Geese walk across a frozen Barr Lake with the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in the background. (Shawn Jones)
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, 2017
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.
[flickr_set id=”72157679397821116″]
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.
Thornton resident Shannon Dizmang put his camera to good use and captured a stunning time lapse video of some lenticular clouds that developed this afternoon.
Also known by their scientific name of altocumulus standing lenticularis, these clouds are not entirely unusual in Colorado on the Front Range during the winter. Strong jet winds force moist air to be pushed up by the rugged terrain of the adjacent Rocky Mountains. This creates a wave-like pattern of air flow that condenses at high altitudes (usually around 20,000 feet).
Another year in the books for us and as we look back on our overall weather for 2016, we see overall temperatures were warmer than normal while precipitation fell a good bit short of normal. The year did seem to lack any major drama in terms of severe weather or winter storms which is likely a good thing.
We started out with above normal temperatures for the first quarter of the year. March, as usual, was our snowiest month and also became our wettest month of the year. April followed with some snow and a good bit of rain to be our second wettest and May the third.
May also saw much cooler than normal temperatures with the biggest departure from normal. From there, drier conditions reigned through November with each month registering below normal precipitation.
October and November saw our biggest deviations from normal temperatures as high pressure dominated and we saw extraordinarily warm conditions. This changed in December as Arctic air infiltrated the region leading to well below normal temperatures.
Overall, Thornton’s annual temperature came in at 51.6 degrees. This was 1.1 degrees above Denver’s 30 year average (1981 to 2010) of 50.5 degrees. We saw readings ranging from a high of 100.4 degrees down to a low of 10.7 degrees below zero. Fifty days saw 90 degrees or higher while at the opposite end we saw 169 days with readings at or below freezing.
Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official measurements are kept, it was warmer with an annual average of 52.3 degrees. For Denver, that ranks as the 14th warmest year in its 145 year temperature history.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 14.3 inches per calendar year. Both Thornton and Denver fell well short of that mark with 12.98 inches and 11.85 inches respectively. For Denver, that is the 37th driest year on record.
Thornton saw a very respectable 68.1 inches for the calendar year. At the airport Denver saw less with 61.6 inches. Both were well above the annual average of 53.8 inches.
Thornton, Colorado’s annual temperature summary for 2016.Thornton, Colorado’s annual precipitation summary.
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
1010 AM MST SUN JAN 1 2017
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR OF 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 06/26/2012 06/25/2012
07/20/2005 08/08/1878
LOW -29 01/09/1875
HIGHEST 102 07/10/2016 98 08/15
LOWEST -15 12/17/2016 -10 01/04
AVG. MAXIMUM 66.7 64.7 2.0 65.4
AVG. MINIMUM 38.0 36.3 1.7 38.6
MEAN 52.3 50.5 1.8 52.0
DAYS MAX >= 90 55 39.6 15.4 48
DAYS MAX <= 32 14 20.0 -6.0 29
DAYS MIN <= 32 138 156.9 -18.9 126
DAYS MIN <= 0 4 5.8 -1.8 7 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 23.31 1967 MINIMUM 7.29 2008 TOTALS 11.85 14.30 -2.45 18.31 DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.05 DAYS >= .01 71 79.7 -8.7 107
DAYS >= .10 32 34.9 -2.9 49
DAYS >= .50 5 7.6 -2.6 10
DAYS >= 1.00 2 2.3 -0.3 2
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 1.38 2016 5/26 TO 5/27
1.22 2016 4/15 TO 4/16
0.77 2016 3/23 TO 3/23
SNOWFALL RECORDS JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER TOTALS
MAXIMUM MINIMUM
115.9 1913 18.9 1887
112.0 1959 21.5 1888
99.2 1929 21.8 1890
24 HR TOTAL 23.6 12/24/1982 TO 12/24/1982
TOTALS 61.6 53.8 7.8 64.4
LIQUID EQUIV 6.16 5.40 0.76 6.44
SINCE 7/1 11.4 22.5 -11.1 22.6
LIQUID 7/1 1.14 2.20 -1.06 2.26
SNOWDEPTH AVG. 0 MM MM 0
DAYS >= TRACE 37 33.3 3.7 51
DAYS >= 1.0 13 16.3 -3.3 25
GREATEST
SNOW DEPTH 10 03/24 9 02/23
24 HR TOTAL 13.1 03/23
11.8 04/16
6.9 02/01
STORM TOTAL 13.1 03/23
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 5415 6059 -644 5479
SINCE 7/1 2042 2468 -426 5575
COOLING TOTAL 878 769 109 877
SINCE 1/1 878 769 109 877
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
..................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 10.0
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 2/194
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 94
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 210
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 62
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 50
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 3 RAIN 13
LIGHT RAIN 72 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 4
HEAVY SNOW 5 SNOW 17
LIGHT SNOW 39 SLEET 0
FOG 80 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 26
HAZE 33
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
..........2016 CLIMATE YEAR IN REVIEW...........
