Tag Archives: January Weather

January 1 to January 7 – This Week in Denver Weather History

January 2, 2012 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

One of our coldest and driest months, January is not normally known for its weather extremes. However just like any in Colorado, significant events can occur as we see in our look back at this week in Denver weather history.

From the National Weather Service:

31-1

In 1900…low temperatures dipped to 19 degrees below zero on both days to establish daily record minimum temperatures.

In 1975…only 4.2 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport…while north of Denver a major blizzard raged. All roads north of Denver into Wyoming were closed when strong winds whipped snow into 5 to 6 foot drifts. North winds gusted to 43 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 31st…causing some blowing snow. Freezing drizzle also fell on the 31st.

In 1984…heavy snow fell in the foothills with 8 inches at Boulder and 6 inches in southern and western metro Denver. Only 1.5 inches of snow fell overnight at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1991…a New Year’s Eve snow storm dumped 2 to 8 inches of snow across northeastern Colorado. Snowfall totaled 3.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport. The 1.9 inches of snow that fell on the 31st was the only measurable snowfall of the month.

In 2008…another brief period of high winds occurred in and near the foothills of Boulder and Jefferson counties. In Nederland…the strong wind snapped a blue spruce which landed on a nearby propane tank. Some roofs in the immediate area were damaged and power lines were downed; which left 126 residences without electricity for six hours. Peak wind gusts included 90 mph at the national wind technology center…and 89 mph; 6 miles northwest of Boulder. At Denver International Airport…a peak wind gust of 23 mph was measured from the southwest.

31-6

In 1973…the 31st marked the start of a protracted cold spell that extended into January of 1974 when temperatures dipped below zero on 7 consecutive days. Record daily minimum readings occurred on the 3rd and 5th when the temperature plunged to 17 degrees below zero on both days. A record low daily maximum temperature of only 4 degrees occurred on the 5th.

31-7

In 1941…a protracted cold spell through January 7…1942… Produced below zero low temperatures on 7 of the 8 days. A low temperature of 2 degrees on the 3rd prevented a string of 8 days below zero. The coldest days during the period were the 1st with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 9 degrees below zero…the 4th with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 11 degrees below zero…and the 5th with a high of 26 degrees and a low of 12 degrees below zero.

In 1875…the temperature fell 27 degrees between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm. The high for the day was 43 degrees…and the low was 8 degrees. Occasional snow flurries fell during the day…but not enough to cover the ground.

In 1885…dense smoke choked the skies over downtown Denver until midday.

In 1910…a rare trace of light rain fell during the morning.

In 1911…post-frontal northeast winds were sustained to 40 mph. Only a trace of snow fell in downtown Denver.

In 1952…snowfall of 0.03 inch was the only measurable snowfall of the month and resulted in 0.01 inch of melted snow…the only precipitation of the month.

In 1956…west-northwest winds gusted to 52 mph at Stapleton Airport.

In 1996…the first snow storm of the new year dumped more than a foot of snow in the Front Range foothills with 4 to 9 inches across the western and southern sections of metro Denver. Snow totals included: 14 inches at conifer; 11 inches at Evergreen; and 10 inches at Eldora Ski Resort… West of Boulder. Snowfall totaled only 1.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. North- northeast winds gusted to 30 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2003…only a trace of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. This…along with a trace of snow on the 22nd…was the only snow of the month…which equaled the 1934 record for the least snowiest January.

Continue reading January 1 to January 7 – This Week in Denver Weather History →

Colorado Weather, National Weather, Thornton Weather

NASA satellite reveals January had fifth largest snow cover in past 45 years

February 26, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

NASA satellite imagery reveals that at one point in January 2011 the nation saw its fifth largest snow cover extent. Click the image for a larger view. (NASA)

How much snow has fallen this season in Colorado all depends on where you are. The high country has continued to see snowfall far in excess of normal while here on the Plains we remain mostly dry. For the nation, a new NASA satellite image reveals that 71 percent of it was covered in snow at one point last month.

The new image (right), taken by NASA’s Terra satellite using its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), reveals a snow covered contiguous United States in January.

The image uses false colors to show the snow extent and the length of time it was on the ground. White areas were completely covered with snow for most of the month whereas the pale green areas had snow for part of the month or were only partly snowy.

On January 12, 71 percent was covered in snow – the fifth largest amount of snow cover in the past 45 years. In fact, 49 of the 50 states had snow thanks to a significant winter storm that pummeled the Gulf Coast states with Florida being the only hold out.

Despite the expansive snow cover, the National Climatic Data Center said that January 2011 was the ninth-driest January in the United States since 1894. Further, while snow reached the Gulf Coast states, the southern half of the nation has been very dry with a large area from stretching Arizona to Virginia considered in various stages of drought.

Eastern Colorado is now seeing areas of moderate to severe drought as the lack of snowfall we have seen takes its toll. In Denver we have recorded only 18.1 inches of snow so far this season – 21.5 inches below what we would normally see through the end of February. Thornton has barely fared better recording 18.5 inches so far.

