Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 050145
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-052300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MST SAT JAN 4 2025
...This week in metro Denver weather history...
31-6 In 1973...the 31st marked the start of a protracted cold spell
that extended into January of 1974 when temperatures
dipped below zero on 7 consecutive days. Record daily
minimum readings occurred on the 3rd and 5th when the
temperature plunged to 17 degrees below zero on both days.
A record low daily maximum temperature of only 4 degrees
occurred on the 5th.
31-7 In 1941...a protracted cold spell through January 7...1942...
produced below zero low temperatures on 7 of the 8 days.
A low temperature of 2 degrees on the 3rd prevented a
string of 8 days below zero. The coldest days during the
period were the 1st with a high of 2 degrees and
a low of 9 degrees below zero...the 4th with a high of 2
degrees and a low of 11 degrees below zero...and the 5th
with a high of 26 degrees and a low of 12 degrees below
zero.
1-5 In 1940...the first days of the month were characterized by a
mixture of drizzle...light snow...and fog. Fog occurred on
each day. On the 4th and 5th considerable glazing resulted
from freezing drizzle. All objects were coated with a
glaze on the windward side. This resulted in very slippery
streets...which caused several minor traffic accidents. The
glaze was not heavy enough to damage wires and cables.
2-5 In 1959...very cold temperatures...to near zero and
below...caused power and gas lines...water pipes...and
automatic sprinkler systems to break. In Boulder...
merchandise and furnishings were water damaged when pipes
burst in a department store...flooding three floors. The
temperature was below zero for 38 consecutive hours at
Stapleton Airport on the 2nd...3rd...and 4th and plunged to
a low of 13 degrees below zero on the 4th.
3-5 In 2017...the first in a series of powerful winter storms
brought a period of heavy snow to the north central mountains...
Front Range Foothills and Urban Corridor. In the mountains and
foothills...the heaviest snowfall occurred along and north of
the Interstate 70 corridor. Storm totals ranged from one to
around three feet. Eastbound I-70 was closed at Vail and
Silverthorne because of poor conditions and several spun-out
vehicles. Across the Interstate 25 corridor...heavy snow fell
over northern parts of metro Denver north to Loveland. At
Denver International Airport...145 flights were canceled. Storm
totals in the mountains and foothills included: 19.7 inches...
5 miles northeast of Ward; 17 inches near Brainard Lake and
Copeland Lakes...16 inches...5 miles east-northeast of
Nederland and Niwot Ridge SNOTEL; 15.7 inches at Eldora...
14.5 inches at Berthoud Pass...14 inches at Allenspark...and
12 inches at Gross Reservoir. Along the I-25 Corridor...storm
totals included: 13.8 inches in Boulder...12 inches at Marston
Reservoir...9.5 inches in Niwot...9 inches at Flatiron Reservoir...
8.3 inches in Northglenn...8 inches at Hygiene...7 inches in
Arvada...5 miles west-northwest of Brighton...Frederick...
Lafayette...Loveland and 5 miles northeast of Westminster; with
6.5 inches at Ralston Reservoir and Wheat Ridge. At Denver
International Airport...there was a mix of rain and snow with
only 0.10 inches of snowfall observed on the morning of the 4th.
4-5 In 1996...snow began falling across the Front Range foothills
and portions of metro Denver on the 4th. Most snowfall
amounts ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Icy roads and blowing
snow caused a 22 car accident on I-25 north of Denver...
resulting in an 8-mile traffic back-up for several hours.
Snowfall totaled 3.2 inches at the site of the former
Stapleton International Airport. North-northeast winds
gusted to 22 mph at Denver International Airport on the
4th.
In 2020...a brief period of strong bora winds occurred in
and near the foothills during the late evening and early
morning hours. Scattered but brief electrical outages were
reported. Peak wind gusts included: 84 mph atop Berthoud
Pass...83 mph at NCAR Mesa Laboratory; 79 mph at Longmont
Municipal Airport; 78 mph...3.5 miles southwest of
Superior; 76 mph at Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport and
75 mph east-northeast of Pleasant View. West-northwest
winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport
on the 4th.
