


Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 040859
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-042300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT FRI JUL 4 2025
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
29-15 In 2000...the 29th marked the beginning of a near record hot
streak for metro Denver. The high temperatures...as recorded
at Denver International Airport...exceeded the 90 degree mark
for 17 consecutive days from June 29th through July 15th.
The record of 24 consecutive 90 degree or above days was
set from July 13th through August 5th...2008.
1-18 In 1874...a streak of 18 consecutive days of 90 degrees...from
the 1st to the 18th...tied for second with another streak
that was later set in the summer of 1901. The record of 24
consecutive days was established in the summer of 2008.
4 In 1874...the temperature reached a high of 102 degrees in
downtown Denver. Large forest fires in the mountains from
the west-northwest to the south filled the atmosphere over
the city with dense smoke.
In 1885...a thunderstorm produced sustained winds to 44 mph
with gusts to 60 mph. A circus tent was tattered by the
strong winds.
In 1900...a thunderstorm produced northwest winds sustained to
42 mph with gusts to 51 mph...but only 0.05 inch of rain.
In 1903...the all time lowest temperature ever recorded in
July...42 degrees...occurred. The temperature also occurred
on July 31...1873.
In 1910...thunderstorm winds were sustained to 42 mph from the
southwest.
In 1922...thunderstorm winds were sustained to 37 mph with
gusts to 48 mph.
In 1956...a thunderstorm wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at
Stapleton Airport.
In 1964...several men were knocked down by a bolt of lightning
while playing golf in south metro Denver. They got up and
ran for cover when one of them was struck by a second bolt.
He suffered burns and shock.
In 1987...a weak tornado was observed for 6 minutes...7 miles
northeast of Watkins. Hail 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter
fell in southeast Aurora.
In 1988...lightning struck a group of people at the Jefferson
County Fairgrounds. A 42-year-old woman was seriously
injured and was hospitalized for 3 days. Four other people
sustained minor injuries.
In 1993...strong northwest winds uprooted several trees across
metro Denver. Wind gusts to 64 mph were reported at Erie
north of Denver. A west wind gust to 43 mph was recorded
at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1995...lightning struck and injured two people standing in
a field in Arvada.
In 1998...heavy thunderstorm rain...up to 2.75 inches...and
marble size hail combined to flood local roads and fields
near Roggen.
In 2002...heavy thunderstorm rain in the Hayman Fire burn area
caused flash flooding. In Jefferson County...Gulch Road was
washed out. In Douglas County...high water washed out some
forest access roads as well...generally to the east of a line
extending from Signal Butte to Deckers.
In 2010...intense thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall...
in excess of 5 inches in one hour...and caused flash flooding
in the vicinity of Elizabeth. Numerous county roads were
washed out. The combination of heavy rain and hail made it
necessary to run snow plows through town. Extensive
basement flooding was also reported. Severe thunderstorms
produced large hail from Aurora south to Elizabeth and
Larkspur. The hail size ranged from 1 to 2 inches in
diameter. A wet microburst produced 1.84 inches of rainfall
at Denver International Airport. A peak wind gust to 48 mph
was also observed from the northeast.
In 2017...a microburst produced a wind gust to 61 mph...about 13
miles east-northeast of Denver International Airport.
In 2019...severe thunderstorms brought a wave of large hail across
portions of Arapahoe...Broomfield...Denver...Douglas...Jefferson...
and Weld counties. The hail ranged in size from 1 to 2 inches
in diameter. The city of Lone Tree evacuated Sweetwater Park...
where Fourth of July celebrations were underway...and Brighton
delayed its Fourth of July concert. The Denver Outlaws game
was postponed due to lightning. In Denver County...there was
widespread damage from the hail...including damage to roof
coverings and vehicles.
4-5 In 1875...from the 4th to the 5th...nearly every railroad running
into the city was damaged by heavy thunderstorm rains. The
heavy rains washed out wooden bridges over normally dry creeks.
Some trains were entirely suspended. In the city...heavy
thunderstorm rain totaled 1.05 inches on the 4th...but
only 0.28 inch on the 5th.
4-8 In 1989...one of the most intense heat waves on record roasted
metro Denver. The temperature reached 100 degrees or more
on 5 consecutive days. The city had previously never
recorded more than 2 straight 100-degree days since records
began in 1872. Water and electricity usage reached all time
highs. The heat wave created extremely dry weather
conditions...which contributed to a major forest fire in
Boulder Canyon on July 9th. The temperature reached 103
degrees on the 8th...and the mercury climbed to 101 degrees
on both the 4th and 5th...and to 102 degrees on both the
6th and 7th. The low temperature of 68 degrees on the 8th
equaled the record high minimum for the date.
$$