As we move further into spring we begin to less winter-like weather and more spring weather.  In looking at Denver weather history we can see that transition with more mentions of severe rains, flooding, tornadoes and other spring and summer-like severe weather.

8-10 

In 1979…4.3 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where northwest winds gusted to 30 mph on the 8th. Most of the snowfall…2.3 inches…occurred on the 9th. High temperature of only 35 degrees on the 9th equaled the record low maximum for the date.

9-10 

In 1889…heavy rainfall totaled 2.15 inches in downtown Denver.  The cold rain was mixed with snow at times overnight.  Temperatures on the 10th ranged from a high of 38 degrees to a low of 32 degrees with north winds sustained to 22 mph.
 
In 2003…a late spring snowstorm hammered the mountains… Eastern foothills…and urban corridor.  The heaviest snowfall occurred north of interstate 70.  The heavy wet snow caused damage to trees throughout metro Denver and downed power lines.  About 40 thousand people along the urban corridor were without power.  Storm total snowfall amounts included:  11.5 inches in Louisville… 8 inches in Boulder and Broomfield; 7 inches in Thornton…Broomfield…at Denver International Airport… And at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport; and 6 inches 4 miles east of Denver.  Snowfall ranged from 4 to 9 inches across extreme southern weld County.  In the foothills…15 inches of snow fell near Jamestown…9 inches at Rollinsville and Rawah…with 8 inches at Chief Hosa and atop Lookout Mountain. The snow was accompanied by thunder on the afternoon of the 9th at Denver International Airport where west winds gusted to 25 mph on the 9th and north winds gusted to 22 mph on the 10th.

10

In 1875…a windstorm sand-blasted the city from 10:00 am until midnight.  Northwest winds sustained to 60 mph brought clouds of sand…which caused high damage to unfinished buildings.
 
In 1912…a vigorous cold front produced strong north winds and rain.  North winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.  Rainfall totaled 1.10 inch.
 
In 1935…no precipitation occurred…making this one of only two days without precipitation during the entire month.  The other day was the 21st.  Precipitation totaled 4.95 inches for the month.
 
In 1956…northwest winds gusted to 53 mph at Stapleton Airport where the visibility was briefly reduced to 1/2 mile in blowing dust.
 
In 1974…strong winds caused 30 thousand dollars in damage to a building under construction in Lakewood.  Microburst winds gusted to 46 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1988…lightning struck a house in Boulder…setting it afire.  The house…valued at 170 thousand dollars…was a total loss.
 
In 1989…golf ball size hail fell over southeast Denver near the junction of I-25 and I-225.  Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell over southeast Aurora.  Only 3/8 inch hail fell at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1991…high winds up to 63 mph raked the eastern foothills. Winds estimated to 50 mph tore a roof from a home in Lafayette.  A tower at Jefferson County stadium in west metro Denver was blown over by the high winds.  No injuries were reported.  Southeast winds gusting to 48 mph at Stapleton International Airport produced some blowing dust.  The temperature climbed to a high of 86 degrees… Equaling the record maximum for the date.
 
In 2005…severe thunderstorms produced hail as large as 2 inches in diameter in and near Longmont.

Continue reading May 10 to May 16 – This week in Denver weather history →

A very eventful week in Denver weather history.  Four tornadoes are mentioned and many reminders that winter may not be over just quite yet. 

From the National Weather Service:

1-5

IN 1898…SNOWFALL TOTALED 15.5 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW…6.2 INCHES…FELL ON THE 3RD.  MOST OF THE SNOW MELTED AS IT FELL.  THE GREATEST SNOW DEPTH ON THE GROUND WAS ONLY 2.5 INCHES ON THE 3RD AT 8:00 PM. THIS WAS THE ONLY SNOWFALL DURING THE MONTH.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 22 MPH ON THE 1ST.

2-3

IN 1979…HEAVY RAIN CHANGED TO SNOW ON THE 2ND.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 3.9 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT… WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 26 MPH.  THE GREATEST DEPTH OF SNOW ON THE GROUND WAS ONLY 1 INCH AT MIDDAY ON THE 2ND DUE TO MELTING.  TOTAL PRECIPITATION FOR THE 2 DAYS WAS 1.65 INCHES

2-4

IN 1987…A SLOW MOVING STORM BROUGHT RAIN…WIND…AND SNOW TO METRO DENVER.  RAINFALL TOTALED 1.04 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 48 MPH ON THE 3RD.  THE FOOTHILLS RECEIVED 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW

