Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 090145
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-092300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MST SAT MAR 8 2025
...This week in metro Denver weather history...
wide area. At Stapleton International Airport...west winds
gusted to 32 mph on the 13th and southwest winds gusted to
48 mph on the 14th.
In 1972...winds gusted to 67 mph at the National Bureau of
Standards in Boulder. Wind gusts to 49 mph were measured
in downtown Boulder. West winds gusted to 26 mph at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 2001...heavy snow fell across metro Denver and in the
foothills. Snowfall totals included: 8 inches at
Evergreen; 7 inches atop Crow Hill and in Lakewood;
6 inches in Denver...Doubleheader...Eldorado Springs...
Morrison...and Pine Junction. Snowfall totaled 4.8 inches
at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
Northeast winds gusted to 33 mph at Denver International
Airport on the 13th.
14 In 1918...southwest winds were sustained to 41 mph with a
measured extreme velocity to 46 mph.
In 1987...metro Denver received only 3 to 4 inches of snow...
but the foothills west of Boulder received up to 11 inches
of snow. Snowfall totaled 4.2 inches at Stapleton
International Airport where north winds gusted to 31 mph.
In 1988...winds gusted to 81 mph at Echo Lake.
In 2002...high winds developed in the Front Range foothills
during the early morning hours. Winds gusted to 84 mph...
11 miles north of Central City. West winds gusted to
43 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2021...the maximum temperature was just 1 degree above
zero...while the mimimum temperature dropped to 14 degrees
below zero. Both cold-hearted extremes established new
records for Denver on Valentine`s Day.
14-15 In 1960...heavy snowfall totaled 6.1 inches at Stapleton
Airport.
In 1965...5.4 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International
Airport behind a cold front. North-northeast winds gusted
to 32 mph. Winds were strong and gusty all day and caused
considerable blowing snow...contributing to hazardous
driving conditions mainly to the east of Denver.
In 1984...a snow and wind storm howled across eastern Colorado
closing I-70 east of Denver. This was the second blizzard
in less than 4 days. Only 0.5 inch of new snow fell at
Stapleton International Airport...but north winds gusted
to 51 mph.
15 In 1881...the temperature plunged to a low of 20 degrees
below zero in the city. In outer areas of the city...the
temperature dipped to 26.5 degrees below zero.
In 1910...west winds were sustained to 42 mph.
In 1986...high winds battered the Front Range foothills.
A wind gust to 95 mph was recorded in Boulder...but winds of
60 to 80 mph were common in and near the foothills. In
Aurora...an automobile dealership lost a large plate glass
window. Southwest wind gusts to 44 mph were recorded at
Stapleton International Airport. The strong winds warmed
temperatures. A record maximum temperature of 66 degrees
and a record high minimum temperature of 37 degrees were
recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1988...winds to 75 mph were clocked in Boulder...while a
west wind gust to only 41 mph was recorded at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1997...winds gusted to 75 mph at Golden Gate Canyon during
the early morning hours. West winds gusted to 31 mph at
Denver International Airport.
In 2000...high winds spread from the foothills onto the plains.
While the strongest winds were north and northeast of metro
Denver...west winds gusted to 58 mph in Thornton and to
54 mph at Denver International Airport.
In 2005...light precipitation of only 0.02 inch at Denver
International Airport and 0.5 inch was the only measurable
snowfall of the month. This ranked the month as the 2nd
driest February of record.
15-16 In 1889...heavy snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown
Denver. Most of the snow...5.5 inches...fell on the 15th
when northeast winds were sustained to 18 mph.
In 1921...strong bora winds cooled maximum temperatures from
the 60`s on the previous 3 days to 54 degrees on the 15th
and to 43 degrees on the 16th. West winds were sustained
to 39 mph with gusts to 54 mph on the 15th and to 46 mph
with gusts to 56 mph on the 16th.
In 1953...strong...cold northwest winds were widespread from
the foothills across the plains. Near gale force winds
were observed in Boulder. A wind gust to 54 mph was
recorded at Stapleton Airport where blowing dust briefly
reduced the visibility to 1 1/2 miles. Damage was minor.
