Our look back at this week in Denver weather history contains many of the severe weather conditions we would expect to see – high speed winds, arctic cold, big time snowstorms, etc. Most notable is the coldest February temperature ever recorded – 25 degrees below zero.

From the National Weather Service:

31-8

In 1963…warm weather that began with the strong Chinook winds on the 31st and 1st continued through the 8th. Maximum temperatures through the period ranged from 52 degrees on the 2nd to 76 degrees on the 5th…which was a new record high for that date.

31-12

In 1899…a protracted cold spell lasted almost two weeks. Low temperatures plunged below zero on all days but February 9th with a reading of 6 degrees. The coldest low temperature of 22 degrees below zero on February 6th was a record low for the date. Low temperatures of 20 degrees below zero occurred on both February 11th and 12th… But only the 11th remains as the record minimum for the date. High temperature of only 5 degrees below zero on February 11th was a record low maximum for the date. High temperatures climbed to only zero degrees on both February 2nd and 3rd…but were not records. Intermittent light snow or flurries fell during the period. The most snowfall…2.0 inches…occurred on February 2nd.

1-9

In 1883…a protracted cold period occurred when low temperatures dipped below zero for 9 consecutive days. Low temperatures ranged from 22 degrees below zero on the 4th to 2 degrees below zero on the 1st and 6th. High temperatures ranged from 10 below zero on the 3rd to 23 on the 9th. Several temperature records were set that still stand today. Record lows of 18 below and 22 below zero occurred on the 3rd and 4th. Record low maximum readings of 2 below and 10 below zero occurred on the 2nd and 3rd. The high of only 10 below zero on the 3rd is the coldest maximum temperature ever recorded in Denver.

5-11

In 1978…the 5th marked the start of a record 7 consecutive days of dense fog at Stapleton International Airport. The heavy fog reduced the visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a period of time on each of these days. Light snow and/or freezing drizzle occurred on most days. Fog reducing visibility to less than 7 miles was recorded at Stapleton International Airport on 11 consecutive days through the 15th. During the period 5-14…the cold thick fog deposited heavy rime ice up to 5 inches thick on power lines and poles over a wide area of eastern Colorado…causing a major electrical power outage disaster.

6-8

In 2020…a strong upper level jetstream coupled with a very deep fetch of Pacific moisture…produced a prolonged period of heavy snow and strong winds in the mountains. Peak wind gusts above timberline ranged from 55 to 65 mph. The winter storm made travel nearly impossible at times…including Interstate 70 west of Georgetown. In the Front Range mountains and foothills…storm totals included: 40 inches at Loveland Ski Area; 33 inches near Berthoud Summit; 30 inches at Eldora and Winter Park ski areas; 26 inches at Aspen Springs; 16 inches around Evergreen. Elsewhere storm totals included: 11 inches in Littleton and Wheat Ridge; 10 inches near Cherry Hills Village…with 7 inches at Centennial Airport. At Denver International Airport…5.3 inches of snowfall was observed.

6-10

In 1933…3:00 pm on the 6th marked the start of a protracted cold period through 8:00 am on the 10th when the temperature was below zero for 86 out of 88 hours. The cold period was interrupted on the 8th at 9:00 am when the temperature was 1 degree above zero and at 10:00 am when the temperature was 8 degrees above zero. Four temperature records were set. High temperatures of 4 degrees below zero on the 7th…8 degrees on the 8th…and 5 degrees below zero on the 9th were record low maximums for those dates. The only record low temperature record was 14 degrees below zero on the 10th. The lowest temperature reached during the period was 16 degrees below zero on both the 7th and 8th…which were not records.

7-8

In 1936…a sharp blast of frigid arctic air was of short duration. At 11:00 am on the 7th the temperature was 39 degrees…but dropped to only 1 degree within an hour. A more gradual decrease occurred through the night to a low temperature of 25 degrees below zero shortly after 6:00 am on the 8th. This was the lowest temperature ever recorded in February. (the record was equaled on February 1…1951.) Snowfall of 1.0 inch occurred in the cold air. During the day on the 8th…northwest Chinook winds from 12 to 16 mph…and as high as 21 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 35 degrees at 7:00 pm. This was a rise in temperature of 60 degrees in 13 hours. Unofficially…the temperature dipped to a low of 30 degrees below zero at Denver municipal airport on the morning of the 8th.

In 1956…5.5 inches of snow fell at Stapleton Airport where east-northeast winds gusted to 23 mph on the 7th.

