Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 220045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-222300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MDT SAT JUN 21 2025
...This week in metro Denver weather history...
21-22 In 1941...strong thunderstorms produced cloudbursts of rain
in Boulder County...starting during the late evening of the
21st and continuing overnight into the 22nd. The heavy
rains over the Boulder Creek...Left Hand Creek...and South
St Vrain River basins produced flooding in already swollen
streams and turned dry gulches into raging torrents. The
force of the floodwaters swept a man from the arms of his
wife to his death...severely damaged canyon homes and swept
others away...and hurtled a car down a steep embankment
after the driver narrowly escaped. West of Boulder...the
Boulder Canyon highway was littered with rocks and debris
and collapsed when two culverts were washed away. The
flood waters washed much debris down Four Mile Canyon...
damaging the road near the creek bed. A bridge over Dry
Creek just south of Niwot was completely washed away.
In 1964...scattered hail and rain caused property damage and
local flooding in Boulder.
In 1989...an unseasonably cold weather system produced strong
winds over much of metro Denver and snowfall in the
foothills as low as 7500 feet elevation. One to 6 inches
of snow fell in the foothills west of Denver with 15 inches
reported on the summit of Mount Evans. Six inches of snow
were measured at Conifer. Rainfall totaled only 0.09 inch
at Stapleton International Airport where northwest winds
gusted to 29 mph on the 21st.
22 In 1872...small sandstorms...frequently seen on the prairie...
occasionally passed through the city.
In 1983...3/4 inch hail was observed at Deckers...and a
thunderstorm produced wind gusts to 55 mph at Littleton.
In 1988...a tornado was spotted one mile east of Brighton; it
remained on the ground for about 6 minutes...but did no
reportable damage. Lightning damaged a home near Castle
Rock.
In 1991...thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail in
Lafayette. The strongest storms occurred north of metro
Denver.
In 1992...nickel size hail was reported just east of Parker.
In 1995...large hail 3/4 to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell in
Castle Rock where a funnel cloud was sighted. Hail 3/4
inch to 1 inch in diameter fell in south Denver and Aurora.
A funnel cloud was also sighted over Chatfield Reservoir.
In Bennett...very strong dry microburst winds of unknown
speeds ripped a 14-foot by 48-foot metal roof off of a
barn. The roof was tossed approximately 250 yards. A few
150- pound railroad ties were moved 10 to 15 feet.
In 1997...a tornado touched down near the Adams County
Fair Grounds northeast of Denver...uprooting several
trees and damaging a car. A dry microburst produced
a brief wind gust to 69 mph at Jefferson County Airport.
A small brief tornado was sighted near Hudson...but did
no reported damage.
In 1998...3/4 inch hail fell near Hudson.
In 1999...thunderstorm winds gusted to 63 mph at Denver
International Airport.
In 2003...hail as large as 2 inches in diameter was measured
in Fort Lupton with 3/4 inch hail in Erie and near
Boulder.
In 2006...a small tornado (F0) touched down near Franktown...
but caused no damage.
In 2008...strong winds from dry microbursts developed over
parts of southern Weld and western Arapahoe Counties.
A peak gust of 60 mph was observed in Centenniel.
Near Frederick...strong winds snapped 3 power poles and
sparked a small grassfire near State Highway 52 and
Interstate 25. At Denver International Airport...a peak
gust of 31 mph was observed.
In 2009...hail up to 2 inches in diameter was observed near
Crescent in Boulder County.
In 2023...an tornado touched down just south of CO-470
in Highlands Ranch and lifted just west of I-25 near Lone
Tree in Douglas County. Most of the damage was EF0 but
there were some pockets of EF1 damage; it was on the
ground for 26 minutes. The severe thunderstorm also
produced large hail up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The
tornado track was from 2 miles west of Highlands Ranch to
2 miles north-northeast of Surrey Ridge with a path length
of 8.36 miles. The maximum width of the tornado was
approximately 50 yards There were no injuries.
