Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 240859
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-242300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT WED APR 24 2024
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
22-24 In 2010...a potent spring storm brought heavy...wet snow to
areas in and near the Front Range Foothills and widespread
rainfall across the adjacent plains. In the Front Range
Foothills and North-Central Mountains east of the
Continental Divide...storm totals ranged from 15 to 30
inches. Storm totals included: 29.5 inches...3 miles
southeast of Pinecliffe; 27 inches...8 miles northeast
of Four Corners; 23 inches at Willow Creek...22.5 inches...
13 miles northwest of Golden; 21 inches at Never Summer...
17 inches at Eldorado Springs...with 16.5 inches...3 miles
west of Jamestown. Denver International Airport reported
a trace of snowfall...but measured 2.01 inches of rainfall
for the duration of the storm. In addition...a peak wind
gust to 54 mph from the northwest was observed at the
airport on the 23rd
23-24 In 1883...snowfall totaled 7.6 inches in downtown Denver.
In 1904...a thunderstorm produced hail during the late evening
of the 23rd. Apparent post-frontal rain changed to snow
during the early morning of the 24th...but totaled only 2.0
inches. Precipitation consisting of rain...melted hail...and
snow totaled 0.60 inch. Northeast winds were sustained to
41 mph with gusts as high as 52 mph on the 24th.
In 1905...rain changed to snow and totaled 8.0 inches. Much
of the snow melted as it fell with only 2.5 inches measured
on the ground. Precipitation totaled 1.88 inches.
Northeast winds were sustained to 20 mph on the 23rd.
In 1942...the South Platte River reached flood conditions in
the city. As many as 15 thousand residents were warned
to evacuate their homes temporarily. Two lives were lost
in the city. Four bridges were washed out by the flood
waters and other bridges were endangered. The damage was
generally limited to bridges that were in poor condition.
However...the flood waters did not overflow their channel
banks within the city limits.
In 1980...heavy rain began in the eastern foothills on the
night of the 23rd and turned to heavy wet snow on the 24th.
Up to a foot and a half of snow fell in the foothills west
of Denver. At Stapleton International Airport precipitation
totaled 1.58 inches...but only 3.7 inches of snow fell from
the storm. East winds gusted to 24 mph.
In 1997...locations in and near the foothills received the
greatest snow of the year as a winter-like storm system
moved into metro Denver. East to southeast winds at speeds
of 15 to 35 mph were common with even stronger gusts above
9 thousand feet. Snow fell at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an
hour as deep upslope combined with a moist and unstable
air mass. The snow began in the foothills above 7500 feet
during the evening of the 23rd. By sunrise the snow level
had dropped to 5000 feet. The hardest hit areas extended
from I-25 into the foothills. Snowfall totals in the
foothills ranged from 1 1/2 to over 3 1/2 feet. In the
city...snowfall ranged from 8 to 18 inches. Some snowfall
amounts included: 36 inches at Coal Creek Canyon...31 inches
at Nederland and Wondervu...20 to 24 inches near Blackhawk...
Echo Lake...and North Turkey Creek Canyon; 15 to 19 inches
at Boulder...Central City...Conifer...Evergreen...Georgetown...
and Louisville; 8 to 14 inches in Arvada...Broomfield...
Westminster...Wheat Ridge...Castle Rock...and Ken Caryl Ranch.
Only 2.3 inches of snow fell at the site of the former
Stapleton International Airport on the 24th. East winds
gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport on the
24th.
In 2003...a strong and deep northerly flow circulating around
a closed upper low pressure center allowed heavy snow to
fall in the mountains and eastern foothills. Snowfall
totaled 14 inches in Idaho Springs. Rain was mixed with
snow and thunder across metro Denver. Snowfall was only
0.9 inch overnight at the site of the former Stapleton
International Airport. Precipitation totaled 1.34 inches
at Denver International Airport...where northwest winds
gusted to 55 mph on the 23rd.
In 2007...a storm system intensified over Southeast Colorado...
allowing for heavy snow and rain to develop over much of
North-Central and Northeast Colorado. Severe thunderstorms
preceded the storm system on the 23rd...affecting the Urban
Corridor. Nickel size hail was reported in Boulder and a
small landspout touched down near Byers. On the 24th...heavy
snow fell in the foothills west of Denver and Boulder...where
storm totals ranged from 1 to 2 feet. Heavy snow also
occurred along the Palmer Divide...with storm totals of 10 to
16 inches. Elsewhere...a steady moderate to heavy rainfall
was reported. Denver International Airport measured 2.09
inches of rainfall...which shattered the previous 24-hr
record of 1.29 inches for the 24th of April. The heavy wet
snow caused several power outages. In some instances it
took several days to restore power. Several road closures
were reported...including Interstates 25 and 70. A jacknifed
semi-trailer backed up traffic for nearly 20 miles...on
southbound I-25...between Denver and Colorado Springs. In
addition...a 50-ton boulder blocked the southbound lane of
State Highway 285...near Parmalee Gulch. Crews had to use
explosives to break up the boulder and clear the debris.
Stranded buses and impassable roadways also forced several
school closures.
23-25 In 1935...heavy wet snow fell across metro Denver. The storm
started as rain on the 23rd and changed to snow early on the
morning of the 24th. There was continuous precipitation for
a period of 48 hours. Snowfall totaled 19.0 inches over the
city and 20.0 inches at Denver Municipal Airport. However...
due to warm temperatures in the 30`s...much of the snow
melted as it fell and did not seriously disrupt traffic.
The greatest snow accumulation on the ground downtown was
12 inches...but it quickly melted. The highest sustained
wind speed recorded during the storm was 28 mph from the
north on the 23rd. The storm contained 3.16 inches of
moisture.
24 In 1959...wind gusts to 60 mph recorded in downtown Boulder
caused very limited minor damage. West winds gusted to
38 mph at Stapleton Airport.
In 1986...a wind gust to 60 mph was clocked at Golden Gate
Canyon.
In 1989...1 3/4 inch diameter hail was reported in Lafayette.
Boulder and Louisville reported 3/4 inch hail.
24-25 In 1890...rain changed to snow and totaled 7.0 inches in
downtown Denver.
In 1931...heavy snowfall totaled 9.3 inches over downtown
Denver. Winds were light during the storm.
In 1996...the second wind storm in less than a week developed
east of the Continental Divide and spread over metro
Denver. High winds gusted from 60 to 90 mph. Several
power lines and poles were downed. Some of the stronger
wind gusts included: 91 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of
Denver...90 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder...85 mph in
Golden Gate Canyon...and 82 mph at Wondervu. Northwest
winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport
on the 25th.
24-26 In 1924...post-frontal rain changed to snow...which became
heavy and totaled 10.2 inches over downtown Denver. The
greatest amount of snow on the ground was 6.0 inches on the
25th due to melting. North winds were sustained to 38 mph
with gusts to 42 mph on the 24th.
$$