November 3 - Today in Denver weather history

November 3, 3:52 PMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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High winds, snow and even a rare November thunderstorm make up our look back at today in Denver weather history.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 2nd to the 3rd:

In 1974…heavy snowfall totaled 6.1 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 23 mph on the 3rd.  Most of the snow fell on the 3rd.  Maximum snow depth on the ground was 5 inches.
 
In 1990…a winter storm dumped 3 to 8 inches of heavy wet snow across metro Denver.  In the foothills snow amounts ranged from 4 to 10 inches.  Slushy snow and ice-covered roads snarled traffic.  The snow…ice…and poor visibilities were blamed for numerous traffic accidents.  Low clouds… Fog…and snow delayed air traffic at Stapleton International Airport for at least 90 minutes on the afternoon of the 2nd. Snowfall totaled 5.4 inches at Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusted to 21 mph.

From the 2nd to the 5th:

In 1946…a major snow storm dumped 30.4 inches of heavy snowfall downtown and 31.0 inches at Stapleton Airport. The winter storm closed schools and disrupted all forms of transportation in the city.  The greatest depth of snow on the ground was 28 inches at the airport.  The duration of the snowfall…from 4:22 am on the 2nd to 3:08 am on the 5th… A total of 70 hours and 46 minutes…is the second longest period of continuous precipitation on record and the second heaviest snowfall of record at the time in Denver.  The 17.7 inches of snowfall on the 2nd and 3rd was the greatest 24- hour snowfall ever recorded during the month of November. Buses and street cars had a difficult time…and many cars were abandoned along roadsides and streets for several days. Secondary roads in rural areas were blocked for 2 to 3 weeks.  Several buildings in the city collapsed or were damaged from the weight of the heavy snow.  Football games were canceled.  Livestock losses were high over eastern Colorado.  The precipitation from this storm alone exceeded the greatest amount ever recorded in Denver during the entire month of November previously.  The precipitation recorded downtown was 2.03 inches…and the previous record for the entire month of November was 1.95 inches in 1922. North winds were sustained to 26 mph on the 2nd.

On the 3rd:

In 1940…the longest period without snow…200 days…ended on this date with the first snow of the season…a trace…on November 4…1940.  The last snow of the previous season… Also a trace…occurred on April 17…1940.
 
In 1959…a rare thunderstorm in November occurred around sunrise.  Rainfall measured only 0.02 inch at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1993…periodic high winds buffeted the foothills west of Denver.  Wind gusts to 90 mph were recorded at Rollinsville in the foothills southwest of Boulder…while gusts to 85 mph were observed atop Squaw Mountain near Idaho Springs.  West winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1996…a rare November thunderstorm during the early evening produced 0.10 inch of rain at Denver International Airport and only 0.06 inch of rain at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 2005…strong winds developed over the urban corridor. While the damaging winds were in the Fort Collins area… High winds also developed to the south of Denver in Douglas County.  Peak wind reports included 70 mph at Franktown…65 mph in Castle Rock…and 61 mph in Sedalia. West winds gusting as high as 47 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 69 degrees at Denver International Airport. Winds were strong and gusty for most of the daytime hours across metro Denver.

From the 3rd to the 5th:

In 1994…a fast moving snow storm dumped 8 to 9 inches of snow on Boulder…Broomfield…and Lafayette.  Snowfall totaled only 1.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where on the 3rd east winds gusted to 20 mph and some freezing drizzle fell.