2-5

IN 2001…A VERY SLOW MOVING PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM BECAME PARKED NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS REGION…WHICH ALLOWED HEAVY SNOW TO DEVELOP ABOVE 6500 FEET IN THE FOOTHILLS WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS OF METRO DENVER.  SNOWFALL TOTALS INCLUDED:  21 INCHES ATOP CROW HILL AND AT IDAHO SPRINGS; 19 INCHES NEAR BLACKHAWK; AND 18 INCHES IN COAL CREEK CANYON…GENESEE…AND 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MORRISON. SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.2 INCHES AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  PRECIPITATION (RAIN AND MELTED SNOW) TOTALED 2.09 INCHES AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH ON THE 2ND.

Continue reading May 3 to May 9 – This week in Denver weather history →

An incredibly busy week on the Denver weather history calendar as we see below.  Thunderstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricane force winds and more have all been seen during this week in Denver weather history. 

From the National Weather Service:

2-5  

IN 1918…SNOWFALL TOTALED 12.4 INCHES OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER. MOST OF THE SNOW FELL ON THE 3RD AND 4TH.  TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 20`S AND 30`S.  NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 24 MPH ON THE 2ND.

3-5  

IN 1996…THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER RECEIVED 6 TO 8 INCHES OF NEW SNOW.  ONLY 0.8 INCH OF SNOW FELL AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT…ALONG WITH SOME FREEZING DRIZZLE ON THE 4TH AND 5TH.  NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 30 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 3RD.

3-6  

IN 1898…SNOWFALL TOTALED 8.7 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER OVER THE 4 DAYS.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 48 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 60 MPH ON THE 3RD.

IN 1983…A PROLONGED HEAVY SNOW STORM BLANKETED THE AREA ALONG WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.  THE GREATEST AMOUNTS OF SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WHERE 24 TO 42 INCHES WERE MEASURED.  A FOOT OF SNOW FELL IN BOULDER.  SNOW FELL FOR 50 CONSECUTIVE HOURS AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE 3RD THROUGH THE 5TH WITH A TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 8.8 INCHES AND A MAXIMUM ACCUMULATION ON THE GROUND OF 6 INCHES ON THE 5TH.  IN DENVER…THE MERCURY FAILED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING FOR 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS…ON THE 4TH…5TH… AND 6TH…FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN APRIL.  FIVE DAILY TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET FROM THE 4TH THROUGH THE 6TH. RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES OF 12 DEGREES OCCURRED ON THE 5TH WITH 7 DEGREES ON THE 6TH.  RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES OF 25 DEGREES OCCURRED ON THE 4TH…27 DEGREES ON THE 5TH…  AND 28 DEGREES ON THE 6TH.

4-5  

IN 1900…RAIN CHANGED TO HEAVY SNOW AND TOTALED 7.8 INCHES IN DOWNTOWN DENVER OVERNIGHT.  A THUNDERSTORM ON THE 4TH PRODUCED HAIL.  PRECIPITATION TOTALED 1.50 INCHES.

IN 1911…NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH ON THE 4TH AND TO 41 MPH ON THE 5TH.

IN 2002…A WHITISH-COLORED HAZE ENGULFED METRO DENVER ON BOTH DAYS.  THE HAZE WAS THE RESULT OF A HUGE WIND STORM THAT KICKED UP DUST AND SAND FROM THE GOBI DESERT IN MONGOLIA AND CHINA DURING THE LATTER HALF OF MARCH.  WESTERLY WINDS ALOFT TRANSPORTED THE DUST CLOUD ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES…DEPOSITING SOME OF IT ON COLORADO.

Continue reading April 5 to April 11 – This week in Denver weather history →

This week in Denver weather history is notable for the variety of conditions that can be experienced this time of year.  From hurricane force winds and heavy snow to more typical spring severe weather like tornadoes, all can be experienced this time of year. 

From the National Weather Service:

27-29

IN 1948…HIGH WINDS RAKED BOULDER.  A WIND GUST TO 75 MPH WAS RECORDED AT VALMONT.  SUSTAINED WINDS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH WERE ESTIMATED IN BOULDER.  MINOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.

IN 1961…HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 9.5 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT OVER THE 3 DAY PERIOD.  MOST OF THE SNOW…5.3 INCHES…FELL ON THE 28TH.  WINDS WERE GENERALLY LIGHT AND GUSTED TO ONLY 22 MPH FROM THE NORTH.
28-29 IN 1891…RAIN CHANGED TO SNOW AND TOTALED 9.7 INCHES IN THE CITY.  NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 12 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 28 MPH ON THE 28TH.

