Snow and wind dominate our look back at this week in Denver weather history.  In 2009, high winds on the Boulder Turnpike blew a trailer into oncoming traffic damaging two cars and injuring one driver.  46 years ago, a protracted cold spell resulted in seven consecutive days with low temperatures dropping to zero or below.  Those are just two of the many events – see more below.

From the National Weather Service:

19-21

In 1971…heavy snowfall totaled 9.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to only 16 mph.  Most of the snow occurred on the 19th and 20th. The 24 hour snowfall of 8.2 inches was the greatest in February since 1953.

20-21

In 1997…heavy snow fell in the foothills.  Snowfall totals included:  16 inches at Eldora Ski Area; 15 inches at South Turkey Creek; 14 inches at Conifer and Morrison; and 11 inches at Blackhawk…Evergreen…and Intercanyon.  Only 1.0 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  Northeast winds gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 20th.

In 2014…high winds occurred in and near the foothills of Boulder and Jefferson counties. Peak wind reports included: 93 mph near gold hill; 89 mph at NCAR Mesa Lab; 83 mph at the National Wind Technology Center; 76 mph…in Boulder… 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland and the junction of Colorado highways 72 and 93; and 75 mph at Lyons. Scattered electrical outages were reported in Boulder…Denver and Littleton…which affected 3400 Xcel Energy customers. At Denver International Airport…a peak wind of 50 mph was observed from the west on the 21st.

21

In 1901…northwest winds sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 46 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees.

In 1935…strong west to northwest winds sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 34 mph produced considerable blowing dust. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 60 degrees.

In 1967…west winds gusting to 53 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton International Airport.  Winds were strong and gusty all day.

In 1988…high winds were reported along the foothills with 90 mph in east Boulder where the winds knocked out a few street and traffic lights.  The strong winds whipped a grass and timber fire in Boulder canyon.  The fire threatened some homes for a time…but was extinguished before causing any significant property damage.  West winds gusting to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport warmed the temperature to a high of 63 degrees.

In 2017…strong winds knocked a huge tree onto a house in Loveland. No one was injured after the tree fell into the house…which included a 10-week-old baby. The house suffered extensive damage and the family was displaced.

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.

In 2012…a strong upper level jet stream produced high winds along the Front Range. In Boulder…the strong winds snapped power poles and toppled trees. As a result…about 7 thousand Xcel Energy customers were without power for several hours. The high winds overturned a tractor-trailer on foothills highway overpass…north of Valmont road. The driver suffered minor injuries. A parked car was totaled when it was crushed by a fallen tree near the University of Boulder. The strong winds were also responsible for two Boulder County wildfires which consumed a total of 65 acres. Colorado department of transportation officials closed U.S. 36 at McCaslin Boulevard in both directions after the wind caused damage to the pedestrian overpass. Metal siding from the overpass fell into highway; fortunately there were no injuries. In total…electrical outages affected 46 thousand customers along the Front Range. Damage to roofs…siding… Garage doors and fences was also reported. Peak wind gusts included: 93 mph near Lyons; 88 mph at NCAR Mesa Lab; 85 mph…2 miles southwest of Rocky Flats; 82 mph… 5 miles northwest of Boulder; 81 mph…2 miles north of Longmont… 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland…the National Wind Technology Center and near Wondervu; 80 mph at the junction of highways 72 and 93; 79 mph at the Boulder Municipal Airport; 78 mph…6 miles northwest of Boulder; 77 mph at Rocky Mountain Municipal Airport; 76 mph atop Berthoud Pass; 75 mph near Aspen Springs; 70 mph at Longmont Municipal Airport; 64 mph at Erie Municipal Airport. At Denver International Airport…peak wind gusts of 53 mph on the 22nd and 55 mph on the 23rd were observed.

Continue reading February 21 to February 27: This week in Denver weather history →

Many notable weather events have occurred in Denver this week in the past, some recently.  It was just last year that a windstorm knocked down trees and powerlines in Boulder.  Nine years ago, we saw an end to 61 days straight with snow cover – the second longest streak in Denver history.

From the National Weather Service:

13-14

In 1895…a cold air mass settled over the city.  High temperatures of only 4 degrees on the 13th and 8 degrees on the 14th were record low maximum temperatures for each day.  Low temperatures were 6 degrees below zero on the 13th and 5 degrees below zero on the 14th…but were not records.  Light snow totaled only 0.4 inch.  Winds were light.

