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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT MON SEP 9 2024

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

1-30  In 2020...a worsening drought that started in the spring and
        continued through September. Outside of an early season
        snow on the 8th...the month of September was another
        unseasonably warm and dry period. The combination
        of hot...mostly dry conditions...and critically dry fuels...
        resulted in a continuation and rapid expansion of several
        massive wildfires. The Cameron Peak fire...which became the
        largest in the state`s history started on August 13th...and
        continued through September. As a result...very poor air
        quality continued to impact Denver and the entire Front
        Range.  Denver recorded the most days ever with a high
        temperature of 90 degrees or better; 75 days.  The last
        of which was 91 degrees on the 24th.  The previous
        record was 73 days set in 2012.
5-9   In 1988...layers of smoke aloft from large forest fires in
        Yellowstone National Park completely obliterated the sun
        at times.  At Stapleton International Airport...surface
        visibility was reduced at times to 5 and 6 miles in smoke.
5-13  In 2010...the Fourmile Canyon Wildfire...northwest of Boulder...
        broke out on the morning of the 5th.  It originated from
        an unattended fire pit at a local residence. The wildfire
        quickly consumed 5 1/2 square miles or 3500 acres the
        first day...and forced the evacuation of over three
        thousand residents.  Erratic 45-mph gusts sent the fire in
        two directions at times. Very dry weather conditions
        preceded the fire. The combination of strong winds...low
        relative humidities and dry fuels allowed the wildfire
        spread rapidly through the steep...heavily forested terrain.
        The flames were reportedly 20 to 50 feet in length.  Towns
        within the burn area included Salina...Wallstreet and Gold
        Hill. The dry conditions coupled with gusty winds ranging
        from 45 to 64 mph persisted for several more days. Fire
        managers used as many as 700 firefighters and support
        personnel from 35 agencies and seven air tankers to battle
        the wildfire.  A total of 6181 square acres or
        approximately 10 square miles were burned.  The Fourmile
        Canyon Wildfire was the most destructive fire in Colorado
        history in terms of the damage to personal property.  It
        destroyed 171 homes with an estimated cost of 217 million
        dollars.
9     In 1933...heavy rain in the foothills over the Clear Creek
        and Golden Gate canyon watersheds caused flooding in
        Golden and damaged the roadway in Golden Gate Canyon...
        which resulted in its closure.
      In 1969...a funnel cloud was sighted in southeast Denver.
        There was also considerable thunderstorm activity and
        local heavy rain across metro Denver.  Rainfall totaled
        1.30 inches at Stapleton International Airport where small
        hail also fell.
      In 1973...hail from 3/4 inch to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell
        in Westminster and south of Broomfield.
      In 2009...A man was critically injured when he was struck by
        lightning while riding his bicycle.  He was nearing a
        paramedic van when he was hit.  His heart stopped but
        paramedics quickly responded and were able to resuscitate
        him.
      In 2011...A man was struck by lightning at the Adams County
        Fairgrounds.  He was leaning against a tree while watching
        a cross country meet when the tree was hit.  The lightning
        traveled down the tree and up through the ground...using
        him as a conductor.  The victim received second and third
        degree burns.
9-10  In 1933...heavy rain over the Cherry Creek...Plum Creek...Big
        Dry Creek...and Little Dry Creek watersheds caused flooding
        on the South Platte River in Denver overnight.  Nearly an
        inch of rain...0.98 inch...fell in the city.
      In 1944...a trace of rain fell on each day.  This together
        with a trace of rain on the 4th and 30th was the only
        precipitation for the month.  The total of a trace of
        precipitation for the month equaled the driest September
        on record first set in 1892.
      In 1994...unusually very warm weather resulted in three
        temperature records being equaled.  High temperatures
        of 94 degrees on the 9th and 93 degrees on the 10th
        equaled record maximums for the dates.  Low temperature
        of 63 degrees on the 9th equaled the record high minimum
        for the date.

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