IN 1910…A STRONG COLD FRONT BROUGHT MUCH WIND…RAIN…AND AND SNOW TO THE CITY.  RAIN ON THE 28TH CHANGED TO SNOW EARLY ON THE 29TH.  SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 2.8 INCHES…BUT NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 50 MPH ON THE 29TH. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM TOTALED 0.96 INCH.

IN 1994…MOIST UPSLOPE WINDS COMBINED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO DUMP 5 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW ALONG THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS AND ACROSS METRO DENVER.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.3 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 39 MPH.  THIRTEEN INCHES OF NEW SNOW WERE MEASURED AT THE ELDORA SKI AREA WEST OF BOULDER.

28-30

IN 1949…A MAJOR WINTER STORM DUMPED 11.3 INCHES OF SNOW OVER DOWNTOWN DENVER.  SNOWFALL TOTALED 10.4 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.  NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 17 MPH.

Continue reading March 29 to April 4 – This week in Denver weather history →

This week in Denver weather history are a number of interesting events.  As March comes to a close we are not yet done with winter so snow is certainly still possible but we also start seeing more Spring-like weather.  Reminders of this include the coldest temperature ever recorded in March – 11 degrees below zero 123 years ago.  Conversely, 38 years ago the highest temperature ever recorded in March of 84 degrees was recorded.  

20-22

In 1944…heavy snow fell over metro Denver for a total of 36 hours. The storm dumped 18.5 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver and 12.2 inches at Stapleton Airport. Fortunately…there were no strong winds with the storm. North winds to only 19 mph were recorded on the 21st.

21-22

In 1955…wind gusts to 98 mph were recorded at rocky flats south of Boulder. Some damage and a few minor injuries were reported in Boulder. Northwest winds were sustained to 28 mph with gusts to 39 mph at Stapleton Airport on the 22nd.

In 1966…a vigorous cold front produced only 1.7 inches of snowfall at Stapleton International Airport…but northeast winds gusted to 49 mph on the 21st. Temperatures cooled from a maximum of 66 degrees on the 21st to a minimum of 14 degrees on the 22nd. Strong winds occurred on both days.

In 1992…an arctic cold front produced upslope snow across metro Denver mainly west of I-25. Castle Rock reported 6 inches of snow with 3 inches at Evergreen. At Stapleton International Airport…only 1.5 inches of snowfall were measured and northeast winds gusted to 18 mph on the 21st.

Continue reading March 22 to March 28 – This week in Denver weather history →

Our look back at this week in Denver weather history contains much of what you would expect to see this time of year – high winds, snow storms, and cold but also a rare February thunderstorm. 

21-22

IN 1909…A MAJOR STORM DUMPED 12.9 INCHES OF HEAVY SNOWFALL OVER THE CITY.  NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 37 MPH ON THE 22ND.  TEMPERATURES DURING THE STORM HOVERED IN THE 20’S.

22   

IN 1893…NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 36 MPH WITH  GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

IN 1900…NORTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS  TO 45 MPH WARMED THE TEMPERATURE TO A HIGH OF 61 DEGREES.

IN 1910…A COLD FRONT CAUSED A REMARKABLY SHARP DROP IN  TEMPERATURE FROM 43 DEGREES AT 3:00 AM TO ONLY 3 DEGREES  AT 8:30 AM.  THESE WERE THE HIGH AND LOW TEMPERATURES FOR  THE DAY.  EARLY WEST WINDS SWITCHED TO NORTHEAST BEHIND  THE FRONT.

IN 1927…WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH WITH A MEASURED  MAXIMUM VELOCITY TO 60 MPH.

IN 1954…STRONG AND GUSTY WEST WINDS PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE  DAY.  THE HIGHEST WIND GUST RECORDED AT STAPLETON AIRPORT  WAS 58 MPH.

IN 1960…SNOWFALL TOTALED 5.9 INCHES…PRODUCING NEAR-BLIZZARD  CONDITIONS IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW AT STAPLETON AIRPORT  WHERE NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH REDUCED VISIBILITY  TO 1/2 MILE.