THE YEAR OF 2016 IN DENVER, THE FRONT RANGE AND NORTHERN COLORADO,
WAS A TRANSITION FROM STRONG EL NINO CONDITIONS OVER TO WEAK LA NINA
AND INTO THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS ENSO NEUTRAL. AS EL NINO
CONDITIONS WEAKENED FROM MID-WINTER THROUGH LATE SPRING 2016,
TEMPERATURES CAME IN WARMER THAN AVERAGE FOR JANUARY THROUGH MARCH
ALONG WITH NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE THREE
MONTHS. DENVER`S WETTEST MONTH OF 2016 ARRIVED IN APRIL WITH 2.56
INCHES OF PRECIPITATION ALONG WITH 18.4 INCHES OF SNOW. TEMPERATURES
FOR THEN COOLED TO NEAR AVERAGE FOR APRIL AHEAD OF ABOVE AVERAGE
PRECIPITATION AND FURTHER COOLING INTO MAY. MAY WAS THE SECOND
WETTEST MONTH OF 2016 AND ALSO HAD THE COLDEST MONTHLY DEPARTURE
FROM AVERAGE FOR THE YEAR AT 2.7 DEGREES BELOW DENVER`S MONTHLY MAY
NORMAL.
WITH WATER TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS RAPIDLY CHANGING IN THE EQUATORIAL
PACIFIC REGION IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2016, NORTHERN COLORADO AND THE
HIGH PLAINS STATES TRANSITIONED INTO A DIFFERENT PATTERN AS WELL.
THE FIVE MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER ALL REGISTERED PRECIPITATION
TOTALS BELOW THEIR MONTHLY AVERAGE. AUGUST RECEIVED A MERE 0.22
INCHES OF PRECIPITATION IN DENVER WHICH WAS 1.47 INCHES BELOW
AVERAGE AND WAS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF NORMAL OF ALL MONTHS OF
2016 AT 13 PERCENT.
AS A LARGE AND STRONG RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTED ACROSS THE
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ROCKIES FROM MID SUMMER INTO MID FALL,
TEMPERATURES REFLECTED THIS WITH OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER LANDING WELL
ABOVE THEIR MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES. BOTH OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
IN DENVER CAME IN WITH MONTHLY TEMPERATURE DEPARTURES OF 6.9 AND 6.8
DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE RESPECTIVELY. PRECIPITATION ALSO HELD BELOW
NORMAL FOR THESE TWO MONTHS AS WELL WITH 0.26 INCHES IN OCTOBER AND
0.52 INCHES IN NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, WITH TWO MOIST AND WINTER-LIKE
PACIFIC DISTURBANCES IN MID NOVEMBER, THE DEPARTURE FROM NORMAL IN
NOVEMBER WAS ONLY -0.09 OR 85 PERCENT OF AVERAGE.
