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Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 120045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-122300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
645 PM MDT SAT MAY 11 2013
...THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY...
10-12 IN 2011...A SPRING SNOWSTORM BROUGHT HEAVY SNOW TO THE FRONT
RANGE FOOTHILLS AND PALMER DIVIDE. STORM TOTALS INCLUDED:
18 INCHES...4 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF PINECLIFFE; 16 INCHES
IN COAL CREEK CANYON; 15 INCHES...4 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF
ELDORADO SPRINGS; 13 INCHES AT GOLD HILL...12 INCHES...4
MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF CONIFER AND 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF
ELIZABETH; 11.5 INCHES...6 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EVERGREEN AND
4 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF NEDERLAND; 11 INCHES...3 MILES
EAST OF JAMESTOWN AND 10.5 INCHES...3 MILES EAST OF
FRANKTOWN AND 3 MILES SOUTH OF GOLDEN AND 10 INCHES...10
MILES NORTH OF ELIZABETH. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
1 INCH OF SNOWFALL WAS OBSERVED.
12 IN 1875...TWO FOREST FIRES ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE
FOOTHILLS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE CITY.
IN 1904...NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 48 MPH.
IN 1950...BRILLIANT AND COMPLETE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
RAINBOWS ARCHING ACROSS THE SKY WERE OBSERVED FROM
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1951...A WIND GUST TO 51 MPH WAS RECORDED AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT.
IN 1984...WINDS GUSTED TO 69 MPH IN BOULDER. NORTHWEST WINDS
GUSTED TO 47 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1987...A SMALL WEAK TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN FOR ABOUT 2
MINUTES IN SOUTHEAST DENVER. THE TWISTER HIT A CAR
DEALERSHIP...BLOWING ABOUT A DOZEN WINDOWS OUT OF CARS AND
SHATTERING FOUR SKYLIGHTS ON THE BUILDING. SOME TIN
ROOFING WAS BLOWN OFF A PATIO A BLOCK AND A HALF AWAY. THE
TORNADO ALSO DOWNED A POWER POLE. DAMAGE AT THE DEALERSHIP
WAS ESTIMATED AT 10 THOUSAND DOLLARS. A MAN WAS SLIGHTLY
INJURED BY LIGHTNING IN NORTHWEST AURORA.
IN 1995...SEVERAL FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE SIGHTED NEAR PARKER.
ONE OF THE FUNNELS PRODUCED A SHORT-LIVED DEBRIS CLOUD
ON THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
12-13 IN 1907...THE TEMPERATURE WARMED TO A HIGH OF 73 DEGREES ON
THE 12TH...BEFORE A COLD FRONT PRODUCED A THUNDERSTORM...
NORTHEAST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH...AND RAIN CHANGING TO
LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT. SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 2 INCHES...BUT
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON THE 13TH WAS ONLY 39 DEGREES.
IN 1961...A STORM THAT COVERED METRO DENVER WITH RAIN AND SNOW
STARTED AS THUNDERSTORMS ON THE EVENING OF THE 12TH. HAIL
TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED 10 MILES NORTHWEST
OF STAPLETON AIRPORT. RAIN CONTINUED OVERNIGHT AND CHANGED
TO SNOW ON THE 13TH. SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.4 INCHES AND
PRECIPITATION (RAIN AND MELTED SNOW) 1.96 INCHES AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH. THE
RAIN AND HEAVY WET SNOW CAUSED ICING DAMAGE TO UTILITY
LINES. HEAVY SNOW OCCURRED IN THE FOOTHILLS.
IN 1982...A MAJOR STORM DUMPED 1.50 TO 3.50 INCHES OF RAIN
ACROSS NORTHEAST COLORADO AND DEPOSITED PRODIGIOUS AMOUNTS
OF SNOW IN THE FOOTHILLS. COAL CREEK CANYON SOUTHWEST OF
BOULDER WAS BURIED UNDER 46 INCHES OF SNOW WITH 39 INCHES
AT NEDERLAND. THE HEAVY WET SNOW DOWNED MANY POWERLINES IN
THE FOOTHILLS. IN THORNTON...THE ROOF OF A SCHOOL WAS
DAMAGED BY WATER FROM THE HEAVY RAIN. AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...1.49 INCHES OF RAIN WERE MEASURED
OVER THE TWO DAY PERIOD. THE HEAVY RAIN ENDED A SEVERE AND
PROLONGED DROUGHT.