In 1993...an Arctic cold front pushed south over the eastern
Colorado plains with upslope snow developing behind the
front. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were common over
metro Denver. At Stapleton International Airport...snowfall
totaled 4.5 inches and north winds gusted to 25 mph.
Temperatures hovered only in the single digits for most of
the day. The storm produced up to a foot of snow over
southeast Colorado.
In 2006...overnight snowfall in the mountains and eastern
foothills contained a lot of red dust and dirt apparently
from Arizona. Strong southwest winds with gusts to 100 mph
in the San Juan mountains on the 15th created widespread
blowing dust. This red dust became entrained in snowfall
across the area. The reddish colored snow was reported
in Ward...Nederland...Blackhawk...and Boulder. The storm
produced only 0.9 inch of snowfall in the Stapleton area
of Denver with 4 to 5 inches measured in the foothills.
15-17 In 1938...a cold air mass brought a light snowfall of 6.2
inches over 3 days to downtown Denver where northeast
winds were sustained to 18 mph on the 15th.
8-9 In 1992...a major blizzard struck metro Denver. The storm
was preceded by thunderstorms with small hail during the
afternoon of the 8th. By evening...with the passage of a
strong Arctic cold front...snow began falling. Strong north
to northeast winds at 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 52 mph
produced near zero visibilities in blizzard conditions
across metro Denver. By the morning of the 9th...snowfall
amounts up to a foot and a half were reported with drifts
of 2 to 4 feet. Many roads were closed including I-70 east
of Denver and I-25 both north and south of Denver. Many
homes and stores were temporarily without power. Snowfall
amounts included: 18 inches at Conifer...13 inches in
Boulder and Denver...12 inches at Brighton and Morrison...and
10 inches at Aurora. Snowfall totaled 12.4 inches at
Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusting
as high as 52 mph reduced the visibility to zero at times
in heavy snow and blowing snow.
In 2002...high winds occurred in the foothills west of Denver.
Winds gusted to 95 mph near Fritz Peak and to 73 mph near
Nederland.
8-10 In 1989...unusually warm weather set four daily temperature
records in Denver. The high temperature of 74 degrees on
the 8th exceeded the record. Records were equaled on the
9th with a high of 77 degrees and the 10th with a high of
79 degrees. The low temperature of 42 degrees on the 10th
set a new record high minimum for the date.
9 In 1918...northwest winds sustained to 44 mph with gusts as
high as 52 mph occurred during the early morning hours.
In 1960...west-northwest winds gusted to 51 mph at
Stapleton Airport.
In 1980...high winds were recorded in the foothills with a
wind gust to 84 mph at Wondervu. Northwest winds gusted
to 38 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1982...strong chinook winds buffeted the foothills in
Boulder. Wind gusts of 60 to 90 mph toppled a microwave
dish antenna and blew the shell off a camper. West winds
gusted to 47 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1986...high winds in the foothills with gusts of 60 to 70
mph were reported at Golden Gate Canyon and in Boulder.
Northwest winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton
International Airport.
9-10 In 1904...strong chinook winds raked the city for 2 days. On
the 9th...west winds sustained to 53 mph with gusts to 62
mph warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees. On
the 10th...west winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts
to 54 mph. The high temperature was 58 degrees.
In 2013...a storm system brought heavy snow to areas in and
near the Front Range Mountains and Foothills where storm
totals included: 13 inches at Berthoud Pass SNOTEL...12
inches at Arapahoe Ridge; 11 inches...5 miles southwest of
Golden; 10.5 inches near Kittridge; 10 inches at Lake
Eldora and Pine Junction; 9.5 inches near Conifer...9
inches...near Bailey and 9 miles east-northeast of
Nederland...Joe Wright and Strontia Springs. Along the
Urban Corridor...some storm totals included: 8.5 inches at
Highlands Ranch and near Morrison; 8 inches in Arvada;
7 inches...5 miles northeast of Westminster; 6.5 inches at
Centenniel...Lone Tree and Wheat Ridge; 6 inches in West
Denver...Hygiene...Lyons and Thornton...5.5 inches in
Broomfield; with 5 inches in Aurora and the former
Stapleton International Airport. Across the Palmer Divide
and northeast plains of Colorado...storm totals ranged
anywhere from 2 to 10 inches. The combination of snow and
strong wind produced blizzard conditions and forced the
closure of Interstate 70 east of Denver. Sustained winds
of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph produced near zero
visibilities at times and snowpacked roads. Snowdrifts
from 2 to 4 feet deep were reported. As a result...many of
the roadways became impassable. Officially...Denver
International recored 5.4 inches of snowfall on the 9th.
