Thornton, Colorado seasonal snowfall totals as of April 11, 2019. Click for larger image. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton hasn’t had any truly big time snows this year but we have managed a number of respectable ones and that shows in our seasonal snow totals.
As of today, Thornton has received 49.1 inches of snow for the season. That is just slightly below our running 13 year seasonal average of 53.1 inches.
As for Denver, officially, the Mile High City has recorded 43.2 inches thus far this season as measured at DIA. The all-time seasonal average snowfall for Denver is 57.1 inches (55.3 inches 30 year average) so there is still ground to make up there to get near average.
With half of April and all of May to go, there’s still plenty of time to add to those numbers.
In case you were wondering… The average date of Denver’s last snowfall is April 27th. The latest? June 12, 1947 when a trace was recorded. The latest measurable snowfall was 0.4 inches on June 1, 2919.
The unstable, cold and wet weather that marked February continued right on into March. Once again, we saw temperatures well below normal and a good bit more than average precipitation.
While the first day of the month started things off relatively nicely, the second brought the first bout of cold. Temperatures plummeted with highs on the third only in the single digits and nighttime low temperatures below zero on the 3rd and 4th. This was coupled with a nice shot of 3.4 inches of snow on the 3rd.
We then slowly warmed up and enjoyed near normal temperatures for a brief period of time. This changed quickly and significantly with the arrival of a blizzard on the 13th. Powerful winds coupled with snow shut down schools, businesses, highways and Denver International Airport.
Calmer, drier weather then took hold for much of the rest of the month although most days continued to see temperatures below normal. The 26th and 27th did offer up our first days of 70 degree or warmer temperatures.
The month closed out with another shot of cold on the 29th and 30th and a light bit of snow.
Thornton’s overall average temperature for the month of March was 35.1 degrees. Out at Denver International Airport here the Mile High City’s official measurements are taken, they matched our temperature with an average of 35.1 degrees as well. Both were well below the historical average March temperature for Denver of 40.4 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a maximum reading of 74.9 degrees on the 27th down to a low of -5.0 degrees on the morning of the 4th. Denver saw its maximum of 73 degrees on the 27th and its minimum of -6 degrees on the 3rd.
Denver set a record low maximum for March 3rd when the temperature only reached a high of 6 degrees. The old record was 14 degrees set in 1978. Additionally, a low temperature reading of -3 degrees on the 4th tied the record low for the date also set in 1960 and 1978.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton recorded 1.19 inches in our bucket while Denver bested us with 1.39 inches. Both were above the long term Denver average for the month of March of 0.92 inches.
Denver’s 0.64 inches of liquid precipitation on the 13th set a daily record, easily besting the old record of 0.43 inches (1926) for the date.
Denver averages 10.7 inches of snow during the month of March. Thornton and Denver beat the average with measurements of 12.2 inches and 12.9 inches respectively.
Thornton, Colorado’s March 2019 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s March 2019 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
938 AM MDT MON APR 1 2019
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2019...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2019
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 84 03/26/1971
LOW -11 03/28/1886
HIGHEST 73 03/27 73 03/22
LOWEST -6 03/03 13 03/07
AVG. MAXIMUM 46.7 54.4 -7.7 58.5
AVG. MINIMUM 23.5 26.4 -2.9 26.8
MEAN 35.1 40.4 -5.3 42.7
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 3 1.9 1.1 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 28 23.6 4.4 27
DAYS MIN <= 0 3 0.1 2.9 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.56 1983
MINIMUM 0.03 2012
TOTALS 1.39 0.92 0.47 1.02
DAILY AVG. 0.04 0.03 0.01 0.03
DAYS >= .01 9 5.9 3.1 6
DAYS >= .10 6 2.4 3.6 3
DAYS >= .50 1 0.3 0.7 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.1 -0.1 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.64 03/13 TO 03/13 03/18 TO 03/18
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 12.9 10.7
RECORD MARCH 35.2 2003
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 919 763 156 684
SINCE 7/1 5336 5202 134 4741
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.................................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.2
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 1/060
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 60/340 DATE 03/13
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 80/340 DATE 03/13
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 4
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 16
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 11
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 67
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
April marks a transition between winter and summer for most of the country but for Denver it is especially true as we can see a stunning variety of weather.
The proverbial April showers are certainly a possibility for Denver. Snow? Tornadoes? Thunderstorms? You bet – all can happen!
For good measure throw in a chance for hail and even dust storms and April gives every type of weather condition you could like – or hate.
A bald eagle takes flight over Adams County. (Bill Hutchinson)
The month of March is the start of meteorological spring and while conditions do begin warming, winter weather is certainly out of the question. From hot to cold, snow to rain, the conditions can be very conducive to great pictures as we see in our slideshow.
March in Denver typically means frequent and rapid weather changes. The days grow longer and we start enjoying more sunshine and sometimes summer-like weather. However, on occasion arctic air masses can still force their way south into Colorado dropping temperatures quickly and markedly.