From Examiner.com:

Winter storms take their toll – Snow covers 69% of the lower 48 states

January 11, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

National snow cover map as of January 11, 2011. — Snow now covers nearly three quarters of the lower 48 states and 47 of the 48 have at least some snow. (NOAA)

For much of the lower 48 states of the United States the 2010 to 2011 winter season has been a rough one. Blizzards and snowstorms have stretched into the Deep South and this morning data shows that nearly three quarters of the nation is covered in snow.

The latest analysis from NOAA’s National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center shows 69.4% of the lower 48 states covered in snow as of this morning. This is a significant increase over the 33.1% cover seen in December and bests the previous snow season’s highest number.

NOAA animation – The 2010 / 2011 snow season to date (Examiner.com)

Perhaps most interesting is that 47 of the lower 48 states and 49 of all 50 states including Hawaii have at least some snow with the only exception being Florida. Even the Deep South reaching nearly to the Gulf of Mexico is covered in a blanket of white today after ice and snow pummeled the region yesterday. Early this morning only five of the 48 did not have some sort of a winter weather warning or advisory in effect.

A snowstorm that started in the South before Christmas moved up the East Coast and left record-setting snow totals in its wake including in New York City. The same storm that struck the South yesterday now has its sights set on the same area from the mid-Atlantic to New England.

Continue reading Winter storms take their toll – Snow covers 69% of the lower 48 states →

Climatology

Denver’s January weather preview – A look at our coldest month

January 2, 2011 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Denver's January weather preview. Like any other month in Denver January can yield a wide variety of conditions. The month is pretty consistently our coldest but by the end of the month we do start to see temperatures slowly start to climb. Big time snow can and does happen but more often than not the month is quite dry – in fact it is our second driest month of the year.

The real story in January is oftentimes the wind. Warm but potentially damaging Chinook winds appear with greater frequency and can be a blessing and a curse. Conversely, cold Bora winds bring dangerous wind chills during the month.

For a complete look at our January weather, a look back at last year and a look ahead at this year’s January weather check out our complete January weather preview.

Thornton Weather

Winter Weather Advisory issued for the Front Range

January 12, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Current ThorntonWeather.com webcam image.

Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow. Areas under the advisory include the Denver metro area and areas south to Castle Rock as well as some of the mountain areas (see advisory map below). The storm seems to be lingering over the Front Range longer than expected but the snowfall is still expected to end quickly late this morning.

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER CO
757 AM MST MON JAN 12 2009

..Winter weather advisory in effect until 11 am MST Tuesday…

The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for snow and areas of blowing snow…which is in effect until 11 am MST Tuesday.

Snow…heavy at times…will continue within the greater Denver metro area…the southern Front Range foothills and the palmer divide south of Denver. A band of moderate to heavy snow now over the Denver metro area will continue to move south over the palmer divide south of Denver within the next hour. In addition to snowfall…areas of blowing snow will significantly reduce visibilities at times.

Snowfall is expected to taper off rather quickly later this morning…first over the northern Denver metro area and then eventually over the palmer divide and southern foothills by early this afternoon.

Additional snow accumulations by noon today will range from 1 of 3 inches in Boulder and across the northern Denver suburbs to another 3 to
6 inches in the southern Denver and over the palmer divide.

In addition…north winds of 15 to 25 mph will produce areas of blowing snow and very poor visibilities especially over the higher terrain south and southeast of Denver.

A winter weather advisory means that snow…blowing snow…or freezing drizzle will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibilities…and use caution while driving.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the Front Range until 11:00am Monday.

Thornton Weather

Batten down the hatches – here comes the wind again

January 6, 2009 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

Much of the western and northern Front Range will be under a High Wind Watch starting tonight.

The relative calm of recent days is about to be replaced with high winds not unlike what we saw last week. Winds will increase tonight and continue through Wednesday east of the Continental Divide. Areas west of I-25 to the Divide and in the north and central mountain areas will be under a High Wind Watch from late tonight through Wednesday night.

Much like last week, the usual suspect areas west of I-25 are the places to watch. Fort Collins, Boulder and the western suburbs of Denver are going to get the worst of the wind. The Peak to Peak Highway, Highway 287 north of Fort Collins, the Boulder Turnpike west of Broomfield, and Highway 93 between Boulder and Golden are naturally going to be prime targets.

Wind gusts in excess of 80 mph can be expected in these areas but as we saw last week, other parts of the metro area can receive their fair share of wind as well. As usual, it is best to put away anything in your yards that could be become a missile and if you are driving in the high wind areas, particular along a north / south route, be prepared for extremely gusty conditions.

Get more local news and weather information on Examiner.com.
This article and many more are posted to the Denver Weather Examiner site.

Visit Examiner.com for more local Denver news and weather.

The good news is that the downslope winds will also bring warmer temperatures – not that you will want to be outside in the wind. Wednesday we will be well above normal with temperatures in the mid 50’s and Thursday could reach the low 60’s. There is a slight chance of snow Friday but that isn’t looking to amount to much.

Climatology

January 2009 weather preview available

December 27, 2008 Thornton Weather Leave a comment

As we continue on what has been a relatively dry season thus far, cold and dry are the key words to remember when it comes to January. The month is the coldest of the year and the second driest as well. Just how cold can January get? The record low temperature for each day of the month is at least 10 degrees below zero.

Just what can we expect in January 2009? Click here to read our January weather preview.

Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.