22-26 In 2012...from the 22nd to the 26th...the maximum temperature
exceeded 100 degrees for five consecutive days. Two of
the high temperatures on the 25th and 26th peaked at 105
degrees...which set the all time record for the month of
June and tied the all-time maximum temperature for Denver.
23 In 1874...a thunderstorm pelted the city with hail and brief
heavy rain. Rainfall was 0.30 inch in 10 minutes. Total
rainfall was 0.36 inch for the day. Hail to 1/4 inch in
diameter destroyed the strawberry fields near the limits
of the city. The thunderstorm dropped the temperature
from 93 degrees to 80 degrees in 5 minutes.
In 1887...north winds were sustained to 42 mph.
In 1954...the temperature climbed to a high of 102 degrees...
setting a record for the date.
In 1962...lightning struck and injured a man near Buffalo...
southwest of Denver...while he was riding in the back of a
pick-up truck. He suffered multiple bruises...cuts...and
shock.
In 1965...an apparent tornado was reported 18 miles east of
Denver. No damage was reported.
In 1975...hail up to 3/4 inch in diameter fell at Stapleton
International Airport and over other parts of metro Denver.
Four funnel clouds were sighted: 10 miles northeast of
Denver...south of Boulder...southeast of Boulder...and south
of Aurora.
In 1976...heavy rain and eroding water collapsed a retaining
wall in Thornton.
In 1981...a thunderstorm produced wind gusts to 60 mph in
Littleton.
In 1982...two separate bolts of lightning injured three men in
southwest Denver. Two buildings were slightly damaged.
In 1987...severe thunderstorms produced large hail across
metro Denver. Golf ball size hail fell in Littleton...near
Morrison...and in southeast Aurora with 1 1/2 inch hail
recorded in south Lakewood and 1 inch hail reported in
Littleton...Arvada...and at Cherry Creek Dam. Two funnel
clouds were sighted 20 miles southwest of Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1993...non-convective high winds developed along the Front
Range foothills. Wind gusts to 70 mph were common near the
foothills with numerous tree limbs broken by the winds.
North winds gusting to 36 mph were recorded at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1999...hail as large as 1 inch in diameter was measured
in the City of Denver with 3/4 inch hail in Littleton.
In 2001...a severe thunderstorm produced large hail in
south metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1/2 inch in
diameter fell in Littleton with 1 1/4 inch hail near
Sheridan.
In 2009...hail up to 1 inch in diameter was observed near
Parker. At Denver Interationaal Airport...a total of
1.64 inches was measured in a 24-hr period...setting
a new record for the date.
In 2014...severe thunderstorms produced large hail near
Commerce City and Fort Lupton. The hail sizes ranged
from 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
In 2016...a severe thunderstorm produced a peak wind gust
to 60 mph near Strasburg.
24 In 1873...there was a great deal of smoke from a fire in the
mountains to the southwest of the city during the late
afternoon.
In 1875...smoke from forest fires in the mountains to the
southwest could plainly be seen from the city.
In 1958...a strong cold front produced a north wind gust to
55 mph at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly
reduced the visibility to 1 mile.
In 1982...one inch diameter hail pelted west Denver. A half
inch of rain drenched the suburb of Englewood in 10 minutes.
Hail piled up to 5 inches deep...snarling rush hour traffic
and damaging some stores in a shopping center when the roof
started leaking.
In 1988...lightning destroyed the chimney of a house near
Evergreen. Another bolt demolished a radio transmitter in
the area.
In 1989...golf ball size hail cut a swath 2 1/2 miles wide
through open country 14 miles southwest of Bennett. The
storm also dropped 1.75 inches of rain on the area. Hail
to 3/4 inch in diameter damaged the car of a storm chaser
just south of Bennett.
In 1996...a funnel cloud was sighted near Hudson where hail
up to 1 3/4 inch diameter fell. Lightning struck a home
in Littleton...which sparked a small fire on the roof.