IN 2004...A WINTER STORM PRODUCED HEAVY SNOW IN EXCESS OF A
FOOT IN THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE 6 THOUSAND FEET WHILE HEAVY
RAIN FELL ACROSS THE CITY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW OCCURRED IN
THE HIGH COUNTRY OF BOULDER COUNTY. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
WAS 14.5 INCHES NEAR JAMESTOWN. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.81 INCH
AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITH 0.94 INCH RECORDED AT
DENVER STAPLETON. A TRACE OF SNOW WAS RECORDED AT BOTH
LOCATIONS. EAST WINDS GUSTED TO 24 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 12TH.
13 IN 1905...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 0.57 INCH.
13-14 IN 1912...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 12.4 INCHES OVER THE CITY.
MOST OF THE SNOW...9.9 INCHES...FELL ON THE 13TH...WHICH WAS
THE GREATEST 24 HOUR SNOWFALL IN MAY AT THE TIME. THIS
WAS THE LAST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON. THE LOW TEMPERATURE
DIPPED TO 27 DEGREES ON THE MORNING OF THE 14TH.
IN 1989...A SPRING STORM BROUGHT HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW TO THE
FOOTHILLS. METRO DENVER WAS SOAKED WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES
OF RAIN. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.26 INCHES AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IN THE FOOTHILLS...ECHO LAKE
RECEIVED 20 INCHES OF SNOW. A 30-TON BOULDER SLID ONTO
I-70 EAST OF THE EISENHOWER TUNNEL...CLOSING THE FREEWAY
FOR 2 HOURS.
14 IN 1910...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED STRONG WINDS DURING THE
AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH.
IN 1913...LIGHT MOIST SNOW AND LIGHT HAIL FELL DURING SHORT
INTERVALS...ALTHOUGH NO THUNDER WAS HEARD. THE TRACE OF
SNOWFALL WAS THE ONLY SNOW OF THE MONTH. PRECIPITATION...
MOSTLY RAIN...TOTALED 0.44 INCH.
IN 1984...A PILOT REPORTED A TORNADO 16 MILES EAST OF
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A 58 MPH WIND GUST IN BRIGHTON.
THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 48 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1989...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN EVERGREEN...SETTING IT
AFIRE.
IN 1992...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS OF UNKNOWN VELOCITY...
KNOCKED OVER AND DAMAGED THE INFIELD TOTE BOARD AT
ARAPAHOE PARK RACETRACK JUST SOUTHEAST OF AURORA.
DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS. NO
INJURIES WERE REPORTED. LIGHTNING STARTED TWO HOUSE
FIRES...CAUSING 35 HUNDRED DOLLARS IN DAMAGE IN ADAMS
COUNTY JUST 9 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF DENVER.
IN 1994...A SUDDEN WIND GUST...ESTIMATED AT 40 MPH...BLEW A
PORTION OF THE ROOF OFF A SHOPPING CENTER IN LAFAYETTE.
THE ROOF ALSO DAMAGED TWO PARKED CARS IN AN ADJACENT LOT.
IN 2001...A CONSTRUCTION WORKER IN CASTLE ROCK RECEIVED MINOR
INJURIES WHEN LIGHTNING STRUCK CLOSE-BY.
IN 2002...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 53 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2007...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...VERY
HEAVY RAIN...AND TORNADOES IMPACTED THE URBAN CORRIDOR AND
ADJACENT PLAINS. HEAVY RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM CAUSED FLOODING ALONG A SMALL TRIBUTARY
DRAINING INTO THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER. THE INCIDENT TOOK
PLACE AT 13TH AND DECATUR ST....NEAR INVESCO FIELD. THE
FLOODWATERS INUNDATED THE BIKE TRAIL ADJACENT TO THE CREEK.
A WOMAN WITH HER CHILD SOUGHT REFUGE UNDER A BRIDGE AND
BECAME TRAPPED BY THE HIGH WATER. THE WOMAN SLIPPED AND
THE STROLLER CONTAINING THE CHILD WAS SWEPT INTO THE SWIFT
CURRENT. THE CHILD DROWNED. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.42 INCHES
AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. ELSEWHERE...GOLFBALL HAIL
WAS REPORTED NEAR HUDSON. HAIL...UP TO ONE INCH IN
DIAMETER...WAS OBSERVED IN BOULDER AND LYONS.
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS ESTIMATED TO 70 MPH WERE REPORTED
NEAR BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE...WITH A PEAK WIND GUST TO 37
MPH OBSERVED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A SMALL
TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR FT. LUPTON BUT DID NO DAMAGE.