5 In 1871...a heavy gale in Boulder caused 500 dollars damage.
In 1895...northwest winds were sustained to 36 mph with gusts
as high as 68 mph in the city.
In 1899...strong winds occurred in Boulder...but caused only
minor damage.
In 1911...northwest winds were sustained to 41 mph in
downtown Denver.
In 1915...north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to
42 mph behind a cold front...which produced only 1.0 inch of
snowfall.
In 1972...warm chinook wind gusts to 85 mph were recorded in
Boulder at the National Bureau of Standards and to 60 mph
at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield. The high
winds caused severe blowing snow in and near the foothills...
completely blocking traffic in some areas...closing schools
and industrial plants. Houses under construction were
damaged...and falling trees damaged cars in Boulder. An
apartment building under construction was blown down in the
Denver area. Northwest wind gusts reached 58 mph at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 1989...during the early morning hours with temperatures in
the mid-to-upper 30`s...0.25 inch of rain fell at Stapleton
International Airport
In 1994...occasional high winds blew across the eastern
foothills. Wind gusts to 84 mph were recorded in southwest
Boulder and 74 mph in north Boulder. There were also
reports of 70 to 80 mph winds along Colorado Highway 93 in
Jefferson County from Golden to Boulder. Northwest winds
gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport. No
significant damage was reported.
In 1999...strong downslope winds developed in the eastern
foothills. A wind gust to 100 mph was recorded at Wondervu...
southwest of Boulder. West-northwest winds gusted to only
37 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2007...a storm system brought heavy snow to areas along the
Front Range. The most snow fell in and near the foothills
of Boulder and Jefferson Counties. Storm totals included:
17 inches 8 miles northwest of Evergreen...16 inches near
Conifer...15 inches southwest of Boulder and at Eldorado
Springs...14.5 inches near Genesee...12 inches near Aspen and
Estes Parks...11.5 inches in Boulder...11 inches at Perry Park...
9.5 inches near Blackhawk...9 inches in Louisville...7.5 inches
in Arvada...7 inches near Erie...6.5 inches near Longmont...and
6 inches at Ralston Reservoir and Littleton. Snowfall
totaled 5.6 inches at the site of the former Stapleton
International Airport.
5-6 In 1940...snowfall totaled 5.9 inches in downtown Denver.
In 1975...high winds gusting to over 75 mph caused
considerable damage in the Boulder area and minor damage
in Jefferson County. In Boulder...one home was unroofed...
several power lines were blown down...and a number of homes
and commercial buildings were damaged. Northwest winds
gusted to 36 mph on the 5th and 38 mph on the 6th at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 1980 high winds in and near the foothills shattered
windows...tore roofs from buildings...and caused many power
outages. Much of the damage was in Boulder...where winds
gusted to at least 82 mph. Wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph
were common in the foothills. West winds gusted to only
37 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 6th.
In 1982...2 to 6 inches of snow fell across metro Denver.
Only 1.1 inches of snow were measured at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1983...high winds buffeted the foothills with gusts of
60 to 75 mph recorded in the Boulder area. West winds
gusted to only 38 mph at Stapleton International Airport
on the 6th.
In 1998...heavy snow blanketed the Front Range foothills.
Snowfall totals included: 15 inches 8 miles north of
Blackhawk; 13 inches at Evergreen and 5 miles east
of Nederland; 12 inches in Coal Creek Canyon; 11 inches...
8 miles west of Conifer; 10 inches in Sunshine Canyon
northwest of Boulder; 10 inches 11 miles southwest of
Morrison; 9 inches in South Turkey Canyon; and 8 inches
at Eldora Ski Area. Snowfall totaled only 1.8 inches at
the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
6 In 1903...northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with an
extreme velocity of 48 mph. The chinook winds warmed
the temperature to a high of 66 degrees...which was a
record maximum for the date. The low temperature dipped
to only 35 degrees.
