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Top 2019 Colorado Weather Stories Include Huge Hail, Bomb Cyclone, Wild Temp Swings

DENVER (CBS4) - Mother Nature created a lot of memorable weather across Colorado during 2019. One of the biggest weather headlines was the bomb cyclone that hit during March. It will forever be remembered as one of the strongest cyclones ever recorded over land. A second, less powerful storm hit in April and it, too, reached bomb cyclone status.

RELATED: Colorado Blizzard Recap: Snow Totals, Wind Gusts And Pressure Readings

RELATED: Confirmed: Bomb Cyclone Smashed Prior Wind Record In Colorado Springs

VIEW: PHOTOS FROM BOMB CYCLONE

Colorado experienced several weeks of active weather between mid-February and early April thanks to an active jet stream pattern. It brought heavy snow to Colorado's high country which set off an avalanche cycle that reached historic levels. Wolf Creek Ski Area reported over 12 feet of snow in just 22 days. The weather pattern wiped out drought in our state and allowed many ski areas to have their latest closing date on record.

RELATED: Epic February Drops Over 12 Feet Of Snow In 22 Days At Wolf Creek

AVALANCHE SURVIVOR 6PKG_frame_1775
(credit: CBS)

While the mountains received heavy snow, it was stormy at times on the Eastern Plains. A few rare March tornadoes were recorded, including one near Colorado Springs that caused damage to a home in Peyton. Another tornado was reported near Greeley.

RELATED: Rare March Tornado Damages Home In El Paso County

RELATED: Landspout Tornado Confirmed North Of Greeley

RELATED: Colorado Weather: Cold Air Funnel Spotted Near Cortez Friday

EL PASO COUNTY TORNADO.transfer_frame_591
Tornado in El Paso County (credit: Jessica U.)

Wild temperature swings made several headlines during the year including one during February in which Denver's temperature fell 76 degrees over the course of 90 hours. Another big drop happened in October when Denver measured one of the largest temperature drops in recorded history.

RELATED: Denver Weather: Wild February Featured 76 Degree Temperature Swing

RELATED: From 83° To 13°: Our Temperature Drop Was Among The Largest On Record!

record hail bethune credit colorado climate center
Largest hail stone recorded in Colorado at 4.8 inches in Bethune in 2019. (credit: Colorado Climate Center) CBS

Large hail made an appearance several times in Colorado weather headlines between May and August including the biggest hailstone ever observed in the state. The storms pounded several communities on the Eastern Plains leaving a trail of damage behind.

RELATED: Huge Hail Hits Colorado During Memorial Day Weekend

RELATED: Largest Hail In Colorado's History Recorded In Bethune

May Snow Storm Breaks Branches
East 17th Ave. and Steele St. in Denver (credit: CBS)

May and June delivered unusually cold weather to the region with heavy snow at times. Denver measured one of the largest late season snowfall events in over four decades. The heavy wet snow took down several trees. A storm in late June dropped feet of summer snow in the mountains around Steamboat Springs.

RELATED: Denver Weather: City Sees Biggest Late May Snow In 44 Years

RELATED: Summer Storm Drops Nearly 2 Feet Of Snow At Colorado's Steamboat Resort

October 2019 Snowstorm in Denver
(credit: CBS)

After several years with relatively warm and dry fall seasons, things took a turn this year as Mother Nature delivered a stormy stretch of weather that started before Halloween and lasted through Thanksgiving. The mountains were snowy, too, although initially the storm track missed southwest Colorado, which allowed drought conditions to once again expand across the area.

RELATED: Denver Weather: It's The Snowiest October In 7 Years, And Even More Is On The Way!

RELATED: Denver Weather: That Was The Most Snow In November In 25 Years

RELATED: Top Colorado Stories Of 2019

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