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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
645 PM MDT SAT JUL 25 2026

...This week in metro Denver weather history...

13-5  In 2008...a streak of 24 consecutive days of 90 degrees...from
        July 13th to August 5th...shattered the previous record of 18
        consecutive days established in 1901 and 1874. Ironically...
        no new single day record high temperatures were set in the
        month of July. In August however...a record of 104 degrees
        was set on the 1st...and another record of 103 degrees was
        set on the 2nd. In addition...a record low min of 70 degrees
        was set on August 2nd.
18-2  In 1987...from July 18th to August 2nd...a streak of 16
        consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 4th on the list of hot
        streaks.  The record of 24 consecutive days was established
        in the summer of 2008.
26    In 1891...a thunderstorm produced sustained northeast winds
        to 44 mph with gusts to 60 mph and 0.16 inch of rain.
      In 1894...a thunderstorm produced sustained southwest winds
        to 36 mph with gusts to 58 mph...but only 0.04 inch of rain.
      In 1910...the high temperature reached 100 degrees in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1959...a Denver man was stunned while standing by a car
        that was struck by lightning.  He was treated for burns and
        shock at a local hospital.  Thunderstorm winds gusted to 55
        mph at Stapleton Airport.
      In 1983...two heavy thunderstorms hit the northern and western
        suburbs.  The first drenched Northglenn with an inch of rain
        in 30 minutes.  The second storm dumped an inch or more of
        rain in Idaho Springs and Evergreen.  The heaviest rainfall...
        2.90 inches in an hour...caused minor street flooding in
        Golden.
      In 1984...heavy early morning thunderstorms drenched the
        foothills southwest of Denver.  Rainfall to 1 1/2 inches in
        just 30 minutes occurred between Evergreen and Conifer.  In
        nearby Turkey Creek Canyon...1.80 inches of rain was recorded
        in 35 minutes.
      In 1985...a long rope-like white tornado touched down 5 miles
        east of Erie and stayed on the ground...mainly over an open
        field...for 18 minutes.  However...the twister damaged a few
        cars on I-25 and injured 3 people from broken glass.  The
        storm flipped over a van...blew out car windows...and ripped
        a highway sign.  It also blew an outbuilding off its
        foundation.  A tornado also touched down briefly 8 miles
        north of Bennett.  No damage was reported from this storm.
      In 1988...a 9-year-old girl was slightly injured by lightning
        in Parker.
      In 2003...a severe thunderstorm in and south of Franktown
        produced hail as large as 1 3/4 inches in diameter.
      In 2022...severe thunderstorms produced strong winds across
        portions of Arapahoe and Boulder counties. The gusts
        ranged from 60 to 70 mph...with hail up to 1 inch in
        diameter near Aurora and Cherry Creek. The wind knocked
        down some large tree limbs...and the hail caused minor
        property damage.
26-27 In 1885...heavy cloudbursts on the Palmer Divide south of
        Denver caused flooding on Cherry Creek in the city
        overnight.  The high water washed away street and railroad
        bridges and a few houses.  The flood waters completely
        inundated the rail yards in lower downtown.  This was the
        worst flood on Cherry Creek since May 19-20...1864...but the
        damage was mitigated by stream improvements and fewer
        structures near the channel.  There was also no simultaneous
        flood on the South Platte River to slow the flow of water
        through the city.  Rainfall in the city was only 0.08 inch
        on the 26th.
27    In 1897...an apparent dry microburst produced sustained west
        winds to 48 mph with gusts to 60 mph and a trace of rain.
      In 1901...a thunderstorm produced north winds to 38 mph with
        gusts to 41 mph and rainfall of only 0.01 inch in downtown
        Denver.  This was the only measurable rainfall of the month...
        making this the driest July on record.
      In 1953...an unconfirmed tornado in south Lakewood touched down
        briefly and abruptly dissipated.  No damage was reported
        from the twister.
