Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 130859
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COZ030>051-132300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT SAT APR 13 2024
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
10-14 In 1927...post-frontal rain on the 10th changed to snow on
the 11th and continued through the 14th. Snowfall totaled
8.5 inches from precipitation of 1.28 inches. North winds
were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 29 mph on the 13th.
11-13 In 2020...a cold northerly flow...associated with a strong
upper level jet stream...combined with low level upslope
to produce a period of moderate to heavy snowfall in and
near the foothills. The heaviest snowfall focused over
Boulder County where 19.3 inches was observed near
Eldorado Springs...with 18 inches in northwest Boulder.
Storm totals elsewhere included: 16.5 inches at the
National Weather Service in southwest Boulder...15.5
inches near Genesee...14 inches near Louisville...13
inches...2 miles southwest of Golden and Westminster; 11.5
inches in Kittredge and Lyons...and 10 inches near Crescent
Village...Erie...and Lafayette. At Denver International
Airport...only 1.0 inch of snowfall was observed.
12-13 In 1922...post-frontal rain changed to heavy snow...which
totaled 7.0 inches in downtown Denver. This was the
second snow in 3 days. North winds were sustained to
29 mph with gusts to 31 mph on the 12th.
In 1993...heavy snow occurred in the foothills northwest of
Denver with 21 inches recorded at the Eldora ski area.
Only 1.9 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International
Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 13th.
Most of the precipitation from the storm fell as rain across
the city with 0.62 inch of precipitation measured at
Stapleton International Airport.
12-14 In 1933...heavy snowfall of 5.6 inches occurred in downtown
Denver on the 12th and 13th behind a vigorous cold front...
which presented an awe-inspiring spectacle as it approached
the station during the late afternoon of the 12th. Brilliant
white wind-torn cumulus clouds were sandwiched by a brownish-
tan dust cloud at the surface and dark blue cumulus clouds
above. The dust cloud storm rapidly enveloped the station
with northeast winds sustained to 38 mph and gusts to 44 mph
producing much blowing dust...which was accompanied by rapidly
falling temperatures and rising pressure. Moist snowfall
started in about an hour and continued to midday on the 13th.
Record low temperatures of 17 and 15 degrees occurred on the
13th and 14th respectively. The high temperature of only 27
degrees on the 13th was a record low maximum for the date.
12-15 In 1927...snowfall totaled 8.5 inches in downtown Denver.
Most of the snow fell on the 14th. Northwest winds
were sustained to 27 mph during the storm.
13 In 1873...heavy snow started with fresh and brisk north
winds around 9:00 AM...and continued heavy until 2:00 PM
and lightly until 7:00 PM. Temperatures were below
freezing for most of the day...but the snow melted
almost as fast as it fell. Precipitation from the
melted snow totaled 0.70 inches. This would be
around 7.0 inches of estimated snowfall.
In 1912...a severe wind and dust storm struck the city.
West winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 42
mph.
In 1967...a late season snow storm affected areas along the
eastern foothills from Denver south. Snowfall between 2
and 3 feet closed I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs.
In Denver...snowfall was only 3.6 inches...but precipitation
from the storm totaled 3.25 inches...the greatest 24-hour
precipitation ever recorded during the month of April.
North winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International
Airport. Temperatures across the city were in the 30`s
most of the day.
In 1974...a major spring snow storm dumped 8.5 inches of heavy
wet snow at Stapleton International Airport where north
wind gusts to 38 mph produced some blowing snow. The storm
caused minor damage to public utilities.
In 1986...strong winds howled across metro Denver. Boulder
reported a peak gust of 79 mph. Wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph
were common across all of metro Denver. There were power
outages. The wind toppled a brick wall under construction
in Arvada...and also damaged luxury sky boxes under
construction atop Mile High Stadium in Denver. Road signs
in Arvada were damaged. West winds gusted to 56 mph at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 2014...a storm system brought heavy snow to areas in and near
the Front Range Foothills. Storm totals included: 13 inches
near Conifer; 12.5 inches near Ward; 11.5 inches near
Nederland; 10 inches near Allenspark...Golden and Gold Hill;
with 8.5 inches at Roxborough State Park.
13-14 In 1968...high winds struck Boulder. Sustained winds of 50
mph with gusts as high as 102 mph were recorded at the
National Center for Atmospheric Research...while in downtown
Boulder winds peaked to 73 mph. The winds damaged
a building under construction and some homes in
south Boulder. Northwest winds gusted to 35 mph at
Stapleton International Airport on the 13th.
In 1996...a potent spring storm strengthened just east of
Denver. Blizzard conditions developed over eastern Adams
and eastern Arapahoe counties. Strong northerly winds
ranging from 25 to 50 mph...cold temperatures...and heavy
snowfall combined to create very hazardous conditions.
The strong winds whipped snow in drifts 3 to 4 feet high.
High winds and heavy wet snow downed power lines and
caused traffic accidents. Some roads were closed.
Snowfall totaled 15 inches at Strasburg...while only 2.1
inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton
International Airport. North winds gusted to 40 mph at
Denver International Airport on the 13th.
In 2011...a potent spring snowstorm brought heavy snow to
Front Range mountains and foothills. Storm totals
included: 16.5 inches near Blackhawk; 16 inches at
Nederland; 15.5 inches at Coal Creek Canyon and 5 miles
northeast of Ward; 15 inches at Allenspark; 12.5 inches...
5 miles northwest of Idaho Springs; 12 inches at Echo
Mountain Ski Area; and 10.5 inches near Georgetown.
13-15 In 1945...heavy snowfall totaled 9.8 inches in downtown
Denver. Most of the snow...4.8 inches...fell on the 14th.
Snow fell for a total of 53 consecutive hours. This
was the second big snow in less than 2 weeks. The air
mass was very cold for April. High temperatures of 21
degrees on the 14th and 32 degrees on the 15th were
record low maximums for the those dates.
13-17 In 2001...a huge dust storm over southern and inner Mongolia
during April 3rd through the 6th lifted desert dust into
the jet stream. This dust cloud moved over metro Denver
on the 13th and persisted through the 17th. The cloud
created widespread haze...giving the sky a milkish cast
due to the scattering of incoming solar radiation.
$$