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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT FRI JUN 7 2024

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

2-7   In 1921...heavy rainfall for nearly a week...from the 2nd to
        the 7th...on top of streams already swollen by mountain
        snowmelt...produced widespread flooding over the South
        Platte River basin...including the tributaries through the
        canyons to the west and southwest of Denver.  Heavy
        rainfall over the 6-day period totaled 3.36 inches in
        Boulder...4.98 inches in Morrison...4.27 inches
        in Castle Rock...and 2.94 inches in the City of Denver.
        Rainfall amounts in the foothills were estimated between
        3 and 6 inches.  The narrow-gage tracks of the Colorado and
        Southern Railroad were destroyed in the Platte canyon.  From
        the mouth of the canyon through the city to near Brighton...
        the river spread from 1/2 to nearly 1 1/2 miles wide...
        flooding farm and pasture land and destroying or damaging
        many bridges.  In the city...many businesses along with as
        many as 500 homes were inundated...forcing their evacuation.
        Bridges were swept away.  The high waters flooded the rail
        yards and stock yards in lower downtown...closing three
        adjacent packing houses.  The heavy rains also caused
        flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder on the 6th.
6-7   In 2004...from the 6th to the 7th...a brief hot spell produced
        3 temperature records. High temperatures of 95 degrees on
        the 6th and 98 degrees on the 7th were record maximum
        temperatures for the dates. Low temperature of 68 degrees
        on the 7th was a record high minimum for the date.
      In 2007...from the 6th to the 7th...an unusually strong storm
        system brought very strong winds to the Front Range
        Foothills and Urban Corridor.  Peak gusts included:  92 mph
        at Boulder...85 mph...2 miles southwest of Boulder...83 mph...
        10 miles south of Boulder and 55 mph at Denver International
        Airport.  High winds forced the closure of Mt. Evans Road
        and Trail Ridge Road.  Several trees were uprooted across
        the Urban Corridor.  In Aurora...the driver of a car was
        injured when some building material blew off the Fitzsimmons
        Complex.  The debris landed on the car and knocked the
        driver unconcious.  The wind forced the cancellation of 60
        flights at Denver International Airport.  Xcel reported
        outages in Boulder...Denver...Lakewood and Longmont.
7     In 1904...a thunderstorm produced south winds to 40 mph with
        gusts to 50 mph...but only a trace of rain.
      In 1942...heavy thunderstorm rainfall in south Denver caused
        flooding of shops...stalled motorists...and halted tramway
        service temporarily.  Lightning damaged houses...but there
        was no loss of life.  Precipitation totaled 0.53 inch in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1951...a 24x65 foot roof of a cow barn was lifted off the
        building and blown to the ground by a "twister" near Fort
        Lupton.
      In 1961...small hail and heavy rain damaged property and crops
        in southwest metro Denver...including the southwest section
        of the city...Lakewood...and Littleton.  Precipitation totaled
        1.20 inch...11 miles southwest of Stapleton Airport.
        Complete primary and secondary rainbows were sighted by
        National Weather Service observers at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1968...severe thunderstorms moving to the northeast
        through sections of Denver caused local flooding of streets
        and damage to trees and gardens from hail 1/2 to 1 3/4
        inches in diameter.  One man was killed and 2 were injured
        at the Wellshire golf course when lightning struck a tree
        under which they had taken shelter.  At another golf course...
        a man was mortally injured by lightning.  Marble to golf
        ball size hail fell over downtown Denver.  Hail to 3/4 inch
        in diameter was measured in Westminster.
      In 1975...hail up to 3/4 inch diameter fell in Boulder.
      In 1978...a man standing under a tree on a golf course in
        Denver was struck in the arm by lightning.   Wind gusts to
        60 mph and golf ball size hail pelted west and south
        Denver.
      In 1986...7/8 inch hail was measured in Lafayette.
      In 1990...a thin...rope-shaped tornado touched down east of the
        intersection of State Highway 2 and 96th Avenue just north
        of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.  No damage was reported.
      In 1992...a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph was recorded in
        Boulder.  A funnel cloud was sighted by a Highway Patrol
        Officer just northwest of Stapleton International Airport
        where thunderstorm winds gusted to 51 mph.  Spotters and
        State Patrol Officers reported funnel clouds in the
        northwestern part of metro Denver...near Golden...and 7 miles
        northwest of Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1993...non-convective high winds pummeled the Front Range
        foothills during the late morning and afternoon.  Speeds of
        60 to 80 mph were common.  The winds caused several power
        outages as well as uprooting trees.  In Lafayette...a 4-year-
        old boy was slightly injured while standing on the roots of
        a large tree which was toppled by the winds.  The boy fell
        10 feet to the ground and was bruised and scraped.  A tree
        fell onto a parked car in Boulder...causing about 35 hundred
        dollars in damage.  West wind gusts to 41 mph were recorded
        at Stapleton International Airport where a thunderstorm
        produced 1/8 inch hail at daybreak.
      In 1995...severe thunderstorms produced large hail across