14-15 IN 1977...HIGH WINDS UP TO 100 MPH FELLED HUNDREDS OF TREES IN
GILPIN COUNTY AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TELEPHONE AND
POWER LINES. LUMBER AND STEEL TANKS WERE BLOWN AROUND IN
BOULDER CANYON. WEST WINDS GUSTED TO 46 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 15TH.
14-18 IN 1996...A PERIOD OF UNUSUALLY WARM WEATHER RESULTED IN
4 RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES IN 5 DAYS. THE RECORD HIGH
TEMPERATURES WERE 87 DEGREES ON THE 14TH...89 DEGREES ON
THE 15TH...AND 93 DEGREES ON BOTH THE 16TH AND 18TH. THE
TEMPERATURE CLIMBED TO ONLY 81 DEGREES ON THE 17TH WHICH
WAS NOT A RECORD.
15 IN 1894...SOUTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 38 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 50 MPH.
IN 1910...AN APPARENT COLD FRONT PRODUCED SUSTAINED NORTHEAST
WINDS TO 48 MPH.
IN 1986...A THUNDERSTORM DUMPED AN INCH OF RAIN IN AN HOUR
OVER THE EASTERN PART OF AURORA. TOTAL RAINFALL FROM THE
STORM WAS 1.62 INCHES.
IN 1989...A 47 YEAR OLD MAN...A LAKEWOOD POLICE OFFICER...WAS
STRUCK AND INJURED BY LIGHTNING. SMALL HAIL PILED UP 3
TO 4 INCHES DEEP NEAR GOLDEN. THERE WAS REPORTED STREET
FLOODING FROM HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS OVER WESTERN METRO
DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.76 INCH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1990...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A WIND GUST TO 69 MPH AT
JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT IN BROOMFIELD. THUNDERSTORM WINDS
GUSTING TO 49 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
PRODUCED SOME BLOWING DUST.
IN 1991...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED NEAR MORRISON. LATER...
HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES DEEP COVERED U.S. HIGHWAY 285 AT SOUTH
TURKEY CREEK ROAD IN WEST METRO DENVER. BASEBALL SIZE HAIL
WAS REPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF LITTLETON. DIME SIZE HAIL
WAS REPORTED IN BOULDER.
IN 1993...LIGHTNING STARTED A FIRE WHICH DAMAGED A HOME IN
BOULDER. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
IN 1997...A WIND GUST TO 58 MPH WAS RECORDED AT THE SITE
OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A STREET
SIGN WAS BLOWN DOWN AT THE HAVANA STREET EXIT ALONG I-70.
IN 1999...LIGHTNING IGNITED A SMALL FIRE IN A 3-STORY
STRUCTURE IN SUNSHINE CANYON ABOVE BOULDER. THE FIRE
WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED AND CAUSED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.
IN 2003...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL AND
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CENTRAL
BOULDER COUNTY. RAINFALL RANGED FROM 1.5 TO 2.5 INCHES
IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS. WATER RANGING IN DEPTH FROM 6 TO 9
INCHES COVERED STATE HIGHWAY 119 IN BOULDER CANYON. DIRT
AND ROCKS ALSO WASHED OVER THE ROADWAY. SOME BASEMENTS
WERE FLOODED IN THE SUGARLOAF AREA. ROCKSLIDES WERE ALSO
REPORTED AT BOULDER FALLS...LEFTHAND CANYON...AND FOURMILE
CANYON.
15-16 IN 1957...HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 8.8 INCHES AT STAPLETON
AIRPORT. THE GREATEST AMOUNT ON THE GROUND WAS 3 INCHES.
IN 1986...A SPRING STORM DUMPED 1 TO 2 INCHES OF RAIN OVER
METRO DENVER...BUT 2.71 INCHES FELL AT BUCKLEY FIELD IN
AURORA. RAINFALL ONLY TOTALED 0.84 INCH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WITH
7 INCHES RECORDED IN COAL CREEK CANYON SOUTHWEST OF
BOULDER.
16 IN 1875...A HEAVY HAIL STORM TURNED INTO HEAVY RAIN DURING
THE AFTERNOON. RAINFALL TOTALED 0.86 INCH IN JUST 37
MINUTES...WHILE THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED 22 DEGREES IN
22 MINUTES. PRECIPITATION TOTALED 0.90 INCH.
IN 1894...WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 56 MPH.