AS METEOROLOGISTS OBSERVED THE DEVELOPING NORTHERN HEMISPHERIC
PATTERN FROM LATE NOVEMBER INTO EARLY DECEMBER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT A
CHANGE FOR THE COLDER WAS COMING TO MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES,
INCLUDING DENVER. IN EARLY DECEMBER, WINDS ALOFT BROADLY EXTENDED
LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE ARCTIC REGION NORTH OF SIBERIA, ACROSS THE
NORTH POLE REGION AND INTO SOUTHERN CANADA. FRIGID ARCTIC AIR WAS
BROUGHT SOUTHWARD INTO CANADA AND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CENTRAL UNITED
STATES AS A RESULT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER PATTERN OF
PERSISTENT NORTHERLY WINDS ALOFT ACROSS NORTHERN LATITUDES WHICH
USHERED IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF COLD AND SNOWFALL AHEAD OF THE
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. THESE TWO SYSTEMS WERE ENOUGH TO BRING DECEMBER`S
AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE DOWN TO -2.2 BELOW NORMAL ALONG WITH
ABOVE AVERAGE PRECIPITATION AND SNOWFALL.
WHEN 2016 ENDED, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE FOR DENVER FINALIZED
AT 52.3 DEGREES, WHICH IS 1.8 DEGREES ABOVE THE 1981-2010 ANNUAL
AVERAGE OF 50.5 DEGREES. THIS RANKS AS 14TH WARMEST IN DENVER`S 145
YEAR TEMPERATURE HISTORY. THE WARMEST YEAR IN DENVER`S WEATHER
HISTORY WAS IN 1934 WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE OF 54.8
DEGREES. THE COLDEST YEAR WAS 1912 WITH AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 47.6
DEGREES.
FOR THE PRECIPITATION CATEGORY, 2016 IN DENVER WAS ON THE DRY SIDE
OF THE 1981-2010 ANNUAL AVERAGE. THE YEAR ENDED WITH 11.85 INCHES OF
PRECIPITATION WHICH WAS 2.45 INCHES BELOW THE ANNUAL NORMAL OF 14.30
INCHES, OR 83 PERCENT OF NORMAL. THE ANNUAL TOTAL OF 11.85 INCHES
RANKS AS 37TH DRIEST IN DENVER`S 145 YEAR WEATHER HISTORY. THE
WETTEST YEAR IN DENVER`S WEATHER HISTORY WAS IN 1967 WHEN 23.31
INCHES OF PRECIPITATION FELL. DENVER`S DRIEST YEAR OCCURRED IN 2002
WHEN ONLY 7.48 INCHES OF PRECIPITATION WAS RECORDED.
Mother Nature seems intent on starting out 2017 the way she ended 2016 – cold. A deep trough coupled with successive, reinforcing cold fronts sent Thornton’s mercury plunging and delivered a healthy shot of snow over the last couple of days.
Below is a time lapse video from our east webcam covering the majority of the event. It begins at 6:00am on Wednesday, January 4 when we were only seeing flurries. From there you see the varying intensities of snow over the next 24 hours or so and end with some hints of blue sky but the afternoon of the 5th. In all, the video covers 36 hours in about 83 second.
Thornton ended with 7.1 inches of snow over the two-day period, our biggest snowfall of the season thus far.
For the three previous months we had seen warmer and drier than normal conditions. December finally brought an end to that streak with temperatures well below normal and precipitation almost doubt the average for the month.
The month was largely an unsettled one as a series of storm systems moved across the region. Two significant blasts of Arctic air sent the mercury plummeting. The first, from the 6th to the 8th, brought little snowfall but the second from the 16th to the 18th was quite generous. The balance of the month saw things warm up with 10 of the last 13 days seeing above normal mercury readings.
Overall, Thornton saw an average monthly temperature of 28.1 degrees. This was well below Denver’s 30 year average (1981 – 2000) for the month of December of 30.0 degrees. Out at DIA where the Mile High City’s official measurements are taken, the month averaged 27.8 degrees.
Temperatures ranged from a high of 65.7 degrees on the 30th down to a bone-chilling low of 10.7 degrees below zero on the morning of the 17th. Denver saw its warmest temperature of 65 degrees and coldest of 15 degrees below zero on the same dates.
That low reading in Denver on the 17th was also a record low for the date. Additionally, the airport saw a high temperature of only 3 degrees that day setting a new record low maximum for the 17th.
In all, Thornton saw five days where the high temperatures failed to climb above freezing and four days with temperatures below zero. Denver recorded six and four respectively.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 0.35 inches of liquid precipitation during December. Thornton easily bested the average with 0.64 inches for the month while Denver fared better with 0.78 inches.