In addition...a peak wind gust to 38 mph was observed from
the north.
9-11 In 1927...rain changed to heavy snow behind a cold front and
totaled 7.7 inches over downtown Denver. North winds were
sustained to 37 mph with an extreme velocity to 38 mph on
the 11th.
In 1955...a strong windstorm raked the eastern foothills. A
wind gust to 95 mph was recorded at Rocky Flats with a gust
to 60 mph measured at Valmont. Damage in Boulder totaled
10 thousand dollars. Minor injuries also occurred. The
strong winds were associated with a vigorous cold front
that produced northwest winds at 40 mph with gusts as high
as 52 mph at Stapleton Airport where the visibility was
briefly reduced to 3/4 mile in blowing dust on the 10th.
In 1968...5.5 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International
Airport where northeast winds gusted to 24 mph on the 10th.
9-19 In 1906...an extended cold and blustery period occurred with
light snow totaling 14.4 inches over 11 consecutive days.
The greatest amount of snow on a single day was 4.0 inches
on the 15th. Only a trace of snow fell on the 12th and 17th.
High temperatures were below freezing for the entire period.
The coldest were 14 degrees on the 16th and 18 degrees on the
17th. Both readings were record low maximums for the dates.
Low temperatures were mostly in the single digits. The
coldest were 2 degrees below zero on the 16th and 5 degrees
below zero on the 19th. Northeast winds were sustained to
22 mph on the 9th. North winds were sustained to 36 mph on
the 10th...32 mph on the 13th...and 22 mph on the 15th.
10 In 1893...northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph with gusts
to 60 mph in the city.
In 1948...the high temperature warmed to only 6 degrees...
the all-time record low maximum for the month of March.
The same reading also occurred on March 6...1920.
In 1970...5.0 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International
Airport where north winds gusted to 21 mph.
10-11 In 1886...snowfall of 3.5 inches was measured in
downtown Denver. Apparent post-frontal north winds
were sustained to 43 mph on the 11th.
In 1977...a major blizzard struck metro Denver. Snowfall
totaled 8.0 inches at Stapleton International Airport
where north winds at speeds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts to
60 mph frequently reduced visibilities in blowing snow to
1/4 mile or less. Most of the snow...7.7 inches...fell on
the 10th. The snow ended by daybreak on the 11th...but
strong north winds persisted through the day.
In 1988...a late winter storm produced heavy snow and wind...
mainly north of Denver. Wind gusts reached 62 mph at
Keenesburg and produced a lot of blowing snow...closing
schools in southwest Weld county. The storm closed I-70
east of Denver. Only 1.1 inch of snow fell at Stapleton
International Airport...but north winds gusted to 39 mph.
10-12 In 1924...snowfall was heavy and totaled 9.9 inches over
downtown Denver. North winds were sustained to 18 mph
on the 11th.
In 2001...heavy snow fell over northeast Colorado and metro
Denver when a combination of upslope winds and convective
snow bands formed over the area. Storm totals included:
11 inches at the Eldora Ski Resort; 10 inches at Genesee;
8 inches at Elizabeth...atop Lookout Mountain...near Sedalia...
and at Strasburg; 7 inches near Castle Rock and Evergreen;
and 6 inches in Aurora...atop Crow Hill...and in Parker.
Elsewhere across metro Denver...snowfall ranged from 2
to 5 inches with 3.9 inches at the site of the former
Stapleton International Airport. North winds gusted to
28 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th.
11 In 1896...northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph with
gusts to 56 mph.
In 1991...the passage of a strong Pacific cold front produced
winds in excess of 60 mph across metro Denver. Blowing
dust reduced the visibility to 2 miles at Stapleton
International Airport where northwest winds gusted to
49 mph. A blizzard across eastern Colorado closed I-70
from Watkins to the east...but Denver escaped the storm with
only a trace of snowfall.
11-12 In 1929...heavy snowfall totaled 9.3 inches in downtown
Denver. Northwest winds were sustained to 31 mph with
gusts to 34 mph on the 11th.
