Commerce City, CO

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

18-19 in 2011... a severe thunderstorm in Central Adams County
        produced large hail and heavy rainfall on the 18th. Large
        hail from 1 inch to 1 3/4 inches in diameter... was reported
        in Commerce City... 2 miles south-southeast of Federal
        Heights... Northglenn... and 2 miles south of Thornton. In
        Commerce City... the storm uprooted trees and knocked out
        power lines. A carport was lifted off the ground and
        struck the power lines overhead. Heavy rain... from 1.0 to
        1.5 inches fell in less than 2 hours in Commerce City and
        near Brighton. The combination of hail and strong winds
        broke windows in Northglenn. In the foothills... moderate to
        heavy snow showers developed overnight. Storm totals
        included: 10.5 inches at Gold Hill... 9.5 inches... 3 miles
        west of jamestown; 9 inches at lake eldora; with 6 inches...
        11 miles southwest of Gilpin and 4 miles east-northeast of
        Nederland. At Denver International Airport... total rainfall
        over the 2-day period totaled 1.71 inches. In addition... a
        peak wind gust to 37 mph was recorded on the 18th.
18-20 in 1915... 3.9 inches of snow fell in the city. The estimated
        amount of snow that melted as it fell was 6.2 inches which
        would have totaled an estimated 10.1 inches of snowfall.
        Precipitation totaled 1.03 inches. North winds were
        sustained to 32 mph on the 18th. Low temperatures dipped
        to 25 degrees on both the 18th and 20th... establishing
        record minimums for both dates.
      In 1988... prolonged heavy rainfall drenched Metro Denver.
        The event began when heavy thunderstorms on the 18th caused
        some street flooding and power outages... followed by steady
        rain on the 19th and 20th. Rain amounts across Metro
        Denver totaled 3 to 4 inches. Rainfall totaled 3.71 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted
        to 39 mph on the 20th. Four to eight inches of snow fell in
        the foothills above 7 thousand feet.
19 in 1927... southeast winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
        to 44 mph.
      In 1956... a thunderstorm wind gust to 54 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1969... hail stones to 1 inch in diameter were measured in
        Arvada and Aurora. Some minor damage was reported.
        Pea to Marble size hail fell in Westminster.
      In 1972... a tornado was reported by aircraft about 5 to 10
        miles east of Parker.
      In 1988... lightning started a fire at a house in the Denver
        suburb of Greenwood Village... causing 2 thousand dollars in
        damage.
      In 1991... strong thunderstorms over east Metro Denver produced
        wind gusts of 56 to 60 mph. The strong winds downed power
        lines... trees... and fences at some locations in Aurora.
        Thunderstorm outflow winds gusted to 60 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 1994... severe thunderstorms rumbled across Metro Denver.
        The storms produced wind gusts averaging 65 mph and hail up
        to dime size. Wind gusts to 77 mph were recorded in
        Brighton. Numerous trees and power poles were downed by
        the winds. One power pole fell onto spectators at a High
        School graduation ceremony in Commerce City... injuring 6
        people. In Fort Lupton... trees fell onto 2 parked cars...
        knocking out the windshields. Hail to 3/4 inch in diameter
        was reported in Littleton. A thunderstorm wind gust to 52
        mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1995... a slow moving tornado... which was mainly discernible
        by its dust and debris cloud... was spotted 2 miles northeast
        of Denver International Airport or about 10 miles
        northwest of Bennett. No damage was reported.
      In 2007... lightning struck a 33-ft statue of jesus at mother
        cabrini shrine... in the foothills west of Golden. The blast
        broke off one of the statue's arms and a hand... and also
        damaged a foot. It cost an estimated $200000 to repair.
      In 2009... lightning struck the roof of a residence in Highlands
        Ranch. The home was not a total loss... but the fire caused
        extensive damage.
      In 2010... a thunderstorm produced hail up to 7/8 inch in
        diameter in Thornton.
