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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT TUE JUL 22 2025
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
7-25 In 1934...a streak of 15 consecutive days of 90 degrees...from the
7th to the 25th...ranked 5th on the list of hot streaks. The
record of 24 consecutive days was established in the summer of
2008.
13-5 In 2008...a streak of 24 consecutive days of 90 degrees...from
July 13th to August 5th...shattered the previous record of 18
consecutive days established in 1901 and 1874. Ironically...
no new single day record high temperatures were set in the
month of July. In August however...a record of 104 degrees
was set on the 1st...and another record of 103 degrees was
set on the 2nd. In addition...a record low min of 70 degrees
was set on August 2nd.
18-2 In 1987...from July 18th to August 2nd...a streak of 16
consecutive days of 90 degrees ranked 4th on the list of hot
streaks. The record of 24 consecutive days was established
in the summer of 2008.
19-23 In 2005...the high temperature climbed above 100 degrees on
each of the 5 days with readings of 101 on the 19th...105 on
the 20th...104 on the 21st...and 102 on both the 22nd and 23rd.
A new record maximum temperature for the month of July of 105
degrees was set on the 20th...which also equaled the all time
record maximum for Denver of 105 degrees first set on August
8th in 1878. Daily maximum temperature records were set on
each day...and the 5 day period equaled the record for the
most consecutive days of 100 degrees or more first set from
July 4th through 8th in 1989. The intense heat resulted in
a high use of electricity for cooling purposes. The demand
for electric power exceeded the supply and rolling black-outs...
each lasting about an hour...were scheduled across metro Denver
during the afternoons and early evenings.
20-23 In 1961...from the 20th to the 23rd...unusually cool weather for
July resulted in several temperature records. Record
minimum temperatures were set or equaled on each day with
readings of 51...51...49 and 49 degrees. High temperature of
only 64 degrees on the 21st was a record low maximum for the
date.
20-25 In 1965...from the 20th to the 25th...heavy showers and
thunderstorms doused metro Denver with significant rain each
day. Rainfall for the six days totaled 5.16 inches at
Stapleton International Airport. Massive rainfall occurred
on the 20th...21st...and 25th...flooding streets and basements
and causing streams to overflow. The heaviest rainfall...
2.05 inches...at Stapleton International Airport occurred on
the 25th.
22 In 1874...a severe thunderstorm during the late afternoon
produced 1.36 inches of rainfall in an hour...most of which
fell in 20 minutes. There was much damage from flooding
of streets and considerable damage to private property.
The lightning was brilliant and continuous during the
storm. Seven buildings were struck by lightning in the
city...in addition to many places where it struck only the
ground. A magnificent example of ball lightning was
observed. When about 200 feet above the house tops...the
ball exploded and broke into 7 or 8 different balls...each
about 6 inches in diameter. Upon reaching about 20 feet
above the ground...these balls broke into small fragments
about 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. A shed situated
in an alley about one block away was literally covered
with these sparks. After the storm was over...the shed
and adjacent area showed no trace of the event. Not the
slightest mark could be detected on structures or on the
ground.
In 1879...a terrific electrical storm passed over the city
during the afternoon. The lightning display was unusually
vivid and the crash of thunder seemed at the very house
tops. A few homes and buildings were struck by lightning.
A home on Capitol Hill sustained much damage to furniture...
but the residents in another wing of the house were not
injured. Lightning struck a fence at the corner of Curtis
and Broadway. A lightning bolt stunned a workman and
knocked a mason's trough from his hand. A school was struck
but was not damaged. Lightning struck the ground near
Tenth and Colfax. Rain fell in torrents for a time...but the
heaviest was on the outskirts of the city. Rainfall in the
city was only 0.30 inch.
In 1882...lightning struck and killed a man in the northern
part of the city.
In 1895...heavy rainfall of 1.53 inches was measured in
downtown Denver.
In 1931...the high temperature reached 100 degrees in
downtown Denver.
In 1965...lightning struck and killed a boy standing by an
automobile near Stapleton International Airport. Scattered
heavy showers accompanied by hail and wind occurred across
metro Denver. Heavy rain caused some street damage in
Commerce City.
In 1973...minor thunderstorm wind damage was reported in
Aurora.
In 1983...heavy thunderstorms dumped torrential rain and large
hail across metro Denver. The most serious problems were
caused by heavy rainfall in the foothills...which produced
flooding on Bear Creek. Runoff from 3 inches of rain in
45 minutes at Kittredge caused Bear Creek to rise 5 feet in
10 minutes at Morrison...washing out two bridges. One bridge
collapsed...plunging a fire truck into the water...but the
occupants were not injured. The town was evacuated for 2
hours. Evergreen was drenched with 2.61 inches of rain in
30 minutes...which caused street flooding along with power
outages. Hail to golf ball size damaged cars. A deck on a
house east of Evergreen was washed away. At Idaho Springs...
2 inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. Golden received
3 inches of rain in an hour with 0.80 inch of rain in seven
minutes at Littleton. Heavy rain and large hail also fell
in the City of Denver and its northern and eastern suburbs...
causing street flooding. Water was 6 feet deep on one
Aurora street.
In 1991...heavy rains caused extensive flooding across north
metro Denver. Ralston Creek in Arvada flowed out of
its banks. At the intersection of I-25 and I-70...up to 8
feet of water covered the highway. A foot of water covered
a stretch of I-70 in northwest Denver. Thunderstorm
rainfall totaled only 0.82 inch at Stapleton International
Airport.
In 1998...lightning sparked a fire which caused extensive
damage to a home in Englewood. Most of the second floor
was destroyed.
In 2004...severe thunderstorms produced hail to 1.25 inches
in diameter in Commerce City and near Brighton.
In 2019...severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 1 inch in
diameter...and intense thunderstorm winds in Arapahoe...
Denver and Weld counties. A strong thunderstorm produced
7/8 inch diameter hail in Douglas County. At Denver
International Airport...a wet microburst that formed over
the airfield produced a peak wind gust to 79 mph along
with 1.10 inches of rainfall and small hail.
22-23 In 1991...from the 22nd into the 23rd...heavy rains over the
Palmer Divide and along the Front Range caused the South
Platte River to flood from near Henderson to Fort Lupton.
The river was out of its banks at several locations with
water covering the roads through the night. Only minor
damage was reported.
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