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000
NOUS45 KBOU 210045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-212300-

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MDT SAT APR 20 2024

...This week in metro Denver weather history...

19-21 In 1984...a large snowstorm buried most of Colorado under a
        thick mantle of wet snow.  Total snow amounts ranged from
        10 to 20 inches across metro Denver and a whopping 20 to
        40 inches in the adjacent foothills.  The snow closed roads
        and damaged electrical transformers...causing numerous power
        outages.  Nearly 14 inches (13.6) of snow fell at Stapleton
        International Airport where the combination of snow and
        wind closed all but one runway...resulting in the cancellation
        of many flights.  Both I-70 and I-76 were closed to the east
        of Denver.
19-22 In 1933...a major storm dumped 16.8 inches of snowfall over
        downtown Denver when rain changed to snow during the early
        morning of the 20th and continued through midday of the
        22nd.  Most of the snow fell on the 21st.  Due to melting...
        the most snow on the ground was 10.5 inches at 6:00 PM on the
        21st.  Before the snow started...a strong cold front on the
        evening of the 19th produced north winds sustained to 35 mph
        with gusts to 37 mph.  The strong winds deposited a thin
        layer of dust on the city.  North to northwest winds were
        sustained to 31 mph with gusts to 35 mph on the 20th and to
        29 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 21st.
20-22 In 1957...strong and gusty south to southeast winds raked
        metro Denver each day.  The strongest wind gust of 55 mph
        occurred on the 21st when blowing dust briefly reduced the
        visibility to 3/4 mile at Stapleton Airport.
20-23 In 1989...unusually warm weather resulted in several daily
        temperature records being broken in Denver.  The high
        temperature of 89 degrees on the 21st exceeded the record
        maximum for the month at that time.  Daily record high
        temperatures were either exceeded or equaled with 83
        degrees on the 20th...88 degrees on the 22nd...and 85
        degrees on the 23rd.  The low temperature of 55 degrees
        on the 22nd equaled the record high minimum for the date.
21    In 1885...rain changed to snow during the early morning and
        was the heaviest snow of the season.  Total snowfall was
        estimated at 8.0 inches over downtown Denver...but the
        snow melted rapidly on the ground as it fell.  However...
        the weight of the snow...as well as northwest winds
        sustained to 29 mph downed telegraph and telephone wires.
        Several large branches of trees were also broken by the
        weight of the snow.  Precipitation totaled 1.01 inches
        from the storm.
      In 1887...west winds were sustained to 47 mph.
      In 1932...the temperature dipped to a low of only 60 degrees...
        the all-time record high minimum for the month.
      In 1988...a small tornado was observed by National Weather
        Service employees about 3 miles northwest of Thornton.  It
        was on the ground for about 2 minutes.  No damage was
        reported.  Later...lightning struck two 14-year-old girls on
        a softball field in Westminster.  One was killed...while the
        other suffered moderate injuries.  Northwest winds gusted
        to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport behind a
        cold front.
      In 2010...severe thunderstorms produced large hail...strong
        winds and a tornado across parts of Adams...Arapahoe...
        Elbert...and Weld Counties.  The hail...up to 1.50 inches
        in diameter...came down so heavy along parts of I-70
        and I-76 that snowplows had to be called out to remove
        it.  Numerous vehicles were damaged by hail.  In Weld
        County...very heavy rain and hail accompanied
        thunderstorm winds up to 75 mph.  Hail up to 1 1/2 inch
        was reported near Bennett; 1 1/4 inch...5.3 miles east
        of Englewood; 1 inch size hail near Buckley Field; with
        7/8 inch size hail near Boulder. A weak tornado touched
        down briefly in Elbert County...about 9 miles southwest of
        Deer Trail...but did no damage. Several minor accidents
        were reported with snowpacked and slick road conditions
        along with very low visibilities. Minor street flooding
        was reported in southeast Aurora.  Denver International
        Airport recorded 0.30 inches of rainfall.  Also...a peak
        wind gust to 36 mph from the southeast was observed at
        the airport.