Thunderstorm wind gusts to 64 mph were recorded in Castle
Rock.
In 2005...severe thunderstorms produced large hail across
metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter fell
near Castle Rock and Thornton. Hail to 3/4 inch was
measured near Northglenn and Fort Lupton.
In 2006...severe thunderstorms raked metro Denver. Hail as
large as 2 1/2 inches in diameter shattered automobile
windshields in and near Boulder. Hail to 1 3/4 inches
pounded areas in and near Lakewood and Morrison. Hail to
1 inch was measured in Wheat Ridge along with 7/8 inch
hail in Arvada. Severe thunderstorm wind gusts estimated
to 69 mph snapped power lines for a distance of one quarter
mile near Castle Rock. Severe thunderstorm winds were
measured to 60 mph in Sedalia. Hail as large as 1 inch
in diameter fell near Evergreen and Castle Rock. Hail to
3/4 inch in diameter was reported in Louviers and near
Conifer.
In 2014...damaging hail...from 1 to 2 inches in diameter...
caused extensive damage to homes and automobiles over parts
of Arapahoe and Douglas Counties including areas in and
near: Aurora-Cherry Creek...Buckley Air Force Base...Denver
International Airport and Parker. Officially...0.06 inches
of rain fell at Denver International Airport...with a peak
wind gust of 33 mph from the southeast.
In 2015...two colliding outflow boundaries merged over east
Denver and northwest Aurora at the height of rush hour. The
collision quickly spawned a severe thunderstorm that
produced an EF1 tornado...damaging hail...torrential rain and
flash flooding. The tornado touched down in east Denver and
west Aurora. The tornado first touched down near Quebec and
6th Avenue. It then moved east northeast across the Lowry
Campus into the west part of Aurora. The tornado then lifted
near Mount Nebo Memorial Park. Some homes had minor roof
damage with one former apartment building on the Lowry
Campus had more significant roof damage. The tornado and
intense thunderstorm winds uprooted trees...damaging vehicles
and blocking roads. The storm produced torrential rain...2.0
to 2.5 inches...much of which fell in less than 30 minutes and
resulted in flooded intersections and power outages. Flash
flooding forced the evacuation of a theater at the Cherry
Creek Shopping Center...where drifts of hail formed in the
parking lot...and flooding set off alarms at the University
of Denver`s Ritchie Center. Numerous water rescues were
reported as vehicles stalled flooded intersections. Many
stoplights were knocked out. The water was reportedly 3
feet deep on the South Broadway ramp to Interstate 25. The
bike path along Cherry Creek was inundated with several feet
of water at the height of the storm. Ironically...it was
"Bike to Work Day"...which made for a long commute home
for many. The South Platte River crested above flood stage
for one hour. Employees still at work were urged to stay
inside but others waded across flooded intersections
downtown. About 30 flights had to be diverted from Denver
International Airport. At Denver International Airport...
only 0.05 inches of rain fell. A peak wind gust to 47
mph was observed from the southeast.
25 In 1873...forest fires produced a great deal of smoke in the
mountains to the southwest of the city.
In 1958...an unusually cold day for summer set two temperature
records for the date. Under cloudy skies with occasional
drizzle...a record low maximum temperature of 55 degrees was
established along with a record minimum temperature of 42
degrees.
In 1959...a waitress...working at a kitchen sink...was injured
by a bolt of lightning...which struck the rear of a tavern
in Denver. She was hospitalized.
In 1971...a tornado touched down briefly at a high school
football field in Brighton...but caused no damage.
In 1981...3/4 inch hail pelted Wheat Ridge and hail to 1 1/4
inches fell in Louisville. A brief funnel cloud was
sighted by National Weather Service personnel 4 miles east
of Stapleton International Airport.
In 1982...a bolt of lightning struck a cabin in the foothills
west of Denver. The resulting fire totally destroyed the
cabin.
In 1987...golf ball size hail fell near Bennett.