In 1962...strong winds caused nearly 14 hundred dollars in
damage 2 miles north of Boulder. West-northwest chinook
winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton Airport in advance of
a cold front that produced northeast wind gusts to 43 mph
along with some blowing dust and 0.1 inch of snow.
In 1972...a wind gust to 69 mph was recorded at the National
Bureau of Standards in Boulder. Only minor damage
occurred. Northwest winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 2007...a large avalanche swept two vehicles off U.S.
Highway 40...near Berthoud Pass...and partially buried them.
The slide covered all three lanes of the highway. Eight
people were in the vehicles...but only one person was
seriously injured. He suffered several broken ribs. The
slide was approximately 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep.
In 2020...high winds developed in the foothills early in
the morning. Peak wind gusts included: 99 mph...3 miles
north-northeast of White Ranch Open Space; 85 mph at
the junction of state highways 93 and 72...82 mph at
NCAR Mesa Laboratory...78 mph near Superior.
West-northwest winds gusted to 47 mph at Denver
International Airport.
6-7 In 1908...furious high winds were noted in Boulder but
caused only minor damage and injury.
In 1913...a very cold Arctic air mass caused temperatures to
plunge to record levels. The low temperature fell to 21
degrees below zero on the 6th and to 18 degrees below
zero on the 7th...both records. The high temperature of
only 8 degrees below zero on the 6th was a record low
maximum for the date.
In 1920...post-frontal heavy snowfall totaled 7.0 inches in
downtown Denver. North winds were sustained at 24 mph
with gusts to 30 mph on the 6th.
In 1923...warm chinook winds resulted in two temperature
records. Low temperatures of 37 degrees on the 6th
and 42 degrees on the 7th equaled the record high
minimums for the dates. West winds were sustained to
30 mph with gusts to 33 mph on the 6th. Southwest
winds were sustained to 47 mph with gusts to 52 mph
on the 7th. High temperatures were 53 degrees on the
6th and 56 degrees on the 7th.
In 1986...2 to 4 inches of snow fell over metro Denver...
with 5 to 8 inches in the foothills west of the city.
The 2.4 inches of snowfall recorded at Stapleton
International Airport was the only snowfall of the
month. Northwest winds gusted to 24 mph at the
airport.
In 2006...a brief warm spell resulted in two temperature
records. High temperatures of 66 degrees on the 6th
and 69 degrees on the 7th equaled the record daily
maximum temperatures for each of those days. Low
temperatures remained above freezing and were within
1 or 2 degrees of the record daily high minimums.
7 In 1911...west chinook winds were sustained to 51 mph
and warmed the temperature to a high of 56 degrees.
In 1994...occasional high winds buffeted the eastern
foothills. Wind gusts to 99 mph were recorded at
Rollinsville...southwest of Boulder. West winds gusted
to 40 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1995...a brief blast of high winds hit the eastern
foothills and adjacent Front Range communities. A wind
gust to 112 mph was recorded atop Squaw Mountain...west of
Denver. In Boulder...winds gusted to 81 mph. West winds
gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 2009...damaging downslope winds were reponsible for
triggering two wildfires that threatened the city of
Boulder. Peak wind gusts ranged from 75 to 107 mph in
and near the foothills of Boulder...Jefferson and Park
Counties. Although the fires never merged...they were
close enough for firefighters to build a perimeter around
both of them. The fires quickely torched 3000 acres and
forced the evacuation of up to 1400 familes. One home
was destroyed along with several barns and outbuildings.
Three firemen suffered minor injuries. In Bailey...power
lines were downed by falling trees. A tin roof on an
auto repair shop in town was almost completely blown off.
