A storm system brought heavy snow to the Front Range Mountains, with a period of moderate to heavy snowfall to the Front Range Foothills. Storm totals included: 16 inches at Lake Irene; 13 inches at Willow Park; 12 inches at Bear Lake and Kenosha Pass; 11 inches at Estes Park and Never Summer; 10 inches at Hourglass Lake and Long Draw Reservoir; with 8 inches at Copeland Lake.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
A storm system brought heavy snow to the Front Range Mountains, with a period of moderate to heavy snowfall to the Front Range Foothills. Storm totals included: 16 inches at Lake Irene; 13 inches at Willow Park; 12 inches at Bear Lake and Kenosha Pass; 11 inches at Estes Park and Never Summer; 10 inches at Hourglass Lake and Long Draw Reservoir; with 8 inches at Copeland Lake.
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 Apr 29, 3:49 AM MST, 1 hour 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 449 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 354 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 ...Spring Storm to Bring Heavy Snow to the Mountains and Foothills Later Today Through Tuesday... A significant precipitation event is shaping up for a good part of our area today through Tuesday. The first short wave trough to impact our area is clearly evident in GOES-16 water vapor imagery, currently over southern California. A second short wave trough associated with the polar jet stream is across Idaho. Both storm systems will impact Colorado today and tomorrow. There is still a great deal of uncertainly about temperatures for this evening and overnight into Tuesday morning, which will affect P-type and snowfall amounts. Those details will be covered shortly. The southern storm system will move into the Four Corners area by Tuesday morning. As it does, it will advect rich moisture into the state, with the standardized anomalies for water vapor transport in the 3-5 standard deviations range, and precipitable water values at 2.5 standard deviations. Synoptic scale lift increases significantly after midnight tonight as the trough gets close, and precipitation rates should also increase late this evening and into the overnight hours tonight. Other sources of lift include a 120-130 kt polar jet streak to our north, putting northeast Colorado in the right entrance region from late this evening through sunrise Tuesday, then the jet swings to the south and lifts northeast of us. There will also be a decent upslope component this afternoon into Tuesday, especially for the Cheyenne Ridge in Larimer and Weld Counties. Wind should be east- southeast, advecting moisture-rich low-level air into the northern foothills and along the terrain gradient of the Cheyenne Ridge. The expected stronger precipitation rate, good upslope flow, and this region is also most likely to see banded precipitation from the jet: All signs point to more favorable ingredients for accumulating snow, and thus have issued a winter weather advisory for eastern Larimer/Western Weld County (CO-Zone 38) through 6 AM Tuesday, in line with the CYS office to our north. In the mountains, instability also looks very favorable for moderate snow over a sustained period of time, especially when combined with west-southwest upslope and high levels of moisture. The winter storm warning looks on track for elevations above 6,000 feet in the eastern foothills, and the rest of the mountains on the west slope, including the I-70 mountain corridor. Amounts could exceed a foot by sunrise Tuesday, especially above 9,000 feet. Travel through the mountains from later this afternoon into Tuesday morning could get challenging, plan ahead for winter driving conditions. Back to the plains. The significant forecast challenge lies in the temperatures, not so much the QPF. Precipitation amounts look to be around .2-.4 east of I-25 other than the Cheyenne Ridge near the WY border. West of I-25 with strong upslope, 0.6-0.8 liquid equivalent looks likely including Park County. Around an inch (or more) is possible in eastern Larimer/W. Weld counties under the advisory, especially if banded precip occurs. Latest model runs, including those from the HRRR and WRF models (and the global models) have been trending warmer for this evening and overnight. Model guidance in general has highs in the mid to upper 40s for much of the plains below 6,000 feet. We are not buying that solution as good upslope and dynamic forcing, even in the face of April 29th high sun angle, should keeps temperatures in the 30s. Looking upstream across Wyoming and Montana, there are temperatures right now in the 20s, so it's reasonable that temperatures will stay in the 30s all day today. However, the reason we are not as confidence in precipitation type and snow accumulation in the lower elevations is the fact that the low- level flow will be out of the east- southeast later today into Tuesday morning, and the source region for the low-level flow is not all that cold. Upslope will obviously help, but if temperatures warm just a few more degrees this evening compared to what we are currently forecasting, a good amount of the precipitation would fall as rain, as the HRRR has been indicating recently. Snowfall amounts south of Larimer/Weld Counties will be greatest across the west Denver metro suburbs, especially above 5,500 feet, including Boulder, but given the warm ground temperature and warm road temperatures we do not expect snow to stick much or accumulate much (melting from underneath a concern), just 1-4 inches on grass and most likely just wet roads. Take a look at the 90th percentile snow graphics currently on our webpage, which show 6-10 inches above 5,000 feet in Denver metro. That scenario could occur if temperatures are 3-5 degrees cooler than we have forecast, and QPF a little higher than we have currently in the forecast. That scenario is however remote, most likely will be Trace-2 inches below 5,500 feet, and 2-5" around the 6,000 foot level including Boulder, and much more above that elevation in the winter storm warning areas. In general impacts across metro Denver should be minimal and begin once the snow rates pick up late this evening, perhaps a few slick spots Tuesday morning if the temperatures cool to 30 or 31 degrees. Given the expected heavier snow across the Loveland/Fort Collins metro area, travel impacts could be a bit greater, but again not until after sunset this evening, continuing into the Tuesday morning rush hour. Even there roads should be warm enough for slushy conditions, hopefully not any significant icy regions. Winds should also not be an issue in terms of blowing snow. Lift from the southern short wave trough moves out around 6 AM Tuesday, and not long after that most areas should be dry until the northern system takes aim. Impacts from that system are next. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 354 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 Models still show a weakening upper trough to push across the CWA on Tuesday. Then southwesterly flow aloft for Tuesday night. A larger, mean trough moves into Colorado on Wednesday, Wednesday night and into the extended period. There is some synoptic scale lift progged Tuesday morning, then subsidence moves in Tuesday afternoon and evening. Upward vertical velocity moves back in late Tuesday night into Wednesday afternoon, then downward motion again on Wednesday night. Tuesday and Tuesday night, the low level flow is mainly southeasterly. There is a cold front to move in Wednesday with upslope winds behind it into the evening. Normal drainage wind patterns are a good bet Wednesday night. There is decent moisture in place for the CWA Tuesday through Wednesday. It dries out somewhat Wednesday night. It is unstable late day Tuesday, with some CAPE progged for much of the forecast area with the exception of the northeastern quarter of the CWA. There is less CAPE around on Wednesday. The QPF fields have limited measurable precipitation for the CWA on Tuesday. Tuesday night there is some over the mountains with a tad over the plains. There are small amounts around on Wednesday morning, then more late day Wednesday, especially over the southern half of the CWA. There is nothing after 06Z Wednesday night. For pops, will keep "likely"s going in the mountains Tuesday through Wednesday. For the plains, 20-40%s look good Tuesday through Wednesday evening. Temperature- wise, Tuesday's highs are 2-5 C warmer than today's. Wednesday's highs now look to be 0-4 C colder than Tuesday's readings. Models differ somewhat on Wednesday's temperatures, The NAM is colder than the GFS. For the later days. Thursday through Sunday, models have a mean upper trough over western North America Thursday into Friday. The CWA is at the bottom of the feature with zonal flow aloft. There is some weak upper ridging over the CWA Saturday and Sunday. It is pretty dry all four days. There could be some minor late day convective through the period; mainly over the mountains. Temperatures are close to normals Thursday and Friday, and a bit above normals Saturday and Sunday. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday morning) Issued at 354 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 MVFR conditions are expected into this evening as a spring storm system takes aim on Colorado. Confidence in precipitation is high, but confidence is fairly low on how much snow could fall at the terminals. Temperatures will be above freezing much of this afternoon and evening, dropping to right around 32 degrees by midnight tonight. As a result, even as snow falls, it's not likely to accumulate on the concrete surfaces much if at all. Best chance for snow at the terminals is after 21Z at BJC, 22Z at DEN and APA. There is a slim chance precipitation remains rain or a rain/snow mix at DEN, but feel strong enough in snow chances to include in the TAF. IFR conditions are expected in the snow, especially late this evening and overnight. Snow should be winding down between 6-9 AM Tuesday at the metro area terminals, with CIGs and VIS improving to MVFR and probably even VFR by midday Tuesday. In terms of winds, they should not be too much of an issue in terms of speed, with 10-15 kts expected, generally out of the northeast and east-northeast through late this evening. A convergence line may set up near DEN after midnight, with light north winds to the west at BJC, and southeast winds at APA and probably DEN, perhaps 15-20 kts. This feature moves east with time, shifting winds back to the north after 9 AM Tuesday, but confidence in the timing and evolution of the surface convergence zone is low at this time. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 6 AM MDT Tuesday for COZ038. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT Tuesday for COZ037. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MDT Tuesday for COZ030-031- 033>036. && SHORT TERM...Schlatter LONG TERM....RJK AVIATION.....Schlatter
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 541 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 COZ030>051-301145- 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- 541 AM MDT Mon Apr 29 2019 ...Winter Storm Warning for the Mountains and Foothills this afternoon into Tuesday... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A spring storm will bring heavy snow to the mountains and foothills this afternoon into Tuesday. Travel through the mountains will be adversely impacted starting later this afternoon. Below 6,000 feet elevation, snowfall accumulation should be limited, though north of Denver across the Fort Collins metro area could see several inches of snow by Tuesday morning. A winter weather advisory is in effect this afternoon until Tuesday morning for eastern Larimer and western Weld Counties. Travelers along I-25 in northern Colorado should be prepared for slick spots late this evening into Tuesday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Snow will continue over the mountains Tuesday and Wednesday with a chance of rain showers over the plains. Alpine snowfall accumulations will be decent but not significant. It will dry out Thursday through the weekend with perhaps a few late day showers and thunderstorms mainly in the mountains. Temperatures will be cooler than seasonal normals Tuesday and Wednesday, near normals Thursday and Friday, and above normals Saturday and Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter storm, 2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2019
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: 820808, 820809, 820810, 820811.