Public Information Statement  Statement as of 6:45 PM MDT on July 05, 2008

... This week in Metro Denver weather history...

29-15 in 2000... the 29th marked the beginning of a near record hot
        streak for Metro Denver. The high temperatures... as recorded
        at Denver International Airport... exceeded the 90 degree mark
        for 17 consecutive days from June 29th through July 15th.
        This was one day short of equaling the all time record. The
        record of 18 consecutive 90 degree or above days was first
        set from July 1st through July 18th... 1874. The record was
        equaled from July 6th through July 23rd... 1901.
4-8 in 1989... one of the most intense heat waves on record roasted
        Metro Denver. The temperature reached 100 degrees or more
        on 5 consecutive days. The city had previously never
        recorded more than 2 straight 100-degree days since records
        began in 1872. Water and electricity usage reached all time
        highs. The heat wave created extremely dry weather
        conditions... which contributed to a major Forest fire in
        Boulder Canyon on July 9th. The temperature reached 103
        degrees on the 8th... and the Mercury climbed to 101 degrees
        on both the 4th and 5th... and to 102 degrees on both the
        6th and 7th. The low temperature of 68 degrees on the 8th
        equaled the record high minimum for the date.
6 in 1876... the high temperature reached 101 degrees in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1943... four people were injured by lightning in Denver
        during a severe early evening thunderstorm. At least
        two houses were set on fire by the lightning. One house
        had 1500 dollars in damage and the other 1000 dollars.
      In 1959... wind and lightning caused some damage in Metro
        Denver. Wind gusts to 67 mph blew down power lines... signs...
        and trees. Lightning struck several transformers... leaving
        many areas without power.
      In 1971... a microburst wind gust to 68 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1973... the temperature reached a high of 103 degrees.
        This was the second consecutive day with a temperature
        of 100 degrees or more.
      In 1984... a weak tornado moved through eastern Aurora. About
        10 homes sustained minor damage to roofs; some sections of
        fence were thrown more than a block. Soft hail... an inch in
        diameter... fell over central Aurora... and 1.35 inches of rain
        fell in just 45 minutes... 5 miles east of Buckley field.
        Torrential rain and hail stopped traffic on I-225 in central
        Aurora for 15 minutes. Street flooding was widespread. A
        wind gust to 57 mph was recorded in southeast Aurora. A
        wind gust to 66 mph was reported at Front Range Airport near
        Bennett. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport where only 1/8 inch hail fell.
      In 1986... one inch diameter hail fell near Conifer in the
        foothills west of Denver. The storm produced 1.50 inches of
        rain in an hour with a storm total of 2.15 inches. Nearby
        Buffalo Creek was drenched with 0.80 inch of rain in
        just 10 minutes.
      In 1996... 3/4 inch diameter hail fell in Bennett... east of
        Denver. Hail... as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter...
        damaged several vehicles in the parking lot of the
        Colorado Speedway Race Track near Dacono north of Denver.
        Several trees were also damaged.
      In 2001... a severe thunderstorm wind gust to 59 mph was
        recorded at Denver International Airport... along with small
        hail.
7 in 1905... a thunderstorm produced sustained northeast winds
        to 40 mph... but only a trace of rain.
      In 1933... heavy cloudbursts during the afternoon in the
        Idledale area and on Saw Mill gulch caused flash flooding
        on Bear Creek resulting in 7 deaths. Flooding in Morrison
        was compounded when a wall of water as high as 15 feet
        swept down Mount Vernon creek. The flooding caused
        extensive damage to The Bear Creek Canyon Highway.
      In 1959... wind gusts to 45 mph at Stapleton Airport... but higher
        in other areas... damaged power lines and buildings and caused
        widespread minor damage from falling trees and broken limbs.
        A field house under construction at Adams County High School
        in Commerce City sustained severe damage.
      In 1963... farm buildings east of Boulder were possibly damaged
        by a small tornado as there were unconfirmed reports of a
        funnel cloud in the area.
      In 1967... a storm of cloudburst proportion caused damage from
        flooding in southwest and south Denver. Unofficial reports
        indicated rainfall of 2.00 inches in 30 minutes and more
        than 3.00 inches total from the storm. Streets and
        buildings were flooded by the heavy run-off. Hail in some
        areas contributed to flooding by blocking storm drains.