IN 1949...A TORNADO WAS OBSERVED FOR 16 MINUTES...20 MILES TO
THE SOUTHEAST OF STAPLETON AIRPORT. THE TORNADO MOVED 5
MILES TO THE NORTHEAST BEFORE DISSIPATING. NO DAMAGE WAS
REPORTED.
IN 1963...INTENSE LIGHTNING STARTED SEVERAL FOREST FIRES IN
THE FOOTHILLS SOUTHWEST OF DENVER NEAR DECKERS AND
CHEESEMAN LAKE. LITTLE PRECIPITATION FELL FROM THE STORMS
TO ALLEVIATE THE UNUSUAL DRY CONDITIONS SO EARLY IN THE
SEASON.
IN 1978...THUNDERSTORM WINDS CAUSED DAMAGE IN SOUTHEAST
AURORA. WINDS OF 60 TO 80 MPH BLEW DOWN NUMEROUS FENCES AND
DAMAGED SEVERAL HOMES UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HIGH WINDS TORE
DOCKS LOOSE AT CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR...SINKING 3 OR 4 BOATS
AND DAMAGING ABOUT 15 OTHERS. AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHERE WINDS GUSTED TO 60 MPH...A 727 JET SUFFERED
15 HUNDRED DOLLARS DAMAGE WHEN WIND TOPPLED A RUNWAY LIGHT
ONTO IT. THE PUBLIC REPORTED AN UNCONFIRMED TORNADO 7 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1990...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS METRO DENVER
UPROOTED A LARGE ASH TREE...WHICH FELL AND BLOCKED THE
OUTSIDE DOORS TO A DENVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...BRIEFLY
TRAPPING THE STUDENTS INSIDE. THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO
69 MPH WERE REPORTED AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT.
NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 1991...TWO TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN CASTLE ROCK...
BUT NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WERE RECORDED. HEAVY
THUNDERSTORM RAINS OF 0.50 TO 1.10 INCHES IN A COUPLE OF
HOURS CAUSED LENA GULCH NEAR GOLDEN TO FLOOD. NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED.
IN 1996...DRY MICROBURST WINDS OF UNKNOWN STRENGTH OVERTURNED
A TRAILER AND DAMAGED STORAGE SHEDS IN STRASBURG EAST OF
DENVER.
16-17 IN 1981...A HEAVY RAIN STORM DUMPED 1 TO 2 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN
ACROSS METRO DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 1.27 INCHES AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED
TO 38 MPH ON 17TH.
IN 1983...A VERY STRONG LATE SPRING STORM DUMPED HEAVY SNOW
OVER THE FRONT RANGE. STRONG WINDS WITH THE STORM PRODUCED
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES. SUSTAINED WINDS WERE 20 TO
40 MPH WITH A PEAK GUST TO 55 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT. THE FOOTHILLS RECEIVED 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW
WITH 4 TO 12 INCHES ALONG THE FOOTHILLS. HOWLING WINDS
WHIPPED THE SNOW INTO DRIFTS SEVERAL FEET DEEP...CLOSING
SCHOOLS AND HIGHWAYS. STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS
FORCED TO REDUCE FLIGHT OPERATIONS...CLOSING 2 OF 4 RUNWAYS
AND STRANDING HUNDREDS OF TRAVELERS. MOST OF THE DAMAGE
AND INCONVENIENCE CAUSED BY THE STORM WAS IN POWER OUTAGES...
WHICH OCCURRED WHEN WIND AND HEAVY WET SNOW CAUSED HUNDREDS
OF POWER POLES TO SNAP AND TOPPLE. ABOUT 20 SQUARE MILES
OF DENVER WERE BLACKED OUT. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM
TOTALED 1 TO 3 INCHES. AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...
SNOWFALL TOTALED 7.1 INCHES WITH A MAXIMUM SNOW DEPTH ON
THE GROUND OF ONLY 2 INCHES DUE TO MELTING. THE HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 40 DEGREES ON THE 17TH WAS A RECORD LOW
MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE. DUE TO THE HEAVY MOISTURE CONTENT
OF THE STORM...WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING OCCURRED ON THE
18TH WHEN MUCH OF THE SNOW MELTED UNDER THE WARM MAY SUN
AND TEMPERATURES CLIMBED TO A HIGH OF 57 DEGREES.
IN 1995...SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE FLOW CAUSED
FLOODING ACROSS METRO DENVER. MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS...
