Is Denver's 'stock show weather' really a thing? This year it will be

Coloradans talk about "stock show weather'' every year at this time, but what really does that mean? Is it even a thing, or just another urban legend?

The National Western Stock Show takes place Jan. 6-21 in Denver.

The perception is that unusually cold, snowy, windy weather accompanies all the cowboy hats coming to Denver in January.

Russ Schumacher, state climatologist and professor in Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science, said the data doesn't support the perception.

"When we dug into it we found that in recent years, late December and February has worse weather than during the stock show,'' Schumacher said. "We have had some big snows around Christmas but mid-January tends to not see big storms, at least in recent years.''

Schumacher pointed out extreme cold is less frequent during the stock show than in the weeks on either side of it. The average temperature during the show has gone up by more than 3 degrees the last 75 years, he said.

"A lot of it comes from people's perception in that they remember the years when it's been really cold or snowy and don't remember the years when conditions are average or a little warmer,'' he said.

However, Denver did receive 4.6 inches of snow during last year's show, which stranded some show-goers.

Schumacher said the climate center placed a weather station on top of one of CSU's Spur facilities at the stock show to get a better idea of weather conditions at the complex.

He said this year, perception will become reality as this winter's coldest temperatures are forecast to smack show-goers.

"This year will definitely include stock show weather with an extended blast of cold coming down from the artic during the heart of the show,'' he said.

Starting Friday, temperatures in Denver will begin to plunge with Saturday through Monday's highs near 10 degrees and overnight lows dipping below zero degrees. Little snow but strong, gusty winds will accompany the cold.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind child watch from noon Saturday through Tuesday morning with wind chill as low as minus-30 for Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Pueblo and east.