        Water accumulated 12 to 14 feet deep in several underpasses
        and some street intersections. A Young woman drowned when
        she tried to cross a flooded street and was swept off her
        feet and trapped under a parked car. Water reached a depth
        of 5 feet in the street. Police rescued numerous stranded
        motorists. The roof and wall of a flat roofed store
        building collapsed under the weight of deep water on the
        roof. Cars were washed over curbs in many areas. In
        southwest Metro Denver... 100 to 150 homes were flooded.
        Hail caused damage in other areas of Denver and in Aurora.
        Wind toppled trees in several areas. Snowplows were called
        out to clear hail from some highways and runways at
        Stapleton International Airport. Lightning damaged trees
        and power lines and started a fire... which extensively
        damaged an automobile dealership. Thunderstorm rainfall
        totaled 0.83 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1981... severe thunderstorms produced 3/4 inch hail over
        east Denver. About 1 1/2 inches of rain fell in
        Littleton. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 45 mph at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1983... tennis Ball size hail fell about 5 miles north of
        boulder; it was soft and caused no damage.
      In 1987... a weak tornado touched down in Castle Rock. Several
        weak tornadoes were observed in the area. No damage was
        reported.
      In 1988... lightning struck a sign at a bank near Louisville...
        damaging it and causing a smoldering fire that resulted in
        smoke damage to the bank and an adjacent building. Heavy
        thunderstorm rain... accompanied by 1/2 inch diameter hail at
        Stapleton International Airport... briefly reduced the
        visibility to 1/4 mile. Rainfall totaled 1.41 inches...
        but 1.12 inches fell in 32 minutes.
      In 2001... severe thunderstorms dumped large hail across North
        Metro Denver. Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell near
        Erie with 7/8 inch hail measured in Thornton.
      In 2004... a 9-year-old boy was struck by lightning while at
        a playground in Arvada. The Umpire at a nearby baseball
        game... along with 2 passers-by... administrated cpr and
        resuscitated the boy who had quit breathing. The boy
        suffered first and second degree Burns... but was released
        from the hospital in less than 24 hours. A dry microburst
        over Denver International Airport produced a recorded peak
        wind gust to 61 mph.
      In 2006... up to 3 inches of heavy thunderstorm rainfall in
        the Hayman wildfire burn area produced destructive flash
        flooding along West Creek between the towns of Deckers and
        Westcreek in southwest Douglas County. Horse Creek... which
        drains into West Creek... swelled from a normally small creek
        into a raging torrent... 25 to 30 feet deep and 300 feet wide.
        The wall of water damaged or destroyed about 30 sections of
        a 5 mile stretch of State Highway 67... which parallels West
        Creek. Several homes were extensively damaged or destroyed.
        No injuries were reported... but several people had to be
        rescued... due to extensive damage to access roads and bridges
        in the area. Reconstruction was estimated at 13.3 million
        dollars.
8 in 1905... a thunderstorm produced 0.82 inch of rainfall and
        northeast winds sustained to 48 mph.
      In 1977... strong winds turned over 2 light aircraft at Arapahoe
        County Airport... now Centennial Airport.
      In 1987... a weak tornado was observed near Bennett.
      In 1988... three separate tornadoes were sighted near Bennett.
        No damage was reported. One inch diameter hail was also
        reported.
      In 1991... lightning started three house fires in Castle Rock.
        Damage totaled 13 thousand dollars. No injuries were
        reported.
      In 1993... a dry thunderstorm microburst wind gust to 55 mph
        briefly reduced the surface visibility to 3 miles at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1997... one construction worker was killed and two others
        injured when a strong thunderstorm wind gust caused the
        scaffolding they were standing on to collapse near Parker.
        A dry microburst produced a wind gust to 54 mph at Denver
        International Airport.
      In 1998... heavy thunderstorm rain forced the closure of
        Hampden Avenue between I-25 and Havana street in southeast
        Denver. The high water made 2 or 3 lanes of the street
        impassable.
