Thornton Weather, Weather History

September 13 to September 19 – This week in Denver weather history

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September 3 to September 19 - This week in Denver weather history
September 13 to September 19 - This week in Denver weather history

Weather conditions in Colorado can of course vary greatly and we always see that in our weekly look back in the history books.  For this week, we see a dizzying array of weather events from record setting temperatures in the 90’s and summer-like thunderstorms with tornadoes to an early arrival of winter that brought a foot of snow!

From the National Weather Service:

13   

In 1899…west winds were sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph.
 
In 1928…northwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts to 45 mph.
 
In 1937…an apparent dry microburst produced brief north winds sustained to 31 mph with gusts to 41 mph.  There was a trace of rain.
 
In 1982…torrential rains drenched both the foothills and plains from Denver north.  While the heaviest rain occurred north of Denver…just east of Denver 2 1/3 inches of rain fell in 5 hours along with hail that caused minor damage to a few airplanes.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.83 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1993…an upper level system combined with a cold and moist upslope flow to bring the heaviest snowfall to metro Denver for so early in the season.  Snowfall from the storm totaled 5.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport; however…most of the snow melted as it fell leaving a maximum of one inch on the ground at any one time.  North winds gusted to 21 mph at Stapleton International Airport where a record low temperature of 33 degrees for the date was observed.
 
In 2002…Friday the 13th proved to be bad luck for several motorists when heavy thunderstorm rainfall caused flooding on I-25 in central Denver.  Water rose several feet under the Logan Street overpass…inundating several vehicles. Some motorists were rescued…while others simply waited atop their cars for the flood water to recede.  The highway had to be closed in both directions for about 3 hours.  The flooding was exacerbated by poor drainage due to the construction along the highway.  A 12-foot drainage pipe had not yet been installed beneath the underpass.  The deluge also flooded several businesses along Broadway.

Continue reading September 13 to September 19 – This week in Denver weather history →

Climate Change

Popular meteorologists express doubts about global warming

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Global warming or global cooling? There doesn't seem to be a consensus anymore.
Global warming or global cooling? There doesn't seem to be a consensus anymore.

While the United States debates whether or not to push climate change legislation this year, the debate on the climate and man’s effect on it continues in the public forum. In recent days two high profile meteorologists have come forth and added their voices to the growing movement of those who reject the ‘consensus’ of the manmade climate change theory.

Many who advocate the manmade climate change theory like Al Gore and James Hansen have said that the ‘science is settled’ and there is no debate to be made on the issue. Despite this, more and more evidence is being released calling into question the very basis of the arguments climate change alarmists make.

The Capital Weather Gang section of the Washington Post is a must read for many weather enthusiasts. Today, meteorologist and Capital Weather Gang writer Matt Rogers outlined his case for questioning the ‘consensus’ of manmade global warming in a ‘top 10’ list.

AccuWeather.com is one of the most popular weather websites on the Internet and a major provider of weather related news and information to media of all types. Joe Bastardi is an Expert Senior Forecaster at AccuWeather and is considered one of the premier meteorologists in the country. Bastardi recently said that those that advocate the manmade climate change theory have a “house of cards that goes up in smoke.”

There's more to this story on the Denver Weather Examiner's site!For all the details on what these two esteemed meteorologists had to say, read the full storm on Examiner.com.

Thornton Weather, Weather History

September 6 to September 12 – This week in Denver weather history

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September 6 to September 12 - This week in Denver weather history.
September 6 to September 12 - This week in Denver weather history.

Colorado weather is certainly varied and this week’s look back at weather history proves that.  We have seen everything from deadly lightning, hail and severe winds to even snow during the second week of September.

1-7  

In 1978…the temperature reached 90 degrees or more on seven consecutive days with the highest temperature…94 degrees… Recorded on both the 4th and 6th.

3-6  

In 1909…rainfall for the 4 days accumulated to 3.97 inches in Boulder…while in Denver rainfall totaled 2.45 inches on the 4th…5th…and 6th.

