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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT MON MAY 20 2024

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

18-20 In 1915...from the 18th to the 20th...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...from the 18th to the 20th...a 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.
18-26 In 2023...smoke and haze from massive wildfires in Canada
        significantly impacted air quality and visibility across
        Denver and the rest of northeast Colorado.
19-20 In 1864...from the 19th to the 20th...a devastating major flash
        flood occurred on the normally dry and sandy Cherry Creek
        in Denver.  The flood was caused by heavy thunderstorm
        rainfall and hail over the Palmer Ridge to the south of the
        city in both the Cherry Creek and Plum Creek basins.
        Nineteen deaths occurred along the South Platte River and
        Cherry Creek in Denver.  The torrent swept cattle and sheep
        along with large trees and houses before it washing out
        several bridges...and moving large structures from their
        foundations.  All city records were destroyed when City Hall
        washed away.  The Rocky Mountain News building...built on
        stilts in the middle of the creek...was totally destroyed
        by the raging waters...which were as deep as 5 feet on the
        morning of the 20th.  Once the flood waters receded...much
        sand and gravel was left behind.  Property damage from the
        flood was estimated at nearly one million dollars.  This
        was the first major flood of record in the city.
20    In 1874...after a light late afternoon shower...3 rainbows
        were visible in the eastern sky.  The two upper bows
        were of the usual colors.  The lower bow had a deep
        violet center with a faint yellow and white rim.
      In 1892...apparent post-frontal north winds were sustained to
        40 mph with gusts to 48 mph.  A trace of snow was the last
        snowfall of the season.
      In 1899...snow pellets from 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter fell
        from a thundershower during the late afternoon.  West winds
        were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.
      In 1904...southeast winds were sustained to 40 mph with an
        extreme velocity of 42 mph produced by a thunderstorm.
      In 1961...a tornado tore through central Douglas County...1 1/2
        miles north of Castle Rock.  The storm struck 2 ranches and
        the property of a drilling company.  A car on the highway
        was lifted off the road and slammed into a truck...injuring
        the two occupants.
      In 1983...heavy rain fell in Aurora with 1.00 to 1.50 inches
        of precipitation.  Local flooding occurred in Lakewood.
      In 1990...1 inch diameter hail fell at Buckley Field in
        Aurora.  Minor damage was reported to autos...buildings and
        signs.
      In 1995...hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell near
        Bennett where a funnel cloud was sighted.
      In 2001...damaging winds developed behind a vigorous cold
        front that moved south from Wyoming into metro Denver.
        High winds...gusting to 58 mph at Denver International
        Airport...downed trees and power lines and kicked up blowing
        dust...dirt...and debris...reducing the visibility to near
        zero at times.  The poor visibility caused a multi-vehicle
        accident along U.S. Highway 85 north of Fort Lupton.  Six
        people were treated for minor injuries.  Several vehicles...
        including semi-trailers...were blown off I-70 east of Denver.
        About 32 thousand Xcel Energy customers in metro Denver were
        without electricity for up to 2 hours.  At least a dozen
        incoming flights at Denver International Airport were
        diverted to other airports.  All departing flights were
        grounded for at least an hour.  At Southwest Plaza...shoppers
        were evacuated as rocks holding a tarp on a portion of a
        roof under repair toppled into the mall.  After the passage
        of the cold front...temperatures plunged from the lower 70`s
        to the mid 30`s in one hour as light snow developed.  Heavy
        snow developed in the foothills during the evening.  Peak
        wind reports included 68 mph near Parker and 63 mph near
        Sedalia.  Snowfall totals included:  7 inches near Blackhawk...
        at Ken Caryl Ranch...and near Sedalia; 6 inches in Coal Creek
        Canyon...at Eldorado Springs...and atop Lookout Mountain; 5
        inches at Chief Hosa...in Louisville...Rollinsville...and Wheat
        Ridge; and 4 inches in Aurora...Bailey...Parker...Castle Rock
        and near Morrison.  Low temperature of 31 degrees during the
        early morning of the 21st equaled the record low for the
        date last set in 1931.
      In 2004...severe thunderstorms produced hail as large as 1.25
        inches near Ft. Lupton and hail to 1.50 inches 10 miles
        north of Ft. Lupton.
      In 2014...severe thunderstorm produced hail...from 1 to 1 1/4
        inches in diameter...across parts of Aurora...Denver...
        Englewood and Lakewood.
20-21 In 1891...from the 20th to the 21st...heavy rain was mixed with
        snow at times and totaled 2.02 inches in the city.  Snowfall
        was 1.0 inch.  Northeast winds gusted to 28 mph on the 20th.
20-22 In 1959...from the 20th to the 22nd...the three-day rain caused
        some flooding in metro Denver where rain totaled 1.68 inches
        at Stapleton Airport.  Showers...accompanied by hail near
        Brighton...caused some damage to truck crops.  Heavy snow in
        the foothills caused damage to power and telephone lines.
20-27 In 2002...lightning sparked a wildfire near Deckers the
        continued from the 20th to the 27th.  Extremely dry
        conditions and very strong winds the following day allowed
        the fire...known as the Schoonover...to consume 3850 acres
        before it could be contained.  Thirteen structures were
        destroyed...including 4 homes...resulting in 2.2 million
        dollars in damage.

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