Category Archives: Thornton Weather

Climatology, Thornton Weather

January 2025 weather recap: A very cold month with a nice dose of snow

Thornton, Colorado's January 2025 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s January 2025 Temperature Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

It is a running joke that we always see our coldest weather when the stock show is going on. For January 2025, it wasn’t just confined to that couple of weeks as we saw below normal temperatures dominate the entire month.

We started out with a few days of temperatures at or above normal then we turned colder. On the 7th of the month we saw our first snowfall of January. While only a few inches, it got us started on our way to more.

The next ten days were dry and temperatures seemed to moderate a bit. From there, we went downhill.

Two more shots of snow came on the 18th and 20th and we put together a few days of bone-chilling cold. Three days from the 18th to the 20th saw highs well below freezing and four nights with lows below zero.

The rest of the month was quiet, other than some more snow on the 25th. Half of the last ten days of the month saw below normal highs.

Average temperatures for the month in Thornton came in at an even 26.0 degrees. This was well below our 19-year running average for January of 30.4 degrees. It also put January 2025 into the books as the second coldest January over that period.

Our warmest reading of the month was the last day of it at 62 degrees. Our coldest was a -6.0 degree reading on the 19th.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, temperatures were similar. Denver saw an average temperature for the month of 25.8 degrees. This in comparison to their long-term average for January of 31.7 degrees.

In terms of precipitation, the snow we received was dry, containing little moisture. Thornton recorded 0.30 inches, below our 0.42 inches 19-year running average.

Denver bested us on the precipitation front with 0.56 inches recorded at the airport. This was more than Denver’s long-term average for January of 0.38 inches.

As we mentioned, snowfall was generous with Thornton receiving 10.4 inches. This was well above our January average over the past 19 years of 6.6 inches.

Out at the airport, Denver saw 13.3 inches of the white stuff. That was almost exactly double the Mile High City’s long-term average for January of 6.6 inches.

Click here to view Thornton’s complete January 2025 climate summary report.

Thornton, Colorado's January 2025 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s January 2025 Precipitation Summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

Thornton’s February 2025 weather preview: Temps begin to warm, snow can be elusive

February in Colorado typically brings to an end an extended period when average temperatures are at their lowest. Winter begins to loosen its grip and temperatures get warmer but precipitation is not a particularly common event during the month.

Thus far, our snow season has seen some ups and downs. February is only our sixth snowiest month so we can’t count on a whole lot of the white stuff.

Temperatures however do usually see a nice rebound during the month. Average high temperatures climb from an average of 44 degrees at the start to 50 degrees by the end of February.

For the complete February preview including a look at historical averages and extremes as well as a look at what long range forecasts are predicting, click here. 

Photography, Thornton Weather

January 2025 top shots: Monthly photo slideshow

Hoarfrost coats the foliage as January 2025 begins. (David Canfield)
Hoarfrost coats the foliage as January 2025 begins. (David Canfield)

As one of our coldest months, January can be a good month to hibernate inside and avoid the outdoors.  But, like any month in Colorado, photo opportunities abound as our monthly slideshow demonstrates.

Snow is not normally dominant in the month but when it does fall, it can create a beautiful blanket of white.  Throw in the amazing sunrises and sunsets we receive in the middle of winter as well as wildlife and a host of other subjects and the imagery can be quite beautiful and stunning.

  • Slideshow updated January 31, 2025
  • 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

Thornton’s 2024 weather recap: A very warm year, precipitation comes in near average

Thornton, Colorado's 2024 annual temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s 2024 annual temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)

With the year in the rear-view mirror, we can now take a look back at Thornton’s weather for 2024. In doing so, we see that we recorded our warmest year of the past 18 years and while precipitation came in near average, most of that was seen early on.

The year started with a chill as January saw mercury readings a good bit below average for the month. However, it would end up being only one of two months during the year that didn’t see above average mercury readings.

From February through October, each month saw above average temperatures, some significantly warmer. November did, finally, see things cool down but then December came back to close out the year as the warmest December in 18 years.

Despite the warmth, we did enjoy above average precipitation for three out of the first four months of the year. Then, however, we began to see changes as seven of the next eight months all saw below average levels of precipitation.

We did have some notable weather events during the year.

In March, we saw a strong storm system produce heavy snowfall across much of the Denver metro area. Here in Thornton, we recorded a total of 10.8 inches between March 14th and 15th. Business and schools shut down and roads become quite difficult to travel. As usual, Denver’s official station way out at DIA lagged with only 5.7 inches. Click here to read the National Weather Service summary of the event.