In 1980…an upslope storm dumped 4 to 10 inches of snow over the plains and as much as 22 inches in the foothills. Traffic was snarled and some schools were closed. Two runways were closed for 3 hours at Stapleton International Airport…where snowfall totaled 6.5 inches and north winds gusted to 25 mph. Most of the snow fell on the 7th.

8

In 1886…northwest winds were sustained to 40 mph in the city. The strong winds were accompanied by a cold wave.

In 1905…west winds were sustained to 40 mph behind a cold front. The bora winds warmed the temperature to a high of only 38 degrees and produced a trace of snow.

In 1939…the very light snowfall…which began during the morning…contained unusually symmetrical…flat and dry snow crystals. These snow crystals continued to fall all afternoon. Snowfall was only a trace. Temperatures ranged from a low of 7 degrees to a high of 18 degrees.

In 1942…a major storm dumped 8.0 inches of heavy snow on downtown Denver. North winds were sustained to 17 mph.

In 1981…high winds occurred over the eastern foothills with 72 mph reported atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver and 60 to 70 mph winds at other locations in the foothills west of Denver. Wind gusts to 50 mph were reported in Boulder. Northwest winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

8-9

In 1898…rain changed rapidly to snow during the late evening of the 8th and continued through the early afternoon of the 9th. Snowfall totaled 6.0 inches in the city. Northeast winds were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 30 mph on the 8th.

In 2001…heavy snow fell across metro Denver mainly in and near the eastern foothills. Snow totals included: 12 inches atop Crow Hill and near Evergreen; 10 inches in Evergreen and near Morrison; 9 inches at Genesee; 8 inches atop Lookout Mountain and near Littleton and Bailey; 6 inches at Arvada and Ken Caryl Ranch; and 5 inches in Broomfield…Chief Hosa… And Thornton. Snowfall totaled 5.1 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport. Temperatures dipped to 15 degrees below zero at Denver International Airport on the morning of the 9th…setting a new record minimum for the date.

In 2002…high winds in the foothills on the 8th spread over the plains on the 9th and caused much blowing dust and snow and blizzard conditions east and northeast of metro Denver. I-70 was closed from just east of Denver to the Kansas state line. Zero visibilities coupled with snowpacked and slick roads caused multiple car accidents in southern weld County. High winds developed in the foothills on the 8th with gusts to 71 mph on Rocky Flats and to 75 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research mesa lab in Boulder. The high winds continued on the 9th with gusts to 83 mph near Fritz Peak…70 mph at Evergreen…and 67 mph at Parker. Northwest winds gusted to 55 mph on the 8th and to 58 mph on the 9th at Denver International Airport where the surface visibility was reduced to as low as 1 mile in blowing dust on the 9th.

In 2008…strong downslope winds developed in and near the Front Range foothills. Peak gusts included: 88 mph at Georgetown…85 mph at Berthoud Pass…81 mph at the NCAR Mesa Lab…78 mph at the national wind technology center… At 76 mph at Floyd Hill. At Denver International Airport… Gusty west winds to 48 mph were observed on the 8th.

9

In 1886…north winds were sustained to 42 mph…the highest winds of the month that year.

In 1893…northwest bora downslope winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph in the city.

In 1960…the lowest pressure reduced to sea level ever recorded in Denver…28.83 inches (976.4 mb.)…occurred. The actual station pressure of 23.770 inches was also the lowest ever recorded.

In 1967…northwest winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton International Airport. Winds were strong and gusty all day.

In 1988…high winds occurred in and near the foothills. Winds gusted to 96 mph in east Boulder. As many as 1600 homes lost power when wires were downed by the wind. Some windows were blown out of cars near Rocky Flats south of Boulder where winds were clocked at 85 mph. In Broomfield…winds were recorded to 68 mph at Jefferson County Airport.

In 2009…high winds occurred in and near the foothills of Boulder and northern Jefferson counties. Peak wind gusts included 81 mph at the national wind technology center and 6 miles northwest of Boulder.

9-10

In 1934…rain changed to heavy snow on the afternoon of the 9th and continued through the day on the 10th. Snowfall totaled 7.4 inches in downtown Denver. North winds were sustained to 24 mph on the 10th.

In 1972…heavy post-frontal snowfall totaled 6.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 46 mph on the 9th. Temperatures plunged from a high of 51 degrees on the 9th to a low of 16 on the morning of the 10th.