21-22 In 1910...north winds were sustained to 45 mph behind a cold
        front.  Rainfall totaled 0.63 inch.
      In 1923...snowfall of 2.0 inches in the city was the only
        snow of the month and the last measurable snow of the
        season.  Northwest winds were sustained to 25 mph on
        the 21st.
      In 1952...heavy snowfall totaled 7.6 inches at Stapleton
        Airport.  The storm was accompanied by north winds gusting
        to 33 mph.
      In 2001...the second major snow storm in 11 days moved into
        metro Denver with blizzard conditions developing again
        across the plains to the northeast of Denver.  Snowfall
        amounts ranged up to 9 inches in metro Denver with up to
        23 inches in the foothills.  Northwest winds were sustained
        at 20 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 36 mph at Denver
        International Airport which was again shut down for nearly
        an hour by power outages on the 22nd.  The outages affected
        lighting in the concourses...train operations...de-icing and
        refueling operations...flight information displays...and
        security screenings.  Navigational aids were also affected...
        resulting in the cancellation of 58 arriving and departing
        flights which stranded about 5000 passengers.  Across metro
        Denver storm totals included:  9 inches at Eldorado Springs...
        7 inches in Boulder...6 inches at Ken Caryl...Northglenn and
        near Sedalia; 5 inches in Arvada and Morrison.  Only 1.7
        inches of snow were measured at the site of the former
        Stapleton International Airport.  In the foothills snow
        totals included:  23 inches near Fritz Peak south of
        Rollinsville...17 inches near Jamestown...16 inches near
        Blackhawk...14 inches in Coal Creek Canyon...13 inches at
        Idaho Springs and near Nederland...11 inches at Aspen
        Springs...and 10 inches near Bergen Park.
21-23 In 1999...a spring snowstorm dumped heavy snowfall over metro
        Denver and in the foothills.  Nearly 3 feet of snow fell
        in the foothills with over a foot in the city.  The heavy
        wet snow downed power lines in Douglas and Elbert counties.
        Scattered outages were reported at Parker...Franktown...
        Sedalia...and Castle Rock.  Some residents were without
        electricity for as long as 20 hours.  The inclement weather
        was blamed...at least in part...for several traffic accidents
        along the I-25 corridor between Denver and Castle Rock.
        Snowfall totals included:  32 inches at Idaho Springs...31
        inches on Crow Hill...29 inches near Evergreen...26 inches at
        Chief Hosa and Coal Creek Canyon...25 inches at Bailey...24
        inches at Floyd Hill...23 inches at Conifer...Genesee...Golden
        Gate Canyon...North Turkey Creek...and Pine Junction; 13
        inches at Broomfield and near Sedalia...12 inches in
        Boulder...11 inches at Louisville and Parker...and 9 inches
        at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
      In 2004...heavy snow fell across metro Denver...when low level
        upslope conditions developed against the foothills and
        Palmer Divide.  Snowfall totals included:  18 inches in the
        foothills southwest of Boulder...17 inches at Intercanyon and
        near Conifer...10 inches near Blackhawk and Parker...9 inches
        at Castle Rock and near Sedalia...7 inches in Centennial...
        Littleton...and near Lone Tree.  Elsewhere across metro
        Denver...snowfall generally ranged from 2 to 5 inches.
        Snowfall was 4.7 inches at Denver Stapleton.  Northwest
        winds gusted to 35 mph at Denver International Airport
        on the 21st.
22    In 1896...southwest winds were sustained to 39 mph with gusts
        as high 56 mph.  The apparent chinook winds warmed the
        temperature to a high of 78 degrees.
      In 1904...west winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph
        warmed the temperature to a high of 69 degrees.
      In 1925...southeast winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts
        to 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 76 degrees.
      In 1958...west-northwest winds gusted to 48 mph at Stapleton
        Airport.
22-23 In 1885...the worst snow storm since station records began in
        1872 dumped a total of 24.0 inches of snowfall on the city.