19-20 in 1864... a devastating major flash flood occurred on the
        normally dry and Sandy Cherry Creek in Denver. The flood
        was caused by heavy thunderstorm rainfall and hail over the
        Palmer Ridge to the south of the city in both the Cherry
        Creek and Plum Creek basins. Nineteen deaths occurred along
        the South Platte river and Cherry Creek in Denver. The
        torrent swept cattle and sheep along with large trees and
        houses before it washing out several bridges... and moving
        large structures from their foundations. All city records
        were destroyed when city Hall washed away. The Rocky
        Mountain news building... built on stilts in the middle of the
        creek... was totally destroyed by the raging waters... which
        were as deep as 5 feet on the morning of the 20th. Once
        the flood waters receded... much sand and gravel was left
        behind. Property damage from the flood was estimated at
        nearly one million dollars. This was the first major
        flood of record in the city.
20 in 1874... after a light late afternoon shower... 3 rainbows
        were visible in the eastern sky. The two upper bows
        were of the usual colors. The lower Bow had a deep
        Violet center with a faint yellow and White Rim.
      In 1892... apparent Post-frontal north winds were sustained to
        40 mph with gusts to 48 mph. A trace of snow was the last
        snowfall of the season.
      In 1899... snow pellets from 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter fell
        from a thundershower during the late afternoon. West winds
        were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.
      In 1904... southeast winds were sustained to 40 mph with an
        extreme velocity of 42 mph produced by a thunderstorm.
      In 1961... a tornado tore through central Douglas County... 1 1/2
        miles north of Castle Rock. The storm struck 2 ranches and
        the property of a drilling company. A car on the Highway
        was lifted off the Road and slammed into a truck... injuring
        the two occupants.
      In 1983... heavy rain fell in Aurora with 1.00 to 1.50 inches
        of precipitation. Local flooding occurred in Lakewood.
      In 1990... 1 inch diameter hail fell at Buckley field in
        Aurora. Minor damage was reported to autos... buildings and
        signs.
      In 1995... hail as large as 3/4 inch in diameter fell near
        Bennett where a funnel cloud was sighted.
      In 2001... damaging winds developed behind a vigorous cold
        front that moved south from Wyoming into Metro Denver.
        High winds... gusting to 58 mph at Denver International
        Airport... downed trees and power lines and kicked up blowing
        dust... dirt... and debris... reducing the visibility to near
        zero at times. The poor visibility caused a multi-vehicle
        accident along U.S. Highway 85 north of Fort Lupton. Six
        people were treated for minor injuries. Several vehicles...
        including semi-trailers... were blown off I-70 east of Denver.
        About 32 thousand xcel energy customers in Metro Denver were
        without electricity for up to 2 hours. At least a dozen
        incoming flights at Denver International Airport were
        diverted to other airports. All departing flights were
        grounded for at least an hour. At Southwest Plaza... shoppers
        were evacuated as rocks holding a tarp on a portion of a
        roof under repair toppled into The Mall. After the passage
        of the cold front... temperatures plunged from the lower 70's
        to the mid 30's in one hour as light snow developed. Heavy
        snow developed in the foothills during the evening. Peak
        wind reports included 68 mph near Parker and 63 mph near
        Sedalia. Snowfall totals included: 7 inches near Blackhawk...
        at ken caryl ranch... and near sedalia; 6 inches in Coal Creek
        Canyon... at Eldorado Springs... and atop lookout mountain; 5
        inches at chief hosa... in Louisville... Rollinsville... and wheat
        ridge; and 4 inches in Aurora... Bailey... Parker... Castle Rock
        and near Morrison. Low temperature of 31 degrees during the
        early morning of the 21st equaled the record low for the
        date last set in 1931.
      In 2004... severe thunderstorms produced hail as large as 1.25
        inches near ft. Lupton and hail to 1.50 inches 10 miles
        north of ft. Lupton.
20-21 in 1891... heavy rain was mixed with snow at times and totaled
        2.02 inches in the city. Snowfall was 1.0 inch. Northeast
        winds gusted to 28 mph on the 20th.
20-22 in 1959... a three-day rain caused some flooding in Metro
        Denver where rain totaled 1.68 inches at Stapleton Airport.
        Showers... accompanied by hail near Brighton... caused some
        damage to truck crops. Heavy snow in the foothills caused
        damage to power and telephone lines.
20-27 in 2002... lightning sparked a wildfire near Deckers. Extremely
        dry conditions and very strong winds the following day
        allowed the fire... known as the Schoonover... to consume 3850
        acres before it could be contained. Thirteen structures
        were destroyed... including 4 homes... resulting in 2.2 million
        dollars in damage.
