Halloween week is historically pretty eventful when it comes to weather.  Wind is always a factor this time of year as gusty Chinook winds can come flying down the mountians and foothills and cause a great deal of damage.  Snow of course also becomes more frequent as we get closer to our second snowiest month (November).

From the National Weather Service:

From the 24th to the 25th:

In 1921…rainfall totaled 0.35 inch overnight behind an apparent cold front.  North winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 46 mph on the 25th.  Temperatures plunged from a high of 73 degrees on the 24th to a low of 39 degrees on the 25th.
 
In 1923…rain overnight changed to snow during the morning. The heavy snowfall accumulated to 12.0 inches before ending on the morning of the 25th.  Post-frontal north winds were sustained to 22 mph with gusts to 23 mph on the 24th.
 
In 1997…one of the worst and deadliest blizzards of the decade developed over eastern Colorado as deep east to northeast flow associated with a vigorous upper level low pressure system over the four corners…combined with a strong arctic air mass over the central great plains. Snowfall totals across metro Denver ranged from 14 to 31 inches.  The heaviest snowfall occurred in the foothills west and southwest of Denver where 2 to 4 feet of snow were measured.  Sustained winds to 40 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph produced zero visibilities and extremely cold wind chill temperatures from 25 below to 40 below zero.  Winds whipped the snow into drifts 4 to 10 feet deep.  Several major and interstate highways were closed as travel became impossible.  Red cross shelters were set up for hundreds of travelers who became stranded when they had to abandon their vehicles.  Four people died in northeastern Colorado as a result of the blizzard.  None of the deaths were in metro Denver.  At Denver International Airport…4 thousand travelers were stranded when the airport was forced to shut down.  At least 120 cars were abandoned along Pena Blvd….the only arterial leading into and out of dia.  The blizzard cost air carriers at least 20 million dollars.  Thousands of cattle died in the storm over northeastern Colorado…resulting in losses totaling 1.5 million dollars.  Some of the more impressive snowfall totals included:  51 inches at Coal Creek Canyon; 48 inches at silver spruce ranch…near ward; 42 inches at Intercanyon…in the foothills southwest of Denver; 37 inches at Sedalia; 35 inches at aspen springs and Conifer in the foothills west of Denver; 31 inches at Eldorado Springs… Southeast Aurora…and Englewood; and 30 inches on Table Mesa in Boulder.  Snowfall totaled 21.9 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport…setting a new 24-hour snowfall record of 19.1 inches for the month. Snowfall totaled only 14 inches at Denver International Airport where north winds gusted to 39 mph on the 24th. High temperature of only 21 degrees on the 25th equaled the record low maximum for the date first set in 1873. Low temperature of only 3 degrees on the 26th set a new record minimum for the date.

On the 25th:

In 1925…a vigorous cold front produced north winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 52 mph.  Post-frontal snowfall was only 0.4 inch during the late afternoon and early evening.
 
In 1959…northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1997…the high temperature warmed to only 21 degrees… The record low maximum for the month.  The same temperature also occurred on October 30…1991.

Continue reading October 25 to October 31 – This week in Denver weather history →

This week is an extremely eventful one in Denver weather history with a wide variety of conditions having been experienced in the past.  Wind and snow are probably the two most dominant items, none more so than the blizzard that struck 12 years ago on the 24th.  That storm ravaged the city, closed the airport and highways and was responsible for four deaths.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 17th to the 19th:

In 1908…a moist…heavy…wet snowfall totaled 13.0 inches in downtown Denver over the 3 days.  Rain from early morning on the 17th changed to snow by late afternoon and continued through the late morning of the 19th.  Due to temperatures in the 30’s and melting…the most snow on the ground was only 5.0 inches at 6:00 pm on the 18th.  Northwest to northeast winds were sustained between 12 and 20 mph during the storm.  Precipitation totaled 1.82 inches.

On the 18th:

In 1875…the haze was so dense that the mountains were not visible from downtown Denver for most of the day.
 
In 1937…a vigorous cold front produced north winds sustained to 32 mph with gusts to 41 mph.  Rain and snow totaled 0.16 inch.  Post-frontal snowfall of 0.8 inch was the only snowfall of the month.
 
In 1960…post-frontal upslope rain changed to snow. Snowfall was 2.2 inches at Stapleton Airport where precipitation (rain and melted snow) totaled 1.58 inches.
 
In 1971…wind gusts to 48 mph were recorded in downtown Boulder.  West winds gusted to 30 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1999…heavy snow developed in the foothills west of metro Denver with lesser amounts across the city.  Snowfall totals included:  7 inches near Nederland…6 inches in Boulder…and 5 inches at Chief Hosa.  Only 1.2 inches of snow were measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.

From the 18th to the 23rd:

In 2003…an extended warm spell resulted in 5 new temperature records.  The high temperature of 84 degrees on the 18th equaled the record high for the date.  High temperatures of 86 degrees on the 19th…83 degrees on the 21st…and 84 degrees on the 22nd were record highs for the dates.  Low temperature of 49 degrees on the 23rd was a record high minimum for the date.  Low temperatures during the period were in the 40’s and lower 50’s.

On the 19th:

In 1887…northwest winds sustained to 42 mph were recorded in the city.
 
In 1982…3 to 6 inches of snow fell over northwest metro Denver…including Boulder.  Only 1.2 inches of snowfall were recorded at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 35 mph.  This was the first measurable snowfall of the season.

Continue reading October 18 to October 24 – This week in Denver weather history →

A very eventful week of weather in Denver weather history.  Many notable items have occurred and many also incorporate one of two conditions – wind or snow.  Probably the most famous event was the Bronco Blizzard on October 15, 1984.  That storm which hit its height during a Monday Night Football game between the Broncos and the Packers is probably one of the most memorable ever for longtime Denver residents.

10-11

In 1986…the first significant snowstorm of the season produced 2 to 5 inches of snow over metro Denver with 5 to 10 inches in the foothills west of Denver.  Wondervu recorded the most snow from the storm…13 inches.  The heavy wet snow caused numerous power outages.  The storm was accompanied by strong north winds with gusts to 41 mph recorded on the 10th.  The first snowfall of the season totaled 3.1 inches at Stapleton International Airport with only one inch on the ground due to melting.  The strong cold front accompanying the storm cooled the temperature from a high of 73 degrees on the 10th to a high of only 33 degrees on the 11th…which was a record low maximum for the date.

10-12

In 1969…the second heavy snowstorm in less than a week dumped nearly a foot of snow across metro Denver and plunged the area into extremely cold temperatures for so early in the season.  Snowfall totaled 11.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport.  North winds gusting to 26 mph produced drifts up to 2 feet deep.  Temperatures dipped from a high of 52 degrees on the 10th to a record low for the date of 10 degrees on the 12th.  There was additional damage to trees and power and telephone lines from heavy snow accumulations and icing.  Travel was restricted or blocked by drifting snow in both the mountains and on the plains east of Denver.

11

In 1997…damaging winds ahead of an approaching storm system developed in the foothills and spread across metro Denver. Winds gusted to 88 mph at Conifer…71 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research on the mesa in Boulder… And 53 mph at Denver International Airport.  Several trees and street signs were blown down with scattered power outages reported throughout metro Denver.  In Arvada…a car window was blown out by a strong wind gust.

11-12

In 1901…an apparent cold front produced northeast winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 48 mph on the 11th. General rain changed to snow overnight and totaled 2.0 inches.  This was the first snowfall of the season. Total precipitation was 0.32 inch.

Continue reading October 11 to October 17 – This week in Denver weather history →