October 24 - Today in Denver weather history

October 24, 4:37 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Weather Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

October 24th - Today in Denver weather history

The history books for Denver weather today, October 24th, show the usual assortment of snow and wind.  However, it is also notable for a record setting blizzard in 1997 that wreaked havoc across the Front Range and eastern Colorado. 

From the 23rd to the 24th:

In 1932 – Snow falling in the late evening of the 23rd continued to the afternoon of the 24th and totaled 6.2 inches.  Temperatures plummeted from a high of 68 degrees on the 23rd to a low of 25 degrees on the 24th – the coldest reading of the month that year.  Because many trees had not shed their leaves yet, many braches were broken and some trees were toppled. 

On the 24th:

In 1956 – Stapleton Airport recorded blowing dust and gusts to 56 mph.  A cold front produced a thunderstorm with 1/8 inch hail and rain later changed to snow.  0.11 inch of precipitation and 0.3 inch of snow was recorded.

In 1973 – The eastern foothills were hammered by high winds causing damage in Boulder and Jefferson county.  In the Boulder area 20 – 25 mobile homes were hit, power and telephone lines were blown down and a store was damaged.  The National Bureau of Standards in Boulder recorded a wind gust of 76 mph.  At Stapleton International Airport gusts to 46 mph were recorded.

From the 24th to the 25th

In 1921 – 0.35 inch of rain fell overnight and sustained north winds to 40 mph with gusts of 46 mph were recorded on the 25th.  Temperatures dropped from a high of 73 degrees on the 24th to a low of 39 degrees on the 25th.

In 1923 – Rain changed to snow overnight as 12 inches of snow was accumulated before ending on the morning of the 25th. 

In 1997 – Eastern Colorado was struck with one of the deadliest blizzards of the decade.  A vigorous upper level  low pressure system over the Four Corners region coupled with deep east to northeast flow and strong Arctic air over the Great Plains.  The Denver metro area recorded between 14 and 31 inches with the heavier amounts in the foothills west and south of Denver.  Sustained winds to 40 mph that gusted to 60 mph reduced visibilities to zero and brought dangerous wind chill from 25 below zero to 40 below zero.  The wind caused drifts from 4 to 10 feet deep and major interstates and highways were closed and impassable.  The Red Cross established shelters for hundreds who were stranded and had to abandon their vehicles and four people died in northeastern Colorado as a result of the blizzard (none in Denver).  Denver International Airport was forced to shut down stranding travelers and costing air carriers 20 million dollars.  Pena Blvd became impassable and at least 120 cards were abandoned along the road.  Losses from thousands of cattle that died from the storm were estimated at $1.5 million.  Snowfall at the former Stapleton International Airport totaled 21.9 inches and a 24 hour snowfall record of 19.1 inches for the month occurred.  Denver International Airport recorded 14 inches of snow with winds gusting to 39 mph on the 24th.  Some of the more impressive snow totals included 51 inches at Coal Creek Canyon, 48 inches at Silver Spruce Ranch, 42 inches at Intercanyon, 37 inches at Sedalia, 35 inches at Aspen Springs and Conifer, 31 inches at Eldorado Springs, and 30 inches on Table Mesa in Boulder.  The official high temperature of 21 degrees on the 25th equaled the record low maximum for the date first set in 1873.  A new record low minimum was set on the 26th as the mercury fell to only 3 degrees.