A winter storm system brought a mix of strong winds with pockets of moderate to heavy snow to the southern Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide; with blizzard conditions along I-70 east of Aurora. Interstate 70 was closed in the morning through early afternoon on the 22nd, from the exit at Denver International Airport to the Kansas state line.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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 winter storm system brought a mix of strong winds with pockets of moderate to heavy snow to the southern Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide; with blizzard conditions along I-70 east of Aurora. Interstate 70 was closed in the morning through early afternoon on the 22nd, from the exit at Denver International Airport to the Kansas state line. Parts of major highways including I-25 south of Denver toward Monument and Highway 24 were also closed for several hours. Numerous accidents along I-70 were reported due to strong winds and low visibility of a quarter mile or less. Strong northerly winds gusting from 45 to 55 mph were observed. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the southern Front Range Foothills and the Palmer Divide south of Denver. Storm totals in those areas included: 15 inches at Shaffers Crossing; 10 inches in Conifer; 9 inches near Ponderosa Park with 6.5 inches in Brookvale. In addition, 6 inches of snowfall was observed in Agate with 5.5 inches at Castle Pines. Elsewhere, lesser amounts from 1 to 4 inches were reported.
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 21, 7:49 PM MST, 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 749 PM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 745 PM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 Main concern is potential for blizzard conditions on the plains later this evening and overnight. Storm system timing is generally on track as main cold front as just moved through Cheyenne with north winds up to 30 knots and snow has just developed there. This will result in the front sweeping through the Denver area between 9 and 10 pm, and then through much of the plains by midnight. Snow will rapidly develop behind the front and looks like the highest snowfall intensities will be in this period between 10 pm and 1 am with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour possible. With this heavier burst of snow, snow is wetter so don't expect a lot of initial blowing snow but certainly could see the lower visibilities. May have a hard time seeing the blizzard conditions for the required 3 hours as it may be 1-2 hours at most. Hi resolution models showing a brief lull in the snowfall after the initial burst but then redevelops lighter snowfall later tonight and through early Tuesday morning. With the strong winds this may result in more reduced visibilities from the combination of snow and winds with snow and blowing snow/poor visibilities. Regardless, travel will be tricky later tonight through Tuesday morning. Still looks like heaviest snowfall from Denver south and eastward towards the Palmer Divide. For now will not adjust any of the hilites but the 8 pm start time is a bit early to see blizzard conditions and will likely be later. Will adjust the upcoming statement to signify this. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Tuesday) Issued at 152 PM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 ...Blizzard Conditions for Parts of Northeast Colorado Tonight and Tuesday Morning... Winter storm and blizzard conditions are still expected for parts of northeast Colorado tonight. Complex set up is making for a challenging forecast. A long wave trough will shift east across the intermountain west tonight and Tuesday. Water vapor satellite imagery showing lift over Wyoming. Appears this is associated with the left exit region of the jet. There is also a circulation over southeast Utah which is expected to move eastward and be the main focus for snow across eastern Colorado. The 12Z model runs are still far apart on where the upper level and surface lows form. The GFS is on the north and quicker side with the 500mb low forming over far northeast Colorado around 06Z. The ECMWF is farther south with the 500mb low forming near Colorado Springs and Pueblo. The past few runs of the ECMWF have been consistent. The 12Z NAM and also the HRRR and RAP runs have trended south towards the ECWMF. The strongest pressure falls are over southern Colorado. In addition to this, the colder air is farther west and south than the models are showing. Because of this will go with the southern track for this storm. The southern track shows a swath of about a half inch of QPF with localized areas of more. Liquid to snow ratios start off around ten to one. Strong colder air advection should rapidly increase liquid to snow ratios to 20 to one. So the swath of half inch QPF should result in 5 to 10 inches of snow. In addition to the snow, strong northerly winds are expected to form behind the low and create blizzard conditions. Strong cold air advection will help mix winds aloft down. Expecting gusts to 50 mph across the eastern plains, a few locations could approach 60 mph. Snow will increase in the mountains this afternoon and continue overnight ahead of the trough. A strong cold front will drop south out of Wyoming as a surface low deepens over eastern Colorado. Snow will form behind the front this evening and spread southeast overnight. Northerly winds off the Cheyenne Ridge is expected to limit snowfall near the Wyoming border. These northerly winds become upslope south of I-76 and are expected to enhance snowfall. Thinking this will produce 5 to 10 inches of snow from Akron to the Palmer Divide. Expect a period of snow for the Denver area due to upslope winds behind the front and lift from the trough. To summarize, an area of heavy snow (5-10 inches) is expected to form on the backside of a low that will form over eastern Colorado. Snowfall amounts will greatly depending on where this low forms. Confidence on where this will occur is low. However 50 mph, along with even a little snow should produce blizzard conditions. Travel tonight and Tuesday morning is discouraged across eastern Colorado. Check conditions before traveling. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Monday) Issued at 152 PM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 A ridge of high pressure will be along the west coast Wednesday through Friday with a strong northwesterly flow aloft over Colorado. The models have been fairly consistent with a couple of embedded short waves. The first one is expected to drop out of the northern Rockies and into the cwa Wednesday night into Thursday. This features will likely impact the mountains primarily. The GFS and NAM12 models indicate 24 hr snowfall in the 5-10 inch range. This coupled with the strong flow aloft may require a highlight at some point. May also see snow showers develop over the northeast plains as well, with isolated to scattered coverage. Temperatures on Wednesday may climb back to near normal with gusty westerly winds developing ahead of this system, but then a cold front moves across Wednesday night with highs dropping back into the lower 30s on Thursday. A replay of this scenario may occur on Friday night, when another embedded drop out of the northern Rockies and into the high country. Temperatures on Friday are expected to warm to around normal, then a little cooler on Saturday following the passage of this next short wave. The overall pattern remains the same over the weekend with the ridge over the west coast, and a persistent northwesterly flow aloft over CO. Sunday appears to be dry and warmer at this time. Yet another system could impact the cwa Sunday night into Monday. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Tuesday evening) Issued at 720 PM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 Initial surge has moved into KDEN with easterly winds but the main front will be at local terminals between 04-5z with strong northerly up to 30kt. Snow will develop rapidly behind the front with IFR conditions and potential for heavy snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour through 07z with visibilities below 1/4 mile. Could see a lull have the initial snowfall burst after midnight and and then light snow redevelops again around 10-11z and through Tuesday morning where there can be some blowing snow with winds up to 25kt. Snow fall accumulations look to be in the 3-5 inches, with higher potential up to 7 inches at APA. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Tuesday for COZ036-039- 040-042-043-048-050-051. Winter Weather Advisory until 9 AM MST Tuesday for COZ031-033- 034. Blizzard Warning until 11 AM MST Tuesday for COZ041-044>046-049. && UPDATE...Entrekin SHORT TERM...Meier LONG TERM...Cooper AVIATION...Entrekin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1149 AM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 COZ030>051-221900- 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- 1149 AM MST Mon Jan 21 2019 ...Blizzard Warning in effect for areas east and south of Denver late this evening through Tuesday morning... ...Winter Weather Advisories this evening through Tuesday morning for the northern and central Mountains, southern Front Range Foothills, western Denver suburbs and the rest of the plains north and northeast of Denver... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A winter storm will move into the area tonight with snow increasing in the mountains late this afternoon and across the rest of the area this evening. Moderate to heavy snow may occur over portions of the northeast Plains and Palmer Divide by late evening and overnight. In addition north winds gusting to 50 mph will develop across the plains after midnight with very poor visibilities and blizzard conditions. Travelers should be prepared for snowpacked and slick road conditions. The strong winds will cause poor visibilities due to blowing snow. The worst conditions are expected to occur along Interstate 70 from around Watkins east to the Kansas border, and Interstate 25 from south of Denver to Monument Ridge. In addition I-76 may be affected as well from northeast of Denver to Sterling and Julesburg. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday Snow, strong winds and blowing snow will continue over the plains on Tuesday morning. Snow will end by noon, but the strong winds will continue through the afternoon. Travelers should be prepared for snowpacked and slick road conditions, with poor visibility in blowing snow. There will be a chance of snow in the mountains Wednesday through Saturday evening with a slight chance of snow over the plains Wednesday night and Thursday. Significant accumulations are not expected. Temperatures generally remain below seasonal normals Tuesday through Saturday, then warmer on Sunday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather, 1 blizzard, 1 winter storm. 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, January 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: 803054, 803056, 803128, 803129, 803130, 803131, 803135.