In 1960…snowfall totaled 6.1 inches and north-northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton Airport.

In 1967…high winds were widespread along the foothills where wind gusts of 60 to 90 mph were common.  A wind gust to 108 mph was measured at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.  Sustained winds of 50 to 55 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph were recorded in downtown Boulder. An estimated 3 thousand dollars in damage occurred to mobile homes in Boulder.  Power lines were downed over a wide area.  At Stapleton International Airport…west winds gusted to 32 mph on the 13th and southwest winds gusted to 48 mph on the 14th.

In 1972…winds gusted to 67 mph at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder.  Wind gusts to 49 mph were measured in downtown Boulder.  West winds gusted to 26 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 2001…heavy snow fell across metro Denver and in the foothills.  Snowfall totals included:  8 inches at Evergreen; 7 inches atop Crow Hill and in Lakewood; 6 inches in Denver…Doubleheader…Eldorado Springs… Morrison…and Pine Junction.  Snowfall totaled 4.8 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 33 mph at Denver International Airport on the 13th.

14

In 1918…southwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with a measured extreme velocity to 46 mph.

In 1987…metro Denver received only 3 to 4 inches of snow… But the foothills west of Boulder received up to 11 inches of snow.  Snowfall totaled 4.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 31 mph.

In 1988…winds gusted to 81 mph at Echo Lake.

In 2002…high winds developed in the Front Range foothills during the early morning hours.  Winds gusted to 84 mph… 11 miles north of central city.  West winds gusted to 43 mph at Denver International Airport.
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.

In 1988…winds to 75 mph were clocked in Boulder…while a west wind gust to only 41 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1997…winds gusted to 75 mph at Golden Gate Canyon during the early morning hours.  West winds gusted to 31 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2000…high winds spread from the foothills onto the plains. While the strongest winds were north and northeast of metro Denver…west winds gusted to 58 mph in Thornton and to 54 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2005…light precipitation of only 0.02 inch at Denver International Airport was the only measurable precipitation of the month.  This ranked the month as the 2nd driest February of record.

15-16

In 1889…heavy snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown Denver.  Most of the snow…5.5 inches…fell on the 15th when northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph.

In 1921…strong Bora winds cooled maximum temperatures from the 60’s on the previous 3 days to 54 degrees on the 15th and to 43 degrees on the 16th.  West winds were sustained to 39 mph with gusts to 54 mph on the 15th and to 46 mph with gusts to 56 mph on the 16th.

In 1953…strong…cold northwest winds were widespread from the foothills across the plains.  Near gale force winds were observed in Boulder.  A wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly reduced the visibility to 1 1/2 miles.  Damage was minor.

In 1993…an arctic cold front pushed south over the eastern Colorado plains with upslope snow developing behind the front.  Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were common over metro Denver.  At Stapleton International Airport…snowfall totaled 4.5 inches and north winds gusted to 25 mph. Temperatures hovered only in the single digits for most of the day.  The storm produced up to a foot of snow over southeast Colorado.

In 2005…light snowfall of 0.5 inch at Denver Stapleton was the only measurable snowfall of the month…which ranked the month the 2nd least snowiest February of record.

In 2006…overnight snowfall in the mountains and eastern foothills contained a lot of red dust and dirt apparently from Arizona.  Strong southwest winds with gusts to 100 mph in the San Juan Mountains on the 15th created widespread blowing dust.  This red dust became entrained in snowfall across the area.  The reddish colored snow was reported in Ward…Nederland…Blackhawk…and Boulder.  The storm produced only 0.9 inch of snowfall in the Stapleton area of Denver with 4 to 5 inches measured in the foothills.

15-17

In 1938…a cold air mass brought a light snowfall of 6.2 inches over 3 days to downtown Denver where northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph on the 15th.

16

In 1879…a sudden burst of 3 inches of snow in less than 90 minutes stopped the street cars in downtown Denver during the late afternoon.  Melted snow resulted in 0.16 inch of precipitation.  Small soft hail also fell when the snow began.  A gentleman caught on the prairie between Denver and Morrison described the event as the most severe storm of the winter while it lasted.

