Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Astronomical winter arrives Saturday, offers up the shortest day of the year

The Winter Solstice
Winter officially begins at 2:21am MST on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

Astronomical winter arrives in Thornton early Saturday morning and with the solstice also comes the shortest day of the year.

Winter officially begins at 2:21am MST on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

The Winter Solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted at its furthest from the sun – 23.5 degrees away. This results in the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Here in Denver, with sunrise at 7:17am and sunset at 4:39pm, our day Saturday will be 9 hours, 21 minutes and 15 seconds long.

The following day, Sunday, it will be about three seconds longer and each day from now through to the Summer Solstice in June will get gradually longer as well.

While we have a short day on the solstice, it is nothing like what will be experienced in the Arctic Circle.  Areas north of there to the North Pole will have no direct sunlight at all.  Conversely, areas south of the Antarctic Circle toward the South Pole will have 24 hours of daylight and have a midnight sun.

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.

Photography, Thornton Weather

December 2024 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

December 4, 2024 - The crescent moon and Venus in the evening sky. (Al Feuerborn)
December 4, 2024 – The crescent moon and Venus in the evening sky. (Al Feuerborn)

The month of December can offer everything from bone dry conditions to bone chilling cold and monstrous snowstorms.  The weather and wildlife all afford an abundance of photo opportunities as our December photo slideshow shows.

Leaves have fallen from trees now and the landscape can sometimes look quite stark.  However it only takes a quick shot of snow to change that picture greatly.  Throw in gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, plenty of wildlife big and small, kids playing and much more and the month can be quite colorful and eventful.

  • Slideshow updated December 16, 2024
  • 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.

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.

So come on, get those camera’s rolling!

Climatology, Thornton Weather

Denver’s Christmas weather history shows it isn’t usually a white one

Historical probability of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas. (NOAA)
Historical probability of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas. (NOAA)

As Christmas gets closer everyone always wonders if we are going to get the proverbial white Christmas. Unfortunately, if you look at Denver and Thornton weather history, the chances aren’t all that good but it also depends on what you define as a white Christmas.

If to you a white Christmas means having actual snowfall on Christmas Day the chances are pretty poor. But, if simply having snow on the ground suffices, the chances improve considerably.

For a complete look at Denver’s Christmas weather statistics, click here.

For the latest Thornton weather forecast for Christmas, check out our forecast page.

Climatology, Thornton Weather

November 2024 weather recap: We finally chill out, get a healthy dose of precipitation

Thornton, Colorado's November 2024 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s November 2024 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

After eight months straight of above average temperatures and six months straight of below average precipitation, we finally broke the streaks in November. Temperatures cooled a good bit and we received well above normal levels of precipitation.

The first five days of the month continued the mild weather but we did receive some rain during that time which was welcome.  After that, we saw a somewhat prolonged period of unsettled weather. Over a four-day period from the 6th to the 9th we received 10.8 inches of snowfall. This marked our first snowfall of the season, nearly three weeks later than normal.

From there, we again entered a relatively mild period with dry conditions that lasted 17 days. Finally, on the 27th, we received another nice shot of snow (3.4 inches). The weather then became calm and pleasant for the Thanksgiving weekend.

For the month of November 2024, Thornton’s average temperature came in at 37.9 degrees. This was a good bit cooler than our running 18-year average for November of 39.6 degrees. Temperatures ranged from a high of 68.7 degrees on the 23rd down to a low of 15.3 degrees on the morning of the 28th.

Out at Denver International Airport where Denver’s official measurements are taken, the Mile High City saw an average temperature for the month of 38.2 degrees. This was below their long term November average of 39.4 degrees.

In terms of precipitation, between rain and melted snow, Thornton recorded a very healthy 1.76 inches for the month. This was far above our running average for November of 0.54 inches. It was, in fact, the wettest November we have recorded in 18 years.

The Mile High City saw 1.98 inches in their bucket, mainly due to higher snowfall out at the airport. This was well above Denver’s long term November average of 0.64 inches and was the 5th wettest November ever recorded in Denver.

As previously mentioned, snowfall was quite abundant. Thornton recorded 14.2 inches, more than double our 18-year November average of 6.2 inches. This made November 2024 the third snowiest November in our books over that period.

Denver bested us on the snowfall front with a whopping 23.3 inches at the airport. This was far above their long-term November average of 7.3 inches. It also put November 2024 into Denver’s record books as the 4th snowiest November ever recorded.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete November 2024 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's November 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s November 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s December 2024 preview: Winter arrives, typically with cold and snow

Thornton, Colorado's December Weather Preview

Recent months have, overall, been mostly warmer and drier than normal.  Last month we finally got a break with cooler temps and a healthy dose of snow.  What will December hold for us?

The month of December brings with it the official start of winter and oftentimes, colder and snowier weather conditions. It, however, can also offer unseasonably warm temperatures and bone dry conditions.  Given our recent mild and dry weather, we are certainly hoping for a change in the coming month.

Overall December’s monthly mean temperature of 31.2 degrees (1991 – 2020 averages) makes it our coldest month.  Snow is always on everyone’s mind this time of year but December is only our 3rd snowiest month behind March and November with an average of 8.0 inches of the white stuff.

Get all the details on Thornton’s December weather including a look back at historical events and a look at the long range forecast in our December weather preview here.

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Photography, Thornton Weather

November 2024 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

Typically November is a quiet weather month with plenty of nice, fall days but it can also turn wet with healthy doses of snow and moisture.  The wide variety of conditions can create picturesque scenes ranging from blue skies and snow-capped mountains to a wintry wonderland in the metro area.