21 in 1874... an extensive fire at Central City in the mountains to
        the west of Denver produced large columns of smoke that were
        visible from the city. In the afternoon... the smoke and fire
        produced a dark inky black convective cloud... which spread over
        the city and produced brief strong and gusty winds along with
        a few sprinkles of rain.
      In 1880... west winds increased to a sustained velocity of 40 mph
        during the afternoon.
      In 1893... north winds were sustained to 48 mph.
      In 1914... a severe thunderstorm was attended by hail... excessive
        rainfall which totaled 1.94 inches... and an unusual amount
        of vivid lightning. The heavy rainfall of 0.83 inch in 15
        minutes produced flooding... which caused considerable damage
        to bottom lands in eastern and southern parts of the city.
        Many garden tracts and cellars were flooded. Southwest
        winds were sustained to 29 mph with gusts to 34 mph.
      In 1935... no precipitation occurred... making this one of
        only two days without precipitation during the entire
        month. The other day was the 10th. Precipitation
        totaled 4.95 inches for the month.
      In 1952... a tornado produced a high column of dust and dirt
        over northwest Denver. No damage was reported.
      In 1988... a microburst wind gust to 52 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 2002... very strong winds occurred over Metro Denver and
        northeastern Colorado as a developing surface low pressure
        center intensified. Trees and branches snapped... Downing
        power lines across parts of Metro Denver. About 20 thousand
        residents lost electricity. The strong winds produced much
        blowing dust and dirt especially to the northeast of Metro
        Denver. Winds gusted to 61 mph at Parker. South winds
        gusted to 58 mph at Denver International Airport.
      In 2006... a large dust devil formed near Quincy Reservoir in
        south Aurora. The tall column resembling a tornado or
        smoke plume extended upward into small high-based cumulus
        clouds and was visible for miles across southern Aurora
        and eastern Centennial. No damage was reported.
21-22 in 1878... overnight heavy rains of cloudburst intensity on the
        Palmer Divide to the south of the city caused flash flooding
        on Cherry Creek in Denver... which resulted in 2 deaths. A
        wall of water swept through the city between 2:00 am and
        3:00 am on the morning of the 22nd. The flood was so sudden
        and unexpected that homes along the creek in the city were
        submerged in water Knee Deep before the slumbering occupants
        knew anything about it. By daybreak the banks on both sides
        of the creek were lined by residents viewing the destruction
        caused by the raging waters in such a short time. Seven
        bridges across the creek were destroyed in the city. Damage
        to private and city property was estimated between 30 and 50
        thousand dollars. Quite a number of cattle and sheep were
        killed along The Reach of the creek. Only 0.01 inch of rain
        fell in the city on the 21st with a trace of rain on the
        22nd. Flash flooding also occurred on Kiowa creek near
        Bennett on the night of the 21st when the flood waters
        washed out the Kansas Pacific Railroad bridge. An east
        bound freight train plunged into the turbulent waters
        killing the three crewmen. The locomotive was completely
        buried in the sand and never found to this day!
21-23 in 1876... snow changed to heavy rain over the city... resulting
        in widespread flooding along Cherry Creek and the South
        Platte river... nearly as great as the flash flood of may
        19-20... 1864. However... damage was greater because the city
        had grown much larger and there were more bridges for the
        flood waters to destroy. Precipitation in the city totaled
        6.70 inches from 10:00 PM on the 21st through 3:00 am on the
        23rd. The greatest precipitation ever recorded in Denver in
        24 hours... 6.53 inches... occurred on the 21st and 22nd. Small
        buildings and bridges along Cherry Creek were washed away
        by the flood waters. Bridges over the South Platte river
        were damaged. The city irrigation ditch was damaged and
        rendered unfit for service. Strong winds at speeds of 30
        to 40 mph drove the heavy rain through brick walls 12 to
        16 inches thick. Many sheep and cattle were either killed
        by lightning or drowned... including some 100 head of cattle
        in Jefferson County alone. There was immense damage to
        Railroad tracks... especially the Kansas Pacific line to the
        east of the city. The Colorado central suffered estimated
        damage of 10 to 15 thousand dollars. In addition... the
        heavy rain caused extensive flooding on soda and bear creeks
        in the foothills. Flooding along Boulder Creek inundated
        farm and pasture land in the Boulder Valley and damaged a
        few bridges. Rail travel had to be suspended in the area
        for several days.
