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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT SAT MAY 4 2024

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

1-5   In 1898...from the 1st to the 5th...snowfall totaled 15.5
        inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow...6.2 inches...
        fell on the 3rd.  Most of the snow melted as it fell.
        The greatest snow depth on the ground was only 2.5 inches
        on the 3rd at 8:00 PM. This was the only snowfall during
        the month.  Northeast winds were sustained to 22 mph on
        the 1st.
2-4   In 1987...from the 2nd to the 4th...a slow moving storm brought
        rain...wind...and snow to metro Denver.  Rainfall totaled
        1.04 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north
        winds gusted to 48 mph on the 3rd.  The foothills received
        5 to 10 inches of snow.
2-5   In 2001...from the 2nd to the 5th...a very slow moving Pacific
        storm system became parked near the Four Corners region...
        which allowed heavy snow to develop above 6500 feet in the
        foothills with a mix of rain and snow over lower elevations
        of metro Denver.  Snowfall totals included:  21 inches atop
        Crow Hill and at Idaho Springs; 19 inches near Blackhawk;
        and 18 inches in Coal Creek Canyon...Genesee...and 11 miles
        southwest of Morrison.  Snowfall totaled 6.2 inches at the
        site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
        Precipitation (rain and melted snow) totaled 2.09 inches at
        Denver International Airport where north winds gusted to 30
        mph on the 2nd.
3-5   In 1908...rain changed to snow on the evening of the 3rd
        and continued through the early evening of the 5th.
        Snowfall totaled 10.0 inches over downtown Denver.
        This was the last measurable snow of the season.
        Precipitation totaled 1.51 inches.  North winds were
        sustained to 23 mph on the 3rd...33 mph on the 4th...and
        21 mph on the 5th.  Three temperature records were set.
        High temperatures of 30 degrees on the 4th and 38 degrees
        on the 5th were record low maximum temperatures for the
        dates.  The reading on the 4th was also the all-time
        record low maximum for the month of May.
      In 2007...a slow moving Pacific storm system...from the
        Desert Southwest...brought a period of unsettled weather
        to the region.  During the 3-day period...locally heavy
        snow was reported over parts of the Front Range Foothills.
        Storm totals included:  15 inches near Conifer...14.5
        inches west of Jamestown...13.5 inches; 6 miles southwest
        of Evergreen...and 12.5 inches at Pine Junction.  Severe
        thunderstorms...producing large hail...up to one inch in
        diameter were observed in the vicinity of Boulder and
        Hudson.  Lightning struck a residence in Jefferson County.
        The roof was hit...causing the attic to catch fire.
        At Denver International Airport...lightning struck a
        United Airlines jet as it was pushing away from
        the gate.  The passengers were taken off the jet and put
        on another plane.
4     In 1893...northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph.
      In 1971...a funnel cloud was sighted 10 miles southwest
        of Boulder.  Hail stones to 1 inch in diameter fell in
        southeast Denver...but caused only minor damage.
      In 2006...a severe thunderstorm produced hail to 1.00 inch
        in diameter in Aurora near Cherry Creek Reservoir.
      In 2010...high winds downed trees and power lines across
        parts of the Front Range Foothills and Urban Corridor.
        Downed power lines sparked a 12-acre wildfire near
        Conifer.  In Boulder...Longmont and Louisville...the wind
        damaged roofs and broke windows and skylights.  Peak
        wind gusts included:  75 mph in northwest Longmont...71 mph
        at the National Wind Technology Center and 4 miles south-
        southwest of Superior...61 mph at Broomfield and 56 mph in
        Erie.  At Denver International Airport...a peak wind gust
        to 46 mph was observed.
4-5   In 1986...the 4th to the 5th...high winds buffeted the
        foothills.  Wind speeds of 60 to 75 mph were recorded in
        Boulder.  At Stapleton International Airport...west winds
        gusted to 45 mph on the 4th and to 40 mph on the 5th.
      In 2000...a brief warm spell resulted in setting two daily
        high temperature records.  The temperature climbed to
        highs of 87 degrees on the 4th and 89 degrees on the 5th.
4-8   In 1969...from the 4th to the 8th...heavy rains caused
        flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder...which resulted in
        one death on the 7th. Flooding also occurred on Bear
        Creek in Sheridan and on the South Platte River in Denver.
        Rain over most of the eastern foothills started late on
        the 4th and continued with only brief interruptions in
        many areas until the morning of the 8th.  Very high rates
        of rainfall occurred on the 6th and 7th with the greatest
        intensities in a band along the foothills from about 25
        miles southwest of Denver northward to Estes Park.  Storm
        totals by both official and unofficial measurements
        exceeded 10 inches over much of this area and were over 12
        inches in some localities.  Heavy snow fell in the higher
        mountains and in the foothills later in the period.  The
        saturation of the soil resulted in numerous rock and land
        slides...and the heavy run-off caused severe damage along
        many streams and flooding on the South Platte River.  Many
        foothill communities were isolated as highways were blocked
        and communications disrupted.  Roads were severely damaged
        over a wide area...and a large number of bridges washed out.
        Many roads were closed due to the danger from falling
        rocks.  A building in Georgetown collapsed from the weight
        of heavy wet snow.  In Boulder...a man drowned when caught
        by the flooding waters of Boulder Creek...and a patrolman was
        injured.  Rainfall totaled 7.60 inches in Boulder with
        9.34 inches recorded at the Public Service Company electric
        plant in Boulder Canyon.  In Morrison...rainfall totaled
        11.27 inches in 4 days.  Heavy rainfall totaled 4.68 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport over 3 days from the 5th
        through the 7th.  Rainfall of 3.14 inches was recorded in 24
        hours on the 6th and 7th.  Downstream flooding continued
        along the South Platte River until the 12th when the flood
        crest reached the Nebraska line.

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