Peak wind gusts included: 107 mph near Mt. Audobon...92
mph near Evergreen...87 mph...6 miles northwest of Boulder;
81 mph near Bergen Park and at the National Wind
Technology Center; 79 mph near Nederland...77 mph near
Sheridan...and 75 mph at Genesee. A peak wind gust of
39 mph was measured at Denver Internatinal Airport from
the west.
In 2020...high winds developed in and near the foothills of
Boulder and northern Jefferson counties. Peak wind gusts
included: 89 mph in west Longmont...83 mph at the NCAR Mesa
Laboratory...and 80 mph at the junction of state highways
93 and 72. West winds gusted to 38 mph at Denver
International Airport.
7-8 In 1911...gale force winds occurred in Boulder causing minor
injuries.
In 1937...cold Arctic air plunged temperatures below zero
for an estimated 56 consecutuve hours. Two temperature
records were set. High temperatures of 8 degrees below
zero on the 7th and 3 degrees on the 8th were record low
maximum readings for those dates. Low temperatures
plunged to 12 degrees below zero on the 7th and 11 degrees
below zero on the 8th. Snowfall was 1.4 inches in downtown
Denver.
In 1969...a violent evening windstorm struck Boulder and the
adjacent foothills. A wind gust to 130 mph was recorded
at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Winds
reached 96 mph in downtown Boulder. The Boulder Airport
wind recorder was blown away after measuring a wind gust
to 80 mph. The windstorm caused over one million dollars
in damage and one fatality in Boulder. About 25 homes in
south Boulder had roofs blown off or were severely
damaged. Roofs were blown off buildings housing
scientific laboratories and offices of the Environmental
Science Services Administration...now NOAA...in Boulder...and
installations of several scientific measuring sites near
Boulder received heavy damage. Grass fires driven by the
high winds endangered many areas...but were controlled by
volunteer firemen. One man died from injuries received
when he was blown from a fire truck. One man was killed
and another injured when the truck camper in which they
were riding was blown off I-25 about 10 miles north of
Denver. In the same area a mobile home and a truck
trailer were blown off the highway and demolished. At
least 20 people in the Boulder area received light to
serious injuries from flying debris or from being blown
into obstructions. Power lines and trees were downed
over a wide area. Damage was relatively light in the
City of Denver...where northwest winds gusted to 62 mph
at Stapleton International Airport on the 8th. Many
windows were broken in Arvada...Englewood...and Littleton.
A 27-year-old fire lookout tower on Squaw Mountain...west
of Denver...was blown away...and several radio relay towers
at that location were toppled. Trucks were overturned
near Georgetown. Mobile homes were overturned in several
areas with occupants receiving injuries in some cases.
The strong chinook winds also brought warm weather. The
maximum temperature of 69 degrees on the 7th broke the
old record of 65 degrees set in 1948. The temperature
also reached 65 degrees on the 8th...but was not a record.
In 1992...an intense blizzard buried eastern parts of metro
Denver. At times snow fell at rates of 2 to 3 inches an
hour. Winds increased from the north at speeds of 25 to
45 mph. Drifts of 4 to 8 feet were common. I-70 was
closed east of Denver...and I-25 was closed from Denver
south. Snowfall totals ranged from a couple of inches in
the foothills west of Denver to as much as 2 feet on the
east side of metro Denver. The heaviest snow fell on the
7th in a band from the northern suburbs of Westminster and
Thornton through Aurora and east Denver to southeast of
Parker. Snowfall totals included: 22 inches in southeast
Aurora...14.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport...13
inches in Northglenn...10 inches in Parker...and 9 inches in
Westminster. The 14.5 inches of snowfall measured on the
7th into the 8th is the greatest 24 hour snowfall ever
recorded in the city during the month of January. North
winds gusting to 46 mph caused much blowing snow at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 2000...high winds developed in and near the Front Range
foothills. The strongest winds were generally confined
to foothills areas north of I-70. A wind gust to 76 mph
was reported in Golden Gate Canyon. West winds gusted to
37 mph at Denver International Airport on the 8th.
