NOUS45 KBOU 160045
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-162300-
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO
645 PM MDT SAT JUN 15 2013
...THIS WEEK IN METRO DENVER WEATHER HISTORY...
12-17 IN 2000...TWO LARGE WILDFIRES DEVELOPED IN THE FRONT RANGE
FOOTHILLS AS CARELESS CAMPERS AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS
PROVED TO BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. STRONG WINDS
GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ON THE 13TH FANNED THE FLAMES...
SPREADING BOTH WILDFIRES OUT OF CONTROL. WINDS GUSTED TO
78 MPH ATOP NIWOT RIDGE NEAR THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WEST
OF BOULDER. THE HI MEADOWS WILDFIRE...ABOUT 35 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF DENVER...CONSUMED NEARLY 11 THOUSAND ACRES AND
80 STRUCTURES...MOSTLY HIGH PRICED HOMES. THE BOBCAT
WILDFIRE...LOCATED ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FORT COLLINS...
CONSUMED NEARLY 11 THOUSAND ACRES AND 22 STRUCTURES. LATE
ON THE 16TH...A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVED SOUTH OVER THE GREAT
PLAINS INTO NORTHEASTERN COLORADO. LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE
CONDITIONS DEVELOPED IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT...PRODUCING
2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL OVERNIGHT AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE
8 THOUSAND FEET. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN BOTH
FIRES SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
15-16 IN 1963...HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL RAVAGED METRO DENVER. IN
SOUTHEAST DENVER...HEAVY RAIN FLOODED HOMES AND STREETS.
HAIL TO A DEPTH OF 4 INCHES ON THE GROUND STRIPPED TREES
AND PLANTS AND DRIFTED TO DEPTHS OF 3 TO 4 FEET IN SOME
AREAS. FLOOD WATERS ON THE VALLEY HIGHWAY WERE 19 FEET
DEEP IN PLACES...TRAPPING MANY CARS. MANY CREEKS WERE
RUNNING OVER THEIR BANKS. ON THE 15TH...THE MAIN
THUNDERSTORM CELL PASSED OVER SOUTH DENVER...DUMPING AS
MUCH AS 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN 90 MINUTES. PRECIPITATION
AT STAPLETON AIRPORT TOTALED 0.91 INCH ON THE 15TH AND
1.31 INCHES ON THE 16TH. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED
BRIEFLY 4 MILES TO THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF STAPLETON
AIRPORT ON THE 15TH. DAMAGE FROM HAIL AND FLOODING
AMOUNTED TO NEAR A MILLION DOLLARS.
16 IN 1950...VERY HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL STORMS IN SOUTHWEST DENVER
CAUSED AN ESTIMATED 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HAIL AND FLOOD
DAMAGE. THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED 2.06 INCHES OF RAIN AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT WITH 2.23 INCHES OF RAIN MEASURED IN
DOWNTOWN DENVER.
IN 1965...A TORNADO...15 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF DENVER...
TOUCHED DOWN AND DAMAGED TWO HOUSES IN NORTHERN DOUGLAS
COUNTY. THREE GOLFERS AT A COUNTRY CLUB AND A WOMEN WHO
LIVED NORTH OF CASTLE ROCK WERE INJURED BY FALLING
STRUCTURES.
IN 1983...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 54 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1984...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY IN PARKER. NO DAMAGE
WAS REPORTED.
IN 1986...LIGHTNING INJURED 5 PEOPLE JUST NORTH OF THE DENVER
CITY LIMITS IN ADAMS COUNTY. THE VICTIMS WERE MEMBERS OF
A DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS AND WERE STANDING NEAR A METAL
SCAFFOLD. HEAVY RAIN FROM THE STORM ALSO CAUSED STREET
FLOODING IN THE METRO AREA.
IN 1991...HAIL TO GOLF BALL SIZE FELL AT CONIFER.
