004...lightning sparked two small fires near Jamestown.
        One was in Geer Canyon and the other 7.5 miles up Sunshine
        Canyon.  Both were quickly contained and caused no damage
        to structures in the area.
      In 2009...a complex of severe thunderstorm produced large hail
        damaging thunderstorm and funnel clouds across parts of the
        Urban Corridor.  The line formed along a boundary over the
        western suburbs of Denver then moved east. The boundary
        produced at least one well defined funnel cloud that could
        be observed by stadium full of baseball fans at Coors
        Field.  Large hail...up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter...was
        reported in Arvada...Broomfield...Denver...Federal Heights and
        Northglenn.  In addition...the storm produced peak wind gusts
        from 60 to 74 mph.  At Denver International Airport...a peak
        wind gust to 58 mph was observed from the west-northwest.
      In 2014...severe thunderstorms broke out across the Urban
        Corridor. Large hail...ranging in size from 1 to 2 inches
        in diameter...was observed. The area extended from around
        Englewood to Aurora and included:  Brookridge...Cherry Knolls...
        Greenwood Village and south Denver. As many as 212 thousand
        residences were potentially impacted by the storms. The hail
        shattered windshields and damaged vehicles.
15    In 1907...south winds were sustained to 40 mph.  The winds
        were strong all day.
      In 1908...the hail storm was unusually severe.  Heavy clouds
        moved over the city from the north and northwest...and by
        late morning the weather had become very threatening.
        Heavy rain with intermittent hail from pea to 3/4 inch
        in diameter fell near noon.  The fall of rain and hail
        totaled 0.68 inch of precipitation with 0.35 inch in just
        5 minutes.  The temperature fell from 71 degrees to 51
        degrees during the storm.  The hail did considerable
        damage to trees...gardens...and hot houses.  On sidewalks
        with northern exposures...the hail ranged in depth from
        2 to 6 inches.  West winds were sustained to 29 mph during
        the storm.
      In 1956...strong southeast winds raked metro Denver all day.
        Sustained winds at 44 mph with gusts as high as 61 mph were
        recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly
        reduced the visibility to 2 miles.
      In 1984...golf ball size hail pelted southern and central
        Aurora.  Rainfall of 2.06 inches over central Aurora in
        just over an hour produced local street flooding.
      In 1987...golf ball size hail fell in the southern part of
        Lakewood.
      In 1988...several tornadoes developed across metro Denver.
        One tornado touched down just northeast of the Rocky
        Mountain Arsenal.  The twister moved very slowly and did no
        damage...except to demolish a small electrical substation...
        even though it was on the ground for nearly 30 minutes.
        Later...another tornado was sighted east of Brighton about
        2 miles north of Barr Lake.  An F2 tornado cut a swath
        through northeast Denver.  The main path went through a
        thickly wooded area for about 6 blocks and uprooted about
        500 city owned trees...many of them large elms 75 to 100
        years old.  Hundreds of privately owned trees were also
        sucked from the ground by the slow moving twister...which was
        filmed by a news team in a helicopter as it uprooted trees.
        The replacement cost to the city owned trees was estimated
        at 1.5 million dollars.  The twister did little damage to
        buildings.  Some homes suffered roof and chimney damage...a
        gas main was ruptured...and some cars were damaged by
        falling trees.  The uprooted trees also caused curb and
        sidewalk damage and cut some electrical wires.  The funnel
        cloud passed close to Stapleton International Airport.
        Aircraft operations were shut down...and the tower was
        evacuated.  The tornado was on the ground for almost 25
        minutes.  An F3 tornado cut an erratic path through south
        Denver for about 25 minutes...causing extensive damage in
        at least 3 areas.  The twister damaged about 85 buildings...
        20 severely; the total loss was estimated at 5 to 10
        million dollars.  Many cars were severely damaged; at
        least 15 vehicles were overturned.  One trailer was lifted
        onto the top of a building that had just been unroofed;
        numerous antique cars inside the building were damaged.
        A Ford Bronco was blown over a church...and landed 100 yards
        away.  A metal storage shed was deposited far above the
        ground in some power lines.  The tornado uprooted many
        trees on a golf course.  No one was seriously hurt...although
        seven people suffered minor injuries from flying debris.
        A golfer was thrown 40 feet...but was not hurt;  a man
        clinging to a telephone pole was unscathed...but lost both
        shoes...a sock...and buttons off his shirt.  A woman holding
        a baby was sucked through a broken convenience store window...
        but was unhurt.  A dog...tethered to the ground by its leash...
        was suspended in the air by the twister.  Uprooted trees
        crushed cars and damaged curbs and sidewalks.  People in
        downtown Denver could see three tornadoes occurring
        simultaneously.  Hail as large as 1 3/8 inches in diameter
        fell in extreme southeast Aurora.
      In 1997...a tornado touched down briefly at the Colorado
        National Speedway near Dacono north of Denver.  The
        tornado ripped through the south grandstand causing at
        least 50 thousand dollars in damage to a shed...kiosk...
        bleachers...and several concession stands.
      In 2004...a tornado touched down briefly near Castle Rock
        and blew the roof off a machine shop.  A tornado near
        Elizabeth destroyed a barn and caused roof damage to a
        home.  Two other barns on nearby properties were damaged
        extensively.  The twister also caused widespread tree
        damage in the area.  A tornado also touched down near
        Bennett and Strasburg...but did no damage.
      In 2009...thunderstorm winds knocked a tree on to two
        vehicles in Boulder.  One of the drivers was injured
        when the tree smashed into the windshield of her car.
      In 2012...a severe thunderstorm produced hail from quarter to
        half dollar size near Littleton and Highlands Ranch.  A
        weak short lived tornado (EF0) also touched down near
        Bennett.
15-16 In 1963...heavy rain and hail ravaged metro Denver.  In
        southeast Denver...heavy rain flooded homes and streets.
        Hail to a depth of 4 inches on the ground stripped trees
        and plants and drifted to depths of 3 to 4 feet in some
        areas.  Flood waters on the Valley Highway were 19 feet
        deep in places...trapping many cars.  Many creeks were
        running over their banks.  On the 15th...the main
        thunderstorm cell passed over south Denver...dumping as
        much as 4 inches of rain in 90 minutes.  Precipitation
        at Stapleton Airport totaled 0.91 inch on the 15th and
        1.31 inches on the 16th.  A funnel cloud was sighted
        briefly 4 miles to the south-southeast of Stapleton
        Airport on the 15th.  Damage from hail and flooding
        amounted to near a million dollars.
15-17 In 2021...the temperature in Denver reached 100 degrees for
        three consecutive days:  101...100...100 respectively.  Each
        established a new record high for the day.  It was also the
        earliest occurrence of such a streak. A record high minimum
        of 68 also occurred on the 17th.

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