Tag Archives: weather record

Thornton Weather

A record-setting day of rain makes September 2013 the wettest September on record

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Record Rain
Our wet September notched two more records into the books.

Overnight showers that lasted into the morning set a daily rainfall record in Denver.  Even more notable, the rain added to the monthly total making this the wettest September ever recorded in the Mile High City.

As measured at Denver International Airport, Denver recorded 0.64 inches of rain today.  This is a new daily record for September 23, beating the old record of 0.52 inches set in 2000.

Today’s rain, coupled with rainfall before midnight, brought Denver’s September monthly total to 5.47 inches.  With that, September 2013 will go into the record books as the wettest September on record.  The old monthly record was 4.67 inches set in 1961.

Denver’s rainfall total, while impressive, hardly compares to what has been seen in other locations.  It also once again highlights how the station at DIA hardly represents the weather conditions seen in the metro area and makes historical comparisons somewhat invalid.

At the CO-OP station at Stapleton where Denver’s official weather measurements were taken from 1950 to 1995, the monthly total is at 9.08 inches.  The difference in rainfall totals between the old location and DIA showcases how the station move to a different microclimate has skewed the Mile High City’s climate records.

Here in Thornton, our monthly total stands at 9.98 inches after receiving 1.15 inches over the past 24 hours.

Boulder, where some of the heaviest rains fell this month, was at 17.24 inches for the month before last night’s rain.  Monthly rainfall totals in many locations across the Denver metro area are pushing the 10 inch mark.

There are of course still seven days left in the month and with showers in the forecast later this week, that record-setting total may increase.

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Thornton Weather

Denver sees third day in a row of record-setting heat

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.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.

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Thornton Weather

Sounding like a broken record: Denver breaks another high temperature record

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.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.

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Thornton Weather

High temperature record for September 5th tied, also ties hottest temp ever in month

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.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.

The forecast for tomorrow and Saturday current calls for high temperatures of 95 degrees.  Should we hit or exceed those marks, we will tie the record high temperatures for those dates.

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Thornton Weather

Denver sets record high minimum temperature for September 3

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.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.

We continue to be stuck under a powerful ridge of high pressure keeping things dry and hot.  Last month we set three high temperature records in a span of four days and one record high minimum.

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.

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Thornton Weather

Denver sets daily precipitation record for August 22, Thornton catches nothing in the rain bucket

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Mother Nature can be fickle, especially in Colorado, dropping heavy rain in one location and nothing in a spot nearby.  Such was the case this afternoon and evening when Denver International Airport received nearly two inches of rain and Thornton recorded nothing.

As officially measured at DIA, Denver recorded an amazing 1.94 inches of precipitation on August 22.  This easily bests the record for the date of 0.75 inches set in 1953.  It also ranks as the 34th biggest single day precipitation total for the city on record.

Here in Thornton we weren’t so lucky as the storms stayed south and east of us.  We recorded absolutely nothing in the rain bucket on this date.

Denver's Top 50 Single Day Precipitation Totals (National Weather Service)
Denver’s Top 50 Single Day Precipitation Totals (National Weather Service)
Thornton Weather

Denver sets third high temperature record in past four days; questions about historical comparisons called into question

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Denver officially set another high temperature record. However, is it accurate to compare measurements taken at DIA with historical records taken 14 miles away?
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:

Thornton Weather

Denver ties record high temperature for August 18

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.Not to be entirely outdone by yesterday’s record-setting temperature, the Mile High City tied the record high temperature for today’s date, August 18.

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.

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Thornton Weather

Denver breaks high temperature record for August 17

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Record setting high temperatures in Thornton.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

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