IN 1992...A RARE MID-JUNE HIGH WIND EVENT WRECKED HAVOC
OVER METRO DENVER WHEN A PACIFIC COLD FRONT MOVED ACROSS
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. STRONG WINDS AT SPEEDS OF 40 TO 50
MPH WERE COMMON ALONG THE FRONT RANGE FOOTHILLS. WINDS
REACHING 107 MPH IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER AND 79 MPH
AT LONGMONT...CAUSED DAMAGE RANGING FROM TREES BEING TOPPLED
TO LARGE TRUCKS BEING ROLLED OVER. STRONG WINDS ESTIMATED
AT 75 MPH ROLLED A 35-FOOT TRUCK CARRYING BUILDING SUPPLIES
ON U.S. HIGHWAY 36 NORTH OF BOULDER. THE TRUCK DRIVER AND
A PASSENGER AS WELL AS THE DRIVER OF ANOTHER CAR WERE
SLIGHTLY INJURED. THE WINDS DOWNED POWER LINES. THE
GAMBLING TOWNS OF CENTRAL CITY AND BLACKHAWK WERE WITHOUT
POWER FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. WEST WINDS REACHED 43 MPH AT
STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1996...A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN THE FOOTHILLS
SOUTHWEST OF BOULDER NEAR PINECLIFFE...KNOCKING DOWN
50 TO 100 LARGE PINE TREES. A HOUSE NEARBY SUSTAINED
DAMAGE WHEN SHINGLES WERE RIPPED FROM THE ROOF. THE TORNADO
ALSO PICKED UP A 17-FOOT SAILBOAT WITH ATTACHED TRAILER AND
CARRIED IT 25 FEET INTO A NEARBY TREE. IN ADDITION...
THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 46 MPH WERE MEASURED AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2004...HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR CASTLE
ROCK. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH WAS MEASURED NEAR BENNETT.
IN 2005...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH
IN DIAMETER IN CENTENNIAL.
IN 2011...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED AND DAMAGING ACROSS
PARTS OF METROPOLITAN DENVER. IN LAKEWOOD...A TREE BLEW DOWN
AND LANDED ON AT LEAST FIVE CARS. AT CENTENNIEL AIRPORT...A
SECTION OF A ROOF ON A HANGAR WAS RIPPED OFF THE STRONG
WINDS. A PEAK WIND GUST OF 46 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
CENTENNIEL AIRPORT AND DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN
THE EVENING.
16-17 IN 1965...ON THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING OF THE 16TH...VIOLENT
THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED EXTREMELY HEAVY CLOUDBURSTS OF RAIN
OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AND SENT A WALL OF WATER AS HIGH AS
20 FEET DOWN BOTH BRANCHES OF PLUM CREEK INTO THE SOUTH
PLATTE RIVER AND THROUGH METRO DENVER. THE HEAVY RAINFALL
PRODUCED THE MOST DEVASTATING FLOOD IN THE HISTORY OF
DENVER. RAINFALL TOTALED 14.0 INCHES IN 3 HOURS AT BOTH
LARKSPUR AND PALMER LAKE WITH 12.0 INCHES RECORDED IN CASTLE
ROCK. THE FLOOD WATERS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ROADS AND
BRIDGES IN LARKSPUR...CASTLE ROCK...AND SEDALIA...INCLUDING
WASHING OUT THE I-25 BRIDGE OVER EAST PLUM CREEK IN CASTLE
ROCK. THE CITIZENS OF METRO DENVER RECEIVED REPORTS OF THE
FLOODING TO THE SOUTH AND HAD A FEW HOURS TO INITIATE
EVACUATION PROCEDURES ALONG THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER...GREATLY
LIMITING THE LOSS OF LIFE. BY EVENING...THE FLOOD REACHED
LITTLETON WHERE AN HEROIC EFFORT WAS MADE TO SAVE NEARLY
150 HORSES AT THE CENTENNIAL RACETRACK...WHICH WAS
COMPLETELY INUNDATED BY THE FLOOD WATERS. AS THE FLOOD
PROCEEDED THROUGH THE CITY OF DENVER...THE RIVER BECAME MORE
THAN 1/2 MILE WIDE AND DESTROYED ALL HOMES...TRAILER COURTS...
AND BUSINESSES IN ITS PATH. THE WATERS CONTAINED DEBRIS
RANGING FROM REFRIGERATORS TO OLD CARS. AS MANY AS 26
BRIDGES WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED...INCLUDING THE 6TH AVENUE
FREEWAY BRIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTH PLATTE. BOTH PUBLIC SERVICE
COMPANY POWER PLANTS WERE SHUT DOWN BY THE FLOOD. THE KING
SOOPERS GROCERY CHAIN BAKERY WAS INUNDATED. ABOUT MIDNIGHT...
