July 7 - Today in Denver weather history

July 7, 5:41 PMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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July 7 - Today in Denver weather history.

A tornado, lightning that injured a boy at a playground, flooding in the wake of a wildfire and much more are the highlights of today in Denver weather history.

From the National Weather Service:

From the 29th to the 15th:

In 2000...the 29th marked the beginning of a near record hot streak for metro Denver.  The high temperatures...as recorded at Denver International Airport...exceeded the 90 degree mark for 17 consecutive days from June 29th through July 15th. This was one day short of equaling the all time record.  The record of 18 consecutive 90 degree or above days was first set from July 1st through July 18th...1874.  The record was equaled from July 6th through July 23rd...1901.

From the 4th to the 8th:

In 1989...one of the most intense heat waves on record roasted metro Denver.  The temperature reached 100 degrees or more on 5 consecutive days.  The city had previously never recorded more than 2 straight 100-degree days since records began in 1872.  Water and electricity usage reached all time highs.  The heat wave created extremely dry weather conditions...which contributed to a major forest fire in Boulder canyon on July 9th.  The temperature reached 103 degrees on the 8th...and the mercury climbed to 101 degrees on both the 4th and 5th...and to 102 degrees on both the 6th and 7th.  The low temperature of 68 degrees on the 8th equaled the record high minimum for the date.

On the 7th: 

In 1905...a thunderstorm produced sustained northeast winds to 40 mph...but only a trace of rain.
 
In 1933...heavy cloudbursts during the afternoon in the Idledale area and on saw mill gulch caused flash flooding on bear creek resulting in 7 deaths.  Flooding in Morrison was compounded when a wall of water as high as 15 feet swept down Mount Vernon Creek.  The flooding caused extensive damage to the bear creek canyon highway.
 
In 1959...wind gusts to 45 mph at Stapleton Airport...but higher in other areas...damaged power lines and buildings and caused widespread minor damage from falling trees and broken limbs. A field house under construction at Adams County high school in Commerce City sustained severe damage.
 
In 1963...farm buildings east of Boulder were possibly damaged by a small tornado as there were unconfirmed reports of a funnel cloud in the area.
 
In 1967...a storm of cloudburst proportion caused damage from flooding in southwest and south Denver.  Unofficial reports indicated rainfall of 2.00 inches in 30 minutes and more than 3.00 inches total from the storm.  Streets and buildings were flooded by the heavy run-off.  Hail in some areas contributed to flooding by blocking storm drains. Water accumulated 12 to 14 feet deep in several underpasses and some street intersections.  A young woman drowned when she tried to cross a flooded street and was swept off her feet and trapped under a parked car.  Water reached a depth of 5 feet in the street.  Police rescued numerous stranded motorists.  The roof and wall of a flat roofed store building collapsed under the weight of deep water on the roof.  Cars were washed over curbs in many areas.  In southwest metro Denver...100 to 150 homes were flooded. Hail caused damage in other areas of Denver and in Aurora. Wind toppled trees in several areas.  Snowplows were called out to clear hail from some highways and runways at Stapleton International Airport.  Lightning damaged trees and power lines and started a fire...which extensively damaged an automobile dealership.  Thunderstorm rainfall totaled 0.83 inch at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1981...severe thunderstorms produced 3/4 inch hail over east Denver.  About 1 1/2 inches of rain fell in Littleton.  Thunderstorm winds gusted to 45 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1983...tennis ball size hail fell about 5 miles north of Boulder; it was soft and caused no damage.
 
In 1987...a weak tornado touched down in Castle Rock.  Several weak tornadoes were observed in the area.  No damage was reported.
 
In 1988...lightning struck a sign at a bank near Louisville... Damaging it and causing a smoldering fire that resulted in smoke damage to the bank and an adjacent building.  Heavy thunderstorm rain...accompanied by 1/2 inch diameter hail at Stapleton International Airport...briefly reduced the visibility to 1/4 mile.  Rainfall totaled 1.41 inches... But 1.12 inches fell in 32 minutes.
 
In 2001...severe thunderstorms dumped large hail across north metro Denver.  Hail to 1 3/4 inches in diameter fell near Erie with 7/8 inch hail measured in Thornton.
 
In 2004...a 9-year-old boy was struck by lightning while at a playground in Arvada.  The umpire at a nearby baseball game...along with 2 passers-by...administrated CPR and resuscitated the boy who had quit breathing.  The boy suffered first and second degree burns...but was released from the hospital in less than 24 hours.  A dry microburst over Denver International Airport produced a recorded peak wind gust to 61 mph.
 
In 2006...up to 3 inches of heavy thunderstorm rainfall in the Hayman Wildfire burn area produced destructive flash flooding along west creek between the towns of Deckers and Westcreek in southwest Douglas County.  Horse creek...which drains into West Creek...swelled from a normally small creek into a raging torrent...25 to 30 feet deep and 300 feet wide. The wall of water damaged or destroyed about 30 sections of a 5 mile stretch of State Highway 67...which parallels West Creek.  Several homes were extensively damaged or destroyed. No injuries were reported...but several people had to be rescued...due to extensive damage to access roads and bridges in the area.  Reconstruction was estimated at 13.3 million dollars.