In 1981…the season’s coldest arctic air mass rolled into metro Denver plunging temperatures from 10 below to 20 degrees below zero. Bitter north winds gusting as high as 36 mph sent wind chill temperatures to 50 below zero. Two to four inches of snow fell over metro Denver with 6 to 12 inches in the foothills. A Boulder man died of hypothermia while cross country skiing in the mountains west of the city. Snowfall totaled only 1.5 inches at Stapleton International Airport where the minimum temperature on the morning of the 10th was 5 degrees below zero. The temperature that day warmed to a high of only 9 degrees.

In 2003…high winds occurred in and near the eastern foothills. The highest wind gusts recorded: included 80 mph atop Fritz Peak and 73 mph atop Blue Mountain and at the national wind technology center on Rocky Flats south of Boulder. At least 4 multi-car accidents occurred along State Highway 93…between Golden and Boulder when blowing snow caused whiteout conditions. Northwest winds gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th.

In 2017…hurricane force winds toppled trees and knocked over several semis in and near the Front Range Mountains and Foothills. Two trucks rolled over on I-70 in Georgetown. Downed power lines caused scattered electrical outages in Boulder County and impacted nearly four thousand residents. The temperature in Denver reached 80 degrees on the 10th. It was the first 80 degree temperature recorded in the month of February and established the all-time record for the month. The previous warmest temperature for any day in February was 77 degrees on February 4…1890 and Feb. 28…2006. The high wind and extremely warm temperatures helped spread grassfires in Boulder Couunty. No homes were damaged or lost. Intense wind gusts on the 10th also damaged to trees and fences and power lines across Boulder County. Blowing dirt reduced visibilities to a quarter-of-a-mile at times. A strong burst of wind uprooted trees…and knocked down an entire row of power poles and lines near Main Street and Pike Road in Longmont. The downed lines damaged a vehicle at one residence. Another resident had to be rescued when he was trapped in his car by downed electrical lines. Peak wind gusts included: 104 mph at Berthoud Pass…93 mph at Gold Hill…84 mph near Aspen Springs and Nederland…71 mph in Firestone…62 mph in Windsor…59 mph at Denver International Airport…and 58 mph near Hoyt.

9-11

In 1965…heavy snowfall totaled 6.2 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 25 mph.

In 1993…the same storm that dumped heavy snow in the mountains combined with an arctic cold front to produce heavy snow across metro Denver. Upslope snows of 4 to 8 inches were common with some areas receiving nearly a foot. Ten inches of new snow were measured in Parker and 7 inches in southeast Denver. At Stapleton International Airport… Snowfall totaled 8.1 inches. Strong winds combined with the snowfall to produce near-blizzard conditions over the plains closing many roads east of Denver. North winds gusted to only 18 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 9th.

In 2024…moderate to heavy snow developed on the evening of the 9th and continued through midday on 10th. Nearly 14 inches over south central Weld County towards Greeley…where snow fell at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour for several hours. Near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide west and south of Denver…the storm totals ranged from 6 to 12 inches. The snow redeveloped on the evening on the 10th…the melting snow combined with freezing temperatures to produce very icy…slick and hazardous road conditions. Multiple accidents occurred in Denver and the surrounding metro area. The official snowfall measurement at Denver International Airport was 3.7 inches.

Continue reading February 8 to February 14: This week in Denver weather history →

February typically brings warming temperatures and relatively dry conditions however our look back at this week in Denver weather history shows that is far from always the case. We see numerous significant snow events and periods of extreme cold, some of which turned deadly.

From the National Weather Service:

26-1

In 1888…a protracted warm spell lasted a week. Maximum temperatures ranged from 62 degrees on the 29th to an all-time record high for the month of 76 degrees on the 27th. Daily record high temperatures of 76…69…and 71 occurred on the 27th…28th…and 30th respectively. Record high minimum temperatures of 47 and 34 occurred on the 26th and 27th.

30-7

In 1985…a cold front on the 29th produced a protracted cold spell as arctic air remained entrenched across metro Denver. While the only daily temperature record set was a low maximum reading of 2 degrees on February 3rd…minimum temperatures plunged well below zero on 9 consecutive days. The coldest readings were 15 degrees below zero on January 31st and 14 degrees below zero on February 5th.