THE TORRENT CRESTED AT 25 FEET ABOVE NORMAL WITH FLOW
EXCEEDING 40 TIMES NORMAL AND IS THE RECORD FLOOD ON THE
SOUTH PLATTE AND MANY OF ITS TRIBUTARIES. THE FLOOD CAUSED
230 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND 8 DEATHS ALONG THE ENTIRE
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN. THE INTENSE RAIN ALSO CAUSED
FLOODING ALONG CHERRY CREEK IN DENVER...ON TOLL GATE AND SAND
CREEKS IN EAST METRO DENVER...AND ON KIOWA AND BIJOU CREEKS
TO THE EAST OF DENVER. THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER FLOOD CLOSED
NEARLY EVERY MAJOR EAST-WEST HIGHWAY INTO DENVER...NEARLY
ISOLATING THE CITY. THE FLOOD CAUSED HEAVY DAMAGE TO STATE
AND COUNTY ROADS IN THE AREA. RAILROADS WERE ALSO HARD HIT
WITH THE MAIN YARDS IN LOWER DOWNTOWN INUNDATED. SEWERAGE...
WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES...AND IRRIGATION WORKS ALSO RECEIVED
HEAVY FLOOD DAMAGE. THE FLOOD CREST DID NOT REACH NEBRASKA
UNTIL THE 20TH.
17 IN 1915...NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 41 MPH WITH AN
EXTREME VELOCITY TO 42 MPH.
IN 1967...THIS WAS THE 24TH CONSECUTIVE DAY WITH A TRACE
OR MORE OF PRECIPITATION FROM MAY 25TH. PRECIPITATION
TOTALED 5.87 INCHES DURING THE PERIOD...MORE THAN A
THIRD OF THE AVERAGE YEARLY TOTAL.
IN 1975...HAIL MORE THAN 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL IN
EASTERN AURORA.
IN 1977...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED 3 MILES EAST OF
ARAPAHOE COUNTY AIRPORT...NOW CENTENNIAL AIRPORT. HEAVY
HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED IN LITTLETON...
CASTLE ROCK...AND SEDALIA.
IN 1979...A MAN AND A GIRL WERE STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING
WHILE WALKING IN A PARK IN NORTHWEST DENVER.
IN 1987...3/4 INCH HAIL FELL NEAR BOULDER.
IN 1991...A MICROBURST WIND GUST TO 59 MPH KICKED UP SOME
BLOWING DUST AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1998...HAIL AS LARGE AS 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN
BOULDER.
IN 2003...LIGHTNING STRUCK A FEEDER LINE...KNOCKING OUT THE
ELECTRICITY TO ABOUT 3000 RESIDENTS IN LITTLETON. A
LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE ROOF AND ATTIC
OF A HOME IN LAFAYETTE. ANOTHER LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED
MINOR ROOF DAMAGE TO A RESIDENCE IN LOUISVILLE. YET
ANOTHER LIGHTNING STRIKE HIT A HOME IN DENVER AND CAUSED
A SMALL ATTIC FIRE. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER
WAS MEASURED NEAR CENTENNIAL AIRPORT AND NEAR GREENLAND.
IN 2009...HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED NEAR
LONGMONT.
17-18 IN 1964...HIGH WINDS AT SPEEDS OF 50 TO 60 MPH WITH GUSTS AS
HIGH AS 75 MPH CAUSED DAMAGE TO HOMES...POWER LINES...AND
TREES IN BOULDER. NON-CONVECTIVE WEST WINDS GUSTING TO
46 MPH CAUSED SOME BLOWING DUST AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT ON THE 17TH.
18 IN 1875...A WINDSTORM PRODUCED SUSTAINED WINDS TO 45 MPH
DURING THE MORNING HOURS. NUMEROUS FOREST FIRES ALONG
THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAINS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE CITY.
IN 1886...NORTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WERE THE
STRONGEST OF THE MONTH THAT YEAR.
IN 1987...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LIGHTNING...LARGE HAIL...
A TORNADO...HEAVY RAIN...AND STRONG WINDS ACROSS METRO DENVER.
RAINFALL TOTALED 2.50 INCHES IN AN HOUR IN WHEAT RIDGE...
