Blizzard, C & E Adams & Arapahoe Counties
- When
- April 13, 7:00 PM MST to April 14, 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- C & E Adams & Arapahoe Counties forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 39.762, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard in Colorado, April 13 to 14, 1996
A potent spring storm strengthened as it made its way into EasternColorado. As a result, blizzard conditions developed over portions of Northeast Colorado.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 3
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
A potent spring storm strengthened as it made its way into EasternColorado. As a result, blizzard conditions developed over portions of Northeast Colorado. Strong northerly winds ranging from 25 to 50 mph, cold temperatures and heavy snowfall combined to create very hazardous conditions. The areas hardest hit by the storm included: Eastern Adams, Eastern Arapahoe, Eastern Elbert, Northern Lincoln and Washington Counties. Snow drifts anywhere from 3 to 4 feet high were whipped up by strong winds.Several power outages were reported, especially around the Limon area, as high winds and heavy wet snow downed power lines. Numerous accidents were reported due to the the adverse weather conditions. As a result, several roads and highways were closed. Some of the more impressive snowfall totals included: 15 inches at Strasburg and Deer Trail, 10 inches at Arriba and 6-9 inches at Genoa, Larkspur, Last Chance, Limon and Kiowa Vicinity.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County
- When
- April 13, 7:00 PM MST to April 14, 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 39.138, -103.825 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Washington County
- When
- April 13, 7:00 PM MST to April 14, 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- Washington County forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 39.971, -103.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornado in Texas, April 13, 1996
- Tornado in North Carolina, April 13, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Mississippi, April 13, 1996
- High Wind in Texas, April 13 to 14, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 13, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Texas, April 13, 1996
- Flooding in New York, April 13 to 15, 1996
- Winter Storm in Colorado, April 13 to 14, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, April 13, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, April 13, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, April 13, 1996
- Damaging Wind in Virginia, April 13, 1996
More
Every storm in Colorado in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 1996
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5549437, 5549438, 5549439.