Both Thornton and Denver saw above average levels of snowfall. The Mile High City averages 8.5 inches in December. In 2016, Thornton saw 8.9 inches while DIA recorded 9.7 inches.
Thornton, Colorado’s December 2016 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s December 2016 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
718 AM MST SUN JAN 1 2017
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 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 79 12/05/1939
LOW -25 12/22/1990
12/24/1876
HIGHEST 65 12/30 43 22 69 12/09
LOWEST -15 12/17 17 -28 0 12/28
12/17
AVG. MAXIMUM 42.7 42.8 -0.1 40.9
AVG. MINIMUM 12.9 17.1 -4.2 17.9
MEAN 27.8 30.0 -2.2 29.4
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 6 5.8 0.2 10
DAYS MIN <= 32 30 29.4 0.6 28
DAYS MIN <= 0 4 2.0 2.0 2 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 5.21 1913 MINIMUM 0.00 1881 TOTALS 0.78 0.35 0.43 0.71 DAILY AVG. 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.02 DAYS >= .01 6 4.1 1.9 5
DAYS >= .10 2 1.1 0.9 3
DAYS >= .50 0 0.1 -0.1 0
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.63 12/16 TO 12/17
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
TOTALS 9.7 2016 8.5 NORMAL
RECORDS 57.4 1913
T 1905 1906 2002
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 1146 1086 60 1097
SINCE 7/1 2042 2468 -426 2187
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 878 769 109 877
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962 10/07
LATEST 06/08/2007 05/05
...............................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.2
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/167
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 37/260 DATE 12/05
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 46/260 DATE 12/05
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.50
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 7
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 18
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 6
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 57
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 0
LIGHT RAIN 1 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 2 SNOW 3
LIGHT SNOW 7 SLEET 0
FOG 11 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 3
HAZE 6
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
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 fourth snowiest and it is not uncommon for it to be quite dry.
What does January 2017 hold for us? Follow the link to find out.
Winter’s light on McKay Lake in Broomfield. (David Canfield)
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, 2016
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.
[flickr_set id=”72157673879579814″]
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.
For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without a chill in the air and snow on the ground. Here in Denver we historically enjoy a better chance of experiencing the proverbial white Christmas than many places in the nation.
However, how the Mile High City fares in experiencing a white Christmas does depend on your definition of one.
If it means having actual snowfall on Christmas Day the chances aren’t that good. But, if simply having snow on the ground suffices, the chances improve considerably.
We knew it was going to be cold today in the wake of our overnight snow and sure enough, the numbers bear that out.
Denver recorded a low temperature of 15 degrees below zero at 7:14pm. This easily bests the record low for December 17 of 13 degrees below zero set in 1909.
Here in Thornton, we managed to stay warmer, although with these extremes, that isn’t saying much. Thornton hit a low of 10.7 degrees below zero at 5:57pm.
The storm system brought 5.8 inches of snow to Thornton, our biggest snowfall of the season. Out at DIA where Denver’s official measurements are kept, 8.0 inches fell.
Stay up to date with Thornton’s weather: Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
The month of November 2016 was certainly an unusual one for Thornton. Despite a turn toward colder weather at the end, the extraordinary warmth at the start was the dominating feature. We did finally receive our first snow of the season although we are far behind normal for the season.
Dominating high pressure was a recurring theme for the first half of the month. This kept storm systems and colder temperatures at bay bringing unseasonably warm mercury readings. Every one of the first 16 days of the month saw temperatures in excess of 60 degrees, five saw readings warmer than 70 degrees and one even hit over 80 degrees.
A series of troughs and cold fronts finally brought an end to the record-setting warmth. After recording 81.5 degrees of the 16th, we followed with a 40.9 degree high on the 17th. The 17th also brought our first, and thus far only, snowfall of the season. The balance of the month saw things return to a more typical November weather pattern.
Thornton’s average monthly temperature for November 2016 came in at 43.9 degrees. This was far above Denver’s historical average for the month of 38.3 degrees. Out at the airport where the Mile High City’s official measurements are kept, the average came in warmer still at 45.1 degrees. That put November 2016 into the books at the 10th warmest November in Denver weather history.