31-1

In 1963…high winds struck metro Denver. The strong Chinook winds reached 101 mph in Littleton…80 mph in Denver…and 90 mph at Rocky Flats. Among the hardest hit areas were Boulder where buildings under construction were blown down…porches and roofs blown off buildings…and power lines damaged. Damage totaled 100 thousand dollars in Boulder alone. In other areas…utility lines were damaged and many signs…antennas…and road markers were blown down. At Stapleton Airport…west winds gusted to 44 mph on the 31st and 66 mph on the 1st. The Chinook winds warmed maximum temperatures to 65 degrees on the 31st and to 70 degrees on the 1st.

In 2015…a concentrated band of heavy snowfall developed over the urban corridor…during the late evening hours of the 31st…and carried over into the early morning hours of the 1st. The band extended from northwest of Lyons… through northwest Denver and into Aurora…Parker…and Elizabeth. Snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour were observed under the most intense part of the band. Storm totals included: 9.2 inches near Westminster; 9 inches… 5 miles east of Boulder; 8 inches in Federal Heights and 4 miles northwest of Parker; 7.5 inches near Aurora and 11 miles southeast of Estes Park; 7 inches near Elizabeth… Lafayette and Northglenn; 6.5 inches in southeast Denver; 6 inches…near Commerce City and 4 miles northwest of Lyons. At Denver International Airport…1.2 inches of snowfall was observed.

31-8

In 1963…warm weather that began with the strong Chinook winds on the 31st and 1st continued through the 8th. Maximum temperatures through the period ranged from 52 degrees on the 2nd to 76 degrees on the 5th…which was a new record high for that date.

31-12

In 1899…a protracted cold spell lasted almost two weeks. Low temperatures plunged below zero on all days but February 9th with a reading of 6 degrees. The coldest low temperature of 22 degrees below zero on February 6th was a record low for the date. Low temperatures of 20 degrees below zero occurred on both February 11th and 12th… But only the 11th remains as the record minimum for the date. High temperature of only 5 degrees below zero on February 11th was a record low maximum for the date. High temperatures climbed to only zero degrees on both February 2nd and 3rd…but were not records. Intermittent light snow or flurries fell during the period. The most snowfall…2.0 inches…occurred on February 2nd.

1

In 1904…northwest winds were sustained to 51 mph with gusts to 60 mph. The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 55 degrees.

In 1907…west winds sustained to 42 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 59 degrees.

In 1932…the temperature rose from a low of 8 degrees at 7:00 am to the high of 58 degrees at 2:30 pm. The biggest jump occurred from 16 degrees at 8:00 am to 42 degrees at 9:10 am.

In 1951…the lowest recorded temperature in February…25 degrees below zero…occurred. The same temperature was also reached on February 8…1936.

In 1963…west-southwest winds gusted to 66 mph at Stapleton Airport where the strong Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a maximum of 70 degrees.

In 1970…snowfall of 0.3 inch contained only 0.01 inch of melted snow. This was the only measurable snow and precipitation for the month…making it the driest and least snowiest February on record. Snowfall also was only 0.3 inch on February 22-23…1992…equaling the least snowiest February.

In 1980…high winds occurred in the foothills. Wind gusts to 75 mph were reported at Wondervu. Northwest winds gusted to 32 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1995…a short blast of early morning winds near the foothills produced a gust to 64 mph at Rocky Flats in northern Jefferson County. Winds gusting to 59 mph in Lakewood downed a few tree branches in residential areas. West winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the warm winds kept the temperature from falling below 43 degrees…setting a new record high minimum for the date. The temperature climbed to a non-record high of 63 degrees.

1-2

In 1934…light Chinook winds warmed temperatures to record levels on both days. Record maximum temperatures reached 73 degrees on the 1st and 74 degrees on the 2nd. West winds were sustained to 18 mph on the 1st.