IN 1986…HIGH WINDS OCCURRED IN THE FOOTHILLS.  WIND GUSTS OF  65 TO 70 MPH WERE REPORTED AT GOLDEN GATE CANYON…AND A PEAK  GUST OF 83 MPH WAS RECORDED AT ECHO LAKE.  NORTHWEST WINDS  GUSTED TO ONLY 29 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

IN 1988…A WIND GUST TO 83 MPH WAS RECORDED IN BOULDER WITH  80 MPH CLOCKED AT ROLLINSVILLE.  NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO  45 MPH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

IN 1996…WIND GUSTS TO 63 MPH WERE REPORTED IN WESTERN  ELBERT COUNTY.  SOUTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 45 MPH AT  DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

IN 1999…STRONG POST-FRONTAL…BORA WINDS DEVELOPED OVER THE  FOOTHILLS AND SPREAD OVER THE NORTHEAST PLAINS.  PEAK WIND  GUSTS INCLUDED:  87 MPH AT GOLDEN GATE CANYON; 84 MPH AT  WONDERVU; 80 MPH AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC  RESEARCH MESA LAB; 75 MPH AT THE ROCKY FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL  TEST FACILITY; 74 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT NEAR  BROOMFIELD; 72 MPH AT THE GAMOW TOWER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF  COLORADO CAMPUS IN BOULDER; AND 60 MPH AT BENNETT.  WEST  TO NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTED TO 44 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL  AIRPORT.

IN 2000…THUNDER WAS HEARD ACROSS MUCH OF METRO DENVER.  THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHWEST METRO DENVER PRODUCED 1/4  TO 1/2 INCH DIAMETER HAIL AT PINEHURST COUNTRY CLUB.  A  THUNDERSTORM AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PRODUCED  WIND GUSTS TO 34 MPH.  THIS WAS ONLY THE 6TH TIME SINCE  1891 THAT THUNDER HAD BEEN REPORTED IN FEBRUARY.
22-23

IN 1985…A SNOWSTORM STRUCK THE EASTERN FOOTHILLS WITH 8 TO  15 INCHES OF NEW SNOW.  THREE TO 7 INCHES OF NEW SNOW FELL  ACROSS METRO DENVER AND PARTS OF I-70 WERE CLOSED AT TIMES.  SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 3.3 INCHES AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL  AIRPORT WHERE NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS TO 29 MPH WERE RECORDED.

IN 1992…A SNOW STORM DUMPED HEAVY SNOW IN THE FRONT RANGE  FOOTHILLS.  CONIFER RECEIVED 12 INCHES OF NEW SNOW WITH 7.5  INCHES AT ASPEN SPRINGS.  SNOW ONLY DUSTED THE PLAINS AND  METRO DENVER…BUT WINDS WERE STRONG WITH A GUST TO 43 MPH  FROM THE NORTH AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE  SNOWFALL TOTALED ONLY 0.3 INCH.  THIS WAS THE ONLY  MEASURABLE SNOWFALL OF THE MONTH…EQUALING THE RECORD  FOR THE LEAST SNOWIEST FEBRUARY FIRST SET IN 1970.  RARE  THUNDER FOR FEBRUARY ACCOMPANIED THE SNOW DURING THE EARLY  MORNING HOURS OF THE 23RD.

IN 1999…STRONG CHINOOK WINDS DEVELOPED ON A VERY LOCALIZED  SCALE OVERNIGHT IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS OF NORTHERN  JEFFERSON AND SOUTHERN BOULDER COUNTIES.  PEAK WIND REPORTS  INCLUDED:  82 MPH AT THE ROCKY FLATS ENVIRONMENTAL TEST  FACILITY…80 MPH AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC  RESEARCH MESA LAB IN BOULDER…77 MPH NEAR NEDERLAND…AND  75 MPH ATOP THE GAMOW TOWER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO  CAMPUS IN BOULDER.

Continue reading February 22 to February 28 – This week in Denver weather history →

Wind, wind and more wind.  Sounding like a broken record, we see that mentioned many times in our look back at this week in Denver weather history.  There is of course other common weather conditions for this time of year including blizzards and arctic cold. 

14-15

IN 1960…HEAVY SNOWFALL TOTALED 6.1 INCHES AT STAPLETON AIRPORT.

IN 1965…5.4 INCHES OF SNOW FELL AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BEHIND A COLD FRONT.  NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS GUSTED TO 32 MPH.  WINDS WERE STRONG AND GUSTY ALL DAY AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW…CONTRIBUTING TO HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS MAINLY TO THE EAST OF DENVER.