7-10 In 1962...a major winter storm dumped 13.5 inches of snow on
metro Denver. A foot of the snow fell on the 8th when
northeast winds gusted to 30 mph. The storm was followed
by an intense blast of very cold Arctic air. Minimum
temperature readings of 24 degrees below zero occurred on
both the 9th and 10th. The temperature never reached above
zero on the 9th when a maximum reading of 1 degree below
zero was recorded. Temperatures were below zero for 37
consecutive hours.
8 In 1912...northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
to 45 mph in downtown Denver.
In 1971...wind gusts to 52 mph were recorded in downtown
Boulder. Northwest winds gusted to 28 mph at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1990...high winds gusting from 50 to 90 mph along the
Front Range produced much damage from blowing dust and
gravel throughout the day. Wind gusts to 92 mph were
recorded in the Table Mesa area of southwest Boulder.
The winds caused sporadic power outages. Clouds of
dust and gravel whipped by 70 to 90 mph gusts blinded
commuters on the Denver-Boulder Turnpike near Broomfield
during the morning rush hour. Flying gravel shattered
windows on 50 vehicles parked near a Boulder high school.
High winds were also blamed for partially dismantling a
house under construction in Boulder...as well as toppling
a number of fences...billboards...signs...and power poles.
The strong cross-winds jack-knifed and overturned semi-
tractor trailers on I-70 near Golden and just south of
Boulder on State Highway 93. Several county airports were
closed due to strong winds and blowing dust reducing
visibilities. Wind delays up to 30 minutes occurred at
Stapleton International Airport where west winds gusted to
48 mph. Eighty mph winds in Georgetown...Empire...and Idaho
Springs were blamed for power and telephone outages.
Windows were blown out of a Sheriff`s car along I-70 east
of Georgetown. The strong chinook winds warmed the
temperature to a high of 60 degrees in Denver.
In 2007...strong winds associated with an intense upper level
jet...and a very strong surface pressure gradient...developed
in and near the Front Range Foothills. Peak wind gusts
ranged from 77 mph to 115 mph. The strong winds coupled
with freshly fallen snow resulted in whiteout conditions
and several highway closures due to blowing and drifting
snow. Road closures included: State Highway 93 between
Golden and Boulder...State Highway 128 from Wadsworth
Boulevard to State Highway 93...U.S. Highway 36...the Denver
Boulder Turnpike from Broomfield to South Boulder Road...and
State Highway 74 near Evergreen between County Road 65 and
Lewis Ridge Road. More than 100 people were stranded in
their cars between Golden and Boulder as blowing and drift-
ing snow made the highway impassable. Snow drifts along
State Highway 93 were over 6 feet in depth. As a result...
the American Red Cross opened a shelter at Arvada West High
School for the stranded commuters. Up to twenty cars were
also abandoned along the Diagonal Highway...between Boulder
and Longmont. Thirty vehicles were stranded along State
Highway 128. The high winds also caused intermittent
power outages in Boulder. West winds gusted to 40 mph at
Denver International Airport
8-9 In 1891...heavy dry snowfall totaled 9.7 inches over downtown
Denver. Most of the snow...6.5 inches...occurred on the 8th
when north winds were sustained to 12 mph with gusts to 20
mph.
In 1939...heavy snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown Denver.
The snowfall was the heaviest overnight...particularly
during the early morning hours. The moist snow adhered to
the north side of the instrument shelter and other objects
to a depth of 2 inches. Snow accumulated on fences and
trees to several inches. This was the greatest snowfall
of the month that year. The greatest depth on the ground
was 6.5 inches. North to northwest winds were sustained
to 24 mph on the 8th and to 27 mph on the 9th.
8-10 In 1983...winds of 70 to 90 mph howled through Boulder.
