An outdoor graduation to remember, the 'SNOW-mencement' of 2019
This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them.
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On Thursday, May 9, 2019, the University of Colorado’s graduating class received their diploma and a snowstorm during the spring commencement.
The ceremony was quickly dubbed "snow-mencement." Approximately 8,600 degrees were given out as Boulder, Colo. hovered around -1°C. On May 9 it's usually 21°C in Boulder.
Boulder usually gets 245 sunny days per year and around one snowy day in May.
Courtesy of Patrick Campbell, University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado’s class of 2019 leaned into the snow and arrived dressed to impress. Some graduates sported ski goggles and snow boots and others took a snugglier approach and fashioned animal-themed onesies.
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An estimated 20,000 people attended the event which was held at Folsom Field, the school’s football stadium. The field and chairs were covered in snow.
Snowball fights ensued.
Courtesy of Glenn Asakawa, University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder has received some significant May snowfalls in the past. On May 9, 1943, it received half a foot of snow (about 15 cm). The city's largest May snowfall record occurred on May 5, 1917, with a whopping 36 cm of the white fluffy stuff.
Courtesy of Glenn Asakawa, University of Colorado Boulder
To learn more about the University of Colorado's "snow-mencement," listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History."
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Thumbnail: Boulder, Colorado. Courtesy of Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado Boulder