CAUSING MINOR FLOODING. I-25 WAS FLOODED IN NORTH-CENTRAL
DENVER...SNARLING TRAFFIC. HAIL 7/8 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN
LOUISVILLE WITH 1 1/2 INCH HAIL NEAR GOLDEN AND 1 TO 1 3/4
INCH HAIL IN AND NEAR CASTLE ROCK. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN
BRIEFLY IN CASTLE ROCK. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. LIGHTNING
STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT BURNED HALF A CABIN NEAR
EVERGREEN.
IN 1994...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED OVER AURORA; HAIL TO
1 3/4 INCH DIAMETER FELL NEAR BRIGHTON; AND HAIL OVER AN
INCH IN DIAMETER FELL OVER AURORA...SOUTHEAST DENVER...
LOUISVILLE...AND BOULDER. LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN
HENDERSON 9 MILES NORTH OF DENVER AND KNOCKED A HOLE IN
THE ROOF...WHICH CAUSED THE CEILING TO COLLAPSE. HAIL TO
1 1/4 INCH DIAMETER WAS MEASURED AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
IN 2002...THE HAYMAN WILDFIRE IN THE FOOTHILLS TO THE SOUTHWEST
OF DENVER INTENSIFIED...AND THE WINDS ALOFT CARRIED THE SMOKE
PLUME DIRECTLY OVER METRO DENVER...AGAIN CREATING A DENSE HAZE
OF SMOKE WHICH BLOCKED THE SUN. SURFACE VISIBILITIES WERE
AGAIN REDUCED TO AS LOW AS 1 1/4 MILES AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2004...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER NEAR MORRISON...IN LITTLETON...NEAR CONIFER...NEAR
CASTLE ROCK...AND IN AURORA NEAR CHERRY CREEK.
19 IN 1874...DURING THE AFTERNOON...LARGE COLUMNS OF SMOKE FROM
EXTENSIVE FIRES IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS MOVED OVER THE
CITY FROM THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST.
IN 1875...WHILE NO PRECIPITATION WAS MEASURED IN THE CITY...
RAINFALL OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE CAUSED CHERRY CREEK TO
RISE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 10 YEARS.
IN 1977...HAIL UP TO 2 INCH DIAMETER DAMAGED TWO PATROL CARS
IN CASTLE ROCK.
IN 1983 GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL FELL JUST NORTH OF BENNETT.
IN 1990...LIGHTNING FROM A THUNDERSTORM STRUCK THE ROOF OF A
HOUSE IN SOUTH BOULDER. RESIDENTS OF THE HOUSE WERE ABLE
TO EXTINGUISH THE ENSUING FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE...BUT NOT
BEFORE SEVERAL SHINGLES HAD BURNED.
IN 1992...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER IN CENTRAL DOUGLAS COUNTY NEAR CASTLE ROCK. HAIL
WAS 3 INCHES DEEP ON I-25 SOUTH OF CASTLE ROCK. A FUNNEL
CLOUD WAS SIGHTED NEAR PARKER.
IN 1997...A 66-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BY A BOLT
OF LIGHTNING WHILE HE WAS GOLFING AT THE EAGLE COUNTRY
CLUB IN BROOMFIELD.
IN 2000...DRY MICROBURST WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 70 MPH WERE
REPORTED ACROSS SOUTHEAST BOULDER AND NORTHERN JEFFERSON
COUNTIES. PEAK WIND GUSTS INCLUDED: 68 MPH AT THE NATIONAL
WIND TECHNOLOGY CENTER...67 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT...
AND 65 MPH IN BROOMFIELD.
IN 2001...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL IN THE
FOOTHILLS SOUTHWEST OF DENVER. HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 3/4 INCH
IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR CONIFER AND BAILEY.
IN 2002...LIGHTNING DAMAGED THE EVERGREEN FIRE PROTECTION
DISTRICT RADIO REPEATER. ONE MICROWAVE TRANSMITTER...THE
MAIN FIRE CHANNEL TRANSMITTER...AND TWO SOLAR PANEL
CONTROLLERS WERE DESTROYED. LIGHTNING STRUCK A GARAGE
AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. TWO VEHICLES PARKED IN THE GARAGE
WERE DAMAGED. HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR CASTLE
ROCK.
IN 2004...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER NEAR CASTLE ROCK...LARKSPUR...AND GOLDEN.
19-21 IN 1875...SMOKE FROM SEVERAL LARGE FOREST FIRES IN THE
MOUNTAINS WAS VISIBLE FROM THE CITY ON EACH OF THESE DAYS.