With the active wildlife, increased outdoor activities by us humans, and of course the weather, March imagery contains a wide variety of subjects and extremes.
Slideshow updated March 28, 2019. To learn more about how to send your photo to us for inclusion in the slideshow, see below the slideshow.
Showcasing images captured by ThorntonWeather.com readers as well as some of our own, our monthly slideshow covers the entire gamut of weather-related imagery.
Sunsets, sunrises, wildlife and of course every type of weather condition are vividly depicted in images captured from yours and our cameras.
[flickr_set id=”72157707169706485″]
What is missing in the slideshow above? Your photo!
Our monthly photo slideshow is going to feature images that we have taken but more importantly images that you have captured. The photos can be of anything even remotely weather-related.
Landscapes, current conditions, wildlife, pets, kids. Whimsical, newsy, artsy. Taken at the zoo, some other area attraction, a local park, a national park or your backyard. You name it, we want to see and share it!
Images can be taken in Thornton, Denver or anywhere across the extraordinary Centennial State. We’ll even take some from out of state if we can tie it to Colorado somehow.
We’ll keep the criteria very open to interpretation with just about any image eligible to be shown in our slideshows.
What do you win for having your image in our slideshow? We are just a ‘mom and pop’ outfit and make no money from our site so we really don’t have the means to provide prizes. However you will have our undying gratitude and the satisfaction that your images are shared on the most popular website in Thornton.
To share you images with us and get them included in the slideshow just email them to us or share them with ThorntonWeather.com on any of the various social media outlets. Links are provided below.
RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
305 PM MDT THU MAR 14 2019
…RECORD NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND SPEED AND LOW PRESSURE SET AT DENVER…
THE COLORADO CLIMATE CENTER AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BOULDER HAVE DETERMINED THAT NEW RECORDS HAVE BEEN SET FOR NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND SPEED AND LOW SEA LEVEL PRESSURE AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DURING THE HISTORIC BLIZZARD OF MARCH 13 2019.
THE HIGHEST WIND SPEED MEASURED DURING THE BLIZZARD WAS 80 MPH AT 1112 AM MDT. THIS IS THE SECOND HIGHEST WIND SPEED EVER RECORDED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE HIGHEST WIND EVER RECORDED AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 97 MPH ON JUNE 18 2013, WHEN A TORNADO STRUCK THE MEASURING EQUIPMENT.
THE LOWEST PRESSURE RECORDED ON MARCH 13 WAS 979.01 MILLIBARS AT 843 AM MDT, ADJUSTED TO SEA LEVEL. THE PREVIOUS LOW PRESSURE AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 979.9 ON FEBRUARY 25 1998. THE RECORD LOW SEA LEVEL PRESSURE AT THE FORMER STAPLETON AIRPORT WAS 976.3 MILLIBARS ON FEBRUARY 9, 1960.
RECORDS BEGAN AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KDEN) ON MARCH 1 1995.
Today, March 12, 2019, we saw our warmest temperatures in more than a month. Tomorrow, we are expecting a significant storm that may bring blizzard conditions. That is springtime in Colorado!
The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning which will be in effect from 10:00am Wednesday until midnight Wednesday. Road conditions are expected to deteriorate and school and business closings seem likely. Power outages are another concern with the wind and heavy snow that is expected.
Throughout the period we will of course be monitoring the system and posting regularly to our Facebook page and Twitter feed. You can follow along in real time below. We are also on Google+ here.
The United States returns to Daylight Saving Time at 2:00am Sunday, March 10, 2019.
The biannual ritual of changing our clocks to adjust for Daylight Saving Time occurs this Saturday night providing yet another signal of the changing of seasons. The United States will ‘spring forward’ one hour at 2:00am Sunday morning as we begin Daylight Savings Time.
The ritual of changing our clocks twice a year can be met with some resistance as some people struggle to adjust their body’s internal clock. The start of Daylight Saving Time can be particularly problematic given the one hour less sleep people receive on the night of the change.
However, longer days as we head into the milder months are a very real benefit and for many worth the inconvenience of a lost hour of sleep. The time change definitely has big effects on how much daylight we enjoy during our normal waking hours.
On Saturday, prior to the change, sunset will occur at 6:00pm but on Sunday the sun won’t disappear over the horizon until 7:01pm. This affords folks more time in the evening to get started on those spring-time chores and allows us to get outside and enjoy the warming weather.
The March Equinox is also on the horizon. Spring officially begins at 3:58pm on Wednesday, March 20.
This year Daylight Savings Time will come to an end on November 3.
Some of the recent history of Daylight Savings Time (from Wikipedia):
Daylight saving time in the United States was first observed in 1918. Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, with the exceptions being the states of Arizona and Hawaii along with the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
From 1987 to 2006, daylight saving time in the United States began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The time was adjusted at 2:00 AM (0200) local time (as it still is done now).
Since 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, with all time changes taking place at 2:00 AM (0200) local time.
