Following on what was a cool but dry August, some are certainly hoping for a bit of precipitation. 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 last year’s devastating floods brought on by record-setting rain. Longtime residents might remember September 1971 which brought over 17 inches of snowfall.
While the month of July seemed hot and dry, statistics show that only one of those two conditions held true. We definitely saw a big time lack of precipitation but temperatures averaged out to near normal.
High pressure was the dominate feature for the month leading to overall dry conditions. We started out cooler than normal and somewhat wet for the first two days of the month. That however changed quickly.
From the 3rd through the 17th of the month, Thornton saw temperatures largely remain above normal. Only two days during that period saw precipitation and both were minimal amounts. We saw our hottest temperature of the year to date and our only 100-degree temperature reading of the year on the 10th when the mercury topped out at 100.4 Degrees.
On the 14th and 15th of the month, we had a brief respite from the heat as temperatures were a bit below normal. However, we then put together a string of 12 straight days of 90 degree or hotter readings.
The 28th and 29th then broke the streak with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. The month then closed with two days of above normal readings.
Thornton’s overall average temperature for the month came in at 74.7 degrees. This is just above the long term Denver average for July of 74.2 degrees. Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official measurements are taken, the average for this July was much higher at 76.2 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from the aforementioned 100.4 degrees on the 10th down to a low of 54.6 degrees on the morning of the 9th. Denver’s official high for the month was 102 degrees on the 10th and its low of 51 degrees came on the 12th.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 2.16 inches during the July. Thornton fell far short of that with a paltry 0.55 inches of rain in our bucket. The airport, while receiving nearly double our total at 1.09 inches, was well short of average as well.
Thornton, Colorado’s July 2016 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s July 2016 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
235 AM MDT MON AUG 1 2016
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2016...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2016
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 105 07/20/2005
LOW 42 07/04/1903
07/31/1873
HIGHEST 102 07/10 M -3 97 07/27
LOWEST 51 07/12 M 9 52 07/28
AVG. MAXIMUM 92.0 89.4 2.6 87.6
AVG. MINIMUM 60.5 58.9 1.6 57.9
MEAN 76.2 74.2 2.0 72.8
DAYS MAX >= 90 22 16.0 6.0 16
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 6.41 1965
MINIMUM 0.01 1901
TOTALS 1.07 2.16 -1.09 1.06
DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.07 -0.04 0.03
DAYS >= .01 6 8.3 -2.3 12
DAYS >= .10 4 4.3 -0.3 3
DAYS >= .50 1 1.4 -0.4 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.7 -0.7 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.61 07/01 TO 07/01 07/18 TO 07/18
06/30 TO 07/01 07/29 TO 07/29
07/01 TO 07/01 07/29 TO 07/29
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 07/18(00) TO 07/18(00)
07/29(00) TO 07/29(00)9
07/29(00) TO 07/29(00)9
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS 0.0 0.0
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 0 6 -6 5
SINCE 7/1 0 6 -6 5
COOLING TOTAL 356 289 67 251
SINCE 1/1 544 444 100 409
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 3/169
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 54/340 DATE 07/24
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 74/340 DATE 07/24
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 10
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 19
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 2
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 46
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 12 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 13 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.
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.
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.
Thornton, Colorado monthly and seasonal snowfall totals from the 2006 / 2007 season to the the 2015 / 2016 season. Click for larger view. (ThorntonWeather.com)
To say we had a lot of snow this past season would be a bit of an understatement. Our total came in at more than 2 feet higher than historical average for Thornton and Denver.
In all, Thornton received 85.7 inches of snowfall for the 2015 / 2016 season. That total eclipses the 10-year Thornton average of 58.0 inches and Denver’s official 30-year average (1981 – 2010) of 55.3 inches.
The measurement is also Thornton’s highest snowfall total of the past 10 years since ThorntonWeather.com came into existence. The next highest seasonal total is the 72.9 inches received during the 2006 / 2007 season.
Thornton saw five months with above normal snowfall. Most notable was November which received nearly 10 inches more than normal and March with 18.9 inches more than average.
