Public Information Statement

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

14-18 in 1996... a period of unusually warm weather resulted in
        4 record maximum temperatures in 5 days. The record high
        temperatures were 87 degrees on the 14th... 89 degrees on
        the 15th... and 93 degrees on both the 16th and 18th. The
        temperature climbed to only 81 degrees on the 17th which
        was not a record.
18 in 1864... heavy rains combined with melting snow to cause much
        flooding on north Clear Creek in Blackhawk. Many bridges on
        the Road to Denver were washed away by the high water on
        Clear Creek.
      In 1893... northwest winds were sustained to 56 mph with an
        extreme velocity to 60 mph.
      In 1960... large hail to 1 inch in diameter damaged roofs and
        cars in Metro Denver. Heavy snow and rain in the foothills
        caused rock and landslides... which blocked some highways.
        There was widespread minor damage from lightning.
        Hail as large as 1 1/8 inch in diameter was measured at
        Stapleton Airport where winds gusted to 44 mph.
      In 1975... a tornado touched down briefly just south of Buckley
        field in Aurora. A few minutes later the same tornado
        touched down in open country 8 miles northeast of
        Stapleton International Airport. No damage was reported.
      In 1985... 3/4 inch hail fell just southeast of Aurora.
      In 1988... lightning started a fire at a home in the foothills
        west of Boulder... causing 50 thousand dollars in damage.
      In 1995... strong thunderstorms rumbled across Metro Denver
        dropping mainly pea to Marble size hail. However... hail
        stones as large as 1 1/4 inches in diameter fell in Wheat
        Ridge and downtown Denver. Hail piled up to 2 inches deep
        in Wheat Ridge and northwest Denver.
      In 1996... the Buffalo Creek wildfire started and spread
        rapidly on strong southwest winds at 20 to 30 mph. Dry
        weather conditions contributed to the spread of the fire...
        which burned nearly 12 thousand acres and destroyed 12
        structures including some houses.
      In 2001... a 19-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning
        as he was walking along The Shoulder of U.S. Highway 36 in
        Westminster.
      In 2003... hail to 3/4 inch in diameter was measured at Denver
        International Airport.
      In 2010... a small tornado touched down near Firestone but did
        no damage.
18-19 in 2011... a severe thunderstorm in Central Adams County
        produced large hail and heavy rainfall on the 18th. Large
        hail from 1 inch to 1 3/4 inches in diameter... was reported
        in Commerce City... 2 miles south-southeast of Federal
        Heights... Northglenn... and 2 miles south of Thornton. In
        Commerce City... the storm uprooted trees and knocked out
        power lines. A carport was lifted off the ground and
        struck the power lines overhead. Heavy rain... from 1.0 to
        1.5 inches fell in less than 2 hours in Commerce City and
        near Brighton. The combination of hail and strong winds
        broke windows in Northglenn. In the foothills... moderate to
        heavy snow showers developed overnight. Storm totals
        included: 10.5 inches at Gold Hill... 9.5 inches... 3 miles
        west of jamestown; 9 inches at lake eldora; with 6 inches...
        11 miles southwest of Gilpin and 4 miles east-northeast of
        Nederland. At Denver International Airport... total rainfall
        over the 2-day period totaled 1.71 inches. In addition... a
        peak wind gust to 37 mph was recorded on the 18th.
18-20 in 1915... 3.9 inches of snow fell in the city. The estimated
        amount of snow that melted as it fell was 6.2 inches which
        would have totaled an estimated 10.1 inches of snowfall.
        Precipitation totaled 1.03 inches. North winds were
        sustained to 32 mph on the 18th. Low temperatures dipped
        to 25 degrees on both the 18th and 20th... establishing
        record minimums for both dates.
      In 1988... prolonged heavy rainfall drenched Metro Denver.
        The event began when heavy thunderstorms on the 18th caused
        some street flooding and power outages... followed by steady
        rain on the 19th and 20th. Rain amounts across Metro
        Denver totaled 3 to 4 inches. Rainfall totaled 3.71 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted
        to 39 mph on the 20th. Four to eight inches of snow fell in
        the foothills above 7 thousand feet.