20 IN 1888...NORTHWEST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 44 MPH.
IN 1956...A MICROBURST CAUSED A BRIEF WIND GUST TO 58 MPH AT
STAPLETON AIRPORT.
IN 1964...HAIL UP TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS REPORTED 1 MILE
NORTH OF STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. A 3 MINUTE HAIL
STORM AT BOTH STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND LOWRY
FIELD PILED SMALL HAIL TO ONE HALF INCH DEEP.
IN 1967...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM DUMPED 1.95 INCHES OF RAIN IN
LESS THAN AN HOUR AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND
PRODUCED A WIND GUST TO 54 MPH. THE STORM CAUSED SOME
FLOODING IN EAST DENVER AND AURORA. THERE WAS WIDESPREAD
FLOODING TO STREETS...BASEMENTS...AND STORE BUILDINGS AND
AUTOMOBILES. HAIL STONES TO 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER WERE
MEASURED AT BUCKLEY FIELD IN AURORA. A TORNADO TOUCHED
DOWN JUST SOUTH OF LITTLETON...DAMAGING A BARN AND KILLING
SEVERAL HEAD OF CATTLE.
IN 1985...A WIND GUST TO 61 MPH WAS REPORTED AT GOLDEN GATE
CANYON IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER.
IN 1986...A MAN WAS KILLED BY LIGHTNING AT HIGHLANDS RANCH
SOUTH OF DENVER.
IN 1987...SEVERAL TORNADOES WERE SIGHTED ACROSS METRO
DENVER. A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY 5 MILES WEST OF
PARKER. A TORNADO WAS SIGHTED JUST NORTH OF CHATFIELD
RESERVOIR. A TORNADO JUST NORTHWEST OF WATKINS WAS ON THE
GROUND FOR 15 MINUTES. A TORNADO NEAR BARR LAKE WAS TAPED
BY A TELEVISION NEWS CREW. IT HAD A DOUBLE VORTEX AND WAS
ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. IN ADDITION TO THE 4
TORNADOES...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DUMPED LARGE HAIL ACROSS
METRO DENVER. ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED IN SOUTHEAST
AURORA; 3/4 INCH HAIL FELL AT THE DENVER TECHNOLOGY
CENTER...BUCKLEY FIELD...AND FRANKTOWN.
IN 1992...SEVERAL SHORT-LIVED TORNADOES OCCURRED IN THE
VICINITY OF BARR LAKE. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES WERE
REPORTED. A WATER SPOUT WAS SIGHTED OVER THE SOUTHERN END
OF BARR LAKE. FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE ALSO SIGHTED ON THE
GROUNDS OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN ARSENAL BY NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OBSERVERS AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 1994...HAIL UP TO DIME SIZE COVERED I-25 SOUTH OF DENVER
AND NEAR SEDALIA. HEAVY RAIN CAUSED LOCAL FLOODING ON THE
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY.
IN 1996...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS DOWNED SEVERAL LARGE TREE
LIMBS IN BOULDER ON THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO CAMPUS. A
STOP LIGHT IN THE CITY WAS ALSO BLOWN DOWN.
IN 1999...LIGHTNING SPARKED AN OIL TANK FIRE NEAR BRIGHTON.
IN 2001...LARGE HAIL DRIVEN BY STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS RAKED
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AND FRONT RANGE AIRPORTS. WIND GUSTING
TO 54 MPH ALONG WITH HAIL AS LARGE 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER
PUNCHED AT LEAST 14 THOUSAND HOLES AND CRACKS IN THE FLAT
ROOFS OF SEVERAL BUILDINGS AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN ADDITION...93 PLANES AND HUNDREDS OF CARS WERE DAMAGED.
ABOUT 100 FLIGHTS HAD TO BE CANCELLED...STRANDING 1500
TRAVELERS. THE AIRPORT WAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FOR ABOUT
20 MINUTES. THE STORM ALSO DAMAGED A GROUND AVOIDANCE RADAR
USED TO TRACK PLANES ON THE GROUND TO PREVENT COLLISIONS.
DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED AT 10 MILLION DOLLARS...NOT COUNTING THE
DAMAGE TO THE 93 AIRLINERS. THE STORM MOVED SOUTH AND
STRUCK WATKINS WITH HAIL AS LARGE AS 2 1/2 INCHES IN
DIAMETER AND WINDS GUSTING TO 60 MPH. A LEAST 30 PRIVATE
PLANES AT FRONT RANGE AIRPORT WERE DESTROYED. THE RADOME
PROTECTING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR...WHICH
WAS TRACKING THE STORM...ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE. THE LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND HEAVY RAIN PUMMELED A MOBILE HOME
PARK NEAR WATKINS. IN THE PARK...52 MOBILE HOMES...14
RECREATIONAL VEHICLES...3 HOMES...AND A COMMERCIAL BUILDING
WERE DAMAGED. SIDING WAS RIDDLED WITH HOLES AND WINDOWS
WERE BROKEN. VEHICLES SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND CAR
WINDOWS WERE SHATTERED. A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WERE TREATED
FOR MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. THE STRONG WINDS ALSO FLIPPED
A TRACTOR TRAILER ALONG I-70 NEAR WATKINS. THE STORM CAUSED
POWER OUTAGES...WHICH AFFECTED ABOUT 1200 RESIDENTS.
EXCLUDING THE DAMAGE AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...DAMAGE
ESTIMATES TOTALED 49 MILLION DOLLARS...MAKING THE STORM THE
COSTLIEST IN THE LAST 3 YEARS AND THE 10TH COSTLIEST SINCE
1984. A SMALL TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN JUST EAST OF BRIGHTON...
BUT DID NO DAMAGE. HAIL AS LARGE AS 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER
FELL NEAR FORT LUPTON WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL MEASURED IN
BENNETT. PRECIPITATION FROM THE STORM TOTALED ONLY 0.23
INCH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2002...HEAVY RAIN FELL NEAR THE HAYMAN WILDFIRE BURN AREA.
FLASH FLOODING WASHED OUT A 40-FOOT SECTION OF THE ACCESS
ROAD TO CHEESEMAN RESERVOIR. SOME DEBRIS WAS WASHED AGAINST
A GATE...BLOCKING THE ROAD. HAIL TO 1 1/2 INCHES IN DIAMETER
FELL NEAR CENTRAL CITY WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL NEAR BLACKHAWK.
IN 2003...HAIL AS LARGE AS 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL NEAR BENNETT
AND STRASBURG WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL MEASURED IN DENVER...GOLDEN...
AT CENTENNIAL AIRPORT...AND NEAR PARKER. HAIL AS LARGE AS
7/8 INCH WAS REPORTED IN ARVADA.
IN 2004...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL TO 3/4 INCH IN
DIAMETER IN AND NEAR BRIGHTON.
IN 2005...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED LARGE HAIL NEAR THE
PALMER DIVIDE. HAIL TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED
NEAR LARKSPUR WITH 7/8 INCH HAIL NEAR SEDALIA AND 3/4 INCH
HAIL IN GREENLAND. AN APPARENT THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW PRODUCED
A WIND GUST TO 59 MPH AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DURING
THE EVENING HOURS.
IN 2010...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN CENTENNIEL AND SPARKED A
FIRE WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
20-21 IN 1897...HIGH WINDS RAKED THE CITY OVERNIGHT. SOUTHEAST WINDS
WERE SUSTAINED TO 60 MPH WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 72 MPH ON THE
20TH. SOUTHEAST WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 57 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 60 MPH ON THE 21ST.
IN 2007...A BRIEF HOT SPELL PRODUCED TWO TEMPERATURE RECORDS.
THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS TIED ON THE 20TH.
A NEW RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 99 DEGREES WAS ESTABLISHED
ON THE 21ST.
21 IN 1927...NORTH WINDS WERE SUSTAINED TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
44 MPH.
IN 1984...LIGHTNING STRUCK AND KILLED TWO CHILDREN STANDING
NEAR A TREE IN A BACKYARD IN LAKEWOOD. STRONG THUNDERSTORM
DOWNBURSTS CAUSED A WIND GUST TO 58 MPH IN NORTHGLENN AND
KNOCKED DOWN TWO POWER POLES NEAR BRIGHTON.
IN 1988...LIGHTNING STRUCK A HOME IN DENVER...CAUSING ABOUT TEN
THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE. LIGHTNING DAMAGED 3 HOMES IN
LITTLETON...AND ALSO HIT A HOUSE IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE THAT
HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING 7 YEARS PREVIOUSLY.
