October 25 - Today in Denver weather history

October 25, 5:33 PMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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October 25 - Today in Denver weather history.

As we get further into the cold weather season, we start to see fewer single day weather events and more multi-day items on the weather history calendar.  As we see today in Denver weather history, snowstorms start to appear more and more often and they typically last more than a single day.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 24th to the 25th:

In 1921…rainfall totaled 0.35 inch overnight behind an apparent cold front.  North winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 46 mph on the 25th.  Temperatures plunged from a high of 73 degrees on the 24th to a low of 39 degrees on the 25th.

In 1923…rain overnight changed to snow during the morning. The heavy snowfall accumulated to 12.0 inches before ending on the morning of the 25th.  Post-frontal north winds were sustained to 22 mph with gusts to 23 mph on the 24th.
 
In 1997…one of the worst and deadliest blizzards of the decade developed over eastern Colorado as deep east to northeast flow associated with a vigorous upper level low pressure system over the four corners…combined with a strong arctic air mass over the central great plains. Snowfall totals across metro Denver ranged from 14 to 31 inches.  The heaviest snowfall occurred in the foothills west and southwest of Denver where 2 to 4 feet of snow were measured.  Sustained winds to 40 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph produced zero visibilities and extremely cold wind chill temperatures from 25 below to 40 below zero.  Winds whipped the snow into drifts 4 to 10 feet deep.  Several major and interstate highways were closed as travel became impossible.  Red cross shelters were set up for hundreds of travelers who became stranded when they had to abandon their vehicles.  Four people died in northeastern Colorado as a result of the blizzard.  None of the deaths were in metro Denver.  At Denver International Airport…4 thousand travelers were stranded when the airport was forced to shut down.  At least 120 cars were abandoned along Pena Blvd….the only arterial leading into and out of dia.  The blizzard cost air carriers at least 20 million dollars.  Thousands of cattle died in the storm over northeastern Colorado…resulting in losses totaling 1.5 million dollars.  Some of the more impressive snowfall totals included:  51 inches at Coal Creek Canyon; 48 inches at silver spruce ranch…near ward; 42 inches at Intercanyon…in the foothills southwest of Denver; 37 inches at Sedalia; 35 inches at aspen springs and Conifer in the foothills west of Denver; 31 inches at Eldorado Springs… Southeast Aurora…and Englewood; and 30 inches on Table Mesa in Boulder.  Snowfall totaled 21.9 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport…setting a new 24-hour snowfall record of 19.1 inches for the month. Snowfall totaled only 14 inches at Denver International Airport where north winds gusted to 39 mph on the 24th. High temperature of only 21 degrees on the 25th equaled the record low maximum for the date first set in 1873. Low temperature of only 3 degrees on the 26th set a new record minimum for the date.

On the 25th:

In 1925…a vigorous cold front produced north winds sustained to 42 mph with gusts to 52 mph.  Post-frontal snowfall was only 0.4 inch during the late afternoon and early evening.
 
In 1959…northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1997…the high temperature warmed to only 21 degrees… The record low maximum for the month.  The same temperature also occurred on October 30…1991.

From the 25th to the 26th:

In 1996…4 to 6 inches of snow fell in the foothills west of Denver.  Only 1.5 inches of snowfall were measured at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport on the 26th.  This was the only measurable snow of the month at the site.  The snowfall produced icy and snowpacked highways…which resulted in a 50-to 60-car pileup on I-25 south of metro Denver.  West winds gusted to 33 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 2006…a winter storm brought heavy snowfall to metro Denver and the eastern foothills.  Total snowfall ranged from 12 to 22 inches over the higher terrain and 6 to 12 inches across metro Denver.  Northerly winds at sustained speeds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 47 mph at Denver International Airport whipped the snow into drifts 3 to 4 feet deep.  Many tree limbs snapped under the weight of the heavy…wet snow which also downed power lines…  Leaving thousands of residents without power.  Storm total snowfall included:  25 inches near aspen springs…Conifer…  And Evergreen; 23.5 inches near Rollinsville; 23 inches in Idaho Springs; 22.5 inches near Blackhawk; 21.5 inches near bailey; 19 inches near Bergen Park; 18 inches near Aspen Springs…Genesee… And Jamestown; 17 inches southwest of Boulder; 16 inches in Evergreen; and 15 inches near Georgetown and Perry Park.  Snowfall totaled 5.3 inches in the Denver Stapleton area.  At Denver International Airport…rain…including a thunderstorm… Changed to snow on the evening of the 25th after a high temperature of 70 degrees.

From the 25th to the 27th:

In 1897…a major storm dumped 13.5 inches of snowfall over downtown Denver.  Rain changed to snow during the evening of the 25th and continued through mid-morning of the 27th. Most of the snow…12.0 inches… Fell on the 26th when north winds were sustained to 36 mph and gusts were as high as 46 mph.  Temperatures during the storm were in the 20`s and lower 30`s.  Precipitation (rain and melted snow) totaled 1.21 inches.