Public Information Statement

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

20-27 in 2002... lightning sparked a wildfire near Deckers. Extremely
        dry conditions and very strong winds the following day
        allowed the fire... known as the Schoonover... to consume 3850
        acres before it could be contained. Thirteen structures
        were destroyed... including 4 homes... resulting in 2.2 million
        dollars in damage.
23-24 in 2002... a Pacific storm system brought much needed snow to
        the mountains and foothills with a mix of rain and snow on
        the plains. The most snow fell from central Jefferson
        County northward. Snow totals included: 13 inches in Coal
        Creek Canyon... 11 inches near Evergreen and atop Gold Hill...
        10 inches near Blackhawk and Conifer and atop Crow Hill...
        9 inches near Rollinsville... and 8 inches near Genesee and
        Golden. Rain was mixed with snow across the city.
        Precipitation totaled 0.61 inch at Denver International
        Airport. Snowfall was less than an inch at the site of the
        former Stapleton International Airport. The storm brought
        unseasonably cold air to Metro Denver. Three temperature
        records were set. Low temperature of 31 degrees on the
        23rd was a record minimum for the date... as was the low of
        32 degrees on the 24th. The high temperature of only 48
        degrees equaled the record low maximum for the date.
24 in 1953... a microburst caused a brief wind gust to 55 mph at
        Stapleton Airport.
      In 1957... Walnut size hail... 1 1/2 inches in diameter... fell in
        east Denver. Only 1/4 inch hail was measured at Stapleton
        Airport.
      In 1958... rainfall totaled 1 to 2 inches across Metro Denver.
        Rainfall was only 0.37 inches at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1974... a tornado was observed briefly near Watkins. No
        damage was reported.
      In 1980... strong gusty winds of at least 60 mph damaged
        buildings in parts of Denver. Several buildings were
        unroofed in Sheridan. The flying debris damaged other
        structures. Strong microburst winds gusted to 52 mph
        at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1991... a tornado touched down briefly in open country near
        Bennett. No damage was reported.
      In 1994... weather spotters reported 2 funnel clouds over
        Aurora and a short-lived waterspout on Cherry Creek
        Reservoir.
      In 1997... hail to 1 inch in diameter fell in Broomfield
        with 3/4 inch hail measured in Boulder.
      In 1998... a tornado struck a wooden hangar at the Aurora
        Airpark. The hangar collapsed... damaging a car and a
        single engine plane parked inside. An adjacent steel
        hangar sustained only minor damage. The tornado moved
        northeast... hopped I-70... and touched down again in an
        open field. Earlier... a weak tornado touched down
        briefly in an open field 10 miles southeast of Buckley
        field.
      In 2003... severe thunderstorms produced large hail over
        northern and southern Metro Denver. Hail as large as
        2 3/4 inches in diameter was measured 10 miles northwest
        of Hudson and to 2 inches in diameter 10 miles northeast
        of Fort Lupton. One inch diameter hail fell in Fort
        Lupton. Hail to 1 inch in diameter fell near Parker
        and to 3/4 inch near Franktown.
      In 2004... severe thunderstorms moved across northwest and
        North Metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 inch in diameter
        fell in Broomfield and Thornton with 3/4 inch hail
        measured near Arvada and Hudson and in the city of
        Denver.
      In 2005... severe thunderstorms produced hail as large as
        1 inch in diameter in Arvada and the city of Denver.
24-26 in 1996... a late Spring snowstorm dumped 4 to 10 inches of
        snow over the Front Range foothills. Conifer picked up
        10 inches of new snow; Aspen Springs... 9 inches; and
        Central City... 8 inches. The sticky... heavy snow clung to
        power lines and pulled tree branches down... causing power
        outages to about 1200 homes in the Conifer area. It took
        up to 6 hours to restore power to some residences.
        Lightning struck a telephone data Cabinet in Conifer on
        the 25th... which knocked out phone service to about 1500
        customers. Widespread rain fell across Metro Denver...
        where rainfall totaled 2.07 inches at the site of the
        former Stapleton International Airport and 1.66 inches at
        Denver International Airport where north winds gusted to
        24 mph on the 26th.
      In 2010... high winds preceding a cold front... swept across
        the Front Range foothills and urban corridor. In Aurora...
        the wind damaged the roof of rangeview High School. In
        Conifer and Denver... the wind downed trees and power
        lines and caused several brief outages. The downed
        power lines also caused several cars to catch fire in
        the vicinity of 1590 Cook St. In Denver. Peak wind gusts
        included: 82 mph at Highlands Ranch... 67 mph... 4 miles
        east of Franktown and longmont; 65 mph in Boulder... 64 mph
        in centenniel and Denver International Airport... 62 mph
        near Parker and 60 mph in Arvada.