IN 1991...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED WIDESPREAD HAIL ACROSS METRO
DENVER. HAIL AS LARGE AS 2 1/2 INCHES FELL AT SEVERAL
LOCATIONS ACROSS SOUTHWEST METRO DENVER. ONE STORM SPOTTER
REPORTED HAIL 8 INCHES DEEP NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF I-25
AND C-470. HEAVY RAIN WITH THE STORMS CAUSED SOME STREET
FLOODING. IN COMMERCE CITY...SEVERAL CARS WERE UNDER WATER...
AND IN WESTMINSTER A POLICE OFFICER REPORTED WATER UP TO
THE DOORS OF HIS CAR. DAMAGE TO HOMES AND AUTOMOBILES
TOTALED 55 MILLION DOLLARS.
IN 1992...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN BRIEFLY NEAR BENNETT.
ANOTHER TORNADO WAS BRIEFLY ON THE GROUND NEAR STRASBURG.
IN 1994...HEAVY THUNDERSTORM RAINS CAUSED FLOODING IN METRO
DENVER. SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE STALLED IN THE HIGH WATER
ON I-25. LIGHTNING STRUCK AN UNDERGROUND NATURAL GAS LINE
IN AURORA...CAUSING A FIRE. WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES WERE
ALSO OBSERVED.
IN 1996...THREE HOMES WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN PARKER.
THE LIGHTNING STRUCK THE GARAGE OF THE FIRST HOME...WHICH
STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT BURNED SOME SIDING AND SPREAD
INTO THE ATTIC. A SECOND HOME SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE
ATTIC WHEN A SMALL FIRE WAS STARTED. THE THIRD HOME
RECEIVED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. LIGHTNING ALSO SPARKED TWO
SMALL GRASS FIRES IN THE AREA. A MAN IN LAKEWOOD RECEIVED
MINOR INJURIES WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE
WORKING ON A LADDER. A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED IN CASTLE
ROCK. STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS DOWNED A LARGE TREE NEAR
CROSSROADS MALL IN BOULDER. A SMALL TORNADO (F0) BRIEFLY
TOUCHED DOWN NEAR LAFAYETTE. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED.
IN 1997...ONE INCH DIAMETER HAIL WAS MEASURED IN BOULDER.
IN 2002...A THUNDERSTORM WIND GUST TO 62 MPH WAS RECORDED AT
DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2005...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED HAIL TO 1 INCH IN
DIAMETER IN BROOMFIELD ALONG WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL NEAR
ARVADA.
IN 2006...A MAN RIDING A MOTORCYCLE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY
LIGHTNING ON U.S. HIGHWAY 36 BETWEEN CHURCH RANCH BLVD.
AND SHERIDAN BLVD. IN WESTMINSTER. AFTER THE BIKER WAS
STRUCK...HE AND HIS MOTORCYCLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER
CONCRETE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY. THE LIGHTNING BOLT LEFT
A CRATER IN THE HIGHWAY ASPHALT THAT MEASURED 18 INCHES
LONG...8 INCHES WIDE AND 4 INCHES DEEP.
IN 2010...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED HAIL UP TO 1 1/2
INCHES IN DIAMETER NEAR MORRISON. IN LAFAYETTE AND
LOUISVILLE...HAIL UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER WAS OBSERVED.
21-22 IN 1941...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED CLOUDBURSTS OF RAIN
IN BOULDER COUNTY...STARTING DURING THE LATE EVENING OF THE
21ST AND CONTINUING OVERNIGHT. THE HEAVY RAINS OVER THE
BOULDER CREEK...LEFT HAND CREEK...AND SOUTH ST VRAIN RIVER
BASINS PRODUCED FLOODING IN ALREADY SWOLLEN STREAMS AND
TURNED DRY GULCHES INTO RAGING TORRENTS. THE FORCE OF THE
FLOODWATERS SWEPT A MAN FROM THE ARMS OF HIS WIFE TO HIS
DEATH...SEVERELY DAMAGED CANYON HOMES AND SWEPT OTHERS AWAY...
AND HURTLED A CAR DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT AFTER THE DRIVER
NARROWLY ESCAPED. WEST OF BOULDER...THE BOULDER CANYON
HIGHWAY WAS LITTERED WITH ROCKS AND DEBRIS AND COLLAPSED
WHEN TWO CULVERTS WERE WASHED AWAY. THE FLOOD WATERS
WASHED MUCH DEBRIS DOWN FOUR MILE CANYON...DAMAGING THE ROAD
NEAR THE CREEK BED. A BRIDGE OVER DRY CREEK JUST SOUTH OF
NIWOT WAS COMPLETELY WASHED AWAY.
