A preview of Denver's June weather - The severe weather month

June 1, 12:45 PMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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June is typically Denver's severe weather month with a variety
of conditions possible including tornadoes, hail and damaging
wind.

June is historically Denver’s severe weather month and severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and hail are notorious visitors to Denver and across eastern Colorado during the month.  In fact, over 40 percent of the tornadoes that occur in Colorado are observed in June and these are typically the most destructive of the year.  Severe thunderstorms have also caused major property damage across the Front Range during the month.

In just the last 25 years or so, there have been some particularly notable storms in June.  Tornadoes have struck the metro area including one that longtime Thornton residents will recall on June 3, 1981.  53 residents were injured, 25 homes were destroyed and 239 other structures were damaged. 

On June 3, 1981 a tornado struck Thornton injuring 53 people,
destroying 25 homes and damaging 239 other structures. Image
courtesy the City of Thornton archives.

Others tornadoes in the metro area include southeast Denver and Aurora on June 8, 1986 and east Denver on June 13, 1984.  Severe thunderstorms occurring on June 13, 1984 dumped large hail making it one of the worst and the second costliest storm in Denver history.  More recently, on June 20, 2001, a major hail storm moved across Denver International Airport dropping hailstones as big as two inches in diameter. Damage was extensive on and near the airport.

Despite the frequent tornadoes in June, due to the large areas of rural and unpopulated land there has never been a fatality in June due to a tornado.  Lightning on the hand has caused several fatalities. 

Think we are done with the cold and snow now that June is here?  Most likely yes however, cool weather can still occur early in the month.  The latest freeze on record in Denver occurred just last year on June 8, 2007 when the official low reached 31 degrees.  On June 2, 1951 the mercury dropped to 30 degrees –the record low temperature for June.  As for snow, June 11, 1947 actually saw a trace of snow fall! 

The wettest June was 1882 with 4.96 inches and the driest June was 1890 with only a trace of precipitation recorded. The maximum 24 hour precipitation was 3.16 inches on June 11, 1970 – that is a lot of rain for this area! 

Warmer temperatures are the norm though and by the end of the month temperatures can and have climbed above 100 degrees.  June 26, 1994 saw a record June temperature of 104 degrees.  Other dates with 100 degrees or higher include 102 on June 23rd 1954, June 27th 1990, June 29th 1990 and June 30th 1990 and 100 degrees set June 25th 1991.   The warmest June occurred in 1994 with an average temperature of 73.5 degrees. The coldest June was 60.6 degrees in 1967.

June 2003 was notable as it was the first June since 1972 with no 90 degree temperatures recorded. Just the year before, June 2002 had 17 90 degree days and June 2001 totaled out with 12 90 degree days.  On average June will have 6 days with above 90 degree temperatures. 

June 2006 saw us have one of the hottest June’s on record when the high temperature at the Denver International Airport reached into the nineties for 19 days.  This takes June 2006 into the record books with the most days having 90 degrees or above. The previous record for total number of 90 degree days for June was 17 occurrences established in 2002.  Also during June 2006, a record setting temperature of 102 degrees was recorded on the 14th of the month – the earliest June date that 100 degrees or higher was registered.  June 2006 was on track to become the Denver's warmest June but 3 days with highs in the 70s and several low temperature readings in the 40s and low 50s dropped the month into a tie as the 3rd warmest Denver June.

Looking Back at June 2008

‘Blah’ would be the word to describe June of 2008 as there were no notable weather statistics. The month started with a great deal of precipitation – 0.71 inch in the first five days as measured at Denver International Airport. However, a mere 0.02 inch was recorded for the rest of the month.

Temperatures ranged from a high of 95 degrees on the 26th down to a low of 37 degrees on the 12th. Ten days had temperatures in excess of 90 degrees which is four more than normal. The average temperature of 67.4 degrees was near the normal of 67.6 degrees.

Five thunderstorms were recorded at DIA of which only two produced measureable precipitation.

The Outlook for June 2009

The National Weather Service 30-day outlook models for Denver favor normal temperatures but not any particular precipitation pattern.

For More Information

Temperature Normals and Extremes for June

Monthly Temperature, Rainfall and Snowfall Extremes for June
 

* Historical weather statistics gathered from the National Weather Service's Denver / Boulder forecast office data archives.