      In 2001... severe thunderstorms produced large hail... damaging
        winds... and heavy rain across south Metro Denver. Two
        people received minor injuries when a severe thunderstorm
        wind gust to 58 mph blew over several tents at the Cherry
        Creek arts festival. The same storm caused the roof of a
        hardware store in Tamarac square to collapse. One employee
        received minor injuries when she was struck in the head by
        falling debris. The combination of intense rain and wind
        downed trees and power lines. Electrical power outages
        affected 35 thousand homes and businesses. At least 50
        trees in city Parks across south Denver were damaged. Up
        to 4.50 inches of thunderstorm rain fell across portions of
        southeast Metro Denver. The underpass at I-25 and Parker
        Road was inundated with 5 feet of water. Several other
        streets and underpasses in Aurora were also closed due to
        high water. Heavy rain caused extensive damage to several
        exhibits at the Cherry Creek arts festival. Flash flooding
        occurred when heavy thunderstorm rainfall caused Toll Gate
        creek to jump its banks. Several underpasses across south
        Denver had to be closed due to high water. A man received
        minor injuries when lightning struck a nearby tree at the
        wellshire Golf course. Hail as large as 1 1/4 inches in
        diameter fell in Englewood with 1 inch hail in the city of
        Denver... and 3/4 inch hail in Littleton. Thunderstorm winds
        gusted to 63 mph at Denver International Airport and to 62
        mph in Englewood.
      In 2005... a tornado touched down briefly near Brighton... but
        caused no damage.
9 in 1872... a very brisk wind between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM
        spread a cloud of dust and sand into the city.
      In 1874... northeast winds at sustained speeds up to 36 mph
        blew immense clouds of dust from the prairie through the
        streets of the city around mid-morning. The houses
        across the street from the weather station were not
        visible at the peak of the storm.
      In 1875... heavy thunderstorm rains caused stream flooding...
        which damaged nearly all railroads into the city. Rainfall
        in the city was only 0.14 inch.
      In 1953... heavy thunderstorm rains caused an estimated
        2 million dollars damage from flooded stores and basements
        across Metro Denver. The flood waters reached a depth of
        3 feet on streets in some sections of the city... damaging
        streets and automobiles. The heavy rainfall at Lowry Air
        Force base totaled 3.90 inches. At Stapleton Airport where
        the heavy rain briefly reduced the surface visibility to
        1/2 mile... only 1.05 inches of rain were measured. North
        winds gusting to 52 mph caused some damage in east Denver.
      In 1982... two small tornadoes were spotted east of Rocky Flats...
        and a tornado touched down briefly 5 miles east of Brighton.
        No damage was reported.
      In 1984... heavy rain fell over southern sections of Metro
        Denver. Rainfall totaled 1.50 inches in just 15 minutes
        between Littleton and Sedalia.
      In 1987... a thunderstorm microburst produced a wind gust of 58
        mph at Erie north of Denver.
      In 1988... hail to 3/4 inch in diameter piled up 2 to 4 inches
        deep in Idaho Springs. Some basements were flooded and
        several thousand gallons of fuel were contaminated when
        water flooded a gasoline storage tank. A tornado sighted
        near Manilla 5 miles west of Bennett remained on the
        ground for 9 minutes. No damage was reported.
      In 1990... a severe thunderstorm produced a tornado and heavy
        rain over northeast Metro Denver. As much as 4 inches of
        rain fell in just 20 minutes in Commerce City... causing the
        South Platte river to rise quickly and flood lowland areas.
        The raging flood waters caused extensive damage to a 30-foot
        stretch of Railroad track embankment... destroyed a Railroad
        trestle and a nearby garage... and washed away a Vintage
        1960's show car near east 58th Avenue and York street. The
        car was found a couple of miles downstream in a pool of deep
        mud and murky water. Rainfall totaled 1.34 inches at
        Stapleton International Airport where 1/2 inch diameter hail
        fell. The same thunderstorm produced a brief tornado in a
        vacant field near 64th Avenue and tower Road just east of
        the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. No damage was reported from the
        twister. Lightning from the storm caused power outages to
        as many as 7 thousand homes and businesses.
      In 1996... a tornado (f0) was reported 5 miles south of Hudson.
        No damage was reported. Twin weak tornadoes (f0) formed
        for a short time near the northeast runways at Denver
        International Airport. Less than 15 minutes later... a weak
        tornado (f0) touched down in the employee parking lot at
        dia. Several car windows were blown out... and a few vehicles
        sustained minor body damage from flying debris. Several
        signs were also blown down. Later... twin weak tornadoes (f0)
        touched down again in open country between dia and Watkins.
