HOT Denver!!!! (how much, house, living in)

[deputycorndog]

Compared to many parts of the southwest, it isn't too bad and considering how humid it is in another parts of the country we are fortunate. However, since moving here in 2006, I have always heard locals say how much cooler the summers were in the 80's and early part of the 90's. Is that true? Is it hotter now than it used to be or is poor memory from when they were younger?

[bluescreen73]

If you need some perspective, spend a few days in Dallas this week. It hasn't been below 100 in almost a month and they're calling for high temps above 105 through Friday.

[MsRiss7383]

I was a child in the eighties and nineties and I feel like I remember the winters being colder and snowier than they are now. But it's easy to have a skewed persepective when looking back on you childhood. Will be interesting to see what others think.

[davidv]

I checked out Denver's climate data and found that

13 of 30 record highs for June were set after 2000.
14 of 31 record highs for July were set after 2000.
8 of 31 record highs for August were set after 2000.

2 of the 10 warmest Junes and on record occured after 2000.
5 of the 10 warmest Julys on record occured after 2000.
2 of the 10 warmest Augusts on record occured after 2000.

Since the records go back to the 1870s, I would say the the recent decade has been much warmer than previous decades.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by deputycorndog

Compared to many parts of the southwest, it isn't too bad and considering how humid it is in another parts of the country we are fortunate. However, since moving here in 2006, I have always heard locals say how much cooler the summers were in the 80's and early part of the 90's. Is that true? Is it hotter now than it used to be or is poor memory from when they were younger?

It's not just Colorado. It's no secrete that global temps are rising. Ice-caps and glaciers are melting. The data would seem to back up the contentions that 1980s and 1990s were cooler. But I lived in Denver at that time, and I remember a lot of hot weather. 1989 and 1990 come to my mind as being very hot years. 1989 had a five day streak of 101+ degree days from July 4 to July 8. Thats about the hottest I remember. Looking at recent weather data, it looks to be that only 2005 could come close to comparing to that.

Denver Temperature Extremes (100 or -20)

Denvers Consecutive 90 Degree Streaks Ends

[davidv]

Originally Posted by KaaBoom

It's not just Colorado. It's no secrete that global temps are rising. Ice-caps and glaciers are melting. The data would seem to back up the contentions that 1980s and 1990s were cooler. But I lived in Denver at that time, and I remember a lot of hot weather. 1989 and 1990 come to my mind as being very hot years. 1989 had a five day streak of 101+ degree days from July 4 to July 8. Thats about the hottest I remember. Looking at recent weather data, it looks to be that only 2005 could come close to comparing to that.

Denver Temperature Extremes (100 or -20)

Denvers Consecutive 90 Degree Streaks Ends

I remember those years as I was working outside all day, but those years were anomalies.

The 2000s had 5 of the 10 summer seasons with the most days over 90 degrees. In 8 of the 10 years of the decade there was at least one stretch where the highs were 90+ degrees for 10 days or more. In 2000 there were two stretches - one 17 days long the other 12 days long. In 2008, the record was set: 24 straight days of 90+ degrees.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

If you need some perspective, spend a few days in Dallas this week. It hasn't been below 100 in almost a month and they're calling for high temps above 105 through Friday.

I saw the forecast for Dallas said a high of 111 and low of 90 for either today or tomorrow Dallas must be about the most miserable place to be in Summer. I lived in San Antonio for a couple years and for some reason, Dallas tends to be hotter than SA.

[Prodigal Native]

This is purely subjective, but I remember the few times we hit 100 in the early to mid-80s it was major news and those days seemed to happen once every couple of years. Now, from what I hear, it is not uncommon for there to be a couple of 100+ days each summer.

The good news is it still cools down a lot at night and you can "refresh" the house by opening the windows and letting it air out (and cool down).

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Prodigal Native

This is purely subjective, but I remember the few times we hit 100 in the early to mid-80s it was major news and those days seemed to happen once every couple of years. Now, from what I hear, it is not uncommon for there to be a couple of 100+ days each summer.
. . .

Here's a list of all dates the temperature has been 100º or over in Denver (updated through July 17, 2010):
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
DENVER, COLORADO
LIST OF DAILY EXTREME
TEMPERATURES (1872-2007)

Updated through 7/17/2010

EXTREME HOT TEMPERATURES
(100 DEGREES OR WARMER)

We've had a string of 90º+ days the last couple of weeks, but not set any records, as far as I know.

[Prodigal Native]

Originally Posted by suzco

Here's a list of all dates the temperature has been 100º or over in Denver (updated through July 17, 2010):

It didn't like your link; here's what I think you were point to:
Denver Temperature Extremes (100 or -20)

It's interesting to see my memory isn't completely fictional... not yet anyway:

1971 - 1990 13 days of 100 or higher
1991 - 2010 (July 17) - 19 days of 100 or higher

I'm sure there's something on the internet, but I'd like to see the days of 95 or above. Growing up the low 90s was hot, but once we reached 95 is was damn hot.

Living in Tucson now, I don't really seem to complain unless it is over 105, but everything is air conditioned here and it was NOT that way in the 70s and 80s in Denver.