A wind gust to 100 mph was recorded on Fritz Peak near
Rollinsville. A tree blown down by the wind damaged a
house in eastern Boulder County. The strong winds
developed behind a cold front late on the 8th and continued
through the 10th. At Stapleton International Airport...west
to northwest winds gusted to 49 mph on the 8th...to 45 mph
on the 9th...and to 48 mph on the 10th.
9 In 1875...the all time lowest recorded official temperature
in Denver...29 degrees below zero...occurred between 3:00 AM
and 4:00 AM under clear skies with calm winds. The
temperature climbed to zero at noon and to a high of 8
degrees at 3:00 PM.
In 1916...chinook winds from the southwest sustained to 42 mph
with gusts as high as 48 mph warmed the temperature to a
high of 57 degrees.
In 1917...chinook winds...southwesterly in direction...sustained
at 43 mph with gusts to 48 mph warmed the temperature to a
high of 55 degrees. The low temperature was only 43 degrees.
In 1950...strong west winds to 50 mph produced blowing dust...
which briefly reduced visibility to 3/4 mile at Stapleton
Airport.
In 1957...west-northwest winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton
Airport.
In 1988...a wind gust to 61 mph was recorded at Echo Lake.
West winds gusted to only 16 mph at Stapleton International
Airport.
In 1989...strong chinook winds howled along the eastern
foothills. A peak gust to 115 mph was recorded at the
Boulder Airport where a light plane was severely damaged
when the wind flipped it over. Gusts reached 103 mph at
Table Mesa in south Boulder. Homes in the city suffered
damage to roofs...gutters...and siding. Fences were blown
down...and windows in both homes and cars were broken. A
radio station was off the air for 2 1/2 hours when the
winds blew the top 80 feet off its 180-foot transmission
tower. A school roof was partially torn off...and a few
traffic signals were downed. Winds 60 to 80 mph were
reported at Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield.
West winds gusted to 47 mph at Stapleton International
Airport.
In 1990...high winds buffeted the Front Range foothills for a
second straight day. Wind gusts to 92 mph were recorded at
Rollinsville. Wind gusts of 65 to 90 mph were noted in the
Denver-Boulder area. No significant damage occurred.
Northwest winds gusted to 38 mph at Stapleton International
Airport where the maximum temperature reached 63 degrees.
In 2017...high winds developed in and near the Front Range
Foothills. Peak wind gusts included: 90 mph near
Pleasant View...88 mph near Louisville...87 mph near Gold Hill...
79 mph at the NCAR Mesa Laboratory...76 mph at Glen Haven...
60 mph in Littleton...and 58 mph in Arvada. Scattered outages
affected approximately 2400 customers in Boulder and
Jefferson Counties. In Berthoud...strong winds destroyed a
barn. At Denver International Airport...a peak wind gust of
56 mph from the northwest was recorded.
9-10 In 1962...the low temperature plunged to 24 degrees below
zero on both days.
In 1972...a west wind gust to 60 mph was recorded at Stapleton
International Airport...while in Boulder a wind gust to
86 mph was recorded at the National Bureau of Standards.
The roof of a house was blown off...and trees were blown
down in Boulder. The high winds contributed to the
damage from a building fire in Boulder.
In 2000...heavy snow and strong winds in the mountains
spilled into the Front Range foothills. Ward...northwest
of Boulder...received 9 inches of new snow. Wind gusts
to 91 mph were measured in Golden Gate Canyon...with
gusts to 77 mph at Loveland Ski area and to 73 mph along
State Highway 93 north of Golden. West winds gusted to
44 mph at Denver International Airport on the 9th.
In 2011...a winter storm brought moderate to heavy snowfall
to areas in and near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer
Divide. Storm totals included: 13 inches...3 miles south
of Golden; 11.5 inches near Eldorado Springs...10.5 inches...
2 miles southwest of Boulder; 10 inches near Roxbourough
State Park...9 inches at Genessee...8.5 inches in Arvada...
4 miles south-southeast of Bennett...and Greenwood Village...
