Heavy snow and high winds pounded the northern mountains as well as portions of Middle Park as a vigorous strong storm system moved through the area. Sustained winds from 30 to 50 mph were common causing whiteout conditions.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
Heavy snow and high winds pounded the northern mountains as well as portions of Middle Park as a vigorous strong storm system moved through the area. Sustained winds from 30 to 50 mph were common causing whiteout conditions. Blizzard conditions developed above 10 thousand feet with winds gusting to near 100 mph (85 kts). Peak wind gusts to 98 mph recorded at the Breckenridge and Winter Park ski areas. The combination of heavy snow and high wind triggered numerous avalanches which blocked roads and highways. Berthoud, Loveland and Vail passes were closed. In addition, I-70 between Silverthorne and Georgetown was closed. Scores of travellers were forced to seek shelter overnight until roads and highways could be cleared and avalanche control operations completed the following day.Snowfall totals included: 16 inches at the Eisenhower Tunnel, 12 inches 12 miles west of Walden with 11 inches recorded at Grand Lake. Elsewhere snowfall generally ranged from 6 to 9 inches.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 1998
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: 5628294, 5628295, 5628296.