Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 120959
PNSBOU
COZ030>051-122300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MST WED NOV 12 2025
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
10-14 In 2014...an Arctic cold front on the 10th...associated with a
strong storm system over the northern Rockies blasted into
northeast Colorado. The temperature in Denver plummeted
from the high of 64 degrees at 4:37 pm to 34 degrees by
5:53 pm. The temperatures continued to fall and dropped
into the teens by early evening. The Arctic airmass
remained entrenched over the region through the morning of
the 14th...with the high temperatures failing to reach
the teens from the 11th through the 13th. This was the first
time since records have been taken in Denver...dating back to
1872...that there were three consecutive days with the
maximum temperatures remained below 20 degrees in the month
of November. In addition to the frigid temperatures...0.1
inch of snowfall was observed on 11th at Denver International
Airport...which marked the first measureable snowfall for the
season. An additional 2.2 inches of snowfall was measured on
the 12th. Several temperature records were broken. A
record low max of 16 degrees on the 11th broke the previous
record of 19 set back in 1916. A record low max of 6 degrees
on the 12th broke the previous record of 9 degrees...also set
in 1916. The record low of -13 on the 12th...shattered the
previous record of -4 degrees set back in 1872. Even more
impressive...the record low of -14 degrees on the 13th broke
the previous record of -3 degrees set back in 1916. The
sudden drop in temperatures on the 10th...followed by several
days of sub-freezing temperatures chilled trees to the core.
The record drop in temperatures...preceded by mild fall
temperatures...damaged or killed scores of trees across the
I-25 Corridor and northeast plains. At the time...the trees
were not finished with the hardening process that enables
them to withstand winter weather. Many were instantly flash-
frozen...and some would not show signs of damage until spring
of 2015. Of the 2.2 million trees in the city of Denver
alone...tens of thousands were killed from the November frost.
Denver estimated a citywide loss of more than 10 million
dollars.
11-12 In 1922...from the 11th to the 12th...a major storm dumped
14.1 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver. The most
snow on the ground was 10.5 inches at 6:00 PM on the 12th.
North winds were sustained to 21 mph on the 11th.
Temperatures were generally in the teens and 20`s.
In 1964...from the 11th to the 12th...strong winds in Boulder
caused power outages and minor damage. Winds gusted to 42
mph in downtown Boulder. At Stapleton International Airport
west winds gusted to 36 mph on the 11th and 35 mph on
the 12th.
In 1976...from the 11th to the 12th...snow and freezing drizzle
caused icing on bridges...overpasses and some main roads.
The elevated portion of I-70 was closed for a time during
the afternoon of the 11th. Snowfall totaled only 0.8 inch
at Stapleton International Airport...where northeast winds
gusted to 20 mph on the 11th.
In 1989...on the 11th and 12th...the temperature climbed to a
maximum of 76 degrees on both days...setting new record highs
for each day.
In 1995...from the 11th to the 12th...hurricane force downslope
winds whipped across the Front Range foothills overnight.
The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder
registered a peak wind gust to 124 mph with several more
wind gusts over 100 mph. Utility poles and power lines were
downed...leaving several hundred homes in Boulder without
power. Windows were blown out of cars in Boulder. Other
reports of strong wind gusts included: 108 mph atop Squaw
Mountain west of Denver...104 mph at Table Mesa in Boulder...
99 mph at Golden Gate Canyon...85 mph at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site...69 mph at Jefferson County
Airport near Broomfield...and 62 mph in Lakewood.
West-northwest wind gusts to 40 mph were recorded at Denver
International Airport on the 12th.
In 2018...a period of moderate to heavy upslope snowfall to
occurred in the Front Range Mountains and Foothills...and
urban corridor mainly west of I-25. The foothills of Boulder
and Jefferson counties received the greatest snowfall.
Storm totals included: 14 inches...4 miles west of Boulder...
Genesee and near Tiny Town; 13 inches...2 miles southwest of
Boulder; 12.5 inches...4 miles northeast of Nederland; 12
inches near Roxborough State Park and Schaffer`s Crossing;
11.5 inches near Jamestown; 11 inches near Pinecliffe; 10.3
inches at the National Weather Service in Boulder; 10 inches
near Conifer and near Niwot; 9 inches...4 miles east of Gold
Hill; 8.5 inches near Greenland; 8 inches near Monument and
Wheat Ridge; 7.5 inches near Louisville; with 5 to 7 inches
in Arvada...Castle Rock...Erie...Lafayette...Longmont...Ken Caryl...
and Rocky Flats. At Denver International Airport...2.6 inches
of snowfall was observed.
11-14 In 1970...heavy snowfall totaled 7.2 inches at Stapleton
International Airport where northeast winds gusted
to 22 mph on the 12th and 14th. Most of the snow...
4.2 inches...fell on the 12th.
12 In 1894...northeast winds were sustained to 42 mph with
gusts to 48 mph behind an apparent dry cold front.
In 1903...west winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to
45 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 57 degrees.
A trace of snow was observed.
In 1922...heavy snowfall of 8.5 inches was measured over
downtown Denver.
In 1974...strong winds gusting to over 80 mph caused local
damage to houses and property along the foothills from
Denver north. Automobiles...homes...and power lines
suffered damage in Boulder. West winds gusted to 41 mph
at Stapleton International Airport.
12-13 In 1961...heavy snowfall totaled 5.6 inches at Stapleton
Airport. East-northeast winds gusted to only 20 mph.
In 2011...hurricane force winds...up to 115 mph...downed trees
in and power lines across the Front Range Mountains and
Foothills. Scattered outages were reported in Gilpin
County. In Boulder...a woman received minor injuries when
she was struck in the head by a falling tree limb. Three
women near Georgetown received minor injuries when they
were pelted by glass shards after a barrage of wind driven
rocks and dirt shattered their windshield. Peak wind gusts
included: 109 mph...6 miles north-northwest of Berthoud
Pass; 101 mph atop Kenosha Pass...100 mph...2 miles south-
southwest of Loveland Pass; 99 mph...7 miles west-northwest
of Berthoud; 92 mph at Blackhawk; 90 mph...3 miles south-
southwest of Boulder; 87 mph...2 miles west-northwest of
Aspen Springs and at Pickle Gulch; 84 mph at Loveland Pass
and Lyons; 82 mph at the National Wind Technology Center;
80 mph at Dumont and 78 mph near Rollinsville and Ward.
At Denver International Airport...west winds gusted to
52 mph on the 12th.
12-15 In 1909...light snowfall totaled 6.7 inches in downtown
Denver over the 4 days. This was the first measurable
snowfall of the season. Northeast winds were sustained
to 15 mph on the 12th.
$$