High-Impact Weather and Climate Events

"A rare nocturnal severe thunderstorm developed over southern El Paso County during the early morning hours of June 13th, 2018. The severe thunderstorm dropped 3.0" hail over the southern Colorado Springs metropolitan area and Fountain. The estimated damage caused by this event was around $169 million dollars. Follow this link for an in-depth meteorological analysis and for more images: https://www.weather.gov/pub/20180613_ElPaso_Hail" - National Weather Service

A massive, near-stationary thunderstorm dropped up to 12" of rain in 6 hours in Big Thompson Canyon, causing extreme flash flooding. Hundreds of homes were destroyed along Highway 34, and many motorists were trapped. The estimated discharge of 33,000 cfs at the canyon mouth was estimated to be a 300-year event. The most deadly natural disaster in Colorado history.

A near-stationary thunderstorm produced record flash floods in Cheyenne and across the state. The storm killed 12 people, injured 70, and caused extensive damage to private and public property. Damage estimates ranged from $40 to $65 million. The NWS Forecast Office near the airport reported 6.06" of rain in 3 hours. In addition to the rain, there was hail up to 2" in diameter and 70 mph winds. Ten of the 12 deaths occured along Dry Creek when people attempted to cross flooded streets in their cars.

An F2 tornado tore a swath through the heart of Thornton, destroying 87 homes and damaging 600 others. The same thunderstorm complex also spawned tornadoes in Lakewood and Fort Lupton, damaging several dozen other homes, and caused damaging hail and non-tornadic winds.

The most costly hailstorm in Wyoming history. Hail up to 2" in diameter covered most of Cheyenne, with accompanying rain totalling 1.46" of precipitation. Widespread damage to buildings and cars.

The Cameron Peak Fire is the largest wildfire in Colorado history as of 2020. It is also the third most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, in terms of homes destroyed, behind the Black Forest Fire in 2013 and the Marshall Fire in 2021.

"The Cameron Peak Fire was reported on Thursday, August 13 at approximately 1:48 PM. The fire was burning in steep, rugged terrain, approximately 25 miles east of Walden and 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes near Cameron Pass.

The fire burned through an area of 208,913 acres on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Larimer and Jackson Counties and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. Large scale and long duration evacuations took place throughout the fire.

During the time the Cameron Peak Fire was burning, there was another fire (East Troublesome) burning simultaneously to the west of the Cameron Peak Fire, on the west side of the Continental Divide. On October 22, the East Troublesome Fire spotted over the Continental Divide, and created what became known as the “Thompson Zone” of the East Troublesome Fire.

On the Cameron Peak Fire, extreme temperatures, low humidity, rough terrain and gusty winds reaching over 70 miles per hour were just some of the elements that contributed to extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread. A major contributing factor to the large fire growth was the tremendous amount of beetle kill trees and the drought-stricken Ponderosa Pine, Engelmann Spruce and mixed conifer stands available as fuel.

After 62 days of burning, on October 14, the Cameron Peak Fire became the largest recorded wildfire in Colorado's history, surpassing the Pine Gulch Fire that burned near Grand Junction in 2020.

The Cameron Peak Fire was 100% contained as of December 2, 2020." - InciWeb

A very strong three-day upslope snowstorm brought huge snow amounts and blizzard conditions to most of the Front Range and the adjacent plains. Storm totals included 32" in Denver, and 87" in Rollinsville.

"The Missionary Ridge Fire began on June 9, 2002, northeast of Durango in southwest Colorado. It burned until July 15, destroying forty-six houses and cabins and charring 73,000 acres of La Plata County forest. One firefighter died while fighting the blaze, which became the seventh-largest wildfire in Colorado history.

The Missionary Ridge Fire was not as destructive as some other fires in 2002, as property losses totaled just over $24 million. It did cost some $37 million to fight, and the Forest Service was estimated to have lost more than $27.8 million in assets, such as recreational areas that were damaged or destroyed." - Colorado Encyclopedia

The High Park fire was ignited by lightning after a very dry winter and spring, and burned over 87,000 acres and at least 259 homes.

The flooding of 1984 was very similar to the flooding in 1983. On April 1st, the Wasatch had above-average snowpack and the sudden onset of warm temperatures produced floods. The lower monetary damages compared to 1983 have been partially attributed to flood mitigation measures taken after 1983. Above-average precipitation since 1982 brought Great Salt Lake levels to a 101-year record high.