5-9  

In 1988…layers of smoke aloft from large forest fires in Yellowstone National Park completely obliterated the sun at times.  At Stapleton International Airport…surface visibility was reduced at times to 5 and 6 miles in smoke.

6

In 1940…a thunderstorm pelted the city with small hail. The storm produced some lightning damage.  One woman was stunned by a bolt which struck near her.  Heavy rain from the storm raised the level of Cherry Creek by more than 3 feet during the height of the storm.  Rainfall downtown was only 0.26 inch.
 
In 1988…strong winds blew down two houses that were under construction in Castle Rock.  Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1993…a man was struck and killed by lightning while standing outside his home in unincorporated Arapahoe County 11 miles south of Denver.  Lightning also struck a cabin in Marshdale…20 miles southwest of Denver…which started a fire and damaged one room and a portion of the roof.
 
In 1995…hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell in Coal Creek Canyon in northern Jefferson County.
 
In 2001…a thunderstorm dropped 3/4 inch diameter hail in Aurora near Cherry Creek.

Continue reading September 6 to September 12 – This week in Denver weather history →

Colorado Weather, National Weather

Western wildfires send smoke over Colorado – Health warning issued

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The view of the Rocky Mountains from Denver is obscured by haze caused by smoke from wildfires burning across the western United States.
The view of the Rocky Mountains from Denver is obscured by haze caused by smoke from wildfires burning across the western United States.

Update, 5:30pm – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a smoke health advisory for northwest and north-central Colorado.  The department warns that residents may wish to limit outside activity, particularly those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. 

Read the advisory in its entirety at the bottom of this story.

Original post, 9/1/09, 3:54pm: The hazy, orange tinted skies over Denver on Monday were an unusual sight and a result of smoke traveling hundreds of miles from wildfires across the western United States. Satellite imagery released by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed plumes of smoke moving northwest toward Colorado from as far away as Los Angeles.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported 17 fires burning in states from Colorado west. Seven fires in California, three in Utah and two in Colorado are the primary ones causing smoke over the Mile High City.

The largest of the blazes, the Station Fire in the foothills near Los Angeles, exploded to more than 120,000 acres in recent days. In Utah, the Mill Flats Fire burning in the Dixie National Forest grew to more than 10,000 acres.

Colorado reports two wildfires, the largest of which has been dubbed the Tabaguache Creek Fire in the Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. That blaze is six miles north of Nucla and has scorched 1,260 acres.

Altogether, the fires that are actively burning have burned more than 150,000 acres of land. For the entire fire season which runs during the calendar year, 65,140 wildfires have been reported and an estimated 5,303,691 acres – more than 8,000 square miles – have been burned.

Tuesday the smoke has eased some over the Front Range and it should dissipate this evening.

There's more to this story on the Denver Weather Examiner's site!We offer in depth coverage of the wildfires and other climate and weather topics on our Denver Weather Examiner pages.  Check it out!

From the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:

COLORADO SMOKE ADVISORY & OUTLOOK:

Significant smoke from fires in Canada, Utah, Colorado, California and other western states will cause widespread haze in Colorado on Tuesday and from time-to-time this week. Fine Particulate levels are in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups category in Garfield County and are probably in the Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range in other areas across Northwest and North-central Colorado due to the smoke from the forest fires. The highest concentrations are expected to occur in Northwest and North-central Colorado, generally north of I-70, possibly as far east as the Front Range. Much of the rest of Colorado will see concentrations in the Moderate range. IF VISIBILITY IS LESS THAN 5 MILES IN SMOKE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SMOKE HAS REACHED LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY. If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. Smoke should gradually diminish later this evening in most areas.

For satellite analysis of smoke over the U.S., visit: http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm

Moderate to heavy smoke is also possible in the vicinity of a fire 6 miles north of Nucla, especially in areas down-valley of the fire during the nighttime and morning hours.

FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST:

Ozone is expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups range Tuesday afternoon and evening (with the highest readings in the Denver metro area) and in the Moderate category on Wednesday. Active children, active adults, and people with respiratory illnesses should limit prolonged outdoor exertion from 2 PM until midnight tonight.

Visibility is expected to remain in the Poor Category on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Carbon monoxide levels are expected to remain in the Good category along the Front Range on Tuesday.

Fine particulate matter levels are expected to be in the Moderate category along the Front Range on Tuesday and Wednesday

Thornton Weather

Thornton’s September weather preview posted

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Denver & Thornton Climatological Preview - September 2009
Denver & Thornton Climatological Preview - September 2009

As temperatures start to drop, September reminds us that summer is at an end and fall is now here. Sunshine is predominant though as the month actually has the highest percentage of sun out of any month. Sunny days and clear, cool nights are the standard weather pattern for the month.

Normal highs on the first of the month are 82 degrees with a low of 53. By the end of the month we see those high temperatures drop to an average of 73 and the lows get to a chilly 42. Overall the month averages 62.4 degrees.

Click here to get all the details on Thornton’s September weather.

Thornton Weather, Weather History

August 30 to September 5 – This week in Denver weather history

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August 30 to September 5 – This week in Denver weather history.
August 30 to September 5 – This week in Denver weather history.

As always, when looking at weather history we are reminded of the varied and sometimes dangerous weather conditions we have here in Colorado.  Our look this week we see high temperatures soaring to 97 degrees but also we see the earliest snowfall on record.

From the National Weather Service:

19-30

In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th.  Thousands landed on the ground.  The streets were literally covered with them.  Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day.  All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain.  On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.

30

In 1981…60 mph winds were reported in Boulder.
 
In 2004…a severe thunderstorm produced hail as large as 1 inch in diameter in south Aurora near Cherry Creek.

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In 1951…hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter caused an estimated 300 thousand dollars damage in metro Denver. Hail as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter was measured at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1978…strong thunderstorm winds tore the roof off an apartment building in Aurora…downed trees…and damaged windows in Denver.  A microburst wind gust to 58 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1985…a thunderstorm wind gust to 60 mph was clocked at Buckley Field in Aurora.
 
In 1997…hail to 1 1/4 inches in diameter was measured in Aurora.
 
In 2006…a female postal worker was struck and injured by lightning while delivering mail in Westminster.
 
In 2008…lightning struck a home in Brighton…damaging the roof and a bedroom.  The damaged totaled 20 thousand dollars.

Continue reading August 30 to September 5 – This week in Denver weather history →

Thornton Weather, Weather History

August 23 to August 29 – This week in Denver weather history

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August 23 to August 29 – This week in Denver weather history
August 23 to August 29 – This week in Denver weather history

Quite the interesting week in Denver weather history.  Swarms of grasshoppers are the most unusual item we see but there is plenty of standard severe weather including tornadoes, landspouts, hail, lightning and much more.

From the National Weather Service:

19-30

In 1875…grasshoppers appeared in great numbers at 10:00 am on the 19th.  Thousands landed on the ground.  The streets were literally covered with them.  Swarms of grasshoppers were seen on each day.  All gardens in the city were devastated…and in the countryside the grasshoppers were very destructive to ripened grain.  On the 30th the grasshoppers were so numerous as to almost darken the sun.

22-24

In 1987…some locations in metro Denver had a total 3-day rainfall of 2 to 4 inches.  Rainfall totaled 0.96 inch at Stapleton International Airport.

23

In 1900…northwest winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 49 mph.
 
In 1921…a thunderstorm cloudburst produced 2.20 inches of rainfall in an hour over downtown Denver.  This is the greatest 1 hour rainfall on record at the official observing site in the city.  Precipitation totaled 2.93 inches…which is the greatest calendar day precipitation ever recorded in august.
 
In 1941…one man was killed by lightning about 2 miles from the official weather station in downtown Denver.
 
