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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT SUN MAY 19 2024

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

17-19 In 2017...a strong spring storm dropped across the Great Basin...
        and then moved eastward across Colorado. Isolated but strong
        thunderstorms preceded the system on the 17th with hail up
        to nickel size near Boulder Airport and Brighton. Significant
        snow fell across the Front Range mountains and foothills over
        the next couple of days. Along the Interstate 25 Corridor...
        rain turned to snow on the morning of the 18th...heaviest from
        around Broomfield northward. The heavy wet snow snapped the
        limbs of fully leaved trees and caused scattered power
        outages. A barns collapsed in northeast Loveland. Fifty-five
        head of cattle were inside the collapsed barn; three were
        injured and later euthanized. Numerous branches and trees
        snapped in the foothills. Elsewhere...several scattered
        smaller power outages were reported. Three to nearly five
        inches of liquid precipitation occurred...as rain or a mix of
        rain and snow...fell around Greeley. Storm totals in the Front
        Range mountains and foothills included: 42.0 inches near
        Allenspark...41.5 inches near Ward...36 inches at Estes Park...
        32 inches near Pinecliffe...30.5 inches northwest of Golden...
        30 inches near Nederland...26 inches near Breckenridge...25
        inches near Aspen Springs and Bear Lake State Park...14
        inches at Aspen Springs...with 9.5 inches near Evergreen.
        On the west side of the Interstate 25 Corridor...storm
        totals included: 10 inches near Superior and Louisville...6
        to 8 inches in and around Fort Collins...6 inches in Lafayette...
        5 inches in Broomfield and Loveland...and 4 inches near Niwot.
18-19 In 2011...from the 18th to the 19th...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...near 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...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    In 1927...southeast winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
        to 44 mph.
      In 1956...a thunderstorm wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1969...hail stones to 1 inch in diameter were measured in
        Arvada and Aurora.  Some minor damage was reported.
        Pea to marble size hail fell in Westminster.
      In 1972...a tornado was reported by aircraft about 5 to 10
        miles east of Parker.
      In 1988...lightning started a fire at a house in the Denver
        suburb of Greenwood Village...causing 2 thousand dollars in
        damage.
      In 1991...strong thunderstorms over east metro Denver produced
        wind gusts of 56 to 60 mph.  The strong winds downed power
        lines...trees...and fences at some locations in Aurora.
        Thunderstorm outflow winds gusted to 60 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 1994...severe thunderstorms rumbled across metro Denver.
        The storms produced wind gusts averaging 65 mph and hail up
        to dime size.  Wind gusts to 77 mph were recorded in
        Brighton.  Numerous trees and power poles were downed by
        the winds.  One power pole fell onto spectators at a high
        school graduation ceremony in Commerce City...injuring 6
        people.  In Fort Lupton...trees fell onto 2 parked cars...
        knocking out the windshields.  Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter
        was reported in Littleton.  A thunderstorm wind gust to 52
        mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1995...a slow moving tornado...which was mainly discernible
        by its dust and debris cloud...was spotted 2 miles northeast
        of Denver International Airport or about 10 miles
        northwest of Bennett.  No damage was reported.
      In 2007...lightning struck a 33-ft statue of Jesus at Mother
        Cabrini Shrine...in the foothills west of Golden.  The blast
        broke off one of the statue`s arms and a hand...and also
        damaged a foot.  It cost an estimated $200000 to repair.
      In 2009...lightning struck the roof of a residence in Highlands
        Ranch.  The home was not a total loss...but the fire caused
        extensive damage.
      In 2010...a thunderstorm produced hail up to 7/8 inch in
        diameter in Thornton.
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.

$$