22 in 1876... the most precipitation in Denver on any calendar
        day... 6.50 inches... occurred.
      In 1901... northeast winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts
        to 45 mph.
      In 1903... west winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts to
        55 mph from an apparent microburst... which produced a trace
        of rain.
      In 1976... the public reported 3/4 inch diameter hail and wind
        gusts to 53 mph near Littleton.
      In 1987... Golf Ball size hail fell in the lorretto heights
        area of south Metro Denver.
      In 1991... a tornado touched down briefly in Castle Rock. No
        injuries were reported.
      In 1993... an off duty National Weather Service employee
        reported hail up to Golf Ball size just west of the city
        of Denver in Jefferson County. Thunderstorm wind gusts
        reached 58 mph at Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield
        and 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1996... a severe thunderstorm pummeled northwest and
        northern sections of Metro Denver with large hail ranging
        in size from 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter. The cities of
        Arvada and Westminster were the hardest hit. The insurance
        Industry estimated 60 million dollars in damage to homes
        and personal property and 62 million dollars in damage to
        automobiles... for a total of 122 million dollars in insured
        losses. This estimate also included the cities of Golden...
        Thornton... and Wheat Ridge. This was the fourth worst
        hailstorm to hit Metro Denver in the last 10 years.
      In 1998... large hail fell across North Metro Denver. Hail
        as large as 1 1/2 inches in diameter was measured in
        Broomfield and Hudson. Hail to 1 1/4 inches fell in
        Roggen. Hail to 1 inch fell in Brighton... near Keenesburg...
        in Watkins... and in the city of Denver. Lightning ignited
        a house fire in ft. Lupton. A warehouse worker in Denver
        was injured when he was knocked off a loading dock by
        a lightning Bolt. The Bolt skipped off a nearby radio
        tower and struck him in The Arm. He was treated for
        numbness in his right arm and released.
      In 1999... severe thunderstorms produced 7/8 inch diameter
        hail over the city of Denver... with one inch diameter hail
        reported in Aurora... and 3/4 inch hail near Watkins.
      In 2006... a lightning strike sparked a fire and damaged the
        roof of a recreation center in Evergreen. The fire spread
        into some brush and consumed about one quarter acre before
        it was extinguished. Severe thunderstorms produced strong
        wind gusts across portions of Metro Denver. Winds gusted
        to 72 mph in Georgetown... 62 mph near Parker and Bennett...
        60 mph in Castle Rock... and 59 mph in Longmont. The winds
        caused no reportable damage. A thunderstorm produced
        southwest wind gusts to 52 mph at Denver International
        Airport.
      In 2008... a powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across
        Weld County... carving a path of destruction nearly 39 miles
        in length. The tornado... up to one-mile wide at times...
        initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally
        lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado
        assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed
        extensive areas of damage. On the Enhanced Fujita scale...
        there were pockets of EF3 damage near the missle silo park
        campground and to businesses and a home in eastern Windsor.
        Farmers reported extensive damage to crops and irrigation
        equipment. There was one fatality and 78 injuries...
        ranging from broken bones to minor cuts and lacerations.
        One man was killed when he tried to escape a trailer park
        in his motor home. Tractor trailers were flipped along
        U.S. Highway 85... and over 200 power poles were snapped or
        blown down. Approximately 60000 people were left without
        electricity. The tornado overturned 15 Railroad cars and
        destroyed a lumber car. The tornado also flattened the
        main feedlot in Windsor and destroyed a Dairy barn. Most
        of the 400 cows were killed in the tornado or destroyed
        later. The thunderstorm also produced hail up to the size
        of baseballs. Another tornado from a separate thunderstorm...
        rated an EF1... briefly touched down near Dacono and
        destroyed 5 buildings. The tornado overturned a five-wheel
        trailer and injured a man sitting inside. Preliminary
        estimates from fema indicated 850 homes were damaged... and
        nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed.
        The poudre valley rural electric associated reported $1
        million of damage to electric transmission lines.
        Privately insured damages totaled $147 million... making it