        The 23.0 inches of snow recorded on the 22nd and 23rd was
        the greatest 24-hour snowfall ever recorded during the
        month of April.  Streets were impassable...roofs caved in...
        telegraph and telephone wires were downed...railroads were
        blocked and trains delayed...and most business came to a
        complete standstill.  Estimated losses were reported to
        50 thousand dollars.  The total snowfall was partly
        estimated due to melting.  Precipitation from the storm
        totaled 2.79 inches.
      In 1915...post-frontal rain during the day and overnight
        totaled 2.00 inches.  Most of the rain fell on the 22nd.
      In 1945...6.7 inches of snow fell over downtown Denver.  This
        was the third major snow in a little over 3 weeks...which
        made this month the 4th snowiest on record.  Northeast winds
        were sustained to 25 mph and light hail fell on the 22nd.
      In 2013...a spring storm brought heavy snow to the mountains...
        with period of moderate to heavy snow to portions of the
        Front Range Foothills and Urban Corridor. In the mountains
        and foothills...storm totals included: 18 inches at Niwot
        Ridge SNOTEL...16.5 inches near Ward...13 inches at Arapahoe
        Basin and Roach SNOTEL...12 inches near Blackhawk...11.5
        inches near Nederland...11 inches near Allenspark and
        Loveland Ski Area...10 inches near Idaho Springs and
        Pinecliffe...with 9.5 inches near Silverthorne. Along
        the Urban Corridor storm totals included: 7.5 inches near
        Morrison...7 inches at the National Weather Service Office
        in Boulder and in Niwot...6.5 inches near Arapahoe Park and
        Superior...with 6 inches at Lafayette and Lakewood.  At
        Denver International Airport...4.7 inches of new snowfall
        was observed.
22-24 In 2010...a potent spring storm brought heavy...wet snow to
        areas in and near the Front Range Foothills and widespread
        rainfall across the adjacent plains.  In the Front Range
        Foothills and North-Central Mountains east of the
        Continental Divide...storm totals ranged from 15 to 30
        inches.  Storm totals included:  29.5 inches...3 miles
        southeast of Pinecliffe; 27 inches...8 miles northeast
        of Four Corners; 23 inches at Willow Creek...22.5 inches...
        13 miles northwest of Golden; 21 inches at Never Summer...
        17 inches at Eldorado Springs...with 16.5 inches...3 miles
        west of Jamestown.  Denver International Airport reported
        a trace of snowfall...but measured 2.01 inches of rainfall
        for the duration of the storm. In addition...a peak wind
        gust to 54 mph from the northwest was observed at the
        airport on the 23rd
 23   In 1889...north winds were sustained to 48 mph.
      In 1913...northeast winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts
        to 60 mph behind a dry cold front.
      In 1914...a thunderstorm produced considerable hail and 0.29
        inch of rain.  West winds were sustained to 42 mph with
        gusts to 48 mph.
      In 1942...hail of unknown size fell over the city.
      In 1958...a funnel cloud was sighted for 20 minutes...15 miles
        southeast of Stapleton Airport.  The funnel formed in
        advance of a thunderstorm and hung about a thousand feet
        below the base of the cloud...but remained aloft.  Later in
        the day...3.6 inches of snow fell at Stapleton Airport.
      In 2002...persistent dry conditions in the foothills
        contributed to the first large forest fire of the season
        near Bailey.  Very dry and windy conditions allowed the
        fire...initially started by a careless smoker...to grow
        into a 2400-acre blaze before it could be contained.
        Fortunately...no significant damage occurred to homes or
        other property in the area.
      In 2006...severe thunderstorms produced large hail across
        metro Denver.  Hail as large as 1.25 inches in diameter
        fell in south Denver with hail to 0.88 inch across the
        rest of the city.  Hail to 1.00 inch in diameter was
        reported near Morrison...in south Lakewood...and in Aurora
        near Cherry Creek.  Hail to 0.88 inch was measured in
        Golden with 0.75 inch hail in east Lakewood.
23-24 In 1883...snowfall totaled 7.6 inches in downtown Denver.