In 1988...a tornado touched down 1 mile south of Watkins and
was on the ground for 4 minutes. Another tornado was
spotted just southeast of Barr Lake and was on the ground
for 5 minutes. No damage was reported from either tornado.
Lightning struck two rock climbers near Eldorado Springs.
A 25-year-old man was killed...and a 21-year-old man
suffered extensive injuries. Thunderstorm winds knocked
over two elm trees near downtown Denver. One fell on a
house destroying most of it. A nearby building was
unroofed...and two cars were damaged. A truck that had been
severely damaged by one of the Denver tornadoes 10 days
before was hit again. Thunderstorm wind gusts to 51 mph
were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1991...the temperature reached a high of 100 degrees...
setting a new record for the date.
In 1997...one inch diameter hail fell in Arvada and 1 1/2
inch hail in Boulder. Hail as large as 3/4 inches fell
in Denver...Louisville...Westminster...and near Broomfield.
In 1999...thunderstorm winds gusted to 58 mph near Fort
Lupton toppling an oil rig. A 37-year-old man was killed
when he fell 55 feet from the derrick of the rig.
In 2001...four golfers and one construction worker received
minor injuries from a nearby lightning strike on the
Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.
In 2002...hail to 1 inch in diameter was measured in Greenwood
Village.
In 2005...hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell near Bennett and
Roggen. A thunderstorm wind gust to 61 mph was recorded
near Golden.
In 2009...lightning struck the Darlington Prismatic Electric
Fountain in City Park`s Lake. The damage was estimated to
be approximately $25000.
In 2010...wind gusts associated with a dry microburst downed
several trees in the vicinity of 14th and Federal...and
near Bayaud St. and Clarkson St. in Denver. At Denver
International Airport...a peak wind gust to 45 mph was
observed from the southwest.
In 2015...severe thunderstorms developed late in the afternoon
and continued in the late evening hours. The storms moved
over parts of Adams...Arapahoe...Douglas and Weld Counties.
The largest hail occurred near Aurora and Keenseburg...with
hail up to tennis ball size or 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
Elsewhere...the hail ranged in size from 7/8 inch to 1 1/4
inches in diameter. At Denver International Airport...just
a trace of rainfall was observed. A peak wind gust of 31
mph was also observed from the east.
25-26 In 1969...from the 25th into the 26th...high winds raked Boulder
causing one fatality and some injuries. One man was injured
by a falling tree limb. At the National Center for
Atmospheric Research in Boulder...sustained winds of 55 to 60
mph with wind gusts to 123 mph were recorded. In downtown
Boulder...winds averaged 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 70 mph.
Widespread minor damage occurred...especially in the Table
Mesa area of south Boulder. Much tree damage occurred in
the older areas of Boulder where several trees were uprooted.
A mobile home was overturned by the winds. At Stapleton
Airport...west winds gusted to 43 mph on the 25th and 37 mph
on the 26th.
In 1975...from the 25th into the 26th...strong winds damaged
utility lines...buildings...vehicles...trees...and power lines
in Boulder and other communities to the north of Boulder.
Microburst winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International
Airport on the 25th.
In 1983...from the 25th into the 26th...heavy rain fell in the
foothills west of Denver with 1.50 inches in 30 minutes at
Intercanyon. Heavy rain continued over metro Denver on the
26th with two-day storm totals at many locations ranging
from 1.00 to 2.50 inches. Rainfall totaled 1.37 inches at
Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.
In 1985...from the 25th into the 26th...one to two inches of
rain fell over metro Denver. At Stapleton International
Airport...rainfall totaled 0.93 inches...thunderstorm winds
gusted to 44 mph...and 7/10 inch hail was measured. The
airmass was unusually cold for the season...and snow fell in
the foothills above 8 thousand feet. The high temperature
of only 63 degrees on the 26th equaled the record low
maximum reading for the date.
