Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 080859
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COZ030>051-082300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT MON APR 8 2024
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
6-8 In 1973...from the 6th to the 8th...a major spring snowstorm
dumped 11.6 inches of snowfall over metro Denver. North
wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph produced some blowing snow.
Most of the heavy wet snow...10.1 inches...fell on the 7th
when temperatures remained in the 20`s. Snow accumulated
on the ground to a maximum depth of 9 inches. Low
temperature of 5 degrees on the 8th was a new record minimum
for the date and the lowest for so late in the season.
7-9 In 1913...from the 7th to the 9th...heavy snowfall totaled 10.9
inches in downtown Denver behind a cold front. Most of the
snow fell on the 8th. Northeast winds were sustained to 35 mph
with gusts to 38 mph on the 9th.
In 1935...moderate dust blew into the city around 9:00 PM on
the 7th and persisted until early afternoon on the 9th.
Southeast winds were sustained to around 20 mph on the 7th
and 8th. Winds shifting to the west at sustained speeds
to 20 mph cleared the dust from the air on the 9th.
7-12 In 1959...snow falling over a 5-day period totaled 20 to 30
inches just east of the mountains...while over the plains
blizzard conditions closed schools and blocked highways.
The second big storm in two weeks dumped 16.4 inches of
snowfall on Stapleton Airport with the most...11.6 inches...
occurring on the 8th. East winds gusted to 37 mph on the
9th. Temperatures dipped into the single digits on the
mornings of the 7th and 12th when 7 degrees were
registered. The cold temperatures caused streets to
glaze with ice...resulting in the death of a pedestrian
who was struck by a car in Denver. Three people died from
heart attacks while shoveling the heavy...wet snow.
8 In 1885...dense smoke polluted the air until noon.
In 1887...south winds were sustained to 42 mph.
In 1890...northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with
gusts as high as 60 mph.
In 2005...a mixture of strong pressure gradient winds coupled
with thunderstorm outflow winds produced high winds across
metro Denver. The high winds downed power lines and
knocked out electricity to about 19 thousand customers
on the east side of metro Denver. High wind reports
included gusts to 68 mph in Longmont...61 mph near Castle
Rock...59 mph at Centennial Airport...and 54 mph at Denver
International Airport.
8-9 In 2013...from the 8th to the 9th...heavy snow developed in
and near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide as an
upper level trough made its way across southern Colorado.
Snowfall was enhanced locally with the presence of an upper
level jet. Storm totals included: 23 inches near Eldorado
Springs...18 inches just west of Boulder...16.5 inches near
Orodell...15 inches...4 miles west-northwest of Boulder; 13
inches at Gold Hill; 12 inches at the National Weather
Service Office in Boulder...11 inches in Ken Caryl; 8.5
inches near Morrison; 8 inches at Genesee and Roxborough Park;
7.5 inches near Arapahoe Park; with 6.5 inches at Denver
International Airport.
8-10 In 1999...from the 8th to the 10th...a windstorm caused 20
million dollars in damage along the Front Range Urban
Corridor from Fort Collins south to Pueblo and to the east
over the plains...making the storm equal to the costliest
windstorm ever...which occurred in Boulder on January 17...1982.
In metro Denver...several homes were damaged as shingles were
blown off roofs. Large pieces of a roof torn off a strip
mall in Lakewood damaged several cars in a parking lot. Most
of the damage to homes consisted of broken fences...awnings...
doors...and windows. Scores of automobiles suffered broken
or cracked windshields and paint damage from flying debris.
Multiple accidents were triggered as several tractor-trailer
rigs were blown on their sides by the strong cross-winds.
Blowing dust and dirt caused near zero visibilities at
times. Both I-25 and I-76 were closed north and northeast
of Denver. State Highway 93 was closed between Golden and
Boulder. Several trees...power poles...and power lines were
downed...causing a number of outages as well as sparking a
few small grass fires. Highest wind gusts reached 112 mph
atop Niwot Ridge near the Continental Divide west of
Boulder...102 mph at Wondervu...100 mph at the National Center
for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab in Boulder...98 mph at the
National Wind Technology Center near Broomfield...96 mph on
Rocky Flats...92 mph at Jefferson County Airport near
Broomfield and on the University of Colorado campus in
Boulder...and 90 mph at Highlands Ranch in southwest metro
Denver. Winds gusted to 48 mph at Denver International
Airport.
$$