IN 1964...SCATTERED HAIL AND RAIN CAUSED PROPERTY DAMAGE AND
LOCAL FLOODING IN BOULDER.
IN 1989...AN UNSEASONABLY COLD WEATHER SYSTEM PRODUCED STRONG
WINDS OVER MUCH OF METRO DENVER AND SNOWFALL IN THE
FOOTHILLS AS LOW AS 7500 FEET ELEVATION. ONE TO 6 INCHES
OF SNOW FELL IN THE FOOTHILLS WEST OF DENVER WITH 15 INCHES
REPORTED ON THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT EVANS. SIX INCHES OF SNOW
WERE MEASURED AT CONIFER. RAINFALL TOTALED ONLY 0.09 INCH
AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS
GUSTED TO 29 MPH ON THE 21ST.
22 IN 1872...SMALL SANDSTORMS...FREQUENTLY SEEN ON THE PRAIRIE...
OCCASIONALLY PASSED THROUGH THE CITY.
IN 1983...3/4 INCH HAIL WAS OBSERVED AT DECKERS...AND A
THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 55 MPH AT LITTLETON.
IN 1988...A TORNADO WAS SPOTTED ONE MILE EAST OF BRIGHTON; IT
REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 6 MINUTES...BUT DID NO
REPORTABLE DAMAGE. LIGHTNING DAMAGED A HOME NEAR CASTLE
ROCK.
IN 1991...THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCED GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL IN
LAFAYETTE. THE STRONGEST STORMS OCCURRED NORTH OF METRO
DENVER.
IN 1992...NICKEL SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED JUST EAST OF PARKER.
IN 1995...LARGE HAIL 3/4 TO 1 3/4 INCHES IN DIAMETER FELL IN
CASTLE ROCK WHERE A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS SIGHTED. HAIL 3/4
INCH TO 1 INCH IN DIAMETER FELL IN SOUTH DENVER AND AURORA.
A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS ALSO SIGHTED OVER CHATFIELD RESERVOIR.
IN BENNETT...VERY STRONG DRY MICROBURST WINDS OF UNKNOWN
SPEEDS RIPPED A 14- BY 48-FOOT METAL ROOF OFF OF A BARN.
THE ROOF WAS TOSSED APPROXIMATELY 250 YARDS. A FEW 150-
POUND RAILROAD TIES WERE MOVED 10 TO 15 FEET.
IN 1997...A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE ADAMS COUNTY
FAIR GROUNDS NORTHEAST OF DENVER...UPROOTING SEVERAL
TREES AND DAMAGING A CAR. A DRY MICROBURST PRODUCED
A BRIEF WIND GUST TO 69 MPH AT JEFFERSON COUNTY AIRPORT.
A SMALL BRIEF TORNADO WAS SIGHTED NEAR HUDSON...BUT DID
NO REPORTED DAMAGE.
IN 1998...3/4 INCH HAIL FELL NEAR HUDSON.
IN 1999...THUNDERSTORM WINDS GUSTED TO 63 MPH AT DENVER
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IN 2003...HAIL AS LARGE AS 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS MEASURED
IN FORT LUPTON WITH 3/4 INCH HAIL IN ERIE AND NEAR
BOULDER.
IN 2006...A SMALL TORNADO (F0) TOUCHED DOWN NEAR FRANKTOWN...
BUT CAUSED NO DAMAGE.
IN 2008...STRONG WINDS FROM DRY MICROBURSTS DEVELOPED OVER
PARTS OF SOUTHERN WELD AND WESTERN ARAPAHOE COUNTIES.
A PEAK GUST OF 60 MPH WAS OBSERVED IN CENTENNIEL.
NEAR FREDERICK...STRONG WINDS SNAPPED 3 POWER POLES AND
SPARKED A SMALL GRASSFIRE NEAR STATE HIGHWAY 52 AND
INTERSTATE 25. AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...A PEAK
GUST OF 31 MPH WAS OBSERVED.
IN 2009...HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER WAS OBSERVED NEAR
CRESCENT IN BOULDER COUNTY.
$$
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