In 1962…a home near Boulder was destroyed by a lightning- caused fire.
 
In 1968…strong winds buffeted Boulder briefly during the early morning hours.  At the National Center for Atmospheric Research…winds averaged 55 mph with gusts to 85 mph.  Damage was minor.  Northwest winds gusted to 31 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1977…lightning damaged at least 6 homes in Aurora.
 
In 2008…a landspout touched down near Westcreek in Douglas County.  One man was seriously injured when he tried to escaped several falling trees in his ATV.  One of the trees struck his back and broke two vertebra.  Another camper narrowly escaped injury.  Seconds after he back up his truck…a tree came down where it had been parked.

Continue reading August 23 to August 29 – This week in Denver weather history →

Thornton Weather

Hurricane Bill now a Category 3 as Bermuda issues warnings

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Hurricane Bill on Thursday morning is seen as it nears the United States.
Hurricane Bill on Thursday morning is seen as it nears the United States.

Wind shear helped to slow Hurricane Bill’s wind speeds to Category 3 levels of 125 mph over the last 24 hours. However, the National Hurricane Center cautions that some strengthening is expected in the next 24 hours and Bill may return to Category 4 levels.

The storm now has hurricane force winds extended out 85 miles from its center and tropical storm winds extending out 230 miles. Moving toward the northwest at 18 mph, the effects of the season’s first major Atlantic hurricane will begin to be felt in the next 72 hours.

The Bahamas and Bermuda will begin to experience large swells in the next 24 to 48 hours. Portions of the United States east coast will also feel similar effects Friday into Saturday. The National Hurricane Center is cautioning residents of these areas that ocean waters will be “extremely dangerous” with “life-threatening rip currents.”

For more information:

There's more to this story on the Denver Weather Examiner's site!There is much more to this story including latest images and forecast tracks on Examiner.com.

Natural Disasters

Third earthquake in four days hits Colorado

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Colorado earthquake map
The third earthquake in four days struck Colorado early Wednesday morning in the same location a previous one happened on Monday. (Map: USGS)

Colorado experienced its third earthquake since Sunday as a small 2.7 magnitude quake occurred early Wednesday morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the latest quake occurred in the same area as the temblor Monday night with the epicenter 11 miles north of Craig.

The latest quake was recorded at 1:58am and was centered 3.1 miles below the surface, much like the previous one in the Craig area. While the temblor was small enough that it most likely wasn’t felt, the recent quakes have garnered the attention of seismologists and geologists in the state.

Earthquakes in Colorado are not unusual as the USGS says nine were recorded this year and more than 100 in the last four years. However having this many in such a short time span is not particularly common. The last time the state experienced two quakes of magnitude 3.5 or greater so frequently was in 2001 when an earthquake “swarm” shook the area near Trinidad. During that event, from August 28 and September 21 of that year, 12 earthquakes of magnitude 2.8 to 4.6 struck just west of the southern Colorado city.

There's more to this story on the Denver Weather Examiner's site!Get the complete story and learn what the Colorado Geological Survey says about the quakes in the complete story on Examiner.com.

Colorado Weather

3.9 magnitude earthquake rocks southeastern Colorado

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In a bit of a rarity for the Centennial State, Colorado experienced a 3.9 magnitude earthquake Sunday evening. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was centered nine miles east of Eads or 26 miles north of Lamar in the southeastern part of the state.

No damage was reported but the temblor was felt into western Kansas. Mary Breslin of Eads told the Denver Post she felt the shaking. “I really thought it was an explosion,” Breslin said. “It did not occur to me in the beginning that it was an earthquake.”

Originating at a depth of 6.2 miles, the quake occurred at 6:22pm along what state geologist Vince Matthews told the Associated Press might be part of a previously unmapped extension of the Cheraw Fault. See below for complete technical details on the quake.

There's more to this story on the Denver Weather Examiner's site!For more details on this temblor including maps and a look at Colorado’s earthquake history, view the complete story on Examiner.com.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.