WHICH BEGAN ON THE EVENING OF THE 16TH...DEVELOPED IN THE
FOOTHILLS AND SPREAD EASTWARD OVER METRO DENVER THROUGHOUT
THE NIGHT. THE HEAVY RAINS BROUGHT MANY CREEKS AND SMALL
STREAMS TO BANKFULL OR SLIGHTLY OVER. LOCATIONS ALONG THE
FOOTHILLS RECEIVED BETWEEN 3 AND 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL FROM
THE STORM. BOULDER RECEIVED 3.60 INCHES OF RAINFALL FOR
THE 24-HOUR PERIOD...CAUSING MINOR STREET FLOODING NEAR
SMALL STREAMS. TO THE NORTHWEST OF BOULDER...A BRIDGE WHICH
CROSSED FOURMILE CREEK WAS WASHED OUT. NUMEROUS ROCK AND
MUDSLIDES OCCURRED IN FOOTHILLS CANYONS...CLOSING PORTIONS
OF U.S. HIGHWAYS 6 AND 40 AND STATE HIGHWAY 119 FOR A FEW
HOURS AT A TIME. ROCKS WERE PILED 6 FEET DEEP ON A STRETCH
OF STATE HIGHWAY 119 ALONG WITH BOULDERS AS LARGE AS CARS ON
U.S. HIGHWAY 6. A PARKING LOT NEAR A CREEK IN GOLDEN CAVED
IN LEAVING A HOLE THE SIZE OF AN 18-WHEELER. RUSHING WATER
WASHED OUT A 50-FOOT STRETCH OF A ROAD IN WESTMINSTER.
RAINFALL TOTALED 1.75 INCHES AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT...BUT ONLY 1.42 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
17 IN 1903...SOUTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 45 MPH FROM AN APPARENT MICROBURST WHICH PRODUCED ONLY
A TRACE OF RAIN.
IN 1960...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH DIAMETER WAS MEASURED IN THORNTON.
GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL IN ARVADA.
IN 1972...MICROBURST WINDS GUSTED TO 51 MPH AT STAPLETON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1975...HAIL 1/2 TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL OVER WESTERN
METRO DENVER.
IN 1978...A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN SOUTH AURORA
DAMAGING 40 HOMES...6 TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT. ONE GARAGE
WAS DEMOLISHED AND BLOWN ACROSS THE STREET. PARTS OF ROOFS
WERE COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY. SEVERAL 2X4-INCH BOARDS WERE
BLOWN INTO THE SIDES OF HOUSES. ANOTHER SMALL TORNADO IN
PARKER DAMAGED TWO AIRPLANES. OTHER FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE
SIGHTED OVER NORTHGLENN AND NEAR GOLDEN.
IN 1985...A THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A TOTAL OF 1.50 INCHES OF
RAIN IN BRIGHTON WHERE 0.72 INCHES FELL IN 40 MINUTES.
SMALL HAIL COVERED THE GROUND...AND THERE WAS SOME STREET
AND BASEMENT FLOODING.
IN 1987...SMALL HAIL PILED UP 4 INCHES DEEP IN SOUTHWEST
AURORA. THERE WAS ALSO WIDESPREAD STREET FLOODING AND A
FEW POWER OUTAGES. HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER
FELL AT CASTLE ROCK.
IN 2000...HIGH WINDS OCCURRED ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS...AS A DEEP SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER FORMED OVER
THE NORTHEAST PLAINS OF COLORADO. AN AMUSEMENT PARK IN
NORTH BOULDER RECEIVED ABOUT 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PROPERTY
DAMAGE. PEAK WIND REPORTS INCLUDED: 88 MPH AT THE NATIONAL
WIND TECHNOLOGY CENTER...84 MPH IN BOULDER...AND 80 MPH AT THE
NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH MESA LABORATORY.
A POWDER KEG OF SEVERE WEATHER...INCLUDING TORNADOES AND
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND
HEAVY RAIN...OCCURRED OVER THE PLAINS TO THE NORTHEAST OF
DENVER. THE ONLY SEVERE WEATHER REPORTED ACROSS METRO
DENVER WAS 1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL IN LITTLETON.
18 IN 1864...HEAVY RAINS COMBINED WITH MELTING SNOW TO CAUSE MUCH
FLOODING ON NORTH CLEAR CREEK IN BLACKHAWK. MANY BRIDGES ON
THE ROAD TO DENVER WERE WASHED AWAY BY THE HIGH WATER ON
CLEAR CREEK.
IN 1893...NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 56 MPH WITH AN
EXTREME VELOCITY TO 60 MPH.