      In 1955...the public sighted a funnel cloud estimated at 500
        feet above the ground near the western edge of Lowry Field.
        Wind estimates up to 60 mph were reported in the vicinity.
      In 1956...a severe thunderstorm produced 3/4 inch diameter hail
        and wind gusts to 48 mph at Stapleton Airport where rain
        fall totaled 1.08 inches.
      In 1965...a tornado was sighted 21 miles south of Denver in
        Douglas County.  No damage was reported.
      In 1977...a thunderstorm wind gust to 51 mph was recorded
        at Stapleton International Airport.  A funnel cloud was
        sighted by an aircraft east of Parker.
      In 1982...heavy rain doused Boulder with 1 1/2 to 3 inches of
        rain over a short period of time...causing extensive street
        flooding.
      In 1984...strong thunderstorms drenched several areas.
        Rainfall of 1.04 inches occurred in just 20 minutes at
        Boulder.  Downpours also hit Aurora and northeast Denver...
        delaying flights at Stapleton International Airport for an
        hour.  Up to 3/4 inch of rain fell in central Aurora in 15
        minutes.
      In 1989...lightning hit a home in Littleton...setting a bed on
        fire.  Damage was confined to the bedroom.
      In 1994...lightning struck a furniture store in Boulder...
        igniting a fire which caused major damage to the building
        and contents.
      In 1997...lightning sparked a fire...causing extensive damage
        to a home in Watkins.  Heavy rain caused Lena Gulch to
        surge 2 feet over its banks in Golden.  The fire department
        had to rescue a man when his van stalled in high waters.
        High waters from swollen creeks and streams washed out
        bridges and several sections of road in southeast Aurora.
        A 200-to-300 foot section of road was washed away where
        Picadilly Street dips across Coal Creek.  Three youths
        had to be rescued when they became stranded by rapidly
        rising water in another normally dry creek bed.
      In 1999...lightning was suspected of igniting a fire which
        caused substantial damage to a farm in Hudson.  The blaze
        destroyed a 10-foot by 60-foot metal pole barn...a pick-up
        truck...a SUV...a boat and trailer...3 four wheeler vehicles...
        and other farm equipment.
      In 2007...a man was struck and killed by lightning while
        jogging at Matthews Winters Park in Morrison.
      In 2022...severe thunderstorm produced strong winds near
         Chatfield Reservoir and Parker...with gusts up to 66 mph.
         Hail up to 1 inch in diameter was reported at Gold Hill
         and near Highlands Ranch.
27-31 In 1956...96 percent of the total precipitation for the month
        of July occurred over the last five days of the month.
        Heavy thunderstorms produced 4.00 inches of rainfall at
        Stapleton Airport.  This amount of precipitation in 5 days
        or less had been exceeded only 3 times in previous record.
        The last time had been in December of 1913 as snow.
        Considerable property damage occurred across metro Denver
        from flooding.
28    In 1882...intense thunderstorm lightning struck a number of
        places in the city...but no significant damage was reported.
      In 1910...heavy thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.21 inches in
        downtown Denver.  Rainfall was 1.11 inches in an hour during
        the early afternoon.
      In 1922...heavy rainfall to the south of Denver caused Cherry
        Creek to rise to the top of the retaining walls in the city.
        The creek did not flood; however...the large volume of water
        discharged into the South Platte River did inundate a few
        blocks of Globeville.  Flooding also occurred along Bayou
        Creek near Franktown to the south of the city.
      In 1923...thunderstorm winds were sustained to 38 mph with
        gusts to 52 mph.
      In 1957...iridescent cirrocumulus clouds of unusual formation
        and brilliant color...oriented from southwest to northeast
        over metro Denver...were sighted by U.S. Weather Bureau
        observers at Stapleton Airport shortly after noon.
      In 1966...heavy rains from a severe thunderstorm caused flash
        flooding on Deer Creek...southwest of Littleton.  A child was
        injured when washed from a car caught in the flood waters.