      In 1904...a thunderstorm produced hail during the late evening
        of the 23rd.  Apparent post-frontal rain changed to snow
        during the early morning of the 24th...but totaled only 2.0
        inches.  Precipitation consisting of rain...melted hail...and
        snow totaled 0.60 inch.  Northeast winds were sustained to
        41 mph with gusts as high as 52 mph on the 24th.
      In 1905...rain changed to snow and totaled 8.0 inches.  Much
        of the snow melted as it fell with only 2.5 inches measured
        on the ground.  Precipitation totaled 1.88 inches.
        Northeast winds were sustained to 20 mph on the 23rd.
      In 1942...the South Platte River reached flood conditions in
        the city.  As many as 15 thousand residents were warned
        to evacuate their homes temporarily.  Two lives were lost
        in the city.  Four bridges were washed out by the flood
        waters and other bridges were endangered.  The damage was
        generally limited to bridges that were in poor condition.
        However...the flood waters did not overflow their channel
        banks within the city limits.
      In 1980...heavy rain began in the eastern foothills on the
        night of the 23rd and turned to heavy wet snow on the 24th.
        Up to a foot and a half of snow fell in the foothills west
        of Denver.  At Stapleton International Airport precipitation
        totaled 1.58 inches...but only 3.7 inches of snow fell from
        the storm.  East winds gusted to 24 mph.
      In 1997...locations in and near the foothills received the
        greatest snow of the year as a winter-like storm system
        moved into metro Denver.  East to southeast winds at speeds
        of 15 to 35 mph were common with even stronger gusts above
        9 thousand feet.  Snow fell at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an
        hour as deep upslope combined with a moist and unstable
        air mass.  The snow began in the foothills above 7500 feet
        during the evening of the 23rd.  By sunrise the snow level
        had dropped to 5000 feet.  The hardest hit areas extended
        from I-25 into the foothills.  Snowfall totals in the
        foothills ranged from 1 1/2 to over 3 1/2 feet.  In the
        city...snowfall ranged from 8 to 18 inches.  Some snowfall
        amounts included:  36 inches at Coal Creek Canyon...31 inches
        at Nederland and Wondervu...20 to 24 inches near Blackhawk...
        Echo Lake...and North Turkey Creek Canyon; 15 to 19 inches
        at Boulder...Central City...Conifer...Evergreen...Georgetown...
        and Louisville; 8 to 14 inches in Arvada...Broomfield...
        Westminster...Wheat Ridge...Castle Rock...and Ken Caryl Ranch.
        Only 2.3 inches of snow fell at the site of the former
        Stapleton International Airport on the 24th.  East winds
        gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport on the
        24th.
      In 2003...a strong and deep northerly flow circulating around
        a closed upper low pressure center allowed heavy snow to
        fall in the mountains and eastern foothills.  Snowfall
        totaled 14 inches in Idaho Springs.  Rain was mixed with
        snow and thunder across metro Denver.  Snowfall was only
        0.9 inch overnight at the site of the former Stapleton
        International Airport.  Precipitation totaled 1.34 inches
        at Denver International Airport...where northwest winds
        gusted to 55 mph on the 23rd.
      In 2007...a storm system intensified over Southeast Colorado...
        allowing for heavy snow and rain to develop over much of
        North-Central and Northeast Colorado.  Severe thunderstorms
        preceded the storm system on the 23rd...affecting the Urban
        Corridor.  Nickel size hail was reported in Boulder and a
        small landspout touched down near Byers.  On the 24th...heavy
        snow fell in the foothills west of Denver and Boulder...where
        storm totals ranged from 1 to 2 feet.  Heavy snow also
        occurred along the Palmer Divide...with storm totals of 10 to
        16 inches.  Elsewhere...a steady moderate to heavy rainfall
        was reported.  Denver International Airport measured 2.09
        inches of rainfall...which shattered the previous 24-hr
        record of 1.29 inches for the 24th of April.  The heavy wet
        snow caused several power outages.  In some instances it
        took several days to restore power.  Several road closures
        were reported...including Interstates 25 and 70.  A jacknifed
        semi-trailer backed up traffic for nearly 20 miles...on
        southbound I-25...between Denver and Colorado Springs.  In
        addition...a 50-ton boulder blocked the southbound lane of
        State Highway 285...near Parmalee Gulch.  Crews had to use
        explosives to break up the boulder and clear the debris.