In 2012...Denver broke the all-time record temperature for the
month of June on the 25th when it reached 105 degrees. This
also tied the all-time record maximum temperature in Denver.
The maximum temperature of 105 degrees was then matched once
more on the 26th. Sandwiched in between these records...the
minimum temperature of 71 on the morning of the 26th...
established a new record high minimum for the date.
26 In 1873...there was a great deal of smoke from a large forest
fire in the mountains to the southwest of the city and a
smaller fire directly to the west.
In 1874...fires at timberline to the west were visible from
the city. New and extensive fires were continually started
from south to northwest along the ridge line. Carelessness
of tourists was the apparent cause of the fires. Large and
valuable tracts of timber had already been destroyed.
In 1890...the only thunderstorm of the month produced a trace
of rain. A trace of rain also fell on 7 other days. This
was the only precipitation recorded during the month...
making it the driest June on record.
In 1893...northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts
to 48 mph.
In 1971...a microburst wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at
Stapleton International Airport. Dust devils were sighted.
In 1980...strong gusty thunderstorm winds damaged several
mobile homes in Thornton. Thunderstorm winds gusted
to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1986...hail piled up 1 1/2 inches deep in Golden Gate
Canyon and covered roadways an inch deep in Evergreen.
In 1988...a tornado touched down 2 miles north of Watkins.
It was on the ground for 15 minutes and did no reported
damage.
In 1989...two inch diameter hail fell at Kassler...1 inch hail
at Louviers...and 1 1/2 inch hail at Tiny Town.
In 1991...high winds...not associated with thunderstorms...
damaged a home in the Green Mountain area. The strong winds
picked up a heavy metal and glass table on the deck of a
house and threw it into the house. The table was destroyed
and the house received considerable damage.
In 1992...3/4 inch diameter hail fell in south Aurora and near
Buckley Air National Guard Base. Golf ball size hail was
reported in Parker.
In 1994...the all-time highest recorded temperature in June
and the second highest temperature ever recorded in Denver...
104 degrees occurred. This was the hottest day in Denver
since August 8...1878...when the temperature reached 105
degrees.
In 2005...strong thunderstorm winds gusting to 58 mph damaged
a garage and some nearby trees near Fort Lupton. Winds
also gusted to 58 mph near Watkins. Thunderstorm winds
gusted to 60 mph near Roggen. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter
was measured in southwest Aurora.
In 2009...severe thunderstorms moving through Denver and the
surrounding metro area produced intense thunderstorm winds.
At Denver International Airport...a wind gust blew a
luggage car into a Southwest Airlines airplane causing
some damage. Peak wind gusts included: 68 mph at
Denver International Airport...4 miles west of Rocky
Mountain Metropolitan Airport and 12.5 miles north of Lowry
AFB; 64 mph near Arvada and Parker; and 60 mph in
Aurora/Cherry.
In 2014...a severe thunderstorm produced a peak wind gust to
58 mph...9 miles northeast of Denver International Airport.
Offically...a peak wind gust to 54 mph was measured from
the northeast with just a trace of rainfall.
In 2020...severe thunderstorms produced very strong wind
gusts over parts of northern Jefferson and western Adams
counties. A peak wind gust to 67 mph was observed at
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport near Broomfield...with
a gust to 61 mph in Thornton.
26-27 In 1965...from the 26th into the 27th...wind gusts to 38 mph
were recorded in downtown Boulder...causing widespread minor
damage. A microburst wind gust to 41 mph was recorded at
Stapleton International Airport.
27 In 1873...Pikes Peak was hidden from view by smoke from forest
fires in the mountains to the southwest of the city.
In 1927...the temperature cooled to a low of only 72 degrees...
the all-time record high minimum for the month.
In 1980...lightning injured 4 people on a baseball diamond in
Broomfield. The bolt seriously injured the pitcher while
also striking (out) the batter...catcher and second baseman.
In 1987...a microburst wind gust to 53 mph was recorded at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 1990...the temperature reached a high of 102 degrees...
setting a new record maximum for the date.
