Denver officially breaks snow record that has stood since 1934
The Mile High City is on pace to continue its snowless streak, perhaps putting another record in contention.
By
Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published Nov 18, 2021 11:08 AM EDT
|
Updated Nov 22, 2021 10:48 AM EDT
Clouds pushed in by a cold front roll in behind the skyline of downtown Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver officially broke its all-time record for the latest first measurable snow when the Mile High City reported no snowfall on Sunday, surpassing a record that had stood since Nov. 21, 1934. AccuWeather meteorologists say that it could be weeks before the next chance for significant accumulation in the city.
April 21 was the last time that snow accumulated in Denver, and for a brief moment last week, it looked like the snowless streak was about to come to an end.
"There was a band [of snow] that impacted downtown Denver this morning which produced some flakes," AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said on Wednesday, Nov. 17. While flurries filled the air on Wednesday morning, when all was said and done, the official weather observations from Denver International Airport concluded that not enough fell to be considered measurable snow.
Joseph Dominguez uses a shovel to clear snow at Denver International Airport on Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Typically, Denver measures its first snow of the new snow season around Oct. 18.
To be considered measurable snow, at least 0.1 of an inch needs to accumulate. If some snow falls but does not accumulate up to 0.1 of an inch, it is officially considered by meteorologists to be a "trace" of snow.
A trace of snow was reported at Denver International Airport on Oct. 15 and again on the first two days of November, but so far, the 2021-2022 snow season stands at 0 inches for Colorado's capital city.
This is significantly different from the 2020-2021 snow season, which was one of the snowiest on record for Denver, partly due to early-season snowfall. Last year, an inch of snow fell on Sept. 8, one of the earliest accumulating snowfalls in the city's history. By the end of the season, more than 80 inches of snow had fallen, the highest total in 37 years.
Residents of the Mile High City woke up on Sunday, Nov. 21 to chilly but sunny conditions, ensuring that a new record was about to be set. Sure enough, by Monday, Nov. 22, no measurable snow had fallen, though the Nov. 21, 1934 record certainly had.
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It is unclear when the snowless streak will come to an end with prospects for snow looking bleak until December.
"Denver may have to wait until the second or third week of December for any measurable snow in the city based on what we are seeing," said AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
Another snow record could be in jeopardy if snow holds off this long.
Denver has gone more than 212 days since measurable snow last fell in the city, the fifth-longest snow-free streak on record. If the long-term forecast comes to fruition, then Denver could set a new record for the most consecutive days with no accumulating snow.
The lack of snowfall in Denver this season could be related to a meteorological phenomenon occurring thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
According to Pastelok, La Niña could be to blame for this snowless pattern.
La Niña is a phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean in which water temperatures near the equator are lower than average. This can shape the jet stream and the track that storm systems take when they traverse North America.
The current La Niña-influenced weather pattern is causing storms to move at a rapid pace from the Northwest through the Plains.
"The storms seem to get wrung out in the Northwest and then pick up moisture in the eastern Plains and Midwest," Pastelok explained. This leaves the Front Range high and dry with little opportunities for any rain or snow around Denver.
Meanwhile, the pattern is sending the snow elsewhere. AccuWeather meteorologists say there will be opportunities for snow across the Midwest in the coming days, which could disrupt travel ahead of Thanksgiving.
For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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News / Winter Weather
Denver officially breaks snow record that has stood since 1934
The Mile High City is on pace to continue its snowless streak, perhaps putting another record in contention.
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published Nov 18, 2021 11:08 AM EDT | Updated Nov 22, 2021 10:48 AM EDT
Clouds pushed in by a cold front roll in behind the skyline of downtown Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver officially broke its all-time record for the latest first measurable snow when the Mile High City reported no snowfall on Sunday, surpassing a record that had stood since Nov. 21, 1934. AccuWeather meteorologists say that it could be weeks before the next chance for significant accumulation in the city.
April 21 was the last time that snow accumulated in Denver, and for a brief moment last week, it looked like the snowless streak was about to come to an end.
"There was a band [of snow] that impacted downtown Denver this morning which produced some flakes," AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer said on Wednesday, Nov. 17. While flurries filled the air on Wednesday morning, when all was said and done, the official weather observations from Denver International Airport concluded that not enough fell to be considered measurable snow.
Joseph Dominguez uses a shovel to clear snow at Denver International Airport on Saturday, April 16, 2016. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Typically, Denver measures its first snow of the new snow season around Oct. 18.
To be considered measurable snow, at least 0.1 of an inch needs to accumulate. If some snow falls but does not accumulate up to 0.1 of an inch, it is officially considered by meteorologists to be a "trace" of snow.
A trace of snow was reported at Denver International Airport on Oct. 15 and again on the first two days of November, but so far, the 2021-2022 snow season stands at 0 inches for Colorado's capital city.
This is significantly different from the 2020-2021 snow season, which was one of the snowiest on record for Denver, partly due to early-season snowfall. Last year, an inch of snow fell on Sept. 8, one of the earliest accumulating snowfalls in the city's history. By the end of the season, more than 80 inches of snow had fallen, the highest total in 37 years.
Residents of the Mile High City woke up on Sunday, Nov. 21 to chilly but sunny conditions, ensuring that a new record was about to be set. Sure enough, by Monday, Nov. 22, no measurable snow had fallen, though the Nov. 21, 1934 record certainly had.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
It is unclear when the snowless streak will come to an end with prospects for snow looking bleak until December.
"Denver may have to wait until the second or third week of December for any measurable snow in the city based on what we are seeing," said AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.
Another snow record could be in jeopardy if snow holds off this long.
Denver has gone more than 212 days since measurable snow last fell in the city, the fifth-longest snow-free streak on record. If the long-term forecast comes to fruition, then Denver could set a new record for the most consecutive days with no accumulating snow.
The lack of snowfall in Denver this season could be related to a meteorological phenomenon occurring thousands of miles away in the Pacific Ocean.
According to Pastelok, La Niña could be to blame for this snowless pattern.
La Niña is a phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean in which water temperatures near the equator are lower than average. This can shape the jet stream and the track that storm systems take when they traverse North America.
The current La Niña-influenced weather pattern is causing storms to move at a rapid pace from the Northwest through the Plains.
"The storms seem to get wrung out in the Northwest and then pick up moisture in the eastern Plains and Midwest," Pastelok explained. This leaves the Front Range high and dry with little opportunities for any rain or snow around Denver.
Meanwhile, the pattern is sending the snow elsewhere. AccuWeather meteorologists say there will be opportunities for snow across the Midwest in the coming days, which could disrupt travel ahead of Thanksgiving.
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For the latest weather news check back on AccuWeather.com. Watch the AccuWeather Network on DIRECTV, Frontier, Spectrum, fuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. AccuWeather Now is now available on your preferred streaming platform.
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