Category Archives: Climatology

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets record low temperature for October 27

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Record Cold Temperatures

Brrr! Following our snowstorm, the cold has lingered and this morning plunged into record-setting territory.

Denver’s official low temperature this morning, as measured at DIA, dropped to 8 degrees. This easily bests the previous record low for October 27 of 11 degrees set in 1925.

Thornton actually came out on the colder end of things this morning with a low of 5 degrees recorded at 5:37am.

Today’s cold weather record comes on the tail of a record low maximum set yesterday that also was the coldest high temperature ever recorded in October.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets record low maximum temperature for October 26

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Record Cold Temperatures

Oh, yes, it was a surprisingly cold one today with temperature readings more like what we would expect in January, not the end of October.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s official high temperature today topped out at 16 degrees. That shatters the record for the coldest maximum temperature ever recorded on October 26 of 31 degrees set in 1923.

Perhaps more notable, that 16 degree high temperature is the coldest October high temperature EVER recorded in Denver.

Here in Thornton we managed to be just a little bit warmer with a high of 17 degrees.

Given the cold today and clear skies tonight, it is likely Denver will be setting a record low temperature tomorrow morning.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver ties one cold weather temperature record for September 9, breaks another

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As our first taste of wintry weather for the season comes to an end, we close it out with two more weather records in the books.

This morning, as measured at Denver International Airport, the temperature dropped to 31 degrees. This ties the Mile High City’s record low for September 9 set in 1962.

The daytime didn’t bring much relief as the high at the airport only reached 42 degrees. This shatters the old record low maximum for the date of 53 degrees set in 1989.

Here in Thornton, we matched both of those marks with a low of 31 degrees and a high of 42 degrees.

The past few days have seen an extraordinary bout of weather as we went from record heat to record cold. The graphic below shows just some of what has occurred.

Some of the weather records tied or broken in the first part of September 2020. Click for a larger view. (National Weather Service)
Some of the weather records tied or broken in the first part of September 2020. Click for a larger view. (National Weather Service)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver ties two cold weather records for September 8, sees second earliest snow on record

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Record Cold Temperatures

From record heat to record cold. You must live in Colorado. 😉  Today, Denver tied two cold weather records and saw its second earliest snow on record.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the low temperature in the Mile High City dropped to 31 degrees at 7:33pm. This ties the record low temperature for September 8 last set in 1962. Going hand-in-hand with that record, it tied the record for the earliest freeze in Denver history last set on the same date.

Here in Thornton, we managed to stay just a hair warmer with a low of 32 degrees.

Notable as well is that the Mile High City’s official 1.0 inch of snow is the second earliest snowfall on record. The snow was also the first September snowfall seen in 20 years. The number one spot for earliest snow on record, September 3, 1962, remains secure.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets record high minimum and ties record high for September 6

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Record High Temperature

Our recent warm weather not only impacts daily high temperatures, it also impacts overnight lows as seen by the record set tonight.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a low of 67 degrees. This set a record high minimum for the date, beating the old mark of 66 degrees set in 1933.

Here in Thornton, we were quite a bit cooler seeing a low of 56 degrees.

Additionally, Denver’s official high temperature came in at 97 degrees. This tied the record high for September 6, last set in 2013. Thornton was actually hotter with a high of 99 degrees.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Multiple high temperature records broken on September 5

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Record High Temperature

While snow and cold are on the horizon, that will wait and until then, we continue to experience extraordinarily warm weather. Today, September 5, Denver actually broke three records.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the high temperature topped out at 101 degrees. This easily bested the record high temperature for the date of 98 degrees set just last year.

Additionally, the 101 degree reading is the warmest temperature ever recorded in Denver during the month of September. Only one other time has it been 100 degrees or warmer in the month, that coming on September 2, 2019 with a 100 degree reading.

Lastly, this is the latest in the year a 100 degree or higher reading has been recorded.

Here in Thornton, we managed to stay just a bit cooler with a high of 99 degrees.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

September snow in Denver is not entirely uncommon

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Denver September Snow History. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Denver September Snow History. Click for larger view. (ThorntonWeather.com)

There is lots of talk (and hype!) about next week’s storm and the potential for our first snowfall of the season. While it is somewhat unusual to get snow so early in the season, it is far from unprecedented and not near as rare as you might think.

Whipping out the weather history books, we see that snow has fallen in 28 Septembers in the 139 years since the National Weather Service began recording snow in the Mile High City. That equates to about 20% of the years.

It has, however, been quite a while since we have seen one, the most recent occurring in 2000. That was the last in a stretch in which six out of eight years saw September snow.

Our earliest snowfall on record came on September 3, 1961 when 4.2 inches of the white stuff fell. The average date of Denver’s first snow is October 18th.

Most concerning about these early season snows is the potential for tree damage and power outages. Like spring storms, early season snows are usually quite wet and heavy and have the potential to wreak havoc, even if there isn’t much to them.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s September weather preview: Usually a calm, pleasant month

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Following an August that was unseasonably warm and dry, we find ourselves heading into September hoping for relief.  The month can bring plenty of rain and even our first snow of the season but more often than not, it is one of the most pleasant along the Colorado Front Range.

As temperatures start to drop, September usually reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.

The month can bring extremes however.  We will of course forever remember 2013’s devastating floods brought on by record-setting rain.  Longtime residents might remember September 1971 which brought over 17 inches of snowfall.

Get a complete look at September’s weather and more details as to what we can expect this year here.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver hits 100 degrees for the first time of the year, breaks record high for August 18

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Record High Temperature

For the fourth time this month, the Mile High City set or tied a high temperature record and also recorded its first mercury reading of 100 degrees in almost a year.

As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver’s official high temperature today hit 100 degrees. This easily breaks the record high for August 18 of 98 degrees set in 2013. This was the first time Denver hit 100 degrees this year. The last time was on September 2, 2019. This also marks the 58th time Denver has seen a reading of 90 degrees or higher this year.

Here in Thornton, we matched Denver’s reading of 100 degrees and it was the second time this year we hit the mark. The first came exactly one month ago on July 18.

Looking into the history books, Denver has recorded 100 degree or higher temperatures 93 times since 1872. With the warming climate though, we have been averaging two 100 degree days per year over the past 30 years.

Many are comparing this year to the scorching hot summer of 2012. That year we saw 73 days of 90 degree or warmer temperatures and thirteen of those with 100 degree readings or higher. We also tied Denver’s all-time high of 105 degrees twice that year.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver sets a new record high temperature for August 17

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Record High Temperature

Continuing our seemingly unending string of hotter than normal temperatures, today’s readings hit record-setting territory.

As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s temperature topped out at 98 degrees today. That breaks the previous record high for August 17 of 97 degrees set in 2013.

Thornton was just a touch cooler with a high of 96.6 degrees.

This is the third high temperature record set or tied in Denver thus far this month. On August 9th the record high was broken and on August 11th it was tied.