With a Freeze Warning in place following yesterday’s cold front, we knew it was going to be cold and it certainly has been. In fact, it was record-setting.
Just before midnight, the mercury at Denver International Airport dropped to 28 degrees. This tied the record low temperature for the date, October 4, last set 136 years ago in 1877.
The storm system that moved through brought snow to a good part of the Denver metro area. Here in Thornton we measured 0.8”, our first snowfall of the season. A total 0.39″ of liquid precipitation (rain and snow melt) was recorded in our bucket.
Inexplicably, the National Weather Service is showing no snow was measured at DIA yesterday morning. This despite the fact that numerous firsthand accounts and pictures posted to social media showed the airport did indeed have measureable snowfall.
We are reaching out to the NWS to get an explanation for the discrepancy and will update this post if / when we receive a response.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever-changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
For the most part the Mile High City’s temperatures were on track to be pretty average this summer – up until the last half of August and first part of September. Since that time numerous high temperature records have been smashed and the number of days with temperatures over 90 degrees climbed.
As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver has officially recorded 54 days this year with high temperatures at or above 90 degrees. This puts 2013 into the books as tied for 6th place with 2006 and 2007 for the number of 90 degree days.
On average Denver sees 40 90 degree days a year with the last one falling, on average, on September 4th. The latest we have seen a 90 degree day was on October 1, 1892.
The grid below, from the National Weather Service, shows the top 20 years of 90+ degrees with the monthly distributions.
How has Thornton fared by comparison? As usual we were cooler than the airport having recorded 47 days with 90 degree or higher temperatures. Of those, we recorded none in May, 10 in June, 14 in July, 16 in August, and 7 in September.
Certainly it is possible we could see those numbers increase before the year is out. However long term trends are toward cooler and wetter weather so it is likely we are done for this year.
The grid shows the Top 20 years of 90°+ in Denver along with the monthly distributions. (National Weather Service)
Thursday and Friday brought the hottest temperatures ever recorded during the month of September. Saturday we were spared making that mark again but we did tie a record.
The mercury at Denver International Airport topped out at 95 degrees at 3:07 p.m. This tied the record high temperature for the date of September 7th established in 1933.
Thornton saw very similar conditions to the airport. Our thermometer hit a high of 95.6 degrees.
This was the third record-setting day in a row for the Mile High City and every day so far this month except one (the 1st) has been punctuated by temperature exceeding 90 degrees.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever-changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
For the second day in a row Denver’s temperature officially topped out at 97 degrees as measured at Denver International Airport smashing records once again.
The hot temperature tied the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded during the month of September, just as it did yesterday. It also sets a new record high for the date of September 6, easily besting the previous record of 95 degrees set in 1959.
Here in Thornton we were hotter than the airport as our temperature topped out at a sweltering 99.0 degrees. This was actually the second hottest temperature Thornton has recorded this year. Only June 11th was hotter at 99.2 degrees.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever-changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
A good bit of cloud cover couldn’t keep the mercury from rising to mid-summer-like levels today. The hot temperatures in fact tied two records.
Denver’s temperature topped out a 97 degrees as measured at Denver International Airport. This tied the record high temperature for the date of September 5 set in 1899.
This also tied the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded during the month of September. The 97 degree mark has been recorded multiple times during the month, always within the first five days.
Here in Thornton the temperature we were actually a bit warmer than DIA, a rarity. We topped out at 98 degrees (97.6 degrees).
Unfortunately we will see no break in the 90+ degree weather until Monday at the earliest.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever-changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
While there has been no shortage of heat, we have avoided any records for the past two weeks – until Tuesday.
Yesterday the coldest temperature registered at Denver International Airport during the 24 hour period was only 68 degrees. This sets a new record high minimum for September 3, breaking the old record of 67 degrees set in 1947.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler with a low of 66 degrees at 6:44am.
