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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT MON MAY 6 2024

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

4-8   In 1969...from the 4th to the 8th...heavy rains caused
        flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder...which resulted in
        one death on the 7th. Flooding also occurred on Bear
        Creek in Sheridan and on the South Platte River in Denver.
        Rain over most of the eastern foothills started late on
        the 4th and continued with only brief interruptions in
        many areas until the morning of the 8th.  Very high rates
        of rainfall occurred on the 6th and 7th with the greatest
        intensities in a band along the foothills from about 25
        miles southwest of Denver northward to Estes Park.  Storm
        totals by both official and unofficial measurements
        exceeded 10 inches over much of this area and were over 12
        inches in some localities.  Heavy snow fell in the higher
        mountains and in the foothills later in the period.  The
        saturation of the soil resulted in numerous rock and land
        slides...and the heavy run-off caused severe damage along
        many streams and flooding on the South Platte River.  Many
        foothill communities were isolated as highways were blocked
        and communications disrupted.  Roads were severely damaged
        over a wide area...and a large number of bridges washed out.
        Many roads were closed due to the danger from falling
        rocks.  A building in Georgetown collapsed from the weight
        of heavy wet snow.  In Boulder...a man drowned when caught
        by the flooding waters of Boulder Creek...and a patrolman was
        injured.  Rainfall totaled 7.60 inches in Boulder with
        9.34 inches recorded at the Public Service Company electric
        plant in Boulder Canyon.  In Morrison...rainfall totaled
        11.27 inches in 4 days.  Heavy rainfall totaled 4.68 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport over 3 days from the 5th
        through the 7th.  Rainfall of 3.14 inches was recorded in 24
        hours on the 6th and 7th.  Downstream flooding continued
        along the South Platte River until the 12th when the flood
        crest reached the Nebraska line.
5-6   In 1907...rain changed to snow on the 5th...continued through
        the night  into the 6th...and totaled 3.50 inches.  Northeast
        winds were sustained to 15 mph on the 5th.
      In 1917...post-frontal rain changed to heavy snow...from the
        5th to the 6th...and totaled 12.5 inches over downtown Denver.
        Most of the snow...12.0 inches...fell on the 5th and this was
        the greatest 24-hour snowfall ever measured during the month
        of May. This was also the only measurable snow of the month
        that year.  Low temperatures of 27 degrees on the 5th and 23
        degrees on the 6th were record minimums for the dates.
        High temperatures on both days were in the lower 40`s.
        Southeast winds were sustained to 24 mph with an extreme
        velocity to 26 mph.
      In 1964...from the 5th to the 6th...high winds gusted to 54 mph
        in Boulder and to 80 mph at Jefferson County Airport near
        Broomfield.  Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common over all
        of eastern Colorado.  Buildings...power lines...trees...and
        vehicles were damaged by the wind.   South-southwest wind
        gusts to 54 mph caused some blowing dust at Stapleton
        International Airport where the visibility was briefly
        reduced to 2 miles.
      In 1973...from the 5th to the 6th...a heavy driving rain storm
        with embedded thunderstorms...produced 1 to 5 inches of rain
        and caused local flash flooding along the east slopes of
        the Front Range.  The greatest flash flooding occurred in
        metro Denver where rainfall totaled 3.56 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport.  Flooding in metro Denver occurred
        on Clear Creek and the South Platte River...already swollen
        from heavy snowmelt.  Numerous basements were flooded...
        roads and streets were washed out...a bridge was demolished...
        and miscellaneous other damage was reported.  North winds
        gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton International Airport during
        the storm.  The storm produced major downstream flooding
        along the South Platte River all the way to the Nebraska
        border during the next two weeks.  One person died and
        total damage was estimated at around 120 million dollars.
      In 1978...from the 5th to the 6th...heavy wet snow of around
        24 inches collapsed an office and hotel building in
        Boulder.  Many cars were abandoned in the city.  Denver
        received 14 inches of heavy wet snow with Evergreen and
        Golden reporting 12 inches.  Snowfall totaled 12.4 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport with a total accumulation
        of snow on the ground of 8 inches due to melting.  Southeast
        winds gusted to 23 mph on the 5th.  Temperatures both days
        remained in the lower to mid 30`s.
6     In 1876...heavy snow fell during the night and ended during
        the morning...but no amount was recorded.  Light hail fell
        briefly during the late afternoon.  Precipitation for the
        day totaled 1.05 inch which would give an estimated snowfall
        of nearly 11 inches had all of the precipitation been snow.
      In 1889...northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph in the city.
      In 1893...heavy snow of 8.9 inches fell over downtown Denver.
        Once on the ground...the snow melted rapidly.  This was the
        only snow of the month.  Northwest winds were sustained to
        20 mph.
      In 1904...west winds were sustained to 45 mph with an extreme
        velocity to 46 mph.
      In 1914...an apparent dry microburst produced sustained north
        winds to 44 mph with gusts as high as 50 mph.
      In 1920...a thunderstorm produced hail and 0.55 inch of rain.
        The hail of unknown size covered the ground.
      In 1921...thunderstorm winds were sustained to 42 mph with
        gusts to 44 mph.  Rainfall was only 0.17 inch.
      In 1936...a light to moderate duststorm moved in from the
        east on southeast winds and lasted most of the day.  The
        dust reduced the visibility to two miles at times.  Winds
        from the northwest sustained to 21 mph swept the dust out
        of the city during the late afternoon.
      In 1966...a funnel cloud was sighted for 7 minutes to the
        southwest of Stapleton International Airport.  The funnel
        appeared to be picking up dust from the ground...but was
        too distant to tell.  No damage was reported.
      In 1968...a thunderstorm wind gust to 53 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1988...high winds raked the state.  Wind gusts ranged from
        60 to 80 mph in Boulder...Aurora...and at Centennial Airport.
        South-southwest winds to 53 mph were recorded at Stapleton
        International Airport.  Across metro Denver...the strong
        winds knocked windows out of buildings...downed power poles
        and wires and some fences...unroofed several buildings...and
        damaged signs.
      In 1997...strong winds from a dry microburst blew an empty
        18-wheeler on its side in the northbound lane of I-25
        north of Denver near the Brighton exit.  There were no
        injuries.  West winds gusted to 46 mph at Denver
        International Airport.
      In 2017...lightning struck dangerously close to a woman while
        she watched a youth baseball game. She felt her legs go
        numb after a lightning bolt struck the ground.
6-7   In 1873...from the 6th to the 7th...snowfall totaled 8.9 inches
        in downtown Denver. Most of the snow fell on the 6th.

$$