November is the second snowiest month of the year so winter conditions are not unusual.  Typically though, these bouts of cold are short-lived and normal daytime conditions are pleasant.

Outdoor activities continue to be quite popular during the month.  The cooling temperatures do oftentimes lead to an increase in wildlife activity.

All of the above help lead to a month in which a wide variety of scenes, flora and fauna can be captured.

  • Slideshow updated November 30, 2024
  • 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.

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.

So come on, get those camera’s rolling!

Colorado Weather, Thornton Weather

National Weather Service geographical feature map

National Weather Service map of geological features in northeastern Colorado. Click for larger view. (NWS Denver / Boulder)
National Weather Service map of geological features in northeastern Colorado. Click for larger view. (NWS Denver / Boulder)

Flat Tops? Middle Park? Palmer Divide? Where the heck are those? Certainly some of the common geographical features / locations you see in a weather forecast are easily recognized but some are lesser known.

The Denver / Boulder office of the National Weather Service created a very handy map that shows where the most common geographical features are located in northeastern Colorado. It is a fantastic resource to knowing these locations. Learn them and you will be a Colorado pro in no time!

Climatology, National Weather, Thornton Weather

Weather and Election Day 2024: Will Mother Nature play a role in the outcome?

Weather and Elections - Does Mother Nature play a role in determining the outcome?
Weather and Elections – Does Mother Nature play a role in determining the outcome?

We oftentimes hear about how weather can affect voter turnout but is there truly a link?  If there is, who does it benefit – Republicans or Democrats?  Studies seem to indicate that what might be thought of as an urban myth is indeed true and could in fact play a role in 2024.

In 2005, political science researchers Brad Gomez, Thomas Hansford and George Krause completed the first comprehensive study on the correlation between weather and voter turnout.  Their paper, “The Republicans Should Pray for Rain:  Weather, Turnout, and Voting in U.S. Presidential Elections” confirmed the conventional wisdom that weather does affect voter turnout, bad weather benefits Republicans and most interestingly, two presidential elections in the last 60 years may have had different results had the weather been different.

Looking back at presidential elections from 1948 to 2008, the study takes into account the weather in 3,000 U.S. counties.  They in turn looked at key areas of the nation and how weather, good and bad, affected voter turnout.  In the end, the study determined that precipitation is the key weather condition to affect voter turnout.

Continue reading Weather and Election Day 2024: Will Mother Nature play a role in the outcome? →

Climatology, Thornton Weather

October 2024 weather recap: The warmest, second driest October of the past 18 years

Thornton, Colorado's October 2024 Temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s October 2024 Temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

Mild and dry were the keywords for Thornton for October 2024. The month came in as the warmest and the second driest October of the past 18 years.

While the month lacked any sort of drama in the way of storms, it was most notable for the temperatures. We saw our last 90-degree day of the year on October 2nd and the first 16 days of the month saw 10 days with 80 degree or warmer readings. We didn’t see our first freezing temperature of the season until the 25th of the month, more than two weeks later than normal.

The latter half of the month did cool some but mercury readings remained above normal on most days. Overall, 27 of the 31 days of the month saw above average high temperatures.

Precipitation for the month was meager to say the least. It wasn’t until the 30th that we saw any and even then, it was a paltry 0.03 inches. No snow was recorded.

October 2024 Climate Location Comparison (© ThorntonWeather.com)
October 2024 Climate Location Comparison (© ThorntonWeather.com)

Thornton’s average temperature for the month came in at 56.1 degrees. That was far above the 50.0 degree 18-year running average for October in Thornton. It also goes into the books as our warmest October over that period, besting the 55.8 degree average of October 2016.

Temperatures ranged from a high of 90.3 degrees on the 2nd of the month down to a low of 29.2 degrees on the morning of the 31st.

The Mile High City, as officially measured at Denver International Airport, was even warmer. Their October average temperature came in at 59.1 degrees. That was far above Denver’s long term October average of 51.1 degrees. The month goes into the Denver weather record books as the second warmest on record with October 1950 holding on as the warmest (59.9 degrees).

Temperatures at the airport ranged from a high of 89 degrees on the 2nd to a low of 24 degrees on the 31st.

As noted above, precipitation was almost non-existent with only 0.03 inches recorded. This was far below the 0.92 inch running average Thornton has seen in October over the past 18 years. October 2024 goes into the books as the second driest October during that time, second only to October 2021 (0.02”).

Out at the airport, Denver saw 0.09 inches of precipitation, all coming on the 18th of the month. This was far short of the 0.99 inches the Mile High City averages in October. That makes October 2024 the 11th driest October ever recorded in Denver.

Over the past 18 years, Thornton has averaged 3.8 inches of snow in October. This year, none was recorded. That is not, however, all that unusual as seven other Octobers over the past 18 years saw no snow as well.

Similarly, out at DIA, Denver saw no snowfall for the month. This ties with 20 other Octobers since 1882 in Denver with no snow. On average, Denver records 4.1 inches during the month.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete October 2024 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's October 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s October 2024 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

November 2024 preview: The transition to winter begins

 

November

The weather during the month of November in Denver metro area can offer just about anything.  While it is normally a quiet month, it can be prone to extremes.

November has historically been one of Denver’s snowiest months and major snowstorms are not entirely uncommon.  However conditions can also be quite dry.

Temperatures during the month continue to cool as we get closer to winter and by the end of the month the low temperatures routinely dip to 20 degrees or below.  At times it can in fact bring conditions more like what we see in January.

Get all the details on November’s weather and what we can expect in our complete preview here.