        The flooding damaged property along the creek.  Strong winds
        damaged several houses in suburban Littleton.
      In 1970...a microburst wind gust to 52 mph was recorded at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1974...a tornado was sighted just east of Buckley Field in
        Aurora.  No damage was reported.
      In 1982...up to 2.50 inches of rain drenched an area just
        southwest of Denver in 30 minutes.  This was the second day
        of heavy rain across portions of metro Denver.
      In 1984...1.25 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes in Arvada.
        Minor flooding occurred on Bear Creek after a small dam
        broke.
      In 1989...lightning killed two men in Arvada.  They were taking
        wash from a clothesline when a bolt hit the older man...39...
        killing him instantly.  The bolt then traveled along the
        line...which was stretched between 2 tall trees...and hit his
        26-year-old brother who died the next day.
      In 1996...several weak tornadoes developed along a thunderstorm
        outflow boundary that moved into southern Weld...northern
        Jefferson...and Adams counties.  The tornadoes sighted near
        Bennett...Barr Lake...and in Arvada caused little damage.
        Strong thunderstorm winds downed several trees in the City
        of Denver and toppled several trees 7 miles west of Arvada
        where shingles were blown off several houses.  Thunderstorm
        wind gusts reached 58 mph in Broomfield.
      In 1997...a weak tornado touched down briefly in Parker...
        damaging a greenhouse.  Twenty pieces of the fiberglass
        roof were ripped away.  Heavy rainfall in the foothills
        washed out some culverts in the Pine and Conifer areas.
        Heavy rainfall spread over the plains with 4 to 7 inches
        reportedly falling near Hudson.  Several county roads
        were washed out between Fort Lupton and Hudson.  Several
        basements in the area were flooded up to the ceiling.
        Standing water...up to 3 feet deep...was reported in some
        backyards.  Later in the evening...a flash flood killed
        5 people and injured 40 others in two mobile home parks
        in Fort Collins.  The torrential rainfall also caused
        extensive damage on the Colorado State University campus.
        Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.80 inch at Denver
        International Airport and 1.09 inches at the site of
        the former Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1999...heavy rainfall...up to 3 inches an hour...triggered
        a massive rock and mudslide along I-70 near Bakerville.
        The slide area was about 200 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
        Several other smaller slides were also reported along
        the highway.  As a result...I-70 was closed for nearly
        25 hours in both directions until the debris could be
        cleared from the roadway.  The blockage of I-70 was one
        of the longest in the history of the highway in Colorado.
        A severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 64 mph at
        Denver International Airport.  The storm also produced
        1.56 inches of rain and briefly reduced the visibility
        to 1/4 mile.
      In 2004...a severe thunderstorm produced hail as large as
        1 inch in diameter in Thornton.
      In 2010...a wet microburst produced very heavy rain and
        torrential hail in Boulder County...in the vicinities of
        Caribou...Nederland and Eldora.  Flash flooding washed
        out sections of County Roads 126 and 128 near Caribou.
        Several large boulders had fallen across the roadways.
        Considerable flooding was reported in Nederland.
        Water was also observed running across County Road
        130...between Eldora and Nederland.  The hail had
        accumulated up to 8 inches deep near Eldora.  Several
        vehicles were stuck in the ice...forcing the temporary
        closure of CR130 and the Lake Eldora Ski Road until
        snowplows could clear away the hail. Lightning strikes
        caused minor damage to two local businesses in
        Nederland.  At Denver International Airport...a
        thunderstorm produced 0.30 inches of rain along with a
        peak wind gust to 38 mph.
      In 2012...a tornado touched down briefly at the southeast
        corner of Mt. Evans near Lincoln Lake. The estimated
        elevation where this tornado touched down was near
        12500 feet. This would make this tornado one of the
        highest ever observed in the U.S.
      In 2014...two weak landspouts touched down; one near Ft.
