Denver

Denver is the highest city of its size in the United States. The steps of the state capital are one mile (1610 meters) high! Because of its altitude, and because it sits far from any large bodies of water, Denver has a semi-arid continental climate. Measurable rain or snow occurs only once or twice a week in a typical month. Spring and early summer are the wettest seasons, although heavy thunderstorms can strike as late as September. Snow is possible anytime from September to May, and it can pile up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) or more in a single storm. The heaviest rain and snow in Denver occur during upslope conditions, when the winds in the lower atmosphere are blowing strongly from east to west against the Rocky Mountains.

Denver’s dry climate means that temperatures often soar by day and plummet at night. The temperature range in a single day is typically about 14 to 17°C (25 to 30°F) . Summer can bring highs above 38°C (100°F), while the coldest winter nights can drop below–20°C (–4°F).

Hints for July:

This is the hottest month in Denver, on average. When there are few clouds in the area and no cold fronts approaching, temperature usually climbs above 32°C (90°F) and sometimes up to 38°C (100°F). After a cold front arrives, the daytime temperature in Denver may stay below 27°C (80°F) the next day. Nighttime temperatures are coolest when it’s clear and dry and warmest when it’s cloudy and when the dew point (moisture) is high. Even the warmest nights will usually get below 21°C (70°F). The most likely time for Denver to get showers or thunderstorms in July is when moist air is blowing upslope (from east to west) against the mountains.

 

Denver Climate Data
39.77°N, 104.87°W
Elev: 1612m (5286ft)
Month	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Maximum (F)	43	47	52	62	71	82	88	86	77	66	52	45
Average Minimum (F)	16	20	26	35	44	53	59	57	48	37	25	18
Extreme Maximum (F)	73	76	84	90	93	104	103	100	97	89	79	75
Extreme Minimum (F)	-25	-25	-10	-2	22	30	43	41	17	3	-8	-25
Average Precip (mm)	13	15	33	46	64	43	48	38	28	25	23	15
Afternoon Rel. Hum.	49	44	39	35	38	34	33	34	32	35	47	50
Days of Thunder	<1	<1	<1	2	6	10	10	8	3	1	<1	0
Days of Snow	9	9	11	7	2	<1	0	0	1	3	8	9
# days>1.0mm	3	4	6	6	7	6	6	6	5	4	4	4
hrs. of sun	7	7	8	9	9	11	10	10	9	8	6	6
Extreme maxima and minima for Denver are calculated for a 47-year period of record (1948-1995).

Madrid is one of the highest cities in Europe, with an altitude of about 580 meters (1900 feet). Even though it is in the center of Spain, about 360 km (200 mi) from the coast, Madrid has some aspects of a Mediterranean climate. For example, summer brings lots of sunshine, with a shower or thunderstorm arriving only about once a week on average. Precipitation is heaviest during the transition seasons of spring and autumn, when some moisture is typically recorded about every third day. Although it may snow a couple of times per winter in Madrid, the accumulations are usually quite light.

Since Madrid is driest in the summer, this is when temperatures tend to rise and fall most sharply. The typical daily range during the summer is about 17°C (30°F).

Hints for July:

July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year in Madrid. Almost all of the summer rains occur with thunderstorms, which arrive about once a week on average. Thunderstorms are most likely when warm, humid air from the Mediterranean flows from east to west into Madrid, and especially if a cold front is approaching from the Atlantic. These conditions also bring the warmest nights of the year, when temperatures may stay above 68°F (20°C). If no fronts are nearby and the air mass is dry, with few clouds, daytime temperatures may soar well above 95°F (35°C).

 

Madrid Climate Data
40°27'N, 3°33'W
Elev: 582m (1909ft)
Month	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Average Maximum (F)	51	54	60	63	71	82	90	90	82	68	58	52
Average Minimum (F)	32	35	38	42	48	56	61	61	55	47	39	35
Extreme Maximum (F)	68	70	79	86	91	102	104	105	102	88	75	70
Extreme Minimum (F)	14	14	23	25	30	39	46	45	36	28	19	19
Average Precip (mm)	46	43	38	46	41	25	10	10	30	46	64	48
Afternoon Rel. Hum.	62	57	47	48	44	38	30	31	38	51	60	66
Days of Thunder	0	<1	1	1	4	5	4	4	3	1	<1	<1
Days of Snow	1	1	<1	<1	0	0	0	0	0	0	<1	1
# days>1.0mm	9	10	9	12	12	8	4	4	6	10	9	10
hrs. of sun	5	6	7	8	9	11	12	11	9	7	5	4
Extreme maxima and minima for Madrid are calculated for a 21-year period of record (1973-1993).