As summer vacations wind down and families prepare to send their kids back to school in August, Colorado weather also starts to settle down. The chances for severe weather decrease markedly during August and by the end of the month daytime temperatures are dropping quite a bit as well.
Find out more about what lies ahead with Thornton’s August weather here.
High pressure was the general rule for much of the month of June 2017. This resulted in overall average temperatures that were warmer than normal and precipitation that fell a good ways short of average.
The month was largely short on weather excitement, beyond the temps and lack of precipitation. The National Weather Service said that 23 of the 30 days saw above normal temperature readings. Denver recorded only five days with precipitation while in Thornton we saw eight.
Thornton saw an overall average monthly temperature of 69.2 degrees. Out at DIA where Denver’s official measurements are taken, the Mile High City was close with an average of 69.5 degrees. Both locations’ readings were well above the long term June average of 67.4 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 98.7 degrees on the 21st down to a low of 46.3 degrees on the morning of the 24th. Denver saw a maximum of 99 degrees on the 20th and a low of 42 degrees on the 13th.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 1.98 inches during the month of June. Thornton fell short of the mark with 1.20 inches falling into our rain bucket while Denver’s reading was far worse with a mere 0.33 inches falling there.
Neither Thornton nor Denver saw any snowfall during the month.
Click here to view Thornton’s June 2017 climate report.
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
729 AM MDT SAT JUL 1 2017
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2017...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2017
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 105 06/26/2012
06/25/2012
LOW 30 06/02/1951
HIGHEST 99 06/20 96 3 98 06/21
LOWEST 42 06/13 42 0 49 06/02
AVG. MAXIMUM 85.5 82.4 3.1 85.5
AVG. MINIMUM 53.6 52.3 1.3 56.2
MEAN 69.5 67.4 2.1 70.8
DAYS MAX >= 90 9 7.9 1.1 12
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.96 1882
MINIMUM T 1890
TOTALS 0.33 1.98 -1.65 1.62
DAILY AVG. 0.01 0.07 -0.06 0.05
DAYS >= .01 5 8.4 -3.4 7
DAYS >= .10 2 4.6 -2.6 4
DAYS >= .50 0 1.4 -1.4 1
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.3 -0.3 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.13 06/29 TO 06/29 06/13 TO 06/13
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORD 0.5 1953
TOTAL 0.0 2017 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 25 62 -37 4
SINCE 7/1 5109 6058 -949 5560
COOLING TOTAL 167 133 34 185
SINCE 1/1 173 155 18 188
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 04/01 10/07
LATEST 05/04 05/05
....................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.1
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 2/135
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 44/270 DATE 06/27
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 66/270 DATE 06/27
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 22
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 47
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 10 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 2 RAIN 2
LIGHT RAIN 8 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 0
LIGHT SNOW 0 SLEET 0
FOG 3 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 0
HAZE 1
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Change is of course the one constant in Denver’s weather but come July, things actually get pretty consistent.
The standard formula for a day in July is a sunny morning, clouds developing in the late morning and early afternoon. Come mid-afternoon, thunderstorms are rolling off of the foothills and into the metro area and the eastern plains. These storms do occasionally reach severe status containing hail, gusty winds and heavy downpours of rain.
Check out our July weather preview for a complete look at what is in store for the month ahead.
We knew it would be hot today and the proof is in the numbers as Denver set a new record high temperature for the date.
According to the National Weather Service, the mercury topped out at 99 degrees at Denver International Airport. This breaks the previous record high for June 20 of 97 degrees set in 2007.
Here in Thornton, we almost matched the record with a high of 97.9 degrees at 3:57pm.
There will be no break from the heat until Friday.
Tomorrow’s forecast high of 98 degrees mirrors today’s high and will again come close to the record for June 21 (99 degrees in 2007). Thursday does cool some but with a forecast high of 91 degrees, the reading will still be well above normal for the date (85 degrees).
Astronomical summer arrives in Thornton tonight and with the solstice we will enjoy our longest day of the year.
Summer officially begins at 10:24pm MDT tonight. The Summer Solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted at it closest to the sun – 23.4 degrees. This results in the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Here in Denver the sun rises at 5:32am today and sets at 8:31pm. This will give us 14 hours, 59 minutes and 14 seconds of daytime. Tomorrow it will be a bit less than one second shorter than today and each day from now through the Winter Solstice in December will get gradually shorter as well.
At the poles of the globe, the seasonal extremes will be quite notable. Areas north of the Arctic Circle to the North Pole will see 24 hours of daylight and have a midnight sun. On the opposite end of the globe, the South Pole will have no direct sunlight at all as they are in the depths of their winter.