        Lupton and the other on the southwest side of the
        Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.  No damage was
        reported.  A strong thunderstorm wind capsized a boat
        in Barr Lake.  All three occupants made it to shore
        with no injuries.
      In 2016...severe thunderstorms in western Adams and
        east central Jefferson Counties produced large hail
        near Lakewood...Golden and South Glenn.  The hail
        ranged from 1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
28-30 In 1889...from the 28th to the 30th...dense smoke from
        forest fires in the mountains obscured the sun over
        the city for three days.
      In 1971...a vigorous cold front late on the 28th produced
        northeast wind gusts to 39 mph and record breaking cold
        temperatures on the 29th and 30th.  The temperature dipped
        to 47 degrees on the 29th and 43 degrees on the 30th...
        setting record minimums for the dates.  Upslope cloudiness
        along with rain and fog early on the 29th helped set a
        record low maximum temperature of 58 degrees for the date.
29    In 1878...a total eclipse of the sun was observed at 2:20 PM.
        From before to during the eclipse...the temperature in the
        sun fell from 114 degrees to 82 degrees...while the shade
        temperature fell from 89 degrees to 83 degrees.
      In 1880...heavy thunderstorm rain and hail flooded streets
        and ditches.  In 25 minutes...0.76 inch of rain fell on the
        city along with large hail to 3/4 inch in diameter.  There
        were no strong winds with the storm.
      In 1890...a thunderstorm produced sustained west winds to
        48 mph with gusts to 60 mph...but only 0.01 inch of rain.
      In 1956...heavy rain and hail fell over west and north Denver.
      In 1964...hail to 3/4 inch in diameter fell at Lowry Airfield.
      In 1978...a small tornado was sighted just east of Parker.  No
        damage was reported.
      In 1989...heavy rain drenched all areas of the Front Range...
        both in the foothills and adjacent plains.  Amounts of 1 to
        3 inches were general over the area.  Damage was confined to
        a few minor road washouts and some street...basement...and
        crop flooding.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 1.44 inches at
        Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to
        43 mph.  Lightning struck a 250 thousand dollar home near
        Nederland and started a fire which destroyed all of it
        except two garages.  Lightning started a fire in a home in
        Evergreen.  It reached the house by hitting a tree...then
        traveling through a metal clothesline strung between the
        tree and the building.
      In 1995...thunderstorm winds gusted to 59 mph in Brighton.
        Thunderstorm winds from the south-southeast gusted to 41
        mph at Denver International Airport.  High temperature
        of 99 degrees was a new record maximum for the date in
        Denver.
      In 1997...heavy rain caused flooding in an apartment building
        in Westminster.  Several residents had to be evacuated from
        their apartments.  A woman in Aspen Park received minor
        injuries...when lightning passed through an office window
        and struck her.  She suffered temporary blindness for about
        15 minutes.
      In 2003...hail as large as 1 inch in diameter pelted Conifer...
        Highlands Ranch...and Franktown.
      In 2022...two brief landspouts developed...one north of Denver
        International Airport and the other northeast of Buckley AFB.
        Both were small developed in open fields. No damage was
        observed.  At Denver International Airport...a thunderstorm
        produced 0.30 inch of rainfall.  In addition...a peak wind
        gust to 32 mph was observed from the south.
29-30 In 1997...from the 29th into the 30th...heavy rain caused
        flooding and flash flooding in central portions of Adams
        and Arapahoe Counties.  Two homes were extensively damaged
        when water flooded the basements and adjacent pasture area
        in Strasburg.  Water 4 to 5 feet deep had pooled in the
        lower lying areas of the town.  A portion of Quincy Road
        was closed in Arapahoe County when 4 feet of water covered
        the roadway. Rainfall totaled 3.06 inches at Denver
        International Airport...establishing a new record for
        24-hour rainfall in July.  The previous record was 2.42
        inches set in 1965 on the 24th and 25th.
