####018007295#### NOUS45 KBOU 200859 PNSBOU COZ030>051-202300- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 259 AM MDT MON MAY 20 2024 ...Today in metro Denver weather history... 18-20 In 1915...from the 18th to the 20th...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...from the 18th to the 20th...a 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. 18-26 In 2023...smoke and haze from massive wildfires in Canada significantly impacted air quality and visibility across Denver and the rest of northeast Colorado. 19-20 In 1864...from the 19th to the 20th...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. In 2014...severe thunderstorm produced hail...from 1 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter...across parts of Aurora...Denver... Englewood and Lakewood. 20-21 In 1891...from the 20th to the 21st...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...from the 20th to the 22nd...the 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 the continued from the 20th to the 27th. 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. $$