In 2016…a slow moving storm system produced a deep east to northeasterly upslope flow late in the afternoon of the 1st. Moderate to heavy snowfall continued through the evening across the rest of Front Range Mountains…Foothills and adjacent plains. Extensive blowing and drifting snow occurred along the Palmer Divide and adjacent plains. Snowdrifts 3 to 6 ft deep were observed. Numerous roads and highways were closed east of the I-25 overnight…including I-70 and I-76…as the roadways became impassable. The road closures continued through the morning of the 2nd as bands of light to moderate snow…with gusty winds to 35 mph persisted. The roads were reopened the afternoon of the 2nd. At Denver International Airport…480 flights were cancelled on the 1st and an additional 125 flights on the 2nd. The official snowfall measurement at Denver International Airport was 11.6 inches…which set a new record for greatest snowfall for the first two days of February. In the mountains and foothills…storm totals included: 25 inches near Eldorado Springs…24 inches at Genesee and 12.5 miles northwest of Golden…22.5 inches near Nederland…21 inches near Pinecliffe…16.5 inches near Brookvale…14 inches at Intercanyon…13 inches near Berthoud…Echo Mountain and Tiny Town; 12 inches near Conifer and Eldora Ski Area…11 inches at Roxborough State Park…9.5 inches near Golden…9 inches near Bergen Park and Strontia Springs Dam…and 8 inches near Black Hawk. Across the I-25 Corridor…storm totals included: 19.5 inches near Parker…15 inches near Loveland…14.5 inches near Louisville…14 inches in Arvada and Ken Caryl…13 inches near Federal Heights…Northglenn and Ralston Reservoir; 12 inches in Broomfield…near Buckley AFB…Castle Rock…Erie and Highlands Ranch; 11.5 inches near Westminster…11 inches in southeast Denver…north Longmont…Lafayette and Mead; 10 inches near Aurora… Franktown and Wheat Ridge; 9.5 inches in Thornton…and 9 inches at Frederick.

In 2017…widespread freezing drizzle contributed to numerous road closures and accidents across the Denver area and adjacent plains. Several crashes were reported on Interstate 25…and several cities and counties went on accident alert. Up to 32 delays at Denver International Airport. Numerous school delay openings and some school and business closures were reported over northeast Colorado.

1-3

In 1996…cold arctic air plunged temperatures below zero for more than 35 consecutive hours from late on the 1st until sunrise on the 3rd. The temperature warmed to only 1 degree below zero on the 2nd after a record low of 16 degrees below zero.

1-4

In 2011…a frigid arctic airmass settled into Front Range urban corridor. At Denver International Airport… Overnight low temperatures…from the 1st to the 3rd… Were 13 below zero…17 below zero and zero respectively. The icy temperatures caused pipes to crack and burst following the freeze. In Loveland…firefighters responded to more than a dozen water pipe breaks…most in fire sprinkler systems at businesses…apartments and assisted care facilities. At CU Earth Science Library in Boulder…more than 1000 books and several costumes for an upcoming production were damaged. At the county courts administration building in Jefferson County…a steady stream of water from a crack on the 5th floor… Went unnoticed on the 3rd and flooded all the floors of the administration wing overnight. As a result…much of the office equipment…furniture and carpet sustained water damage. A burst sprinkler line caused minor damage at the Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton. The icy temperatures forced to closure of several school districts as well.

1-5

In 1985…the most bitter cold spell of the winter season brought sub-zero temperatures to metro Denver. Daily low temperature records were broken at Denver. The usual cold weather problems struck including stalled vehicles…jammed traffic lights…and frozen water and sewer lines. At Stapleton International Airport…the high temperature was only 2 degrees above zero on the 1st…setting a record low maximum for the date. Low temperatures reached 13 below zero on the 1st…12 below on the third…and 14 below on the 5th.

1-6

In 1989…one of the century’s worst doses of winter weather ravaged the entire state. Bitterly frigid weather moved into metro Denver on the 1st as snow buried many sections of the state. In metro Denver where 3 to 6 inches of snow fell…blowing snow and resultant poor visibilities caused a 46-car pile-up on I-25 in the middle of the city on the 4th. During the period…2 to 3 hour delays were common at Stapleton International Airport where snowfall from the storm totaled 4.3 inches and northeast winds gusted to 30 mph on the 1st. Intense cold accompanied the storm. Temperatures in Denver stayed below zero continuously for the best part of 3 days (3rd…4th…5th)…for a total of 69 hours. This is the fourth longest sub-zero period on record. Wind chill temperatures reached 50 degrees below zero. The mercury dipped to 24 degrees below zero on the 5th…setting a record for the date. This was the city’s coldest temperature in over 26 years. Low temperatures dipped below zero on 8 consecutive days (2nd-9th). High temperature of 9 degrees below zero on the 4th was a record low maximum for the date…as was the high of 5 degrees on the 5th. Extensive damage occurred when pipes and water lines froze and broke. Thousands of cars failed to start. On the 3rd…a 57-year-old woman died of hypothermia in an Arvada park. Eighteen high school students were treated for hypothermia after a 2-hour ride through Jefferson County in an unheated bus. At least 2 cases of frostbite were reported; there were undoubtedly many more.

Continue reading February 1 to February 7: This week in Denver weather history →