In 1947...heavy snowfall totaled 7.0 inches in downtown
Denver. North winds were sustained to 15 mph on the 11th.
In 1963...snowfall totaled 5.8 inches at Stapleton
International Airport where north-northwest winds
gusted to 25 mph on the 11th.
In 1993...a strong storm dumped heavy snow in the mountains
and 4 to 8 inches of snow over metro Denver. Snowfall
totaled 3.6 inches at Stapleton International Airport
where north winds gusted to 35 mph.
12 In 1893...northwest winds were sustained to 44 mph.
In 1952...northwest winds sustained at 40 mph with gusts to 60
mph were recorded at Stapleton Airport where 3.2 inches of
snow also fell.
In 1954...strong winds raked metro Denver all day producing
areas of blowing dust...snow...and blowing snow. At
Stapleton Airport...north-northeast winds at sustained speeds
of 40 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph were recorded.
Snowfall totaled only 0.4 inches.
In 1982...a windstorm hit the foothills from Boulder north.
The highest recorded wind gust of 90 mph occurred in
Boulder. Wind gusts to 47 mph were recorded at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1985...only 1.0 inch of snow fell in Denver...but strong
winds produced near-blizzard conditions and caused the
closure of I-70 from Aurora to Limon for an hour in the
evening. North winds gusted to 38 mph at Stapleton
International Airport.
In 1999...heavy snow fell in and near the Front Range
Foothills. Snowfall totals included: 8.5 inches at
Genesee...6 inches about 8 miles northwest of Evergreen...
4.5 inches in Boulder...4 inches in Littleton...and only
2.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton
International Airport.
12-13 In 2005...a winter storm brought heavy snow to the eastern
foothills and western metro Denver overnight. Storm total
snowfall included: 15 inches in Jamestown...13 inches near
Blackhawk...11 inches in the foothills southwest of Boulder
and near Nederland...10.5 inches at Gross Reservoir...9.5
inches at Eldorado Springs...9 inches at Roxborough Park...
8.5 inches near Longmont...8 inches in Boulder...7.5 inches
at Centennial...7 inches in Louisville...3.3 inches at Denver
Stapleton. At Denver International Airport...west winds
gusted to 46 mph on the 12th before the passage of the
cold front and north winds gusted 31 mph on the 13th.
12-16 In 1880...a protracted cold spell resulted in 8 temperature
records being set. Record low temperatures for the date
were set when the temperature dipped to 10 degrees below
zero on the 13th and 14th...8 degrees below zero on the
12th and 15th...and 4 degrees below zero on the 16th.
Daily record low maximum temperatures were set with 11
degrees on the 12th...12 degrees on the 13th...and 19 degrees
on the 15th.
13 In 1973...northwest winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton
International Airport. The strong winds were accompanied
by virga and a very light snow shower.
In 1990...4 to 9 inches of snow fell across metro Denver
with 8 to 16 inches in the foothills. Morrison reported 9
inches; Evergreen...11 inches; and Aspen Springs...14 inches
from the storm. Blowing snow and reduced visibilities
caused 2-hour delays at Stapleton International Airport
where only 5.1 inches of snow fell and north winds gusted
to 21 mph.
13-14 In 1996...a storm system moving across northern Colorado
dumped heavy snow in the mountains and foothills and
across metro Denver where snowfall ranged from 5 to 10
inches. A foot of new snow was measured at Nederland
with 11 inches at Conifer. Snowfall totaled 8.0 inches
at the site of the former Stapleton International
Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 30 mph at Denver
International Airport on the 13th.
13-15 In 1906...snowfall totaled 8.0 inches over downtown Denver.
In 2021...bands of snow developed over northeast Colorado into
the northern mountains and foothills on the 13th...which then
intensified overnight. The heavy snow then gradually shifted
southward on the 14th and covered Denver and the Front Range.
The snow slowly decreased in the evening. North winds
increased to 25 to 35 mph...on the 14th...with gusts up to 50
mph. This produced blizzard conditions along the I-25 Corridor
from Palmer Divide north to the Wyoming border. Denver
International Airport runways were closed...from noon on the
14th until 2 pm on the 15th...with over 2000 flights canceled.
