January 6 - Today in Denver weather history

January 6, 4:44 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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January 6 - Today in Denver weather history.

Snow, high winds, avalanches, severe arctic cold and record setting warmth all mark our look back at today, January 6th, in Denver weather history.
 

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 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.

On the 6th: 

In 1903...northwest winds were sustained to 45 mph with an extreme velocity of 48 mph.  The Chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 66 degrees...which was a record maximum for the date.  The low temperature dipped to only 35 degrees.

In 1962...strong winds caused nearly 14 hundred dollars in damage 2 miles north of Boulder.  West-northwest Chinook winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton Airport in advance of a cold front that produced northeast wind gusts to 43 mph along with some blowing dust and 0.1 inch of snow.

In 1972...a wind gust to 69 mph was recorded at the national bureau of standards in Boulder.  Only minor damage occurred.  Northwest winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

In 2007...a large avalanche swept two vehicles off U.S. Highway 40...near Berthoud pass...and partially buried them. The slide covered all three lanes of the highway.  Eight people were in the vehicles...but only one person was seriously injured.  He suffered several broken ribs.  The slide was approximately 200 feet wide and 15 feet deep.

From the 6th to the 7th: 

In 1908...furious high winds were noted in Boulder but caused only minor damage and injury.

In 1913...a very cold arctic air mass caused temperatures to plunge to record levels.  The low temperature fell to 21 degrees below zero on the 6th and to 18 degrees below zero on the 7th...both records.  The high temperature of only 8 degrees below zero on the 6th was a record low maximum for the date.

In 1920...post-frontal heavy snowfall totaled 7.0 inches in downtown Denver.  North winds were sustained at 24 mph with gusts to 30 mph on the 6th.

In 1923...warm Chinook winds resulted in two temperature records.  Low temperatures of 37 degrees on the 6th and 42 degrees on the 7th equaled the record high minimums for the dates.  West winds were sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 33 mph on the 6th.  Southwest winds were sustained to 47 mph with gusts to 52 mph on the 7th.  High temperatures were 53 degrees on the 6th and 56 degrees on the 7th.

In 1986...2 to 4 inches of snow fell over metro Denver...with 5 to 8 inches in the foothills west of the city. The 2.4 inches of snowfall recorded at Stapleton International Airport was the only snowfall of the month.  Northwest winds gusted to 24 mph at the airport.

In 2006...a brief warm spell resulted in two temperature records.  High temperatures of 66 degrees on the 6th and 69 degrees on the 7th equaled the record daily maximum temperatures for each of those days.  Low temperatures remained above freezing and were within 1 or 2 degrees of the record daily high minimums.