July 8 - Today in Denver weather history

July 9, 4:48 AMDenver Weather ExaminerTony Hake

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July 8 - Today in Denver weather history.

An eventful day in Denver weather history with tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning and much more.

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 8th:

In 1905...a thunderstorm produced 0.82 inch of rainfall and northeast winds sustained to 48 mph.
 
In 1977...strong winds turned over 2 light aircraft at Arapahoe County airport...now Centennial Airport.
 
In 1987...a weak tornado was observed near Bennett.
 
In 1988...three separate tornadoes were sighted near Bennett. No damage was reported.  One inch diameter hail was also reported.
 
In 1991...lightning started three house fires in Castle Rock. Damage totaled 13 thousand dollars.  No injuries were reported.
 
In 1993...a dry thunderstorm microburst wind gust to 55 mph briefly reduced the surface visibility to 3 miles at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1997...one construction worker was killed and two others injured when a strong thunderstorm wind gust caused the scaffolding they were standing on to collapse near Parker. A dry microburst produced a wind gust to 54 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 1998...heavy thunderstorm rain forced the closure of Hampden Avenue between I-25 and Havana Street in southeast Denver.  The high water made 2 or 3 lanes of the street impassable.
 
In 2001...severe thunderstorms produced large hail...damaging winds...and heavy rain across south metro Denver.  Two people received minor injuries when a severe thunderstorm wind gust to 58 mph blew over several tents at the Cherry Creek arts festival.  The same storm caused the roof of a hardware store in Tamarac Square to collapse.  One employee received minor injuries when she was struck in the head by falling debris.  The combination of intense rain and wind downed trees and power lines.  Electrical power outages affected 35 thousand homes and businesses.  At least 50 trees in city parks across south Denver were damaged.  Up to 4.50 inches of thunderstorm rain fell across portions of southeast metro Denver.  The underpass at I-25 and Parker road was inundated with 5 feet of water.  Several other streets and underpasses in Aurora were also closed due to high water.  Heavy rain caused extensive damage to several exhibits at the Cherry Creek arts festival.  Flash flooding occurred when heavy thunderstorm rainfall caused toll gate creek to jump its banks.  Several underpasses across south Denver had to be closed due to high water.  A man received minor injuries when lightning struck a nearby tree at the Wellshire Golf Course.  Hail as large as 1 1/4 inches in diameter fell in Englewood with 1 inch hail in the city of Denver...and 3/4 inch hail in Littleton.  Thunderstorm winds gusted to 63 mph at Denver International Airport and to 62 mph in Englewood.
 
In 2005...a tornado touched down briefly near Brighton...but caused no damage.