In 1993...thunderstorm winds gusted to 60 mph across parts of
metro Denver. A wind gust to 50 mph blew over a 30-foot
canvas tent at an amusement park southeast of Denver.
Fifteen people...mostly children...were injured. Microburst
wind gusts to 33 mph were recorded at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 2002...heavy rain...up to 3/4 inch...fell across sections of
the Hayman burn area near Cheeseman Reservoir. Several
forest service roads were washed out and many culverts were
plugged by debris.
In 2004...heavy rain producing thunderstorms caused rock and
mud slides across the Overland Fire burn area in Jamestown.
An estimated 50 tons of sand...dirt...rock...and ash slid into
town...filling a culvert under Main Street. The slide covered
150 to 225 feet of Main Street. The flood was produced by
half an inch of rain in 30 minutes. A deluge of very heavy
rainfall from nearly stationary thunderstorms caused flooding
and flash flooding problems over parts of Jefferson and
Douglas counties. An automated rain gage in Golden measured
3.60 inches of rainfall in one hour. Numerous homes were
flooded in Golden...including one that was 146 years old.
The home was listed as a complete loss. State Highway 93
had to be closed from the Pine Ridge subdivision to the
Golden Gate Canyon Road. At the height of the storm...about
4 feet of water covered State Highway 93 through Golden...
forcing its temporary closure. Several intersections were
also flooded and impassable. Rock and mud slides were
reported in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. At the Deer
Creek Golf Course at Colorado 470 and Kipling...the greens
were completely inundated by floodwaters. Some backyards
near the golf course were partially washed out. In Douglas
County...water up to a foot deep covered the roadways in
Roxborough State Park. The Waterton Canyon Road also had to
be closed due to high water.
In 2010...a severe thunderstorm produced hail up to 1 inch
in diameter near Strasburg. Hail up to 3/4 inch in diameter
was reported in Aurora and Buckley Air Field.
In 2014...a severe thunderstorm produced hail...up to 1 inch
in diameter...near Ft. Lupton.
28 In 1873...there was a great deal of smoke over the city from
forest fires in the mountains.
In 1875...smoke from forest fires in the foothills south of
Denver were visible from the city.
In 1913...an apparent dry microburst produced southwest winds
sustained to 44 mph with gusts to 48 mph in the city.
In 1925...a thunderstorm produced north winds sustained to
38 mph with gusts to 44 mph.
In 1958...a microburst caused a brief wind gust to 58 mph at
Stapleton Airport.
In 1964...lightning struck several homes in metro Denver...
sparking fires. Some flooding occurred in the Stockyards
area...at West 45th Avenue and St. Paul Street...and along
Harvard Gulch.
In 1997...strong microburst winds of unknown speed downed
several trees...signs...and at least one light pole in the
Fort Lupton area. Two trees knocked over by the storm
downed power lines causing scattered outages.
In 2002...a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph was recorded in
Parker.
In 2005...severe thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 66 mph
near Longmont and to 60 mph near Niwot. No damage was
reported. A thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 55 mph
at Denver International Airport during the afternoon.
In 2015...a lightning strike injured 15 hikers as they were
descending 500 feet below the summit of Mt Bierstadt...in
Clear Creek County...south of Georgetown. Eight adults were
were transported from the trailhead...and three of those
were taken to Denver-area hospitals. One was in serious
condition...the other two had non-life threatening injuries.
The strike also killed a dog. Severe thunderstorms produced
hail up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter...7 miles southwest of
Byers...and 1 1/4 inches in diameter...13 miles north of
Elizabeth.
In 2016...severe thunderstorms produced hail...from quarter
to ping ball size...over northwest...west and southwest
parts of Denver. In addition hail up to quarter size was
also reported just southeast of Denver International
Airport. Officially only a trace of rainfall was measured
at the airport...with a peak wind gust of 35 mph from the
west.
$$