All major interstates were closed except for those areas around
Denver. Extensive drifting snow was observed...with drifts from
3 to 7 feet deep. The heavy wet snow caused extensive tree
damage and produced power outages. Snowfall amounts in the Front
Range Mountains and Foothills ranged from 20 to 40 inches...with
18 to 30 inches reported along the I-25 Corridor. The official
snow for Denver was 27.1" which was the 4th largest storm
on record since 1882. On the 14th...North winds gusts to 48 mph
at Denver International Airport on the 14th. In addition...
liquid precipitation for this storm event totaled 2.88 inches
at the airport.
14 In 1873...a brisk west wind blew a perfect gale during the
afternoon and evening.
In 1898...northwest winds were sustained to 52 mph with gusts
to 62 mph.
In 1899...west bora winds were sustained to 50 mph with
gusts to 60 mph.
In 1902...west winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to
48 mph.
In 1913...strong winds all day behind a cold front made
for a blustery cold day as the high temperature climbed
to only 25 degrees after a low of 19 degrees. Northeast
winds were sustained to 51 mph with gusts as high as 60
mph. Only a trace of snow fell.
In 1920...west winds sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 50
mph warmed the temperature to a high of 67 degrees.
In 1923...heavy snowfall of 8.5 inches fell in downtown
Denver. North winds were sustained to 25 mph.
In 1947...heavy snowfall totaled 5.8 inches in downtown
Denver. Northeast winds were sustained to 17 mph.
In 1971...a wind gust to 51 mph was recorded at the National
Bureau of Standards in Boulder.
In 1989...a strong Pacific cold front produced west wind gusts
to 59 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
In 2002...heavy snow developed in the foothills of Boulder
County with 9 inches measured near Jamestown and 7 inches
near Nederland. Snowfall totaled only 2.9 inches at the
site of the former Stapleton International Airport. East
winds gusted to 29 mph at Denver International Airport.
14-16 In 1908...a warm spell resulted in daily record high minimum
temperatures on 3 consecutive days: 54 degrees on the
14th...52 degrees on the 15th...and 56 degrees on the 16th...
also the all-time record high minimum for the month of
March. High temperatures ranged from 65 degrees on the
14th to 72 degrees on the 16th.
In 1983...a heavy wet snowstorm buried metro Denver with the
foothills receiving the most. Conifer recorded 34 inches
of snow with 4 feet measured at Coal Creek Canyon in the
foothills northwest of Denver. The storm left 6 to 10
inches of snow across metro Denver. Boulder received 12 to
18 inches. Flight operations at Stapleton International
Airport were limited to one runway for a time. Some roads
and schools were closed...and power outages occurred when
wet snow downed lines. Snowfall on the 15th and 16th
totaled 7.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport
where north winds gusted to 30 mph. Maximum snow depth
on the ground was only 6 inches due to melting.
15 In 1902...northwest winds were sustained to 54 mph with gusts
as high as 60 mph.
In 1920...southwest winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
to 48 mph. The strong but cold downslope winds warmed the
high temperature to only 35 degrees.
In 1935...strong winds howled across Boulder. At Valmont a
wind gust to 60 mph was recorded. No damage was reported.
In 2006...strong winds ranging from 60 to 75 mph were reported
in and near the foothills of Boulder County. In Longmont...
two trees toppled by the strong winds damaged a car. Winds
gusted to 75 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric
Research Mesa Laboratory in Boulder. West winds gusted to
52 mph at Denver International Airport.
15-16 In 2000...heavy upslope snowfall occurred in and near the
Front Range foothills and over the Palmer Divide to the
south of metro Denver. Snowfall totals from the storm
included: 17 inches at Idaho Springs; 16 inches at
Aspen Springs; 12 inches in Boulder; 11 inches at Bailey...
Chief Hosa...Coal Creek Canyon...Eldorado Springs...Evergreen...
and near Morrison; 10 inches at Intercanyon...Ken Caryl
Ranch...and near Nederland; 9 inches near Sedalia and in
Wheat Ridge; and 8 inches in Arvada. Snowfall totaled 5.4
inches at the site of the former Stapleton International
Airport. Northeast winds gusted to 28 mph at Denver
International Airport on the 15th.
$$