Public Information Statement

... Today in Metro Denver weather history...

19-21 in 1979... a heavy snowstorm buried most of Colorado under at
        least a foot of snow. Snowfall at Stapleton International
        Airport totaled 17.7 inches... the greatest snow depth since
        1946. Winds to 60 mph produced 5-foot drifts paralyzing
        the city as temperatures hovered in the 20's. While small
        airports closed... Stapleton remained open... but with long
        delays that snarled Thanksgiving Holiday traffic. Schools
        and businesses closed and postal deliveries were delayed.
        Almost all major highways leading out of Denver were closed
        to traffic for periods of time on the 20th and 21st. Most
        of the snow... 13.5 inches... fell on the 20th. At Stapleton
        International Airport... north winds gusted to 35 mph on the
        20th and to 38 mph on the 21st.
20-21 in 1898... snowfall totaled 4.0 inches in downtown Denver.
        Northeast winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as
        high as 60 mph behind an apparent cold front on the 20th...
        when temperatures plunged from a high of 66 degrees to a
        low of 9 degrees. On the 21st the high was only 24 degrees
        and the low was 2 degrees.
      In 1970... a wind gust to 94 mph was recorded at Gold Hill in
        the foothills west of Boulder. Strong winds also swept
        across Metro Denver. Wind gusts reached 59 mph in downtown
        Boulder... while at Stapleton International Airport west-
        northwest winds gusted to 43 mph on the 21st. Damage was
        minor.
      In 1992... a large Canadian air mass moved into the state at
        the same time an upper level storm system approached from
        the west. The combination of cold air at the surface and
        very moist air aloft produced heavy snow across the entire
        state. Snowfall totaled 6.3 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport... where north winds gusted to 23 mph
        on the 20th. Snow was heavier in the foothills... with 14
        inches at Wondervu... 13 inches at Aspen Springs... Conifer...
        Boulder... and Gross Reservoir... 8 inches at Rollinsville...
        and 10 inches at Golden Gate Canyon and Morrison.
      In 2007... a storm system brought moderate to heavy snowfall
        to portions of the urban corridor. Storm totals included:
        7 inches... 3 miles south-southeast of Fort Collins... with 6
        inches in Boulder and at horsetooth Inlet Bay. Elsewhere...
        storm totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches. Snowfall
        totaled 2.0 inches at the site of the former Stapleton
        International Airport.
21 in 1891... northwest winds were sustained to 50 mph with gusts
        to 60 mph.
      In 1899... a trace of snow fell in the city. This... together
        with a trace of precipitation on the 16th and 23rd... was the
        only precipitation of the month... making the month the driest
        on record. The record was equaled in November of 1901 and
        1949. This trace of snow along with a trace of snow on the
        23rd was the only snow of the month... ranking the month the
        2nd least snowiest on record. This record was equaled in
        November of 1884... 1901... 1905... 1917... and 1939.
      In 1900... west winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to
        54 mph. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a
        high of 64 degrees.
      In 1934... the latest date for the first measurable snow of the
        season occurred. This was not the first snow of the season...
        because traces of snow had fallen earlier in September.
        Snowfall totaled only 1.0 inch over downtown Denver.
      In 1962... strong west-northwest Chinook winds gusted to
        53 mph at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1998... an intense mountain wave allowed for high winds
        to develop in the foothills of Boulder County. Wind
        gusts as high as 77 mph were measured 3 miles east-
        northeast of Nederland.
21-22 in 1905... a trace of snow fell on both days in downtown
        Denver. This was the only snow of the month... ranking
        the month along with other novembers... the 2nd least
        snowiest on record.
      In 1999... the first significant snowfall of the season struck
        Metro Denver. Snowfall totals included: 16 inches near
        bailey; 13 inches near evergreen; 12 inches at north Turkey
        Creek... Genesee... near Morrison... and near sedalia; 11 inches
        near Conifer and in evergreen; 10 inches in louisville;
        9 inches in Brighton... Broomfield... and denver; and 8 inches
        at Arvada... Castle Rock... and Eldorado Springs. Snowfall
        totaled 8.4 inches at the site of the former Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 2003... heavy snow fell in and near the foothills of Boulder
        County. Snowfall totaled 10.5 inches in Eldorado Springs.
        Across the city... snowfall was lighter with 2.8 inches
        measured at the site of the former Stapleton International
        Airport on the 22nd. North winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver
        International Airport on the 22nd.
21-23 in 1918... Post-frontal snowfall totaled 5.9 inches in downtown
        Denver. Most of the snow... 5.3 inches... fell on the 22nd.
        North winds were sustained to 20 mph on the 21st.
      In 1931... a major storm dumped a total of 13.2 inches of
        snowfall over downtown Denver. Most of the snow... 11.4
        inches... fell on the 21st. A very cold air mass settled
        over the city after the heavy snow on the 21st. After a
        low temperature of zero... the temperature climbed to a high
        of only 5 degrees on the 22nd... a record low maximum for the
        date.
21-25 in 1952... snowfall of 6.2 inches was measured at Stapleton
        Airport where northeast winds gusted to 17 mph on the
        21st.