An intense but fairly fast moving system that developed over southeastern Colorado brought a brief period of blizzard conditions along the Palmer Ridge south and southeast of Denver. Strong wind gusts from 45 to 60 mph accompanied the snow.
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.
An intense but fairly fast moving system that developed over southeastern Colorado brought a brief period of blizzard conditions along the Palmer Ridge south and southeast of Denver. Strong wind gusts from 45 to 60 mph accompanied the snow. Storm totals included: 11 inches near The Pinery, 10.5 inches near Ponderosa Park; 7 inches, 3 miles northeast of Castle Rock; with 5 inches near Simla.
The blizzard conditions forecast the closure of schools, roads and highways over Douglas and Elbert Counties. Interstate 70 was closed between Airpark and Limon in both directions for several hours and Interstate 25 south of Castle Rock was also closed. State Highway 24, from Colorado Springs to Limon; State Highway 94 between Colorado Springs to Punkin Center; State Highway 86, from Kiowa to Limon. Several vehicles were stranded due to drifting snow, ranging from 2 1/2 ft to 8 ft, and zero visibilities.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 23, 8:29 PM MST, 4 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 929 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 909 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 Cold front has moved south over the plains bringing wind gusts up to 50 mph. Dewpoints in Wyoming are still hovering in the 30s and 40s. Radar shows some echoes over the north with light rain starting for form over northern Larimer and Weld counties. Expect the progression to continue south as the moisture fetch from the cyclone continues to push into the region. There is a dry slot on IR and water vapor over the SE that could help to slow precipitation for portions of the central plains at first. Still expect highest snow amounts to the south over the Palmer Ridge...Douglas...Elbert and Lincoln counties with less to the north. The best QG lift still exists between midnight and noon over the plains that could help to change rain over to snow but latest model runs still show slightly warmer temperatures at the 700 mb level. Current forecast is on track so updated for current conditions. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 232 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 Still a thunderstorm threat over the far northeast corner through this evening with southeast winds bringing in higher dewpoint air in the mid 40s. Surface capes so potential up to 1500j/kg. Main concern will be incoming storm system which will move across Colorado tonight and Friday. Main impact areas will be over Southern Front Range foothills and out over the Palmer Divide where the higher elevations will be more snow than rain. Surface cold front over Wyoming will drop into Eastern Colorado this evening with increasing northerly winds. There is huge qg numbers with this incoming system with intensification expected later tonight and early Friday. The focus still appears to be across Douglas, Elbert and Northern lincoln counties and also eastern portions of adams and arapahoe counties with biggest threat for blizzard conditions with gusts in the 30-45kt range. Washington county is on the edge but will go with an advisory there, especially over southern portions of Washington county. Further West over the Denver area, expect some snowfall to impact morning rush hour with over all amounts of 3-6 inches, especially east and south of Denver. Much of the far northeast plains will likely remain rain. Overall low to medium confidence on the rain/snow issues on the plains and higher confidence on the Palmer Divide. Rain and snow will be rapidly decreasing Friday afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday) Issued at 232 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 Active weather pattern is expected through the period with a series of storm systems moving across the central and southern Rockies. Temperatures Saturday morning are forecasted to drop below freezing across most plains locations...due to light winds...drier air...clearing skies and some snow cover. Warmer and drier weather is expected on Saturday as upper level high pressure builds over the Rocky Mountain Region. Models show an upper level trough of low pressure moving across the state Saturday night into Sunday ...with an associated cold front sweeping across the northeastern plains Sunday morning. This system should bring another round of snow to the mountains...with breezy conditions a good chance for precipitation across the plains. Right now models are indicating it will be too warm for snow in Denver...however higher elevations across the foothills and Palmer Divide could see some accumulation. Warmer and drier weather should return to north central and northeastern Colorado on Monday as upper level high pressure rebuilds over the area. The next storm system begins to impact the region on Wednesday...however not sure to what extent due to model differences and run to run inconsistencies. The 12z GFS shows the upper low tracking across southern Arizona and New Mexico with most of the moisture and energy to the south of our CWA. However...due to the size of the system...the GFS does show some moisture and precipitation wrapping back into northeastern Colorado Wednesday night and Thursday. The latest 12z ECMWF has trended further to the south and has the upper low centered over southern New Mexico by noon Wednesday. This is much drier than previous solutions and leaves much of our CWA dry. Due to the uncertainty...have lowered forecast builder pops some in days six through eight. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night) Issued at 909 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 Front has moved through the airport with northerly wind gusts from 35 to 45 mph through 16z tomorrow with the onset of rain changing over to snow between 04 and 05z. Conditions will steadily worsen by 05z with MVFR conditions possible between 11 and 15z. Winds combined with snow will reduce visibility to below a quarter mile. Conditions are expected to improve by 16z with VFR conditions by 19z. Winds will veer around to the SE by 03z before moving to drainage. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 232 PM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 Red flag conditions continuing this afternoon on the plains, but humidity/winds not quite meeting criteria over the far ne corner given influx of higher moisture. Much cooler and wetter on friday as fire concerns will be going away. Still windy on Friday but at least wetter. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Friday for COZ036. Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT Friday for COZ033-035. Winter Weather Advisory from 3 AM to noon MDT Friday for COZ034- 039-040-049. Blizzard Warning until noon MDT Friday for COZ041. Blizzard Warning from 3 AM to noon MDT Friday for COZ045-046. High Wind Warning from 3 AM to 6 PM MDT Friday for COZ047. && UPDATE...Bowen SHORT TERM...Entrekin LONG TERM...Kalina AVIATION...Bowen FIRE WEATHER...Entrekin
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DENVER/BOULDER CO 1111 AM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 COZ030>051-241715- JACKSON COUNTY BELOW 9000 FEET- WEST JACKSON AND WEST GRAND COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET- GRAND AND SUMMIT COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET- SOUTH AND EAST JACKSON/LARIMER/NORTH AND NORTHEAST GRAND/ NORTHWEST BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET- SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST GRAND/WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST BOULDER/ GILPIN/CLEAR CREEK/SUMMIT/NORTH AND WEST PARK COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET-LARIMER AND BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 AND 9000 FEET- JEFFERSON AND WEST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET/GILPIN/CLEAR CREEK/NORTHEAST PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET- CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PARK COUNTY- LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTHWEST WELD COUNTY- BOULDER AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET/WEST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/DENVER/WEST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES/EAST BROOMFIELD COUNTY- ELBERT/CENTRAL AND EAST DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET- NORTHEAST WELD COUNTY-CENTRAL AND SOUTH WELD COUNTY-MORGAN COUNTY- CENTRAL AND EAST ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE COUNTIES- NORTH AND NORTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/NORTH LINCOLN COUNTY- SOUTHEAST ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET/SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY- LOGAN COUNTY-WASHINGTON COUNTY-SEDGWICK COUNTY-PHILLIPS COUNTY- 1111 AM MDT Thu Mar 23 2017 ......Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather conditions this afternoon for the southern foothills and much of the Northeast Plains of Colorado... ...Potential for Blizzard conditions on the Palmer Divide and portions of the Northeast plains for later tonight and Friday morning. THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST AND NORTH CENTRAL COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT Strong southwesterly winds combined with low humidity will bring critical fire weather conditions along the southern foothills and northeast plains this afternoon. Rain and snow showers will develop in the mountains late this afternoon. There is the potential for an isolated severe thunderstorm over the far northeast plains, mainly over Phillips and Sedgwick counties later this afternoon and evening. Damaging winds and hail would be the main impacts. For tonight, a storm system is expected to track slowly across Colorado. This system will bring much needed precipitation to the region. Moderate to heavy snow will be possible in the mountains foothills along and south of the Interstate 70 Corridor and over the Palmer Divide above 5500 feet, with widespread rain or a mix of rain and snow over the northeast plains. The combination of strong winds and snow could produce blizzard conditions late tonight I-25 south of Denver toward Monument and I-70 east of Denver to just west of Limon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY On Friday a storm system will move slowly east of Colorado. This system will bring snow to the mountains, foothills and across portions of the adjacent plains. In addition strong winds will occur over the plains of northeast Colorado which may create blizzard conditions over the Palmer Divide eastward towards the Limon area. Additional accumulations will range from 4 to 8 inches in the mountains and foothills with up to 6 inches over the Palmer Divide. Across the adjacent plains 2 to 4 inches may fall around the Denver area with up to 6 inches near Limon. Elsewhere snow amounts will be under 2 inches. North winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 55 mph will occur over the plains with gusts up to 65 mph over the Palmer Divide towards limon. The snow and wind should gradually diminish through the afternoon hours from west to east. Dry and warmer weather will return on Saturday. The next weather system could bring another chance of precipitation to the region on Sunday, then drier again Sunday night into Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT but snow and wind reports would be greatly appreciated tonight and Friday.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm totals ranged from 7 to 11 inches, with widespread blowing and drifting snow resulting in road closures.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2017
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: 676706, 676707, 676708.