Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

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NOUS45 KBOU 220959
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COZ030>051-222300-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MST THU FEB 22 2024

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

21-22 In 1909...a major storm dumped 12.9 inches of heavy snowfall
       over the city.  North winds were sustained to 37 mph on the
       22nd.  Temperatures during the storm hovered in the 20`s.
22    In 1893...northwest winds were sustained to 36 mph with
        gusts to 50 mph.
      In 1900...northwest winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts
        to 45 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 61 degrees.
      In 1910...a cold front caused a remarkably sharp drop in
        temperature from 43 degrees at 3:00 AM to only 3 degrees
        at 8:30 AM.  These were the high and low temperatures for
        the day.  Early west winds switched to northeast behind
        the front.
      In 1927...west winds were sustained to 42 mph with a measured
        maximum velocity to 60 mph.
      In 1954...strong and gusty west winds persisted throughout the
        day.  The highest wind gust recorded at Stapleton Airport
        was 58 mph.
      In 1960...snowfall totaled 5.9 inches...producing near-blizzard
        conditions in snow and blowing snow at Stapleton Airport
        where northeast wind gusts to 40 mph reduced visibility
        to 1/2 mile.
      In 1986...high winds occurred in the foothills.  Wind gusts of
        65 to 70 mph were reported at Golden Gate Canyon...and a peak
        gust of 83 mph was recorded at Echo Lake.  Northwest winds
        gusted to only 29 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1988...a wind gust to 83 mph was recorded in Boulder with
        80 mph clocked at Rollinsville.  Northwest winds gusted to
        45 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1996...wind gusts to 63 mph were reported in western
        Elbert County.  Southwest winds gusted to 45 mph at
        Denver International Airport.
      In 1999...strong post-frontal...bora winds developed over the
        foothills and spread over the northeast plains.  Peak wind
        gusts included:  87 mph at Golden Gate Canyon; 84 mph at
        Wondervu; 80 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric
        Research Mesa Lab; 75 mph at the Rocky Flats Environmental
        Test Facility; 74 mph at Jefferson County Airport near
        Broomfield; 72 mph at the Gamow Tower on the University of
        Colorado campus in Boulder; and 60 mph at Bennett.  West
        to northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Denver International
        Airport.
      In 2000...thunder was heard across much of metro Denver.
        Thunderstorms over southwest metro Denver produced 1/4
        to 1/2 inch diameter hail at Pinehurst Country Club.  A
        thunderstorm at Denver International Airport produced
        wind gusts to 34 mph.  This was only the 6th time since
        1891 that thunder had been reported in February.
22-23 In 1985...a snowstorm struck the eastern foothills with 8 to
        15 inches of new snow.  Three to 7 inches of new snow fell
        across metro Denver and parts of I-70 were closed at times.
        Snowfall totaled only 3.3 inches at Stapleton International
        Airport where northeast wind gusts to 29 mph were recorded.
      In 1992...a snow storm dumped heavy snow in the Front Range
        foothills.  Conifer received 12 inches of new snow with 7.5
        inches at Aspen Springs.  Snow only dusted the plains and
        metro Denver...but winds were strong with a gust to 43 mph
        from the north at Stapleton International Airport where
        snowfall totaled only 0.3 inch.  This was the only
        measurable snowfall of the month...equaling the record
        for the least snowiest February first set in 1970.  Rare
        thunder for February accompanied the snow during the early
        morning hours of the 23rd.
      In 1999...strong chinook winds developed on a very localized
        scale overnight in and near the foothills of northern
        Jefferson and southern Boulder counties.  Peak wind reports
        included:  82 mph at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test
        Facility...80 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric
        Research Mesa Lab in Boulder...77 mph near Nederland...and
        75 mph atop the Gamow Tower on the University of Colorado
        campus in Boulder.
      In 2012...a strong upper level jet stream produced high winds
        along the Front Range. In Boulder...the strong winds snapped
        power poles and toppled trees. As a result...about 7
        thousand Xcel Energy customers were without power for
        several hours. The high winds overturned a tractor-trailer
        on Foothills Highway overpass...north of Valmont Road. The
        driver suffered minor injuries. A parked car was totaled
        when it was crushed by a fallen tree near the University of
        Boulder. The strong winds were also responsible for two
        Boulder County wildfires which consumed a total of 65 acres.
        Colorado Department of Transportation officials closed U.S.
        36 at McCaslin Boulevard in both directions after the wind
        caused damage to the pedestrian overpass. Metal siding from
        the overpass fell into highway; fortunately there were no
        injuries. In total...electrical outages affected 46 thousand
        customers along the Front Range. Damage to roofs...siding...
        garage doors and fences was also reported. Peak wind gusts
        included: 93 mph near Lyons; 88 mph at NCAR Mesa Lab; 85
        mph...2 miles southwest of Rocky Flats; 82 mph...5 miles
        northwest of Boulder; 81 mph...2 miles north of Longmont...4
        miles east-northeast of Nederland...the National Wind
        Technology Center and near Wondervu; 80 mph at the junction
        of Highways 72 and 93; 79 mph at the Boulder Municipal
        Airport; 78 mph...6 miles northwest of Boulder; 77 mph at
        Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport; 76 mph atop Berthoud Pass;
        75 mph near Aspen Springs; 70 mph at Longmont Municipal
        Airport; 64 mph at Erie Municipal Airport. At Denver
        International Airport...peak wind gusts of 53 mph on the
        22nd and 55 mph on the 23rd were observed.
      In 2019...bands of intense snowfall with rates up to 3 inches
         per hour...struck Denver during the evening commute. The
         heaviest snowfall occurred south of a line extending from
         Arvada to Denver International Airport. The heavy snow
         snarled traffic and left many stranded at the airport. At
         Denver International Airport...8.3 inches of snowfall was
         observed. Storm totals elsewhere included: 9 inches in
         Aurora...8.5 inches near Centennial; 8 inches near Cherry
         Creek Reservoir and Littleton...7.5 inches at Centennial
         Airport...Commerce City...Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree; 7
         inches near Arapahoe Park; 6.5 inches near Buckley AFB...
         Englewood and Strasburg; 6 inches near Deer Trail...Kiowa
         and Parker; with 3 to 5 inches in Arvada and Wheat Ridge.
22-29 In 1960...heavy snowfall of 6.1 inches at Stapleton Airport on
        the 22nd and 23rd marked the beginning of a protracted cold
        spell which lasted until the end of the month.  The cloudy...
        cold weather was accompanied by occasional light snow or
        flurries and fog.  New record low temperatures for the dates
        were set on the 24th thru the 29th with the lowest
        temperature of 11 degrees below zero on the 28th.  The
        seven consecutive days of low temperatures of zero or below
        had been exceeded in duration only 4 times previously.  New
        low maximum temperatures for the dates were set on the 23rd...
        24th...and the 26th thru the 29th with the lowest maximum
        temperature of 8 degrees recorded on the 26th.

$$


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