(SOUTHERN COLORADO) – The Fourth of July is packed with summer fun outdoors, from cookouts and poolside gatherings to the grand finale of fireworks lighting up the sky. But no matter how you plan to celebrate, one thing that always plays a major role in how the day unfolds is the weather.

Today, we’re taking a look back at some of the most extreme weather we’ve seen on Independence Day here in Southern Colorado.

Starting with the heat!

Some Fourth of Julys have brought the heat, and then some. The hottest on record for Colorado Springs was a sizzling 99 degrees in 1964, while Pueblo topped out at a triple-digit, 104 degrees in 1996. Both days were well above the average highs typically expected for early July, turning festive fun into a scorcher.

It hasn’t always been sweltering, though. Back in 1903, both cities experienced a very chilly start to the holiday. Colorado Springs dropped into the upper 30s, while Pueblo woke up to temperatures in the low 40s, which is not exactly the ideal pool weather you would hope to wake up to and enjoy a dip in! 

And of course, there’s the dreaded forecasted element: rain. In 2009, Colorado Springs picked up around an inch of rain, while Pueblo saw an impressive 2 inches on July 4th, 1921. Rainfall like that can put a damper on celebrations and delay fireworks shows, something everyone hopes to avoid.

No matter what the weather brings this year, we hope it’s one for the books! Happy Independence Day from all of us at FOX21!