Spring brings severe weather to the Front Range and Mother Nature delivered a doozy of a dose on May 30th. As the sun was setting, hail began to fall and grow in size, reaching from 1.5 inches to 2 1/4 inches in the north metro area including Thornton. Damage was extensive to vehicles and structures with cost estimates now expected to go over $1 billion. More from the NWS here.

As fall arrived, conditions were exceedingly dry and we waited for relief that usually comes in the form of snow. A prolonged period of it did finally arrive and from November 5th to November 9th, Thornton received 10.8 inches of the white stuff. To the south and southeast, the Palmer Divide and adjacent plains saw snowfall measuring in feet. The National Weather Service has more on this event here.

In the end Thornton saw an average annual temperature of 53.7 degrees. This is far above our 18-year running annual average of 50.8 degrees and made 2024 our warmest year during that period. Temperatures ranged from a high of 102.4 degrees on July 12th down to a low of -12.2 degrees on January 16th.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official readings are taken, they recorded nearly the same. Denver’s official 2024 average came in at 53.9 degrees, well above the city’s 51.2 degrees annual average. This put 2024 in the books in a tie as the third warmest year on record in Denver.

Thornton saw precipitation levels near average with 14.56 inches being recorded during the year. This is in comparison to our 18-year running annual average of 15.27 inches. Four months had above average precipitation, eight were below.

In Denver, as measured at DIA, a precipitation total of 14.12 inches was recorded. This was close to but short of their long term annual average of 14.48 inches per year.

Click here to view Thornton’s 2024 climate report.

Thornton, Colorado's 2024 annual precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Thornton, Colorado’s 2024 annual precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
Climatology, Thornton Weather

December 2024 weather recap: Thornton sees its warmest, one of its driest Decembers of the past 18 years

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

Warm and dry would the operative words as we look back on December 2024’s weather. Temperatures were stubbornly mild and precipitation of any kind was scarce.

The month started as most recent months with mild and dry conditions. The first eight days saw no precipitation and temperatures well above normal. On the 9th of the month, we finally saw a break with some light snow and a couple days of below normal mercury readings.

We then returned to the persistent pattern of above normal temperatures and dry conditions for the next two weeks. On Christmas night, it wasn’t snow that arrived but rather rain, as temperatures were just too warm for the white stuff.

Dry and mild conditions then returned until New Year’s Eve when a surprise, concentrated band of snow moved through in the evening. It brought some light snow and wreaked havoc on the roadways.

Thornton’s overall average temperature for December 2024 came in at 38.3 degrees. This was far above our 18-year running average for December of 30.9 degrees. It also was our warmest December over the same period, besting last year’s 37.1 degree average.

Temperatures ranged from a maximum of 67.4 degrees on the 20th down to a low of 17.3 degrees on the 10th.  Only three days over the month saw below average high temperatures.

Out at Denver International Airport where the Mile High City’s official records are kept, it was warm as well. Their average monthly temperature came in at 39.4 degrees, well above the long term Denver average for December of 31.2 degrees. That put the month into the books as the 9th warmest December ever recorded in Denver.

Precipitation was sparse during the month to say the least. Thornton recorded 0.20 inches, most of which was the result of rain versus snow melt. That is less than half of the 0.44 inch 18-year average for December in Thornton and our third driest December over that period.

Out at the airport, Denver saw a mere 0.04 inches of precipitation in December, all of it on the last day of the month. That was well below the city’s 0.35 December average. That put December 2024 into the Denver weather books as a tie with 2004 and 1890 for the 8th driest December on record.

Snowfall was scarce as well. Thornton recorded an even 2.0 inches, most of which fell on the 31st. This was far below our 18-year December average snowfall of 8.1 inches. It was our second least snowiest December of the past 18 years.

For Denver, as measured at DIA, the month yielded 1.4 inches of the white stuff, all of which fell on the evening of New Year’s Eve. That was far below the 8.0 inch average Denver has recorded since 1882. It also put December 2024 into a tie with last year as the 18th least snowiest December on record.

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

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

Thornton’s January 2025 preview: Cold temps, not much snow the norm

Thornton, Colorado's January Weather Preview.
Thornton, Colorado’s January Weather Preview.

As we begin the new year the winter chill begins to set in.  While January can see its share of extremes, the month historically sees stable temperatures and is usually relatively dry.

January ranks as the second coldest month in Denver next to December with average temperatures remaining virtually the same from the start to the end of the month.

In terms of snowfall, the month only ranks as the sixth snowiest and it is not uncommon for it to be quite dry.

What does January 2025 hold for us?  Follow the link to find out.

For the complete January preview including a look at historical averages and extremes, click here. 

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 31, 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

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.

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.