8 inches...8 miles south of Elizabeth; 7 inches at Commerce
City...and 6.5 inches near Louisville and at Denver
International Airport. Gusty winds produced snow drifts up
to 2 feet deep over the Palmer Divide.
10 In 1893...strong west winds in Boulder and the adjacent
foothills caused only minor damage. In Denver...northwest
winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 60
mph. The chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high
of 64 degrees and a low of only 40 degrees...which was a
record high minimum for the date.
In 1911...southwest chinook winds sustained to 44 mph warmed
the temperature to a high of 60 degrees.
In 1932...the first thunderstorm ever officially recorded
in Denver during January occurred in the early morning.
The Assistant Observer heard two prolonged peals of
thunder between 4:20 AM and 4:25 AM. Another off-duty
observer was awakened by the thunder. Other people
reported both thunder and lightning. Light snow was
falling at the time. Pellets of graupel or hail were
reported from some parts of the city. Snowfall totaled
only 1.8 inches. Northwest winds gusted to 30 mph.
In 1962...as the temperature dipped to a frigid 24 degrees
below zero...setting a new record minimum for the date...
the pressure adjusted to sea level reached the highest
ever recorded in Denver...31.24 inches (1057.8 mb). The
altimeter setting reached 30.70 inches...and the actual
station pressure recorded was 25.260 inches.
In 1988...strong winds occurred throughout the day in and
near the foothills. Peak gusts to 85 mph were recorded at
Rollinsville...84 mph at Echo Lake...and 64 mph in Boulder.
In 1990...a third consecutive day of 50 to 85 mph wind gusts
occurred in and along the eastern foothills. A 5 mile
portion of the Denver-Boulder Turnpike was closed after
clouds of blowing dust and gravel caused several multicar
accidents near Broomfield. One 59-year-old woman was
killed and two others injured. A wind gust to 81 mph was
recorded at the nearby Jefferson County Airport. In
Boulder...wind gusts to 85 mph were blamed for ripping off
a portion of a roof on a house...as well as blowing out the
large picture window. West winds gusted to 41 mph at
Stapleton International Airport. The warm chinook winds
set a record high temperature of 71 degrees in Denver
for the date.
In 1996...strong northwest winds developed behind a Pacific
cold front that moved rapidly across northeast Colorado.
A peak wind gust to 64 mph was recorded at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Test Facility in Jefferson County. North-
northeast winds gusted to 38 mph at Denver International
Airport.
10-11 In 1948...strong winds were reported in Boulder and Lakewood.
Winds of 50 to 60 mph were reported at Valmont...just east
of Boulder. Only minor damage was reported.
In 1980...strong winds of 60 to 95 mph howled across metro
Denver...causing some brief power outages and some broken
windows. A wind gust to 111 mph was recorded at Wondervu.
Northwest winds gusted to 40 mph at Stapleton International
Airport on the 10th.
In 1999...high winds gusting to 100 mph blasted the foothills.
Peak wind gusts included: 100 mph at Central City...98 mph
at Wondervu...82 mph at Aspen Springs and Golden Gate Canyon...
81 mph at the NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder and near Nederland...
78 mph atop Blue Mountain near Coal Creek Canyon...and 72
mph at the Rocky Flats Environmental Test Facility. West
winds gusted to 38 mph and warmed the temperature to a high
of 63 degrees at Denver International Airport on the 11th.
10-12 In 1997...heavy snow fell over the Front Range foothills.
A foot of new snow was measured at Blackhawk with 7 inches
recorded in Coal Creek Canyon. Only 3.3 inches of snow
fell at the site of the former Stapleton International
Airport. East-northeast winds gusted to 18 mph at Denver
International Airport on the 11th.
