673
NOUS45 KBOU 070859
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-072300-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT TUE MAY 7 2024

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

4-8   In 1969...from the 4th to the 8th...heavy rains caused
        flooding on Boulder Creek in Boulder...which resulted in
        one death on the 7th. Flooding also occurred on Bear
        Creek in Sheridan and on the South Platte River in Denver.
        Rain over most of the eastern foothills started late on
        the 4th and continued with only brief interruptions in
        many areas until the morning of the 8th.  Very high rates
        of rainfall occurred on the 6th and 7th with the greatest
        intensities in a band along the foothills from about 25
        miles southwest of Denver northward to Estes Park.  Storm
        totals by both official and unofficial measurements
        exceeded 10 inches over much of this area and were over 12
        inches in some localities.  Heavy snow fell in the higher
        mountains and in the foothills later in the period.  The
        saturation of the soil resulted in numerous rock and land
        slides...and the heavy run-off caused severe damage along
        many streams and flooding on the South Platte River.  Many
        foothill communities were isolated as highways were blocked
        and communications disrupted.  Roads were severely damaged
        over a wide area...and a large number of bridges washed out.
        Many roads were closed due to the danger from falling
        rocks.  A building in Georgetown collapsed from the weight
        of heavy wet snow.  In Boulder...a man drowned when caught
        by the flooding waters of Boulder Creek...and a patrolman was
        injured.  Rainfall totaled 7.60 inches in Boulder with
        9.34 inches recorded at the Public Service Company electric
        plant in Boulder Canyon.  In Morrison...rainfall totaled
        11.27 inches in 4 days.  Heavy rainfall totaled 4.68 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport over 3 days from the 5th
        through the 7th.  Rainfall of 3.14 inches was recorded in 24
        hours on the 6th and 7th.  Downstream flooding continued
        along the South Platte River until the 12th when the flood
        crest reached the Nebraska line.
6-7   In 1873...from the 6th to the 7th...snowfall totaled 8.9 inches
        in downtown Denver. Most of the snow fell on the 6th.
7     In 1904...west winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts to
        60 mph.  A shower produced 0.16 inch of rain.
      In 1953...a microburst caused a brief wind gust to 58 mph at
        Stapleton Airport.
      In 1958...3/4 inch diameter hail fell over south metro Denver...
        10 miles southwest of Stapleton Airport.
      In 1977...baseball size hail damaged windows in Wheat Ridge.
        Hail was 4 inches deep on the ground in Arvada.  Hail 3/4
        to 1 inch diameter fell in Westminster and Kittredge.
      In 1990...a fast moving cold front produced wind gusts of 40
        to 60 mph.  Brighton reported a wind gust to 57 mph...while
        north wind gusts to 44 mph were measured at Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 1995...severe thunderstorms struck Aurora.  Hail piled 4 to
        5 inches deep in the vicinity of Quincy Reservoir in south
        Aurora.  Lightning struck an Aurora Police communications
        tower causing significant malfunction to the primary
        system.  Minor damage was sustained when lightning struck
        an apartment building.  Hail...up to 1 1/4 inches in
        diameter...while soft and slushy...accumulated up to 6 inches
        deep in 15 minutes.  Many streets were closed for an hour
        or more due to flooding caused by heavy rain and melting
        hail stones.  Some trees were stripped of their leaves.
        Hail as large as 1/2 inch diameter was measured at Denver
        International Airport where a funnel cloud was sighted.
      In 2003...a tornado touched down briefly near Bennett...but
        did no reported damage.
      In 2005...severe thunderstorms produced 3/4 inch hail near
        Brighton and a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph near
        Fort Lupton.
      In 2014...severe thunderstorms produced large hail...from 1 to
        1 1/2 inches in diameter...across parts of Arvada...Broomfield...
        Dacono...Northglenn and Thornton.
      In 2015...a severe thunderstorm produced hail...up to walnut
        size...in Elbert County. A weak tornado touched down briefly
        near Ft. Lupton.
      In 2017...a 37-year-old woman and her horse were killed near
        Sedalia after lightning hit a nearby tree. A teenage girl was
        also seriously injured. Damaging microburst winds downed
        trees and power poles across parts of Adams...Arapahoe...Denver
        and Douglas Counties. Electrical lines and branches were also
        snapped causing scattered power outages.
7-8   In 1958...rainfall from the 7th to the 8th...totaled 2.50 inches
        at Stapleton Airport.

$$