Did you know that there is a difference between the astronomical seasons that we are discussing here and meteorological seasons?
Meteorological seasons differ slightly and are geared toward matching the calendar with the annual temperature cycle. This is done primarily for meteorological observing and forecasting and in many ways it is more logical than the astronomical seasons.
For the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological spring covers the months of March, April and May. Summer brings the hottest months of the year and so meteorological summer is June, July and August. Meteorological fall then is September, October and November followed by the coldest months of December, January and February as meteorological winter.
Extreme weather can occur during in month in Colorado we well know. June however is when traditional spring severe weather arrives in the state oftentimes with hail, damaging wind and tornadoes.
Over 40 percent of the tornadoes that occur in Colorado happen during the month of June. Far more common are thunderstorms with hail and wind, each responsible for extensive damage each year.
While severe weather is common, so too are brilliantly sunny and mild days as we close out spring and enter summer. If you are looking for cold, it isn’t likely but it is possible as the Denver area has seen freezing temperatures and yes, even snow, during the month.
Read more about Thornton and Denver’s June weather and a look ahead at this year.
The month of May 2017 brought a wide variety of conditions. We experienced everything from summer-like temperatures to snow to severe weather with hail. In the end, average temperatures were below normal and precipitation more than double of average.
Between two systems at the start of the month, we began May with cool conditions and a bit of rain. Drier and very warm conditions then arrived on the 5th through the 7th before we cooled down to near normal levels for a couple of days.
On the 8th of the month, severe weather paid its first visit of the season unleashing heavy rain and most notably, large hail. While Thornton was spared the damage, areas to the south and west were pummeled with hail nearly 3 inches in diameter. The storm goes into the books as the costliest hail storm in Colorado history.
Weather conditions then settled down for the next 10 days with temperatures varying from cool to quite warm. On the 18th of the month, we then received a late season snowfall. Thornton recorded 1.9 inches snow and a healthy 1.64 inches liquid precipitation from snow melt and rain.
The balance of the month was much quieter. Some days saw light rain with temperatures not straying too far from average for the most part.
Thornton’s overall average temperature for the month was 55.5 degrees. This was a good ways below Denver’s long term average for the month of 57.1 degrees. Out at DIA where Denver’s official measurements are kept, it was slightly warmer with an average of 55.9 degrees.
Temperatures saw a wide range during the month. Thornton’s warmest reading was 87.8 degrees on the 6th of the month. Our coldest came in the wake of the snow on the 20th at 31.0 degrees. Denver saw its high of 86 degrees on the 6th as well and its low of 32 degrees on the 4th.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 2.12 inches during the month of May. Both Thornton and Denver easily exceeded those marks. Here in Thornton we recorded 4.84 inches of precipitation; in the Mile High City, 3.66 inches.
Snow in May is not unusual but getting it as late as we did is. On average Denver records 1.1 inches during the month. In May 2017, Thornton saw 1.9 inches. Out at the airport, a mere trace was recorded.
Click here to view Thornton’s May 2017 climate report.
The month of April had a bit of a mixed bag for Thornton. While we saw temperatures above normal and snowfall below normal, precipitation actually ended up right near Denver’s long term average.
We started out cool on the first day of the month, warmed up for two days, then were delivered our first snowfall of the month on the fourth day. From there we saw a string of above normal temperatures, some far above, that lasted almost uninterrupted for two weeks.
Some rain finally fell for the three days beginning the 20th and temperatures cooled a bit. Then, on the 28th, we received our second and final snowfall of the month and followed it up with a very cold day before rebounding on the final day of the month.
Thornton saw an average temperature during April 2017 of 49.6 degrees. This was a good ways above Denver’s long term average for the month of 47.4 degrees. Out at the airport, they were cooler with an average of 48.9 degrees.
Thornton’s temperatures ranged from a maximum of 80.3 degrees on the 14th down to a low of 24.1 degrees on the morning of the 30th. Denver saw similar extremes of 79 degrees, also on the 14th, and a low of 24 degrees on the 10th.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 1.71 inches during April. Thornton was right there with the average at 1.70 inches in our rain bucket. At DIA, things were quite a bit drier with only 0.98 inches being recorded.
Snowfall lagged behind average for the month, especially at the average. Denver recorded only 2.5 inches officially while here in Thornton we came in at 5.8 inches. Once again this highlights the problems with having Denver’s official measurements kept so far from where they were taken historically and far away from population.
Click here to view Thornton’s April 2017 climate report.