      In 2004... severe thunderstorms produced hail to 3/4 inch in
        diameter near Tiny Town and wind gusts to 66 mph in Bennett.
        A thunderstorm wind gust to 56 mph was measured at Denver
        International Airport.
      In 2005... a thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 54 mph at
        Denver International Airport.
9-10 in 1980... a series of severe thunderstorms hit Metro Denver...
        dumping heavy rain and producing a spectacular lightning
        display lasting for several hours. A number of homes were
        damaged by lightning. Winds gusted to 60 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport where about half an inch of rain fell
        in just 10 minutes along with 1/4 inch diameter hail. The
        evening thunderstorms continued into the early morning hours
        with total rainfall of 1.35 inches at Stapleton International
        Airport.
      In 1998... thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.04 inches at the
        site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
10 in 1878... a lunar Rainbow was observed during a light mist and
        fog.
      In 1895... the temperature warmed to a high of only 53 degrees...
        the all-time record lowest maximum temperature for the month
        of July.
      In 1967... Golf Ball size hail damaged aircraft at Jefferson
        County Airport near Broomfield.
      In 1983... two people were injured when struck by lightning
        just southwest of Morrison. A man was injured when he was
        swept downstream by a flash flood on a tributary of Clear
        Creek in the canyon 8 miles west of Golden. Heavy
        thunderstorm rains caused mudslides which closed several
        roads. Rainfall amounts included: 1.75 inches in 20
        minutes in southeast Denver... 1.26 inches in 35 minutes in
        Boulder... 2.14 inches in 2 hours in Lakewood... 1.70 inches in
        45 minutes in Aurora... and 1.25 inches in 30 minutes atop
        Floyd hill in the foothills west of Denver.
      In 1992... storm spotters reported 3/4 inch diameter hail
        near the construction site of the new Denver Airport just
        northeast of the city.
      In 1995... microburst winds toppled a Pine Tree 60 feet high
        and 2 feet in diameter in Denver. The tree fell and
        injured a man nearby. Microburst winds to 59 mph broke the
        glass on a door at the National Weather Service forecast
        office at the site of the former Stapleton International
        Airport.
      In 1998... thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.35 inches at
        Denver International Airport.
      In 2000... three children were injured... one critically... when
        lightning hit a nearby tree at Panorama Point atop
        Flagstaff Mountain just west of Boulder. Lightning hit
        the tree... entered the ground... then struck the children.
        Lightning sparked a grassfire that burned about 50 acres
        at the Rocky Flats environmental test facility. Also...
        lightning sparked at least 6 fires in the Hudson and
        Keenesburg areas as thunderstorms... accompanied with heavy
        rain... large hail... and tornadoes... moved through southern
        Weld County. Over 2 inches of very heavy rain caused
        flooding along an I-76 exit ramp near Keenesburg. The
        Fire Department rescued 15 stranded motorists as high
        water inundated sections of the exit ramp and adjacent
        Highway. Basements were also flooded in Keenesburg.
        One home reportedly had 7 feet of standing water in the
        basement before the rain subsided. A weak tornado (f0)
        touched down briefly near Brighton... but caused no damage.
      In 2001... a severe thunderstorm dumped 7/8 inch diameter
        hail in Wheat Ridge.
      In 2002... severe thunderstorms pelted the southern suburbs
        of Metro Denver with large hail. Hail as large as
        3 inches in diameter fell 6 miles southeast of Parker.
        Other large hail reports included 2 inch diameter
        hail around Centennial Airport and 3/4 inch hail near
        Sedalia and Deckers. Hail as large as 3/4 inch was
        also reported in Broomfield. Runoff from heavy
        thunderstorm rainfall in the Hayman fire burn area
        flooded Lost Creek ranch with up to 18 inches of water
        just off State Highway 126. Floodwaters damaged a very
        expensive rug in the Lodge. A driveway to a residence
        was washed away. In Douglas County... runoff damaged
        Forest access roads in the Turkey Creek drainage.
11 in 1872... heavy rainfall started at 4:00 PM and continued
        into the night. The heavy rainfall damaged homes and
        buildings in all parts of the city. Rainfall totaled
        1.64 inches.
      In 1888... the temperature reached 100 degrees in downtown
        Denver.
      In 1954... the high temperature climbed to 102 degrees at
        Stapleton Airport.
      In 1970... a girl walking in a park in