Colorado, 2009

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, October 20 to 22, 2009

October 20 to 22, 2009 · NWS BOU · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Heavy snow developed along the Palmer Divide and eastern Colorado as a storm system tracked across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The heaviest snow fell to the south and east of Denver.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Heavy snow developed along the Palmer Divide and eastern Colorado as a storm system tracked across southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The heaviest snow fell to the south and east of Denver. Storm totals included: 15 inches, 15 miles north of Elizabeth, 14 inches at Agate, 13 inches, 14 miles west-southwest of Agate; 11 inches, 2 miles east of Elizabeth; 11 inches at Hugo, 9 inches, 5 miles south-southwest of Arapahoe Park; 8 inches, 4 miles east of Akron, Highlands Ranch, 5 miles south-southeast of Sedalia; 7 inches near Antero Junction and Karval, 6.5 inches, 8 miles southwest of Bennett and 6 inches in Parker. Storm totals elsewhere range from 3 to 5 inches. In Karval, in southern Lincoln County, the combination of ice and wind knocked the power out in the area. Approximately 70 power poles were knocked down during the storm.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter storm, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Elbert / C & E Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet

When
October 20, 7:00 PM MST to October 21, 9:00 PM MST
Where
Elbert / C & E Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.422, -104.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, C & Se Park County

When
October 20, 7:00 PM MST to October 21, 5:00 PM MST
Where
C & Se Park County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.119, -105.717 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County

When
October 20, 7:00 PM MST to October 21, 9:00 PM MST
Where
N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.714, -104.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, C & E Adams & Arapahoe Counties

When
October 20, 11:00 PM MST to October 22, 2:00 AM MST
Where
C & E Adams & Arapahoe Counties forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.762, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County

When
October 20, 11:00 PM MST to October 22, 2:00 AM MST
Where
N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.138, -103.825 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Washington County

When
October 20, 11:00 PM MST to October 21, 9:00 PM MST
Where
Washington County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.971, -103.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Phillips County

When
October 20, 11:00 PM MST to October 21, 9:00 PM MST
Where
Phillips County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
40.594, -102.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Se Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / South Lincoln County

When
October 20, 11:00 PM MST to October 22, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Se Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / South Lincoln County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.138, -103.825 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, October 2009

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 199376, 199380, 199381, 199377, 199378, 199379, 199382, 199384.