Alert archive / Colorado / Blizzard Warnings in 2019

Blizzard Warning 2, NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

January 22, 20194 counties in Colorado

NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued this blizzard warning at Jan 22, 2019, 10:55 AM MST for 4 counties in Colorado. It took effect at Jan 22, 2019, 11:00 AM MST. It was in force for 4 hr. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jan 22, 2019, 10:55 AM MST (17:55 UTC)
In effect from
Jan 22, 2019, 11:00 AM MST
Expired
Jan 22, 2019, 3:00 PM MST
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO

Counties Arapahoe County, CO, Douglas County, CO, Elbert County, CO, Lincoln County, CO

The radar

The Denver radar (KFTG), 59 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 17:54 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jan 22, 11:44 AM MSTSNOW 35 S Manila Village, COESTIMATED DUE TO INTENSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING.
Jan 22, 2:45 PM MSTSNOW 5.53 Ne Castle Rock, CODRIFTS IN THE VICINITY OF 2 TO 3 FEET. THE DURATION OF THE SNOW EVENT WAS 24 HOURS.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Denver, CO (KDEN), launched 12:00Z, 5.9 hours before the alert went out and 106 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2019-01-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Denver, CO at 12:00Z on 2019-01-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -128 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
692 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
9 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-128 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

285 
WWUS45 KBOU 221755
WSWBOU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver CO
1055 AM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...Blizzard Warning extended over Elbert and Northern Lincoln 
Counties...

.Strong winds and light snow continue to produce blizzard
conditions primarily over Elbert and northern Lincoln counties. 
Consequently, the Blizzard Warning has been extended in those
areas until 3 pm MST this afternoon. Conditions have improved 
over the rest of the area, so the blizzard warning elsewhere has 
been allowed to expire.

COZ041-046-222200-
/O.CAN.KBOU.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190122T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KBOU.BZ.W.0002.190122T1800Z-190122T2200Z/
Castle Rock-Limon-
Including the cities of Castle Rock, Elbert, Fondis, Kiowa, 
Larkspur, Agate, Hugo, Limon, and Matheson
1055 AM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MST THIS AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations 
  of up to one inch expected. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Elbert, Elizabeth, Kiowa, Cedar Point and Limon.

* WHEN...Until 3 PM MST this afternoon.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing
  snow could significantly reduce visibility. Gusty winds could
  bring down tree branches. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded, stay with your vehicle. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$

COZ044-045-049-221900-
/O.CAN.KBOU.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190122T1800Z/
Fort Morgan-Byers-Akron-
Including the cities of Brush, Fort Morgan, Goodrich, Wiggins, 
Bennett, Byers, Deer Trail, Leader, Akron, Cope, Last Chance, 
and Otis
1055 AM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...BLIZZARD WARNING IS EXPIRED...

Conditions are expected to gradually improve this afternoon,
therefore the Blizzard Warning has been allowed to expire. 

Gusty winds and light snow however are expected to linger into 
the early afternoon so continue to exercise caution when driving.
Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing may still reduce
visibility.

$$
1 follow-up statement
632 
WWUS45 KBOU 222221
WSWBOU

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Denver CO
321 PM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...ONE WINTER STORM HAS MOVED OUT...ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW STARTS
IN THE MOUNTAINS TOMORROW...

The storm that brought blizzard conditions to portions of east
central Colorado will continue to move away from the state
tonight, with winds decreasing significantly through early
evening.  

The next storm system will arrive in the mountains tomorrow, with
snow becoming more widespread by afternoon. That snow continues
across the high country through Wednesday night and much of 
Thursday. Some of the snow is likely to spill across the plains 
late Wednesday night or Thursday, but mostly light accumulations 
are expected in lower elevations. 

COZ041-046-222330-
/O.EXP.KBOU.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-190122T2200Z/
Castle Rock-Limon-
Including the cities of Castle Rock, Elbert, Fondis, Kiowa, 
Larkspur, Agate, Hugo, Limon, and Matheson
321 PM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...BLIZZARD WARNING HAS EXPIRED...

Snow has ended, and winds are gradually decreasing this afternoon.
As a result, the Blizzard Warning has been allowed to expire. Some
roads remain closed due to significant drifting. Use caution when
roads do reopen, as they will still be snow covered, icy, and 
slick in spots. 

$$

COZ031-033-034-230630-
/O.NEW.KBOU.WW.Y.0007.190123T1800Z-190124T1800Z/
Rabbit Ears Pass-
Rocky Mountain National Park and the Medicine Bow Range-
The Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the
Indian Peaks-
Including the cities of East Slopes Park and Northern Gore
Ranges, Gore Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, Cameron Pass, 
Laramie and Medicine Bow Mountains, Rabbit Ears Range, 
Rocky Mountain National Park, Willow Creek Pass, Berthoud Pass, 
Breckenridge, East Slopes Mosquito Range, 
East Slopes Southern Gore Range, Eisenhower Tunnel, Indian Peaks,
Kenosha Mountains, Mount Evans, Williams Fork Mountains, 
and Winter Park
321 PM MST Tue Jan 22 2019

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO
11 AM MST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 
  inches expected. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Rabbit Ears Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park and the 
  Medicine Bow Range and The Mountains of Summit County, the 
  Mosquito Range, and the Indian Peaks.

* WHEN...From 11 AM Wednesday to 11 AM MST Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be slow, slick, and hazardous.
  Blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility, especially 
  on the mountain passes. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will
cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads
and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving. 

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Denver/Boulder, CO issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jan 22, 3:21 PM MSTWinter Weather AdvisoryBOUBoulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson and 3 more44 hr

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in Colorado, 2019Every blizzard warning in 2019

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.