Denver Weather History Shows Wet El Niño Summers Can Bring Record Snowy Winters

DENVER (CBS4) - Forecasters say an El Niño that developed in March may continue to strengthen heading into fall and winter.

Some meteorologists think this episode of El Niño could even rival a record set in 1997.

El Niño is a warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial waters of the Pacific Ocean which can have an impact on global climate patterns.

October 1997 Blizzard — Heavy, wet snow blanketed much of the Front Range during a blizzard that hit on Oct. 24-25, 1997. (credit: CBS)

This is significant because history shows that when El Niño is present during late spring and early summer, parts of Colorado can be particularly snowy the following winter, including Denver and the Front Range, if El Niño continues.

Since 1950 there have been 13 years with an active El Niño during May, June and July.

Five of those 13 seasons rank in Denver's Top 10 snowiest since 1950 and Top 20 snowiest since 1882.

1958 - 99.3 inches (#1 since 1950, #2 since 1882)
1972 - 94.9 inches (#2 since 1950, #4 since 1882)
1982 - 81.6 inches (#6 since 1950, #12 since 1882)
1983 - 80.9 inches (#7 since 1950, #14 since 1882)
1991 - 79.0 inches (#10 since 1950, #19 since 1882)

March 17-19, 2003 - 31.8 inches
December 24, 1982 - 23.8 inches
October 24-25, 1997 - 21.9 inches
November 26-27, 1983 - 21.5 inches
December 20-21, 2006 - 20.7 inches

While this article is by no means a forecast for Denver's potential snowfall this coming winter, history shows that when El Niño is active during May, June and July, there's a decent chance to see at least "average" winter conditions should El Niño last into the fall and winter.

The following list shows the 13 years since 1950 when El Niño was active during May, June and July. It also shows Denver's snowfall for the winter season that followed.

1953 - 41.5 inches
1957 - 57.1 inches
1958 - 99.3 inches
1965 - 46.9 inches
1969 - 65.8 inches
1972 - 94.9 inches
1982 - 81.6 inches
1983 - 80.9 inches
1987 - 62.3 inches
1991 - 79.0 inches
1992 - 60.4 inches
1997 - 72.1 inches
2002 - 61.8 inches

Denver's average annual snowfall over the entire climate record (1882-2014) is 57.1 inches.

NOTES ABOUT THE 13 ACTIVE EL NIÑOS DURING MAY, JUNE, AND JULY

1953 - El Niño was in progress and continued at roughly the same intensity through the winter

1957 - El Niño had just started in the early spring and gradually strengthened through the winter

1958 - El Niño was weakening and temporarily ended in the late summer before returning for a few more months

1965 - El Niño was just forming and strengthened into the winter

1969 - El Niño formed the previous fall season and was in the process of weakening before briefly returning the next fall

1972 - El Niño was just forming and strengthened into the winter

1982 - El Niño started in early spring and strengthened through the winter

1983 - El Niño had already been active and was in the process of weakening

1987 - El Niño formed the previous fall and was in the process of strengthening

1991 - El Niño was just forming and strengthened into the winter

1992 - El Niño was in the process of weakening after being active for over a year

1997 - El Niño was just forming and strengthened into the winter

2002 - El Niño was just forming and strengthened into the winter

2015 - El Niño started in early spring and was in the process of strengthening by early summer

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

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