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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MST WED FEB 5 2025

...Today in metro Denver weather history...

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.
31-8  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.
1-5   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.
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.
3-5   In 1982...a cold surge of Arctic air brought light snow and
        sub-zero temperatures to metro Denver.  Temperatures
        plunged to 6 below zero at midnight on the 3rd and never
        warmed above zero on the 4th as snow flurries continued.
        High temperature on the 4th of 1 below zero was a record
        low maximum.  The temperature dipped to a record low of
        15 below zero on the 5th.
4-5   In 1932...wind gusts estimated at 70 mph occurred in Boulder.
        A 60 mph wind gust was recorded to the east of Boulder in
        Valmont.  Damage was minor.
      In 1959...heavy snowfall totaled 5.8 inches at Stapleton
        Airport where northwest winds gusted to 30 mph on the 4th.
      In 2001...high winds developed for a brief time overnight.
        Winds gusted to 75 mph atop the Gamow Tower on the
        University of Colorado campus in Boulder.  Northwest winds
        gusting to 37 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 57
        degrees at Denver International Airport.
4-6   In 1986...10 inches of snow fell in Boulder...in the foothill
        town of Wondervu southwest of Boulder...and at Evergreen
        west of Denver.  Snowfall totaled 2.4 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport...where north winds gusted to 20 mph
        on the 6th.
5     In 1885...west winds were sustained to 42 mph in the city
        near daybreak.
      In 1902...northwest winds sustained to 48 mph with gusts to
        53 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 53 degrees.
      In 2006...high winds developed briefly along the foothills...
        extending from Golden to near Boulder.  Peak wind reports
        included 92 mph at the National Wind Technology Center on
        Rocky Flats with a gust to 84 mph in Golden.  North winds
        gusted to 43 mph at Denver International Airport.
      In 2011...heavy snow fell in the foothills of Douglas...
        Jefferson and Park Counties.  Storm totals included: 19
        inches...3 miles southwest of Conifer; 17.5 inches...4
        miles south-southeast of Pinecliffe; 14 inches...5 miles
        east-southeast of Aspen Park; 12.5 inches...7 miles
        southwest of Boulder and at Genesee; 12 inches at
        Strontia Springs Dam...10.5 inches at Roxborough State
        Park; and 10 inches...3 miles east-southeast of Tiny
        Town.  In the western and southern Denver suburbs and
        Palmer Divide...storm totals included:  9 inches near
        Louviers and 3 miles south-southeast of Morrison;  8
        inches at Ralston Reservoir...7 inches in Lakewood...6.5
        inches...2 miles southeast of Highlands Ranch and 6
        inches in Englewood.  Snowfall totaled 1.2 inches at
        Denver International Airport.
5-6   In 2003...heavy snow fell in the foothills.  Snowfall totals
        included:  17 inches at Genesee; 16 inches at Lookout
        Mountain; 11 inches at Chief Hosa near Indian Hills...and
        7 miles southwest of Boulder; 10.5 inches atop Gold Hill;
        and 10 inches at Intercanyon and near Conifer.  Only 2.2
        inches of snowfall were measured in the city at the site
        of the former Stapleton International Airport.
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.

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