        west and north metro Denver from Golden to Westminster
        and Fort Lupton.  Hail ranged in size from 3/4 to 2 inches
        in diameter.  The largest hail fell in Fort Lupton.  A weak
        tornado produced a brief dust and debris cloud in a corn
        field 3 miles northeast of Hudson.
      In 1997...two plumbers were injured...one critically...when
        lightning struck a pipe on which they were working in
        an apartment building under construction in Denver.  The
        bolt apparently hit one man in the hand...passed through
        his chest...and struck the other worker.  The critically
        injured man...died a few days later.  Lightning also
        injured a man...while he was talking on a telephone in
        Ward.  The bolt passed through the phone line burning
        his ear.
      In 2001...hail as large as 7/8 inch in diameter fell in
        Westminster.
      In 2009...severe thunderstorms in Denver and the
        surrounding metropolitan area produced five tornadoes...
        large hail...up to 3 inches in diameter...and damaging
        thunderstorm winds.  The tornado that produced the most
        significant damage touched down in southeast Aurora...
        south of Buckley Airport; it moved south-southeast
        across open fields...some residential areas and damaged
        Southlands Mall.  It was 100 yards wide with a storm
        track of approximately 5 1/2 miles.  Southlands Mall had
        some roof and window damage...as well as wall damage to
        one of its resturants.  South of the mall...Lowe`s
        received some roof damage; lightweight sheds and other
        structures were also destroyed.  Numerous homes and
        apartments suffered window damage...minor roof damage and
        there were a few broken garage doors. One resident...north
        of the mall...was injured when he was swept off his porch
        while attempting to photograph the tornado.  He was found
        unconcious and bleeding in his front yard...with a
        dislocated shoulder...an injured neck...and numerous other
        injuries.  In addition...the tornado flipped a trailer home.
        A man inside the trailer suffered minor injuries.  In parts
        of Aurora and Centenniel...thunderstorm winds blew down
        power lines and caused electrical outages.  Approximately
        8000 homes and businesses were without power for nearly
        two hours.  Earlier in the day...a tornado touched down
        about 6 miles northwest of Northglenn and caused minor
        damage.  It`s path covered approximately 1/2 mile.
        Several trees were downed in an open field.  The tornado
        also damaged a metal fence and caused minor roof damage
        to a nearby residence.  The third tornado touched down 7
        miles east-northeast of Buckley Air Field and flipped a
        semi-trailer as it passed over Interstate 70.  Lastly...
        two tornadoes touched down in northwest Elbert
        County.  One tornado damaged several outbuildings...a
        residence...and downed several trees.  In addition...
        several horses were injured by flying metal debris.
        The other tornado touched down in open country. This
        day was the first in the series of eight to cause
        damage along the Urban Corridor.  Damage to homes and
        property along the Front Range totaled $161 million
        during the 8-day span.  The majority of the property
        damage was caused by hail; 21000 automobile claims
        and 13000 homeowner claims were filed.
      In 2012...severe thunderstorms brought damaging wind and
        hail...heavy rain and flash flooding.  The storms
        produced hail from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter. In
        addition to the large hail...heavy rain from 1 to 2
        inches also accompanied the storms. The combination of
        hail and heavy rain caused extensive street flooding
        across Aurora...Castle Rock...Centennial...Cherry Creek...
        Englewood...South Denver...Highlands Ranch...Lakewood and
        Littleton. The hail was reportedly "knee deep" in
        several areas making roads impassable. As a result...
        snow plows had to be summoned to clear the streets. In
        Castle Rock...a King Soopers supermarket sustained
        extensive damage when roof partially collapsed under
        the weight of the hail. At Denver International
        Airport...0.61 inches of rainfall was again recorded
        along with a peak wind gust of 40 mph.  Total property
        damage estimates along the Front Range for the 6th and
        7th combined was 321.1 million dollars.
      In 2016...large hail up to 1 inch in diameter was observed
        in Castle Rock.
      In 2021...a landspout tornado developed in southwest Weld
        County...2 miles northeast of Firestone. The tornado
        traveled north-northeast...and ended 3 miles northwest of
        Platteville. The tornado reached an intensity of EF-1 on
        the Enhanced Fujita scale...with estimated wind speeds of
        99 mph. There were no injuries...but at least two calves
        were killed...and several chickens. Other damage included
        a home located at Highway 66 and Weld County Road 21 that
        caught fire due to downed power lines. Downed power lines
        led to a closure of Weld County Road 21 between State
        Highway 66 and Weld County Road 32.5.  The landspout was
        more than 10000 feet high...and could be seen by spotters
        as far as 40 miles away.  It was on the ground for 35
        minutes; it was estimated to be 50 yards wide and
        traveled a distance of 7.5 miles.
7-9   In 1979...rain...at times with thunder on the 7th...fell almost
        continuously through the morning of the 9th.  Rainfall
        totaled 2.28 inches at Stapleton International Airport
        over the 3 days.  High temperature of only 49 degrees on
        the 8th was a record low maximum for the date.

$$