Temperatures in Thornton ranged from the aforementioned high of 81.5 degrees on the 16th down to a low of 13 degrees on the morning of the 30th. DIA’s high was 80 degrees and its low 10 degrees, each on the same day as Thornton’s maximum and minimum. The 80 degree reading on the 16th was not only a record for the date but also the latest 80 degree temperature ever recorded in Denver.
In terms of precipitation, Denver averages 0.61 inches during the month of November. Thornton fell far short of that with a mere 0.24 inches of precip in the bucket. Out at the airport, Denver fared better with 0.52 inches.
Thornton recorded 2.2 inches of snow for the month while Denver ended with 1.7 inches. Both were far below the November average of 8.7 inches and comprise the only snowfall we have seen this season. The snow on the 17th was the third latest first seasonal snowfall on record in Denver.
Thornton, Colorado’s November 2016 temperature summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)Thornton, Colorado’s November 2016 precipitation summary. (ThorntonWeather.com)
From the National Weather Service:
CLIMATE REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
638 AM MST THU DEC 1 2016
...................................
...THE DENVER CO CLIMATE SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 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 80 11/16/2016
11/08/2006
LOW -18 11/29/1877
HIGHEST 80R 11/16 73 7 75 11/03
LOWEST 10 11/30 6 4 3 11/27
AVG. MAXIMUM 59.9 52.1 7.8 51.2
AVG. MINIMUM 30.4 24.5 5.9 25.7
MEAN 45.1 38.3 6.8 38.5
DAYS MAX >= 90 0 0.0 0.0 0
DAYS MAX <= 32 1 2.3 -1.3 5
DAYS MIN <= 32 15 23.4 -8.4 24
DAYS MIN <= 0 0 0.6 -0.6 0 PRECIPITATION (INCHES) RECORD MAXIMUM 3.21 1946 MINIMUM T 1899 1901 1949 TOTALS 0.52 0.61 -0.09 2.13 DAILY AVG. 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.07 DAYS >= .01 2 4.7 -2.7 11
DAYS >= .10 2 1.6 0.4 6
DAYS >= .50 0 0.0 0.0 1
DAYS >= 1.00 0 0.0 0.0 0
GREATEST
24 HR. TOTAL 0.30 11/22 TO 11/22 11/04 TO 11/05
SNOWFALL (INCHES)
RECORDS
TOTAL 1.7 8.7
RECORD NOVEMBER 42.5 1946
DEGREE_DAYS
HEATING TOTAL 586 801 -215 789
SINCE 7/1 896 1382 -486 1090
COOLING TOTAL 0 0 0 0
SINCE 1/1 878 769 109 877
FREEZE DATES
RECORD
EARLIEST 09/08/1962
LATEST 06/08/2007
EARLIEST 10/07
LATEST 05/05
......................................................
WIND (MPH)
AVERAGE WIND SPEED 9.8
RESULTANT WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 3/212
HIGHEST WIND SPEED/DIRECTION 33/270 DATE 11/24
HIGHEST GUST SPEED/DIRECTION 43/270 DATE 11/27
SKY COVER
POSSIBLE SUNSHINE (PERCENT) MM
AVERAGE SKY COVER 0.40
NUMBER OF DAYS FAIR 14
NUMBER OF DAYS PC 12
NUMBER OF DAYS CLOUDY 4
AVERAGE RH (PERCENT) 45
WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMBER OF DAYS WITH
THUNDERSTORM 0 MIXED PRECIP 0
HEAVY RAIN 0 RAIN 1
LIGHT RAIN 1 FREEZING RAIN 0
LT FREEZING RAIN 0 HAIL 0
HEAVY SNOW 1 SNOW 1
LIGHT SNOW 2 SLEET 0
FOG 2 FOG W/VIS <= 1/4 MILE 1
HAZE 1
- INDICATES NEGATIVE NUMBERS.
R INDICATES RECORD WAS SET OR TIED.
MM INDICATES DATA IS MISSING.
T INDICATES TRACE AMOUNT.
Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
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.