The hot weather will continue through the weekend before we may see at least a bit of relief. The ridge is expected to start to break down Tuesday ushering cooler temperatures, particularly on Wednesday. Keep an eye on the forecast here for details.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
The lowest temperature today was a very mild 70 degrees at 1:50 a.m. This is a new record high minimum for August 20 easily besting the old record of 67 degrees set in 2007 and previous years.
Denver officially set another high temperature record. However, is it accurate to compare measurements taken at DIA with historical records taken 14 miles away?
Summer 2013 had been a relatively cool one – up until this latter half of August. The Mile High City set another record high temperature and while it was assuredly hot, questions continue to arise over the comparison of measurements at DIA with Denver’s historical records.
At 1:34 p.m. the mercury climbed to 99 degrees at Denver International Airport. This beats the previous record high temperature for the date of 98 degrees set in 1987 at the old Stapleton International Airport.
Here in Thornton we were just a bit cooler with the mercury topping out at 97.8 degrees at 2:23 p.m. This was in fact our second highest temperature of the year. On June 11 we measured 99.2 degrees. Click here to view Thornton’s 2013 temperature records.
At midnight tonight we may see yet another record fall. The record high minimum for today’s date is 67 degrees. This morning the temperature only dropped to 71 degrees at DIA. If by midnight we don’t drop to the 67 degree mark, that will be another record for the Mile High City.
Today’s record is the third in the past four days. On Sunday, August 18 we tied the record high for that date of 98 degrees. That followed a record-breaker on Saturday the 17th when the mercury topped 97 degrees, breaking the old record for that date of 96 degrees.
One thing these records do continue to teach us is how invalid it is to compare records at Denver International Airport compared to historical locations where Denver’s official temperature was measured prior to 1994.
Today for instance, the station at Denver City Park recorded 97 degrees.
Hot yes. Record-setting no.
Similarly, on Sunday the 18th City Park recorded 95 degrees versus DIA’s mark of 98 degrees. On Saturday when DIA recorded a record-breaking 97 degrees, City Park saw 96 degrees.
The difference in measurements is something we have seen repeatedly since 1994. The move of Denver’s official monitoring station is corrupting the city’s climate record and has wide implications.
With a location 14 miles east of where official temperatures were measured prior to DIA, it is in an entirely different microclimate and as a result it experiences different conditions – sometimes considerably different – to locations closer to downtown.
If we can’t accurately compare our temperatures, how are we to believe climate change alarmists that warn of global warming?
For more on the topic of Denver’s problematic weather station, see these previous stories:
At 3:08 p.m. the mercury climbed to 98 degrees. The last time the date saw readings that high was in 2011.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler – but not by much. Our temperature topped out at 95 degrees at 3:19 p.m. This mirrored our high temperature yesterday.
We expect at least a couple more days of these well-above normal temperatures as we head into the workweek. After that we should start to cool down a bit. Click here to view the extended forecast.
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
The mercury climbed with great efficiency today leading to a record-breaking temperature for the date. As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver’s temperature topped out at 2:28 p.m. reaching 97 degrees. This breaks the old record for August 17 of 96 degrees set most recently in 1994.
Here in Thornton we were a bit cooler – but not by much. Our temperature topped out at 95 degrees at 2:43 p.m.
Above normal temperatures, but probably not record-setting, are expected to stay with us through at least the first half of the week. Tomorrow and Monday do offer just a slight chance for thunderstorms. Click here to view the extended forecast: http://www.thorntonweather.com/forecast.php
Don’t miss a thing when it comes to our ever changing weather! Be sure to ‘like’ us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and add us to your Google+ circles.
Weather, natural disasters & climate news and information.
With a Freeze Warning in place following yesterday’s cold front, we knew it was going to be cold and it certainly has been. In fact, it was record-setting.
Thursday and Friday brought the hottest temperatures ever recorded during the month of September. Saturday we were spared making that mark again but we did tie a record.