January 5 - Today in Denver weather history

January 5, 4:43 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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January 5 - Today in Denver weather history.

The usual suspects this time of year - wind and snow - appear numerous times on Denver's weather calendar for Janaury 5th.  However, there are quite a large number of occurences of them which serves to highlight how frequently we are hit with them this time of year.

From the National Weather Service Denver / Boulder Office: 

From the 31st to the 6th:

In 1973...the 31st marked the start of a protracted cold spell that extended into January of 1974 when temperatures dipped below zero on 7 consecutive days. Record daily minimum readings occurred on the 3rd and 5th when the temperature plunged to 17 degrees below zero on both days. A record low daily maximum temperature of only 4 degrees occurred on the 5th.

From the 31st to the 7th:

In 1941...a protracted cold spell through January 7,1942...produced below zero low temperatures on 7 of the 8 days. A low temperature of 2 degrees on the 3rd prevented a string of 8 days below zero. The coldest days during the period were the 1st with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 9 degrees below zero...the 4th with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 11 degrees below zero...and the 5th with a high of 26 degrees and a low of 12 degrees below zero.

From the 1st to the 5th:

In 1940...the first days of the month were characterized by a mixture of drizzle...light snow...and fog.  Fog occurred on each day.  On the 4th and 5th considerable glazing resulted from freezing drizzle.  All objects were coated with a glaze on the windward side.  This resulted in very slippery streets...which caused several minor traffic accidents.  The glaze was not heavy enough to damage wires and cables.

From the 2nd to the 5th: 

In 1959...very cold temperatures...to near zero and below...caused power and gas lines...water pipes...and automatic sprinkler systems to break.  In Boulder... Merchandise and furnishings were water damaged when pipes burst in a department store...flooding three floors.  The temperature was below zero for 38 consecutive hours at Stapleton Airport on the 2nd...3rd...and 4th and plunged to a low of 13 degrees below zero on the 4th.

From the 4th to the 5th: 

In 1996...snow began falling across the Front Range foothills and portions of metro Denver on the 4th.  Most snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 6 inches.  Icy roads and blowing snow caused a 22 car accident on I-25 north of Denver...resulting in an 8-mile traffic back-up for several hours. Snowfall totaled 3.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  North-northeast winds gusted to 22 mph at Denver International Airport on the 4th.

On the 5th:

In 1871...a heavy gale in Boulder caused 500 dollars damage.

In 1895...northwest winds were sustained to 36 mph with gusts as high as 68 mph in the city.

In 1899...strong winds occurred in Boulder...but caused only minor damage.

In 1911...northwest winds were sustained to 41 mph in downtown Denver.

In 1915...north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 42 mph behind a cold front...which produced only 1.0 inch of snowfall.

In 1972...warm Chinook wind gusts to 85 mph were recorded in Boulder at the national bureau of standards and to 60 mph at Jefferson County airport near Broomfield. The high winds caused severe blowing snow in and near the foothills...completely blocking traffic in some areas...closing schools and industrial plants. Houses under construction were damaged...and falling trees damaged cars in Boulder. An apartment building under construction was blown down in the Denver area. Northwest wind gusts reached 58 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1989...during the early morning hours with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30's...0.25 inch of rain fell at Stapleton International airport.

In 1994...occasional high winds blew across the eastern foothills. Wind gusts to 84 mph were recorded in southwest Boulder and 74 mph in north Boulder. There were also reports of 70 to 80 mph winds along Colorado highway 93 in Jefferson County from Golden to Boulder. Northwest winds gusted to 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport. No significant damage was reported.

In 1999...strong downslope winds developed in the eastern foothills. A wind gust to 100 mph was recorded at Wondervu...southwest of Boulder. West-northwest winds gusted to only 37 mph at Denver International Airport.

In 2007...a storm system brought heavy snow to areas along the Front Range. The most snow fell in and near the foothills of Boulder and Jefferson Counties. Storm totals included: 17 inches 8 miles northwest of Evergreen...16 inches near Conifer...15 inches southwest of Boulder and at Eldorado Springs...14.5 inches near Genesee...12 inches near Aspen and Estes parks...11.5 inches in Boulder...11 inches at Perry Park... 9.5 inches near Blackhawk...9 inches in Louisville...7.5 inches in Arvada...7 inches near Erie...6.5 inches near Longmont...and 6 inches at Ralston Reservoir and Littleton. Snowfall totaled 5.6 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International airport.

From the 5th to the 6th:

In 1940...snowfall totaled 5.9 inches in downtown Denver.

In 1975...high winds gusting to over 75 mph caused considerable damage in the Boulder area and minor damage in Jefferson County.  In Boulder...one home was unroofed... Several power lines were blown down...and a number of homes and commercial buildings were damaged. Northwest winds gusted to 36 mph on the 5th and 38 mph on the 6th at Stapleton International Airport.

In 1980 high winds in and near the foothills shattered windows...tore roofs from buildings...and caused many power outages. Much of the damage was in Boulder...where winds gusted to at least 82 mph. Wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph were common in the foothills. West winds gusted to only 37 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 6th.

In 1982...2 to 6 inches of snow fell across metro Denver. Only 1.1 inches of snow were measured at Stapleton International airport.

In 1983...high winds buffeted the foothills with gusts of 60 to 75 mph recorded in the Boulder area. West winds gusted to only 38 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 6th.

In 1998...heavy snow blanketed the Front Range foothills. Snowfall totals included: 15 inches 8 miles north of Blackhawk; 13 inches at Evergreen and 5 miles east of Nederland; 12 inches in Coal Creek Canyon; 11 inches 8 miles west of Conifer; 10 inches in sunshine canyon northwest of Boulder; 10 inches 11 miles southwest of Morrison; 9 inches in South Turkey Canyon; and 8 inches at Eldora Ski Area. Snowfall totaled only 1.8 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.