30    In 1879...lightning struck a brick kiln in north Denver.
        Three men were knocked senseless...but all recovered.
        Rainfall in the city was only 0.09 inch.
      In 1881...a thunderstorm dumped heavy rain and hail on the
        city...causing street flooding and much damage.  A heavy
        torrent of rain fell with 1.10 inches measured in just
        20 minutes.  Storm total rainfall was 1.60 inches.  The
        rain turned streets into running streams.  Wood street
        crossings were torn up and washed away.  The storm caused
        great damage by flooding many cellars where goods were
        stored.  The brick yards suffered severe damage when
        the heavy rainfall destroyed many unfired bricks.
      In 1913...northeast winds were sustained to 41 mph with gusts
        to 48 mph.
      In 1939...a thunderstorm produced 0.08 inch of rainfall.  This
        was the only measurable precipitation of the month...making
        the month the second driest July on record.
      In 1961...heavy rain and lightning disrupted power lines and
        caused flooding in Denver.  Thunderstorm rains totaled 1.60
        inches at 11th and Lincoln in central Denver.
      In 1972...the temperature climbed to a high of 100 degrees at
         Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1983...hail 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter fell in central and
        southeast Denver and in Littleton.  Rainfall of 1.50 inches
        occurred in just 30 minutes in Littleton.  There was some
        street flooding in both cities with wind gusts up to 55
        mph.
      In 1984...central Aurora was hit by a downpour that produced
        1.80 inches of rain and sent water 2 to 3 feet deep into
        some streets.  Before the rain stopped later in the evening...
        the storm had dropped as much as 2.80 inches of moisture on
        the city.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled only 0.82 inch at
        Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1985...a tornado was spotted in open country 10 miles
        southwest of Bennett.  No damage was reported.  One inch
        hail was reported in south Lakewood.
      In 1997...one man was killed and his girlfriend critically
        injured when they were struck by lightning on the Kennedy
        Golf Course in southeast Denver.  Both were struck in the
        head when they took refuge under a tree during a downpour.
        Lightning struck a home in unincorporated Arapahoe County
        east of Buckley Field.  The fire started in the electrical
        panel boxes...causing extensive damage to the home.  Heavy
        rain and hail triggered a flash flood in Boulder...which
        sent water through a window of the financial aid office
        on the University of Colorado campus.  In addition...ceiling
        tiles...carpets...and dressing rooms were damaged at the Coors
        Events Center when a pipe draining rainwater broke during
        the downpour.  In all...10 buildings on the campus received
        water damage estimated at 100 thousand dollars.  Hail as
        large as 1.25 inches in diameter accompanied the heavy
        rain in Boulder.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.71 inches
        at Denver International Airport where west winds gusted
        to 41 mph.  This was the greatest calendar day official
        precipitation ever recorded in July.
      In 1998...heavy rain...up to 3 inches in an hour...caused flash
        flooding problems from Castle Rock to Parker.  I-25 north
        of Castle Rock was closed as high waters covered sections
        of the highway.  Some cars were left floating in the flood
        waters.
      In 2001...a severe thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 70
        mph at a wind sensor on the northeast corner of Denver
        International Airport.
      In 2004...a severe thunderstorm produced wind gusts to 71 mph
        in Evergreen.
      In 2005...the temperature climbed to a high of 101 degrees
        at Denver International Airport.  This was a new record
        maximum temperature for the date.  In addition...this was
        the 7th day of the month with a high temperature of 100
        degrees or more...which set a new Denver record for the most
        100 degree days in a month...for a season...and in a year.
      In 2019...a severe thunderstorm produced a peak wind gust to
        58 mph from the north at Denver International Airport.
      In 2021...a thunderstorm produced heavy rainfall...anywhere
        from 3.5 to 4.5 inches...produced flash flooding in Erie.
        Standing water stranded vehicles at the Intersection of
        Highway 7 and Mountain View Blvd. The fire department
        had to rescue a few motorists from their vehicles. A
        couple of basements also flooded.
