Our mild days of late have helped keep the nights relatively warm and last night we saw our warmest night for the date.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City saw a low of 58 degrees. This sets a new record high minimum for October 1, besting the previous mark of 57 degrees set in 2005.
Here in Thornton, the breezy winds kept us even warmer with a low of 60.6 degrees.
We have enjoyed much warmer than normal temperatures this past week and today, we were warm enough to set a record high.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City topped out at 91 degrees. This bests the previous record high temperature for September 30th of 90 degrees set in 1980. This also is the hottest temperature seen this late in the year since record-keeping began in 1872.
Here in Thornton we were actually a bit cooler with a high of 89.3 degrees.
Following an August that was unseasonably warm, 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.
Following on yesterday’s record high temperature, today’s low end did not get particularly cool and, in fact, tied a record.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s low temperature for September 2 came in at 67 degrees. This tied the record for warmest low temperature for the date last set in 1939.
Here in Thornton, we cooled down to far more normal levels. Our low for the date was 61.7 degrees.
While it may be the first day of meteorological autumn, Mother Nature isn’t giving up on summer yet.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City hit a high temperature today of 99 degrees. This breaks the previous record high for the date of 98 degrees set in 2019.
Here in Thornton, we bested Denver by one degree with a high of 100 degrees.
Not only did the heat impact the daytime, it kept things quite warm in the night and morning setting two records for the date.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s low temperature for August 21 was 72 degrees. This was easily warmer than the previous record high minimum for the date of 67 degrees set in 1946 and previous years.
During the day, Denver saw an official high temperature of 99 degrees. This bested the previous record high temperature for the date of 97 degrees set in 2007 and previous years.
Here in Thornton we experienced similar conditions. Our low temperature dropped to only 70 degrees, much warmer than normal. We also were a touch warmer with a high of 100 degrees for the day.
Mother Nature isn’t giving a lot of relief at night from the daytime heat and as a result Denver set a record.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s low temperature for today was only 69 degrees. This is a good bit warmer than the previous record high minimum of 67 degrees set in 2020.
Thornton virtually matched that reading with a low of 66.5 degrees.
Is that a chill in the air? No, not really, but it was cool enough to tie a record.
As measured at Denver International Airport, the Mile High City’s official low temperature for the date was 49 degrees. This ties the previous record low for the date set in 1976.
Here in Thornton, we stayed warmer with a low of 54.6 degrees.
After a couple of months of cool, damp weather, we were hoping to warm up and dry out. We did get warmer (perhaps more than we would have liked) but we also continued to see a good bit of precipitation.
The first nine days of the month trended largely toward cooler-than-normal temperatures but overall, it was relatively pleasant with only a couple of hot days. We did also see some good moisture although much fell on a single day (1.25 inches on the 4th).
The middle of the month saw things turn hotter and we recorded back-to-back 100-degree days on the 17th and 18th. Rain became less prevalent and was light.
For the final third of the month, we continued to be quite warm with only three of the final 11 days seeing temperatures at or below normal. Otherwise, the readings were a good bit above. Three days of the final 11 also delivered more than a quarter inch of rain each.
Thornton’s overall average temperature for July 2023 came in at 74.1 degrees. That is a bit above the running 17-year average for July of 73.7 degrees. Our warmest reading of 100.5 degrees came on the 25th while our coolest of 50.2 degrees came on the 1st.
In the Mile High City, at Denver International Airport where Denver’s official readings are now taken, the month was a bit cooler. They had an overall average for July of 73.9 degrees. Two 98-degree days were their warmest and their coolest was 52 degrees on the 21st.
In terms of precipitation, Thornton had quite a wet one with 3.07 inches falling in our rain bucket. That was well above the 1.96 inches 17-year average and made July 2023 the fourth wettest July of the past 17 years.
For Denver, DIA recorded 2.10 inches, right on par with the Mile High City’s July average of 2.14 inches and far below what Thornton received.
Click here to view Thornton’s complete July 2023 climate summary report.
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.