IN 1984…A SNOW AND WIND STORM HOWLED ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO CLOSING I-70 EAST OF DENVER.  THIS WAS THE SECOND BLIZZARD IN LESS THAN 4 DAYS.  ONLY 0.5 INCH OF NEW SNOW FELL AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT…BUT NORTH WINDS GUSTED TO 51 MPH.

15   

IN 1881…THE TEMPERATURE PLUNGED TO A LOW OF 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO IN THE CITY.  IN OUTER AREAS OF THE CITY…THE TEMPERATURE DIPPED TO 26.5 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.

IN 1910…WEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 42 MPH.

IN 1986…HIGH WINDS BATTERED THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS. A WIND GUST TO 95 MPH WAS RECORDED IN BOULDER…BUT WINDS OF 60 TO 80 MPH WERE COMMON IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS.  IN AURORA…AN AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP LOST A LARGE PLATE GLASS WINDOW.  SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS TO 44 MPH WERE RECORDED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  THE STRONG WINDS WARMED TEMPERATURES.  A RECORD MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 66 DEGREES AND A RECORD HIGH MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 37 DEGREES WERE RECORDED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

Continue reading February 15 to February 21 – This week in Denver weather history →

Our look back at this week in Denver weather history contains many of the severe weather conditions we would expect to see – high speed winds, arctic cold, big time snowstorms, etc.  Most notable is the coldest February temperature ever recorded – 25 degrees below zero. 

31-8 

IN 1963…WARM WEATHER THAT BEGAN WITH THE STRONG CHINOOK WINDS ON THE 31ST AND 1ST CONTINUED THROUGH THE 8TH. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD RANGED FROM 52 DEGREES ON THE 2ND TO 76 DEGREES ON THE 5TH…WHICH WAS A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR THAT DATE.

31-12

IN 1899…A PROTRACTED COLD SPELL LASTED ALMOST TWO WEEKS. LOW TEMPERATURES PLUNGED BELOW ZERO ON ALL DAYS BUT FEBRUARY 9TH WITH A READING OF 6 DEGREES.  THE COLDEST LOW TEMPERATURE OF 22 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ON FEBRUARY 6TH WAS A RECORD LOW FOR THE DATE.  LOW TEMPERATURES OF 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO OCCURRED ON BOTH FEBRUARY 11TH AND 12TH… BUT ONLY THE 11TH REMAINS AS THE RECORD MINIMUM FOR THE DATE.  HIGH TEMPERATURE OF ONLY 5 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ON FEBRUARY 11TH WAS A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM FOR THE DATE.  HIGH TEMPERATURES CLIMBED TO ONLY ZERO DEGREES ON BOTH FEBRUARY 2ND AND 3RD…BUT WERE NOT RECORDS.  INTERMITTENT LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES FELL DURING THE PERIOD.  THE MOST SNOWFALL…2.0 INCHES…OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 2ND.

1-9  

IN 1883…A PROTRACTED COLD PERIOD OCCURRED WHEN LOW TEMPERATURES DIPPED BELOW ZERO FOR 9 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. LOW TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM 22 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ON THE 4TH TO 2 DEGREES BELOW ZERO ON THE 1ST AND 6TH.  HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGED FROM 10 BELOW ZERO ON THE 3RD TO 23 ON THE 9TH.  SEVERAL TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET THAT STILL STAND TODAY.  RECORD LOWS OF 18 BELOW AND 22 BELOW ZERO OCCURRED ON THE 3RD AND 4TH.  RECORD LOW MAXIMUM READINGS OF 2 BELOW AND 10 BELOW ZERO OCCURRED ON THE 2ND AND 3RD.  THE HIGH OF ONLY 10 BELOW ZERO ON THE 3RD IS THE COLDEST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED IN DENVER.

5-11 

IN 1978…THE 5TH MARKED THE START OF A RECORD 7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF DENSE FOG AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  THE HEAVY FOG REDUCED THE VISIBILITY TO 1/4 MILE OR LESS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME ON EACH OF THESE DAYS.  LIGHT SNOW AND/OR FREEZING DRIZZLE OCCURRED ON MOST DAYS.  FOG REDUCING VISIBILITY TO LESS THAN 7 MILES WAS RECORDED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON 11 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THROUGH THE 15TH.  DURING THE PERIOD 5-14…THE COLD THICK FOG DEPOSITED HEAVY RIME ICE UP TO 5 INCHES THICK ON POWER LINES AND POLES OVER A WIDE AREA OF EASTERN COLORADO…CAUSING A MAJOR ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGE DISASTER.

Continue reading February 8 to February 14 – This week in Denver weather history →