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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT THU MAY 23 2024

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

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.
20-27 In 2002...lightning sparked a wildfire near Deckers the
        continued from the 20th to the 27th.  Extremely dry
        conditions and very strong winds the following day allowed
        the fire...known as the Schoonover...to consume 3850 acres
        before it could be contained.  Thirteen structures were
        destroyed...including 4 homes...resulting in 2.2 million
        dollars in damage.
21-23 In 1876...from the 21st to the 23rd...snow changed to heavy
        rain over the city...resulting in widespread flooding
        along Cherry Creek and the South Platte River...nearly as
        great as the flash flood of May 19-20...1864.  However...
        damage was greater because the city had grown much larger
        and there were more bridges for the flood waters to
        destroy.  Precipitation in the city totaled 6.70 inches
        from 10:00 PM on the 21st through 3:00 AM on the 23rd. The
        greatest precipitation ever recorded in Denver in 24 hours...
        6.53 inches...occurred on the 21st and 22nd.  Small
        buildings and bridges along Cherry Creek were washed away
        by the flood waters.  Bridges over the South Platte River
        were damaged.  The city irrigation ditch was damaged and
        rendered unfit for service.  Strong winds at speeds of 30
        to 40 mph drove the heavy rain through brick walls 12 to
        16 inches thick.  Many sheep and cattle were either killed
        by lightning or drowned...including some 100 head of cattle
        in Jefferson County alone.  There was immense damage to
        railroad tracks...especially the Kansas Pacific line to the
        east of the city.  The Colorado Central suffered estimated
        damage of 10 to 15 thousand dollars.  In addition...the
        heavy rain caused extensive flooding on Soda and Bear Creeks
        in the foothills.  Flooding along Boulder Creek inundated
        farm and pasture land in the Boulder valley and damaged a
        few bridges.  Rail travel had to be suspended in the area
        for several days.
22-23 In 1933...from the 22nd to the 23rd...high winds and gales
        overnight caused considerable damage in and near the city.
        Much greenhouse glass was broken...which caused damage to
        sheltered plants.  Great numbers of plants growing in the
        open were damaged or killed by wind-driven sand and soil.
        Fields were eroded by the wind and a few trees were
        uprooted.  West winds were sustained to 38 mph with gusts
        as high as 65 mph in downtown Denver on the 22nd.
23    In 1916...southeast winds were sustained to 43 mph with
        gusts as high as 52 mph.  The winds were strong for
        several hours during the afternoon.
      In 1965...thunderstorm outflow wind gusts to 59 mph were
        recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1987...slow moving thunderstorms bombarded metro Denver.
        One inch diameter hail was reported in south central
        Denver.  Torrential rain caused widespread street flooding...
        stalling traffic throughout the area.  Rainfall totaled
        2.10 inches in just 25 minutes in extreme southeast Aurora.
        Many other locations in Aurora and east Denver reported 1 to
        1 1/2 inches of rain in about 30 minutes.  Thunderstorm
        rainfall totaled 1.33 inches at Stapleton International
        Airport where 1/4 inch diameter hail was measured and north
        winds gusted to 40 mph.  A man was slightly injured by
        lightning near Stapleton International Airport.  Lightning
        also started a fire that severely damaged a house in Aurora.
      In 1990...a microburst wind gust to 52 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport produced some blowing dust.
      In 1991...thunderstorms moving from southwestern sections of
        metro Denver to the east of Denver produced large hail up
        to golf ball size.  An estimated 5 thousand homes and
        8 thousand cars received considerable damage.  Early
        estimates placed damage costs around 60 million dollars.
        Three funnel clouds were also reported...two by personnel
        at Buckley Field and the other by a storm spotter.  Heavy
        rain produced street flooding in Aurora where hail
        accumulated to a depth of 6 inches.  As the storms moved
        to the east...golf ball size hail was reported at Strasburg.
      In 1997...hail to 3/4 inch diameter fell in Broomfield.
      In 2002...a very strong microburst near Strasburg swept a
        woman into a swirl of dirt and carried her about 150 feet.
        The woman was in an open field...corralling a yearling horse...
        when the incident occurred.  Fortunately...she received only
        minor injuries.
23-24 In 2002...from the 23rd to the 24th...a Pacific storm system
        brought much needed snow to the mountains and foothills
        with a mix of rain and snow on the plains.  The most snow
        fell from central Jefferson County northward.  Snow totals
        included:  13 inches in Coal Creek Canyon...11 inches near
        Evergreen and atop Gold Hill...10 inches near Blackhawk and
        Conifer and atop Crow Hill...9 inches near Rollinsville...and
        8 inches near Genesee and Golden.  Rain was mixed with snow
        across the city.  Precipitation totaled 0.61 inch at Denver
        International Airport.  Snowfall was less than an inch at
        the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. The
        storm brought unseasonably cold air to metro Denver.  Three
        temperature records were set.  Low temperature of 31 degrees
        on the 23rd was a record minimum for the date...as was the
        low of 32 degrees on the 24th.  The high temperature of
        only 48 degrees equaled the record low maximum for the date.

$$