10-13 In 1963...a Arctic cold wave plunged temperatures well below
zero across metro Denver. Temperatures were below zero for
a total of 64 consecutive hours. Low temperatures reached
25 degrees below zero on both the 11th and 12th. The high
temperature of 9 degrees below zero on the 11th was the
coldest ever recorded at Stapleton Airport and equaled
the record low maximum for the month first set on January
19...1883...in downtown Denver. The high temperature on the
12th reached only 1 degree below zero. On the 12th...an
18-year-old youth died of exposure from the extreme cold
in Denver. There were many losses and damage to property
from frozen water systems...stalled cars...and over-burdened
heating systems. Light snow accompanied the Arctic blast.
At Stapleton Airport...2.3 inches of snow fell on the 10th
and 11th.
11 In 1887...northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph in the city.
In 1893...northwest winds to 48 mph were recorded in the city.
In 1901...northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with an
extreme velocity of 47 mph.
In 1988...strong chinook winds blew throughout the day along
the eastern foothills. Winds peaked to 75 mph in Boulder...
breaking at least one window. West winds gusted to 49
mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1989...2 to 3 inches of snow fell across metro Denver
causing near gridlock conditions during the morning
rush hour and two-hour delays at Stapleton International
Airport. Two to 6 inches of snow whitened Boulder where
many traffic accidents were reported. Snowfall measured
2.9 inches at Stapleton International Airport where
northeast winds gusted to 21 mph.
In 1995...high winds developed in the foothills. A gust to
67 mph was recorded at Rocky Flats in northern Jefferson
County. West winds gusted to only 32 mph at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1996...very strong winds were reported in the Front Range
foothills for a brief time. Wind gusts to 85 mph were
recorded at Golden Gate Canyon...with 95 mph at Wondervu.
11-12 In 1972...high winds howled along the Front Range foothills.
A wind gust to 144 mph was recorded at the National Center
for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. A wind gust to 105
mph was recorded at the Rocky Flats plant south of Boulder.
Wind gusts to 90 mph were recorded in downtown Boulder.
The greatest damage from the windstorm occurred in Boulder
where 25 or more mobile homes were destroyed either by wind
or the fires which resulted when they were overturned.
Car windows were blown out; many buildings damaged; utility
poles...power lines...trees...and traffic lights blown down.
As many as 75 families were evacuated from a recently
completed apartment building because of severe structural
damage. Government and private office buildings and
industrial plants were evacuated because of danger from
flying glass and debris. Twelve people were treated at
the hospital...mostly for cuts from flying glass. At
least 15 small planes were seriously damaged and hangar
doors were blown off at the Jefferson County airport in
Broomfield. Wind damage in Boulder alone totaled 2 million
dollars. At Stapleton International Airport...west winds
gusted to 53 mph on the 11th and to 47 mph on the 12th.
The strong chinook winds warmed temperatures into the mid
50`s on both days.
In 2019...an upslope snow event produced heavy snow in the
southern Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide...with
light to moderate snowfall elsewhere. In the Front Range
Foothills and Palmer Divide storm totals included: 18
inches at Schaffers Crossing...16.5 inches near Tiny Town...
15.5 inches in Pinecliffe...14 inches in Crescent Village...
13.5 inches near Aspen Park...13 inches...11 miles southeast
of Arapahoe Park; 12.5 inches near Genesee and Kittredge...
12 inches near Perry Park...11 inches near Conifer...with
6 to 10 inches elsewhere. Across the western and southern
suburbs of Denver storm totals included: 7.5 inches near
Centennial...6 inches in Louisville and Westminster...5.5
inches in Federal Heights...5 inches in Broomfield...with 2
to 4 inches elsewhere. The official snowfall measurement
at Denver International Airport was 1.3 inches.
11-14 In 1997...cold Arctic air plunged temperatures below zero
across metro Denver. The temperature was below zero for
60 consecutive hours from the afternoon on the 11th to
around daybreak on the 14th. The high temperature of only
1 degree below zero on the 12th equaled the record low
maximum for the date last set in 1963. The low temperature
dipped to 14 degrees below zero on the 12th.
$$