Colorado, 2019

Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 17 to 18, 2019

January 17 to 18, 2019 · NWS BOU · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A moist Pacific storm system brought moderate to heavy snowfall to the north central mountains of Colorado. In addition to the snow, strong wind gusts up to around 75 mph were measured above timberline.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 moist Pacific storm system brought moderate to heavy snowfall to the north central mountains of Colorado. In addition to the snow, strong wind gusts up to around 75 mph were measured above timberline. Storm totals included: 16 inches at Lake Irene, 13 inches at Never Summer, 11.5 at Arapahoe Ridge, 11 inches at Buffalo Park and Loveland; 8 inches at Deadman Hill and Roach; with 4 to 7 inches elsewhere.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jan 17, 3:30 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 17, 3:30 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 17, 11:09 AM MST, 5 hours 51 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter storm, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Jackson & West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
January 17, 5:00 PM MST to January 18, 5:00 PM MST
Where
West Jackson & West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.385, -106.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
January 17, 5:00 PM MST to January 18, 5:00 PM MST
Where
S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.382, -105.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
January 17, 5:00 PM MST to January 18, 5:00 PM MST
Where
S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
39.726, -105.675 (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 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2019

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: 795468, 795469, 795470.