Denver’s official seasonal total was well above normal as well. Out at Denver International Airport where the measurements are taken, The National Weather Service reported 72.8 inches.
It is likely if the Mile High City’s measurements were still done at a location in the city, the total would have been a good bit higher.
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.
Thornton saw overall weather conditions not too far out of line with what we expect for the month of May. Temperatures were a good bit below normal however while precipitation came in right near average.
The month started out a bit chilly and we received our first and only snow for the month on the first. Warmer weather returned right away though and lasted until the 7th of the month when severe weather arrived to the Colorado plains. Tornadoes and large hail were seen to our east and northeast but we received only a bit of rain and some small hail.
Cooler weather conditions lasted for a few days before we warmed up for two days on the 12th and 13th. That was short-lived however and once again things cooled down quite a bit with the 16th and 17th of the month seeing high temperatures only in the mid to upper 40s and a healthy shot of rain.
The final 11 days of the month saw temperatures near or above normal for the most part. Stormy weather returned on the 24th as afternoon thunderstorms brought marble sized hail to Thornton. Eastern Adams County and Washington County saw tornadoes and large, damaging hail. Six of those last 11 days of the month did bring measurable precipitation.
Thornton saw a monthly average temperature of 54.2 degrees. This was well below Denver’s 30 year average for the month of May of 57.1 degrees. Out at DIA where Denver’s official measurements are taken, the Mile High City was similarly cool with a monthly average of 54.4 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a high of 85.6 degrees on the 21st down to a below freezing low of 24.9 degrees on the 2nd. Out at the airport, the warmest reading was 83 degrees and the lowest 28 degrees, both on the same dates as our warmest / coldest temperatures.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 2.12 inches during the month of May. Thornton saw 2.07 inches in our rain bucket while DIA recorded 2.38 inches.
The only snow during May 2016 in Thornton came on the first of the month when 0.3 inches fell. Denver officially recorded only a trace. Average snowfall for the month of May in Denver is 1.1 inches.
May 2016 temperature summary for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)May 2016 precipitation summary for Thornton, Colorado. (ThorntonWeather.com)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
244 AM MDT WED JUN 1 2016
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2016...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2016
WEATHER OBSERVED NORMAL DEPART LAST YEAR`S
VALUE DATE(S) VALUE FROM VALUE DATE(S)
NORMAL
................................................................
TEMPERATURE (F)
RECORD
HIGH 95 05/26/1942
LOW 19 05/02/2013
05/03/1907
01/01/2000
HIGHEST 83 05/21 95 -12 85 05/31
LOWEST 28 05/02 19 9 27 05/10
05/09
AVG. MAXIMUM 66.9 71.5 -4.6 63.3
AVG. MINIMUM 41.9 42.7 -0.8 42.7
MEAN 54.4 57.1 -2.7 53.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.8 -0.8 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 3 1.9 1.1 3
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0
PRECIPITATION (INCHES)
RECORD
MAXIMUM 8.57 1876
MINIMUM 0.06 1974
TOTALS 2.38 2.12 0.26 3.76
DAILY AVG. 0.08 0.07 0.01 0.12
DAYS >= .01 13 9.4 3.6 19
DAYS >= .10 4 4.8 -0.8 10
DAYS >= .50 1 1.2 -0.2 2
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.2 0.8 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.38 05/26 TO 05/27 05/08 TO 05/09
05/09 TO 05/09
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL MM MM
TOTALS T 1.1
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 326 265 61 367
SINCE 7/1 5556 5996 -440 5572
COOLING TOTAL 3 21 -18 4
SINCE 1/1 3 22 -19 4
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 2/154
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 39/200 DATE 05/08
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 47/300 DATE 05/29
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 4
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 18
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 9
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 60
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 13 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 1 RAIN 5
LIGHT RAIN 17 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 2
HEAVY SNOW 0 SNOW 1
LIGHT SNOW 1 SLEET 0
FOG 10 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 2
HAZE 3
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Colorado’s famously highly variable weather seems to showcase itself during the month of May when a variety of weather conditions can be seen.