31    In 1873...the all-time lowest recorded temperature in July...
        42 degrees...occurred.  The same temperature also occurred
        on July 4...1903.
      In 1874...during the late afternoon rain and hail fell for
        5 minutes followed by brief heavy rain.  Pieces of solid
        ice of irregular shape fell upon the roof of the station.
        The hail stones measured 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
        Precipitation (rain and melted hail) was only 0.16 inch.
      In 1889...the high temperature climbed to 100 degrees in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1919...heavy thunderstorm rainfall totaled 2.59 inches in
        downtown Denver during the evening.  Rainfall was 1.90
        inches in an hour...a new record at that time.
      In 1961...over an inch of rain in a short period of time caused
        flooding of streets and basements in Denver.  Rainfall
        totaled 1.30 inches at 11th and Lincoln in central Denver.
      In 1964...the temperature reached 91 degrees in Denver...making
        this the 27th day of the month that the temperature reached
        90 degrees or more.  This is the all time record for 90
        degree days in a month in Denver.
      In 1972...one inch diameter hail fell in Hudson northeast of
        Denver.
      In 1976...during the evening hours extremely heavy thunderstorm
        rains produced flash flooding in Big Thompson Canyon which
        killed 144 people between Estes Park and Loveland.  No
        significant weather occurred in metro Denver at the time.
      In 1987...1 inch diameter hail fell in Lakewood and 3/4 inch
        hail fell near Louisville.  Southeast Boulder County was
        drenched with 1.25 inches of rain in just 20 minutes.
      In 1993...thunderstorm winds damaged a chimney of a home near
        Parker.
      In 1996...a weak tornado (F0) was sighted 12 miles east of
        Denver International Airport.  No damage was reported.
      In 1998...heavy monsoonal thunderstorm rain triggered a mud
        slide in Blackhawk.  The mudslide blocked Main St. and
        caused an estimated half million dollars in damage to a
        casino.  Heavy thunderstorm rain...up to 3 inches in an
        hour...caused a flash flood along Buffalo Creek.  Portions
        of County Road 126 just south of the town of Buffalo
        Creek were washed out.  The flood waters nearly washed
        away the bridge as mud and debris slammed into the
        structure.  Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell near
        Idaho Springs.
      In 2004...severe thunderstorm winds toppled a 65-foot blue
        spruce tree in Parker.  The tree landed on a home damaging
        the roof and gutters.  The downed tree poked dozens of holes
        into the shingles.
      In 2012...it was the hottest July on record in Denver since
        weather records began in 1872.  The average temperature for
        the month was 78.9 degrees which was 4.7 degrees above
        normal. There were 27 days in which the high temperature
        equaled or exceeded 90 degrees...which established a new
        record.  There were also 7 days in which the temperature
        equaled or exceeded 100 degrees which tied the record
        set in 2005.
      In 2013...severe thunderstorm winds...with gusts estimated to 80
        mph...downed power poles which caused scattered outages in and
        around Byers...Bennett and Strasburg. Some property damage was
        also observed. Near Byers...aluminum siding and roofing was
        peeled off sheds. Large hail...up to one inch in diameter...was
        reported north of Bennett.  At Denver International Airport...
        a peak wind gust to 40 mph was observed from the northeast.
1     In 1888...heavy rain in the mountains and foothills caused
        flooding on Clear Creek in Golden.  The high waters also
        washed away portions of the railroad tracks in the canyon
        between Idaho Springs and Golden.
      In 1901...the temperature reached a high of 100 degrees in
        the city.
      In 1902...the high temperature climbed to 100 degrees in
        downtown Denver.
      In 1914...a thunderstorm produced 1.00 inch of rainfall in
        just 21 minutes and north winds sustained at 43 mph with
        gusts to 50 mph.  Rainfall totaled 1.17 inches.