        Stranded buses and impassable roadways also forced several
        school closures.
23-25 In 1935...heavy wet snow fell across metro Denver.  The storm
        started as rain on the 23rd and changed to snow early on the
        morning of the 24th.  There was continuous precipitation for
        a period of 48 hours.  Snowfall totaled 19.0 inches over the
        city and 20.0 inches at Denver Municipal Airport.  However...
        due to warm temperatures in the 30`s...much of the snow
        melted as it fell and did not seriously disrupt traffic.
        The greatest snow accumulation on the ground downtown was
        12 inches...but it quickly melted.  The highest sustained
        wind speed recorded during the storm was 28 mph from the
        north on the 23rd.  The storm contained 3.16 inches of
        moisture.
24    In 1959...wind gusts to 60 mph recorded in downtown Boulder
        caused very limited minor damage.  West winds gusted to
        38 mph at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1986...a wind gust to 60 mph was clocked at Golden Gate
        Canyon.
      In 1989...1 3/4 inch diameter hail was reported in Lafayette.
        Boulder and Louisville reported 3/4 inch hail.
24-25 In 1890...rain changed to snow and totaled 7.0 inches in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1931...heavy snowfall totaled 9.3 inches over downtown
        Denver.  Winds were light during the storm.
      In 1996...the second wind storm in less than a week developed
        east of the Continental Divide and spread over metro
        Denver.  High winds gusted from 60 to 90 mph.  Several
        power lines and poles were downed.  Some of the stronger
        wind gusts included:  91 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of
        Denver...90 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder...85 mph in
        Golden Gate Canyon...and 82 mph at Wondervu.  Northwest
        winds gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport
        on the 25th.
24-26 In 1924...post-frontal rain changed to snow...which became
        heavy and totaled 10.2 inches over downtown Denver.  The
        greatest amount of snow on the ground was 6.0 inches on the
        25th due to melting.  North winds were sustained to 38 mph
        with gusts to 42 mph on the 24th.
25    In 1902...northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts
        to 48 mph.
      In 1908...north winds were sustained to 40 mph behind an
        apparent cold front.  Snowfall was 0.5 inch.
      In 1928...rain changed to snow...which became heavy and totaled
        7.4 inches in downtown Denver.  Due to melting...the maximum
        snow depth on the ground was 4.0 inches at 6:00 PM.  This
        was the last snow of the season.  Southeast winds were
        sustained to 19 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
      In 1976...a south wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.  The high winds toppled a
        70-foot high cottonwood tree onto the rear of house and a
        neighboring residence in central Denver.
      In 1989...lightning caused heavy damage to a radio transmitter
        in Parker...knocking a Denver area radio station off the air
        for 3 hours.
      In 1994...weather spotters reported dime-size hail at the
        intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and C470 in Jefferson
        County.  Marble-size hail covered the ground near Golden
        to a depth of 1 inch.  Pea-size hail was reported covering
        the ground to a depth of 3 inches in Arvada.
      In 2016...a severe thunderstorm produced hail up to one inch
        in diameter near Castle Rock.
25-26 In 1985...a spring storm brought much rain and snow to metro
        Denver.  The foothills were buried with 15 inches of snow
        at Conifer and 12 inches at Evergreen.  At lower elevations...
        an inch or more of rain fell in Denver and Boulder.  The
        heavy precipitation caused brief power outages in the
        Denver area.  Precipitation totaled 1.06 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport...including only 0.7 inch of snowfall.
25-27 In 1877...snow ended around 7:00 AM on the morning of the 27th...
        after falling continuously for 48 hours and totaling an
        estimated 13 inches in the city.  The storm...likely
        accompanied by strong winds...caused trains to be delayed
        for 2 to 3 days.  One or two roofs of small buildings were
        crushed by the weight of the snow...and many tree branches
        were broken in the city.  There were a number of reports of
        livestock losses.  One stockman lost 17 horses and several
        cattle from the snow and cold.  Precipitation totaled
        1.30 inches from the storm.