We may have changed the calendar to March but it seems like we are receiving weather more common for January. The bone-chilling cold of recent weeks has continued and the Mile High City set two temperature records in as many days.
Yesterday, as measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a high temperature of only 6 degrees. This easily broke the record for the coldest maximum (high) temperature for March 3rd. The previous record was 14 degrees set in 1978.
Thornton was slightly warmer yesterday with a high of 8 degrees.
Also of note, yesterday’s low temperature reading in Denver of -6 degrees, while not a record low for the date, was the coldest temperature reading in March since -7 degrees was recorded on March 2, 1960.
This morning, the mercury at DIA dropped to -5 degrees. That bested the record low temperature for March 4th of -3 degrees last set in 1978. Similarly, Thornton saw a low of -5 degrees.
Warmer weather is on its way but the warm up will be slow as the Arctic air and snow cover lingers. For what lies ahead, see the extended weather forecast here.
The month of March in Denver is usually one that is welcomed heartily by residents. We begin to shake off the cold of winter with warmer temperatures and calmer conditions. That does not mean we are done with snow and cold by any means.
March usually offers healthy snowfall giving us an opportunity to add to our seasonal totals. While there is good snow potential in March, the month also typically brings much warmer temperatures.
March is historically Denver’s snowiest month and brings about 20% of our annual snowfall. Heavy, wet spring snow storms can oftentimes bring the entire month’s snowfall total in one monstrous snow.
We also start the transition to spring and severe weather season and the month typically brings our first thunderstorms of the year. Temperatures climb throughout the month and by the end our average daytime highs are near 60 degrees.
Cold and snow. Those were certainly the operative words for the month of February 19. Thornton recorded its coldest February in the past 12 years and its snowiest month overall since March 2016.
Mild temperatures started things off for the first four days of the month and fooled us into thinking of an early spring. Those dreams were soon crushed though as the first extended period of below normal temperatures arrived on the 6th. Six straight days of below normal temperatures then arrived as did our first shot of snow for the month.
We rebounded briefly for a four day period from the 12th to the 15th with mild temperatures. Once again though, the mercury plunged delivering 13 straight days of below normal temperatures and five days of measurable snowfall.
Thornton recorded an average temperature for the month of 26.3 degrees. This was our coldest February since ThorntonWeather.com came online in 2007 – by more than two degrees. Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken it was slightly warmer with an average of 28.0 degrees. Both were well below Denver’s long term February average of 32.5 degrees for February.
While certainly cold, neither average reading for the month could crack Denver’s list of top 10 coldest Februarys.
Thornton saw its warmest mercury reading for the month of 62.3 degrees on the second. Its coldest reading of -7.7 degrees came on the 7th of the month. Denver saw a maximum of 65 degrees on the 3rd and its low of -11 degrees on the 7th.
February is usually a dry month with Denver averaging 0.37 inches of liquid precipitation. Thornton recorded 0.60 inches this year while Denver saw 0.72 inches.
Similarly, snow was a good bit above normal for February as well. Thornton saw 11.2 inches of the white stuff while out at the airport 13.4 inches was recorded.
Thornton, Colorado’s temperature summary for February 2019. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s precipitation summary for February 2019. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
555 AM MST FRI MAR 1 2019
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2019...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2019
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 80 02/10/2017
LOW -25 02/01/1951
02/08/1936
HIGHEST 65 02/03
LOWEST -11 02/07
AVG. MAXIMUM 40.8 46.2 -5.4 44.4
AVG. MINIMUM 15.3 18.9 -3.6 15.4
MEAN 28.0 32.5 -4.5 29.9
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 8 3.9 4.1 6
DAYS MIN <= 32 26 26.9 -0.9 26
DAYS MIN <= 0 3 1.3 1.7 3
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 2.01 1934
MINIMUM 0.01 1970
TOTALS 0.72 0.37 0.35 0.31
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.01
DAYS >= .01 6 5.3 0.7 5
DAYS >= .10 3 0.7 2.3 2
DAYS >= .50 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.41 02/22
OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTAL 13.4 5.7 7.7 6.2
RECORD FEB 22.4 2015
SEASON TOTAL 27.8 35.2
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 1029 908 121 975
SINCE 7/1 4417 4439 -22 4057
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 0 0 0 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.................................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.5
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 1/176
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 35/060 DATE 02/14
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 42/070 DATE 02/14
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 3
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 20
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 5
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 66
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDER 0 FREEZING RAIN 0 LIGHT SNOW 14
MIXED PRECIP 0 LGT FR RAIN 0 ICE PELLETS 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 HAIL 0 FOG 17
RAIN 0 HEAVY SNOW 2 HEAVY FOG 11
LIGHT RAIN 0 MODERATE SNOW 3 HAZE 8
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
Today, March 12, 2019, we saw our warmest temperatures in more than a month. Tomorrow, we are expecting a significant storm that may bring blizzard conditions. That is springtime in Colorado!