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
244 AM MDT MON MAY 1 2017
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2017...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2017
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 90 04/30/1992
LOW -2 04/02/1975
HIGHEST 79 04/14 90 -11 77 04/23
04/13 04/22
04/14
LOWEST 24 04/10 -2 26 25 04/01
AVG. MAXIMUM 63.2 61.5 1.7 59.4
AVG. MINIMUM 34.5 33.3 1.2 35.1
MEAN 48.9 47.4 1.5 47.2
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 1 0.3 0.7 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 15 13.0 2.0 11
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 8.24 1900
MINIMUM 0.03 1963
TOTALS 0.98 1.71 -0.73 2.56
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.06 -0.03 0.09
DAYS >= .01 10 9.1 0.9 10
DAYS >= .10 5 4.5 0.5 6
DAYS >= .50 0 0.9 -0.9 2
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.5 -0.5 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.22 04/29 TO 04/29 04/15 TO 04/16
04/16 TO 04/16
04/16 TO 04/16
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 04/16(00) TO 04/16(00)
04/16(00) TO 04/16(00)6
04/16(00) TO 04/16(00)6
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 2.5 6.8
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 478 529 -51 526
SINCE 7/1 4803 5731 -928 5230
COOLING TOTAL 0 1 -1 0
SINCE 1/1 0 1 -1 0
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 04/01 10/07
LATEST 05/05
.......................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 11.6
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 1/121
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 44/300 DATE 04/09
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 56/300 DATE 04/09
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 17
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 7
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 53
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 1
LIGHT RAIN 10 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 3
LIGHT SNOW 7 SLEET 0
FOG 10 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 4
HAZE 2
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
March 2017 was anything but typical for the Colorado Front Range. Temperatures were well above normal and perhaps most notably, no measurable snow was recorded – a rarity for March.
Warm and windy weather dominated our weather for the first three weeks of the month. While only one record temperature was recorded, the overall warmth led to Denver seeing its third warmest March on record. The last week of the month finally brought about change resulting in cooler temperatures and some much-needed precipitation.
Thornton’s overall average temperature for March was 48.3 degrees. Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official temperature measurements are taken, it was slightly cooler with an average of 47.9 degrees. Both were far above the long-term March average of 40.4 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 81.7 degrees on both the 18th and 19th. Our coldest reading of the month came on the first of the month with a low of 16.8 degrees. Denver saw its warmest temperature of 81 degrees on the 18th and its low of 14 on the first.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 0.92 inches during the month of March. Both Thornton and Denver were right near that average with 0.93 and 0.90 inches recorded in their respective rain buckets.
Snow was one thing that was severely lacking. Denver only recorded a trace and Thornton had no measurable snowfall during the month of March. As one of our snowiest months, Denver averages 10.7 inches of snow during March so we were far off the mark this year. This is only the third time in record Denver weather history that so little snow has been recorded.
Top 10 least snowiest Marches in Denver:
Click here to view Thornton’s March 2017 climate report.
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
244 AM MDT SAT APR 1 2017
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2017...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2017
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 81 03/18 84 -3 74 03/11
LOWEST 14 03/01 -11 25 10 03/24
AVG. MAXIMUM 64.0 54.4 9.6 54.9
AVG. MINIMUM 31.9 26.4 5.5 28.3
MEAN 47.9 40.4 7.5 41.6
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 1.9 -1.9 1
DAYS MIN <= 32 16 23.6 -7.6 21
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.1 -0.1 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 4.56 1983
MINIMUM 0.03 2012
TOTALS 0.90 0.92 -0.02 0.90
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.03
DAYS >= .01 6 5.9 0.1 9
DAYS >= .10 3 2.4 0.6 2
DAYS >= .50 0 0.3 -0.3 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.1 -0.1 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.45 03/24 TO 03/24 03/23 TO 03/23
03/23 TO 03/23
03/23 TO 03/23
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 03/23(00) TO 03/23(00)
03/23(00) TO 03/23(00)3
03/23(00) TO 03/23(00)3
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM 5
TOTALS T 10.7
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 523 763 -240 716
SINCE 7/1 4325 5202 -877 4704
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 12.0
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/241
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 46/290 DATE 03/07
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 60/290 DATE 03/07
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 3
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 22
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 6
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 43
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 1
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 4
LIGHT RAIN 8 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 5
LIGHT SNOW 5 SLEET 0
FOG 6 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 2
HAZE 2
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
In what may mean an end to all those frustrating and dangerous weather conditions that plague the planet, today Google announced Google Wind, a ground-breaking weather control system. Now in use in the Netherlands, the system has brought an end to the windy and cloudy conditions in that nation. This will surely have an impact across the globe soon.
Happy April Fools’ Day.