26    In 1965...while only 0.40 inch of rain fell at Stapleton
        International Airport...some communities in the foothills
        west of Denver reported over 30 inches of snow from the
        storm.
      In 1972...a spring snow storm accompanied by thunder dumped
        15.8 inches of heavy wet snow on metro Denver.  Strong
        northwest winds gusting to 35 mph produced blowing snow.
        The storm was quite intense and greatly hampered travel.
        High winds caused drifts 10 to 15 feet deep in some areas...
        blocking roads and stranding hundreds of motorists.  An
        estimated 500 to 600 people were stranded in the Castle
        Rock area.  Rescue service was provided by heavy Army
        equipment from Fort Carson.  Power lines were downed...power
        poles were toppled...and a number of steel towers carrying
        high voltage power lines were downed.  Some areas northeast
        of Denver were without power for a week.  A large number of
        cattle and sheep were killed by the storm.  The greatest
        snow depth on the ground at Stapleton International Airport
        was 12 inches.  Warm temperatures following the storm
        quickly melted the snow.
      In 1995...the third major snow storm of the month dumped heavy
        snow in and near the Front Range foothills.  Six to 12
        inches of heavy wet snow fell in the western metro suburbs
        with the heaviest amounts above 6 thousand feet.  Both
        Boulder and Golden measured 10 inches of snow.  Only 2.4
        inches of snowfall were measured at the site of the former
        Stapleton International Airport.  North winds gusted 28 mph
        at Denver International Airport.
      In 1998...the last in a series of April storms blanketed the
        foothills with heavy snow.  Snowfall amounts included:  17
        inches near Blackhawk...15 inches at Idaho Springs...14
        inches at Georgetown...11 inches near Conifer and Morrison.
        Only a trace of snow fell at the site of the former
        Stapleton International Airport.  North winds gusted to
        28 mph at Denver International Airport.
26-27 In 1906...rain changed to heavy snow overnight and totaled
        7.0 inches over downtown Denver.  North winds were
        sustained to 16 mph on both days.  Precipitation totaled
        2.16 inches.
      In 1932...the temperature remained below freezing for more
        than 30 consecutive hours.  For about 4 of those hours
        the temperature hovered around 24 to 25 degrees.  At this
        time some early cherry trees were in bloom and apple and
        lilac blossoms were beginning to open.  The leaves of
        many plants were partly unfurled and vegetation in general
        was correspondingly advanced due to the warm weather from
        the 11th to the 22nd.  However...there was little apparent
        injury to foliage and blossoms...but some of the early
        cherry and apple blossoms were injured.  Rain changed to
        snow on the 26th and continued intermittently through the
        27th.  Snowfall totaled only 2.0 inches and northeast winds
        gusted to 22 mph on the 26th.
      In 1964...strong winds caused damage to buildings...trees...and
        power lines.  Sustained winds of 37 mph with gusts of 50 to
        60 mph were recorded in metro Denver.  West-northwest winds
        gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the
        26th.
27    In 1955...west winds at 43 mph with gusts as high as 55 mph
        were recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust
        briefly reduced the visibility to 3/8 mile.
      In 1966...a northwest wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
27-28 In 1919...rainfall totaled 2.03 inches for the two days...
        along with a trace of snowfall.  Northwest winds were
        sustained to 24 mph with gusts to 26 mph on the 27th.
      In 1975...high winds gusting to 85 mph severely damaged a
        mobile home in Boulder and caused other minor damage.
        West winds gusted to 46 mph at Stapleton International
        Airport on the 28th.
      In 1996...heavy snow fell over portions of the Front Range
        foothills west of Denver.  Snowfall amounts ranged from
        4 to 7 inches.  Only 0.3 inch of snow fell at the site of
        the former Stapleton International Airport.  North winds
        gusted to 41 mph at Denver International Airport on the
        27th.

$$