In 1885…a windstorm caused severe damage in the city.  The strong winds blew all afternoon and most of the evening. West winds were sustained to 62 mph.  The strong winds blew down signs and broke windows.  Buggies and vehicles of all kinds were blown over.  Smokestacks and chimneys were toppled.  Roofs were blown off.  The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad car shop was partially unroofed and had a wall blown down.  Three railroad cars were blown off the track.  Many fences were damaged.

In 1897…west winds were sustained to 46 mph with gusts to 56 mph.

In 1912…northwest winds were sustained to 44 mph with a measured extreme velocity to 45 mph.

In 1921…west winds were sustained to 46 mph.

In 1972…wind gusts to 58 mph were recorded at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder.  In downtown Boulder…a wind gust to 51 mph was measured.  Northwest winds gusted to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1988…snowfall totaled 3 to 6 inches across metro Denver… But 9 inches were measured in both Wheat Ridge and Evergreen.  At Stapleton International Airport…3.4 inches of snow fell and northeast winds gusted to 26 mph.  The strong winds blew a scaffold against a hotel in downtown Denver…breaking three windows.

In 1995…high winds occurred in the foothills behind a departing winter storm.  A wind gust to 91 mph was recorded at Rollinsville with a gust to 82 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver.  West winds gusted to only 20 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 2014…a peak wind gust to 59 mph…from the west… Was recorded at Denver International Airport.

Continue reading February 14 to February 20: This week in Denver weather history →

You can tell how eventful a week in Denver weather history is by the length of these articles and this one is a long one for sure.  In history we have seen Arctic cold, spring-like warmth, major snowstorms and blizzards and hurricane force winds.  There is even a rare thunderstorm that dropped a bit of hail.

From the National Weather Service:

30-7

In 1985…a cold front on the 29th produced a protracted cold spell as arctic air remained entrenched across metro Denver. While the only daily temperature record set was a low maximum reading of 2 degrees on February 3rd…minimum temperatures plunged well below zero on 9 consecutive days. The coldest readings were 15 degrees below zero on January 31st and 14 degrees below zero on February 5th.

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.

6-7

In 1929…5.0 inches of snow fell in downtown Denver behind a Canadian cold front.  Temperatures plunged…but no records were set.  Low readings dipped to 3 degrees below zero on the 6th and 9 degrees below zero on the 7th.  Highs climbed to 5 degrees on the 6th and to only 1 degree below zero on the 7th.

In 1933…post-frontal light snowfall totaled 3.0 inches over downtown Denver.  Northeast winds were sustained to 28 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 6th.  The very cold air mass plunged temperatures from a high of 60 degrees on the 5th to lows of 10 degrees below zero on the 6th and 16 degrees below on the 7th.  High temperature of only 4 degrees below zero on the 7th was a record low maximum for the date.

6-10

In 1933…3:00 pm on the 6th marked the start of a protracted cold period through 8:00 am on the 10th when the temperature was below zero for 86 out of 88 hours.  The cold period was interrupted on the 8th at 9:00 am when the temperature was 1 degree above zero and at 10:00 am when the temperature was 8 degrees above zero.  Four temperature records were set. High temperatures of 4 degrees below zero on the 7th…8 degrees on the 8th…and 5 degrees below zero on the 9th were record low maximums for those dates.  The only record low temperature record was 14 degrees below zero on the 10th. The lowest temperature reached during the period was 16 degrees below zero on both the 7th and 8th…which were not records.

7

In 1940…a distant thunderstorm was recorded.  This was only the second ever recorded in the city during February since 1900.

In 1976…strong Chinook winds were reported along the foothills with sustained winds at 46 mph and gusts to 69 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.  Wind gusts of 70 to 90 mph were recorded at other locations in Boulder.  Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1979…strong west winds gusted as high as 99 mph near Boulder.  The winds caused ground blizzards that closed several highways around Boulder.  Some cars were forced off the road…and a truck was overturned.  Wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph were common in and near the foothills.  Northwest winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1988…a wind gust to 82 mph was clocked at Rollinsville in the foothills southwest of Boulder.

In 1999…strong Chinook winds developed in the foothills. Peak wind reports included:  90 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab near Boulder and 88 mph at Wondervu in the foothills southwest of Boulder. West to southwest winds gusted to only 48 mph at Denver International Airport.

Continue reading February 7 to February 13: This week in Denver weather history →