      In 1938...the temperature climbed to a high of 100 degrees
        in downtown Denver...which is the record maximum for the
        date.  The temperature was also recorded on this date in
        previous years.
      In 1976...flight operations at Stapleton International Airport
        were suspended for 90 minutes when the airport tower radar
        was knocked out and water reached a foot deep on some taxi
        ramps after 1.50 inches of rain fell in one hour.  Heavy
        rain also caused minor flooding in east Denver and Aurora
        where lightning damaged the roof of a home and injured the
        owner.  One young man was swept down a flooded ditch...but
        was rescued by firemen.  A number of rafts were floated in
        flooded streets.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 1.71 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1978...a tornado damaged a house and broke a power pole
        5 miles northwest of Parker.  A microburst wind gust to
        52 mph briefly reduced visibility to 1 mile in blowing
        dust at Stapleton International Airport.
      In 1985...heavy thunderstorms roared through the southern and
        western sections of metro Denver...producing large hail
        and heavy rain.  Lightning hit a recreational vehicle
        trailer causing it to burn.  There was a lot of street
        flooding over western suburbs where rainfall totaled
        over 2 inches in some areas.  One inch diameter hail was
        reported in Littleton and near Evergreen.  Hail piled 4
        to 6 inches deep at Tinytown in the foothills southwest
        of Denver.
      In 1990...a small rope-like tornado was spotted in open
        country 15 miles southeast of Centennial Airport.
        No damage was reported from the twister.
      In 1992...pilots reported a funnel cloud near the
        construction site of the new Denver International
        Airport.  A few minutes later...a tornado was reported
        near Bennett.  The tornado remained on the ground for
        about 18 minutes and was visible from the National
        Weather Service office at Stapleton International
        Airport.  Thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph were
        reported near Bennett and Watkins with a wind gust
        to 60 mph at Brighton.  Two men were injured when
        struck by lightning.  A young man sustained serious
        injuries when struck by lightning while jet skiing on
        Cherry Creek Reservoir.  A man received only minor
        injuries when struck by lightning while golfing in
        Westminster.
      In 1994...heavy thunderstorm rains in the foothills west
        of Denver caused the closure of the Virginia Canyon
        road north of Idaho Springs by rocks and debris.
      In 2001...a 34 year old man on the South Platte River bike
        path in Denver received minor injuries when lightning
        struck a nearby tree.  Lightning...coupled with strong
        thunderstorm winds...knocked out electrical power to
        about 10 thousand homes and businesses in Golden.
      In 2006...strong thunderstorms hit southern metro Denver.
        A severe thunderstorm wind gust estimated to 71 mph
        knocked down a tree in Aurora near Cherry Creek.
        Lightning sparked a fire in a home near Lone Tree and
        struck a transformer at an RTD Light Rail station at
        Interstate 25 and Yosemite Street.  Heavy thunderstorm
        rainfall forced the closure of Arapahoe Road between
        Holly and Quebec streets due to high water.  Flooding
        was also reported near Park Meadows Mall and Greenwood
        Village.  Heavy rainfall also caused flooding in
        Highlands Ranch...Lone Tree...and Parker.  Water up to
        6 inches deep was reportedly running over the roads.
1     In 2020...a worsening drought that started in the spring
        of 2020...continued through August. The month of August
        tied with 2011 for the warmest August on record.  It
        also occurred in the middle of the second warmest
        summer on record. The combination of hot and
        dry conditions...in addition to critically dry fuels
        from years of beetle kill...resulted massive wildfires.
        The Cameron Peak fire...which became the largest
        wildfire in the state`s history started on August
        13th and continued to burn into October. Smoke from
        this wildfire in addition to several other large
        wildfires in Colorado and the West resulted in
        multiple days of extremely poor air quality. In
        addition...the air quality in Denver and the entire
        Front Range had deteriorated severely due to the
        very warm temperatures and high ozone content...
        which had spiked significantly.  In August...26
        days in the month equaled or exceeded 90 degrees.

$$