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(Provided by Gigafact.)

As recently as Sept. 8, 2020, it snowed 1 inch in Denver, the second-earliest snowfall in the city’s recorded history. September snowstorms are relatively rare in the Mile High City.

Since 1882, Denver has received a monthly snow total of at least 0.1 inch in September at least 29 times, with the earliest snowfall coming Sept. 3, 1961, when Denver was pounded with 4.2 inches of snow.

Most years, snow doesn’t show up in the city until November or December. In 2023, snow’s first arrival in Denver came Oct. 28. In 2022, snow fell Nov. 4. 

And in 2021, the first snow was recorded Dec. 10. That was also the latest a first snow had ever fallen in Denver. Before that, the latest recorded first snowfall occurred Nov. 21, 1934.

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Corrections:

This story was updated at 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, to correct the number of times Denver received a monthly snow total of at least 0.1 inch in September since 1882. That number is 29.

References:

Denver’s Fall/Winter/Spring Statistics, National Weather Service, accessed September 2024. Source link.

Monthly and Annual Snowfall (1882-Present), National Weather Service, accessed September 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Justin George is a 1995 graduate of Columbine High School. He has worked as a reporter at six news organizations including the Boulder Daily Camera, the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. Email him at justin@coloradosun.com