Based On History, Are We Overdue For September Snow?

DENVER (CBS4) - If you've lived in Colorado for any length of time you know that September can be full of surprises. The month features a little bit of weather for almost every appetite.

From a few hot days to clear and crisp nights, sometimes we even see freezing temperatures and the first snow of the season.

Denver's 30-year average for September snowfall is 1.3 inches. The last time Denver saw snowflakes in September was in 2014 but only a trace was recorded. The last measurable snow during September was in 2000.

If we look at the number of Septembers per decade since 1890 with at least a trace of snowfall in Denver the numbers show we're overdue.

1890s - 2
1900s - 5
1910s - 4
1920s - 4
1930s - 4
1940s - 4
1950s - 4
1960s - 4
1970s - 4
1980s - 4
1990s - 5
2000s - 1
2010s - 1 (but we're not finished with this decade yet)

The 1990's were particularly active for early season September snow.

1993 - 5.4"
1994 - 1.4"
1995 - 7.4"
1996 - 4.7"
1999 - 3.1"

If you're not a fan of snow don't fret too much because September snows are normally on the light side and melt pretty fast. Large events are rare but they have happened a few times.

1971 - 17.2"
1936 - 16.5
1959 - 12.9"
1895 - 11.4"

And while snow is always a possibility in Denver during September, it's almost certain at some point in the mountains.

Besides the threat for snow, September is best known for a fairly large temperature drop with Denver's average high and low both falling about 12°F.

It's that drastic drop in temperature, driven by the shorter days and a lowering sun angle, that spark the annual showing of fall color.

SECTION: CBS4's Fall Color 4Cast: Viewing Should Be Good This Year, But May Be Short-Lived

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio, connect with him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.