IN 1960...LARGE HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER DAMAGED ROOFS AND
CARS IN METRO DENVER. HEAVY SNOW AND RAIN IN THE FOOTHILLS
CAUSED ROCK AND LANDSLIDES...WHICH BLOCKED SOME HIGHWAYS.
THERE WAS WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE FROM LIGHTNING.
HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 1/8 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT WHERE WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH.
IN 1975...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY JUST SOUTH OF BUCKLEY
FIELD IN AURORA. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE SAME TORNADO
TOUCHED DOWN IN OPEN COUNTRY 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1985...3/4 INCH HAIL FELL JUST SOUTHEAST OF AURORA.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STARTED A FIRE AT A HOME IN THE FOOTHILLS
WEST OF BOULDER...CAUSING 50 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.
IN 1995...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS RUMBLED ACROSS METRO DENVER
DROPPING MAINLY PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL. HOWEVER...HAIL
STONES AS LARGE AS 1 1/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL IN WHEAT
RIDGE AND DOWNTOWN DENVER. HAIL PILED UP TO 2 INCHES DEEP
IN WHEAT RIDGE AND NORTHWEST DENVER.
IN 1996...THE BUFFALO CREEK WILDFIRE STARTED AND SPREAD
RAPIDLY ON STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 20 TO 30 MPH. DRY
WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE...
WHICH BURNED NEARLY 12 THOUSAND ACRES AND DESTROYED 12
STRUCTURES INCLUDING SOME HOUSES.
IN 2001...A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING
AS HE WAS WALKING ALONG THE SHOULDER OF U.S. HIGHWAY 36 IN
WESTMINSTER.
IN 2003...HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2010...A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR FIRESTONE BUT DID
NO DAMAGE.
18-19 IN 2011...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN CENTRAL ADAMS COUNTY
PRODUCED LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL ON THE 18TH. LARGE
HAIL FROM 1 INCH TO 1 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER...WAS REPORTED
IN COMMERCE CITY...2 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF FEDERAL
HEIGHTS...NORTHGLENN...AND 2 MILES SOUTH OF THORNTON. IN
COMMERCE CITY...THE STORM UPROOTED TREES AND KNOCKED OUT
POWER LINES. A CARPORT WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND
STRUCK THE POWER LINES OVERHEAD. HEAVY RAIN...FROM 1.0 TO
1.5 INCHES FELL IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS IN COMMERCE CITY AND
NEAR BRIGHTON. THE COMBINATION OF HAIL AND STRONG WINDS
BROKE WINDOWS IN NORTHGLENN. IN THE FOOTHILLS...MODERATE TO
HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOPED OVERNIGHT. STORM TOTALS
INCLUDED: 10.5 INCHES AT GOLD HILL...9.5 INCHES...3 MILES
WEST OF JAMESTOWN; 9 INCHES AT LAKE ELDORA; WITH 6 INCHES...
11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GILPIN AND 4 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF
NEDERLAND. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...TOTAL RAINFALL
OVER THE 2-DAY PERIOD TOTALED 1.71 INCHES. IN ADDITION...A
PEAK WIND GUST TO 37 MPH WAS RECORDED ON THE 18TH.
18-20 IN 1915...3.9 INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN THE CITY. THE ESTIMATED
AMOUNT OF SNOW THAT MELTED AS IT FELL WAS 6.2 INCHES WHICH
WOULD HAVE TOTALED AN ESTIMATED 10.1 INCHES OF SNOWFALL.
PRECIPITATION TOTALED 1.03 INCHES. NORTH WINDS WERE
SUSTAINED TO 32 MPH ON THE 18TH. LOW TEMPERATURES DIPPED
TO 25 DEGREES ON BOTH THE 18TH AND 20TH...ESTABLISHING
RECORD MINIMUMS FOR BOTH DATES.
IN 1988...PROLONGED HEAVY RAINFALL DRENCHED METRO DENVER.
THE EVENT BEGAN WHEN HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS ON THE 18TH CAUSED
SOME STREET FLOODING AND POWER OUTAGES...FOLLOWED BY STEADY
RAIN ON THE 19TH AND 20TH. RAIN AMOUNTS ACROSS METRO
DENVER TOTALED 3 TO 4 INCHES. RAINFALL TOTALED 3.71 INCHES
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED
TO 39 MPH ON THE 20TH. FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW FELL IN
THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE 7 THOUSAND FEET.
$$
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