Winter-like temperatures and snow are possible as are mid-summer like temperatures or the more typical spring severe weather.
As the month starts out in 2016 we see snow but then warmer, milder weather is expected to arrive for the balance of the first week of the month. Long range forecasts lean toward overall cooler and wetter than normal conditions.
However the month can bring extremes. Snow is not entirely uncommon during the month, oftentimes causing damage to newly bloomed trees. More common however is severe weather, particularly in the latter half of the month. Thunderstorms become more frequent and their associated hazards – lightning, wind, hail and tornadoes – are usual visitors.
Coming off a very snowy and cold March, Thornton saw a relatively seasonal April 2016. Temperatures were right near normal but we did see a healthier than average dose of snow and precipitation.
The month started out quite mild. In fact 13 of the first 14 days saw above average high temperatures. That changed quickly though at the middle of the month when a storm system brought cold and snow to the Front Range. While most of the white stuff fell to our south, Thornton managed respectable totals over the 16th and 17th of the month.
We then returned to mild weather but only for a few days as a series of low pressure systems passed through the state. The final three days of the month saw well-below average high temperatures and periods of rain and snow.
Thornton saw an average temperature for the month of 48.0 degrees. Out at the airport where Denver’s official measurements are kept, the monthly average was a bit cooler at 47.2 degrees. Both were quite close to the April long term average of 47.4 degrees.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from a maximum of 78.3 degrees on the 22nd down to a low of 21.9 degrees on the first of the month. DIA saw a maximum of 77 degrees on the 22nd and 23rd and a low of 25 degrees on the first.
In terms of precipitation, Denver’s long term April average is 1.71 inches. On this front, both Thornton and Denver came out above normal. We saw 2.47 inches of liquid precipitation in our bucket in Thornton while Denver recorded 2.56 inches.
Snowfall was above the 8.9 inch April average in Thornton and Denver. Thornton however only bested it by a half inch with a total of 9.4 inches for the month. Out at the airport, 15.6 inches was recorded.
Thornton, Colorado’s April 2016 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s April 2016 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
244 AM MDT SUN MAY 1 2016
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2016...
CLIMATE NORMAL PERIOD 1981 TO 2010
CLIMATE RECORD PERIOD 1872 TO 2016
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 77 04/23 90 -13 79 04/30
04/22
04/14
LOWEST 25 04/01 -2 27 27 04/03
AVG. MAXIMUM 59.4 61.5 -2.1 62.1
AVG. MINIMUM 35.1 33.3 1.8 35.3
MEAN 47.2 47.4 -0.2 48.7
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 0 0.3 -0.3 0
DAYS MIN <= 32 11 13.0 -2.0 7
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 8.24 1900 MINIMUM 0.03 1963 TOTALS 2.56 1.71 0.85 2.65 DAILY AVG. 0.09 0.06 0.03 0.09 DAYS >= .01 10 9.1 0.9 9
DAYS >= .10 6 4.5 1.5 6
DAYS >= .50 2 0.9 1.1 2
DAYS >= 1.00 1 0.5 0.5 1
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.22 04/15 TO 04/16 04/16 TO 04/17
04/17 TO 04/17
04/17 TO 04/17
STORM TOTAL MM MM
(MM/DD(HH)) MM 04/17(00) TO 04/17(00)
04/17(00) TO 04/17(00)7
04/17(00) TO 04/17(00)7
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTALS 15.6 8.9 6.7
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 526 529 -3 481
SINCE 7/1 5230 5731 -501 5205
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 10.9
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 2/243
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 43/300 DATE 04/05
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 53/300 DATE 04/05
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.60
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 6
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 15
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 9
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 55
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 2
LIGHT RAIN 6 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 5
LIGHT SNOW 8 SLEET 0
FOG 9 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 4
HAZE 1
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
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Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
Following on what was a cool but dry August, some are certainly hoping for a bit of precipitation. 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.
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.
