A storm system brought a period of heavy snow to the north central mountains of Colorado. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the Park, Gore and Medicine Bow mountain ranges, where storm totals ranged from 15 to 31 inches.
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The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
A storm system brought a period of heavy snow to the north central mountains of Colorado. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the Park, Gore and Medicine Bow mountain ranges, where storm totals ranged from 15 to 31 inches. Elsewhere, storm totals mainly ranged from 8 to 14 inches.
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 Feb 15, 8:45 PM MST, 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 845 PM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 825 PM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 The forecast remains on track tonight. There are some very weak reflectivities seen on radar over the mountains but webcams show there's not much snow reaching the ground. Snow will increase over the mountains after midnight and the PoPs adequately reflect that. The wind and temperature forecast will be tricky over the plains tomorrow. It wouldn't surprise me if gusty westerly winds reached the surface during the afternoon tomorrow with gusts up to 25 mph. If these winds do develop, highs could reach the mid 50s in Denver. However, there is low confidence in the winds mixing down to the surface so the forecast was kept the same. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 149 PM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 Northwest flow continues the rest of today through Sunday. An impressive atmospheric river is moving onshore Oregon right now, associated with a strong trough off the Pacific Northwest coast. The moisture will have to traverse many mountain ranges before getting to Colorado. Despite this, a good amount of moisture will be available for snow across the high country tonight, tomorrow, and into Monday (even beyond, see long term). The best moisture arrives late this evening, and snow rates 1/2" per hour should occur, with occasionally 1"/hr across the Park Range and northern Front Range. The best moisture remains across the northern mountains into Monday. QG forcing is nil given the trough remains north of our area. The lift mechanisms for snow will be west upslope and steep lapse rates as some cold advection aloft slides south into Colorado. Additional lift on Sunday will come in the form the left exit region of a 120 kt jet streak out of the northwest. The ascent from the jet arrives midday Sunday, so could see rates increase during the day on Sunday with a few NW-SE oriented bands in the mountains, especially along and north of I-70. Given the location of the best lift and moisture, have opted to go with an advisory for zone 34 (Summit, Clear Creek/Boulder/Gilpin Grand above 9,000 ft, northern Park Counties). Under the heavier snow bands travel is expected to be difficult through the mountains starting tonight but continuing into Monday morning. In terms of snow amounts, totals should be impressive across the Park Range and northern Front Range. 1-3 feet are possible through the duration of the warnings (~36 hours or so). Along the I-70 corridor under the advisory, 8-14 inches are possible (36 hour total). Latest look at HREF shows impressive totals and a focus across the northern mountains, concurring with our forecast. Across the plains, without the aid of synoptic lift or east upslope flow, it will remain dry through Sunday. Temperatures should rebound on Sunday with 700 mb temps warming 2-3 degC (to -3 degC or so) and good downslope flow. Expect highs around 50 above the snowpack, upper 50s across the far eastern plains where there is no snowpack. Winds won't be much of an issue either, with 5-15 mph, and the windiest spots along the Wyoming border. .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 340 PM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 Models show a jet maximum of west-northwesterly 100-130 knot winds over the northern border of the CWA Sunday night. The core of the due westerly jet max stays over the northern half of the CWA all day Monday at speeds of 100-120 knots. The axis of a weak upper trough moves eastward across the CWA on Tuesday. The strong westerly flow aloft starts to decrease late Tuesday and Tuesday night. There is upward motion on the QG Omega fields Sunday night into Tuesday morning. It is mostly weak, but a little stronger Monday night. Surface winds should be weak and mostly drainage Sunday night. A cold front is still progged to move in Monday morning with some marginal shallow upslope behind it for the plains. A better surge of cold air along with deeper upslope moves in late Monday and Monday night. Variable winds are progged Tuesday and Tuesday night. For Moisture, there is some in the mountains Sunday evening, but it decreases overnight into Monday morning. It increases again in the mountains Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, before slowly decreasing Tuesday afternoon and evening. For the plains, there is not much moisture progged on the cross sections Sunday night into Monday afternoon. Moisture deepens early Monday evening, then stays pretty moist through much of Tuesday into Tuesday nigh. Today's 12Z model runs keep the moisture over the CWA longer on Tuesday and Tuesday night than yesterday's runs indicated. The QPF fields show measurable snowfall in the mountains Sunday night through Tuesday. For the plains, the QPF fields show snowfall Monday evening into Tuesday evening. For pops, will go "likely"s or better in the mountains Sunday night into Tuesday morning, then "chance"s through sunset. Will leave the highlights going as is. For the plains, will go with 40-60% pops Monday night, then 30-50%s Tuesday. Will keep some 10-30%s going over the southeast CWA Tuesday evening. For temperatures, Monday's highs will be 3-6 C colder than Sunday's readings. Tuesday's highs cool off another 1-3 C from Monday's. For the later days, Wednesday through Saturday, models have zonal flow aloft and a weak upper trough in place through Wednesday night, then upper ridging through Friday and another weak upper trough next Saturday. There doesn't appear to be any significant precipitation through those four days. Temperatures are below normals through Friday, with a near normals readings by Saturday. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 825 PM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 VFR conditions through Sunday with no precipitation expected. Light drainage flow has developed this evening and should continue through much of the night. Since wind speeds are so light, the direction could vary from time to time tonight. The winds will be tricky to forecast Sunday afternoon. The current thinking is that the boundary layer will become well mixed and WNW winds will develop with gusts up to 25 knots possible. However, most models keep winds light and out of the southeast through the afternoon so there is low confidence in the wind forecast. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST Monday for COZ034. Winter Storm Warning until 8 AM MST Monday for COZ031-033. && UPDATE...Danielson SHORT TERM...Schlatter LONG TERM...RJK AVIATION...Danielson
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1102 AM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 COZ030>051-161815- 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- 1102 AM MST Sat Feb 15 2020 ...Winter Storm Warning for the northern mountains late tonight through Monday... ...Winter Storm Watch for the I-70 Mountain Corridor late tonight through Monday... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Expect a cooler day today in a post frontal airmass. Winds and snow will increase this evening over the high country. Snowfall rates will increase rapidly after midnight, with an inch per hour possible, especially over the Park Range north of Rabbit Ears Pass. Winds gusting 40 to 50 mph overnight will create areas of blowing snow. Travel is expected to be impacted, with snow packed roads along with blowing and drifting snow especially after midnight. Travelers need to plan ahead as the heavier snow will continue into Sunday. It will be dry with seasonable temperatures across the plains. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Periods of snow will continue in the mountains through Sunday night and will be heavy at times. Gusty winds up to 60 mph will produce widespread blowing snow and poor visibilities over the higher passes. The snow will continue on Monday but will be lighter. Travel will be difficult in the mountains through Monday. Across the plains, there will be a chance of light snow Sunday night into Monday. A weather disturbance and associated cold front will bring a good chance of snow to the entire area Monday night into Tuesday. For Wednesday through Friday, a drier weather pattern will move into the forecast area. Temerptures will remain cool, but could warm to near seasonal normals by Friday. .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.
Storm totals included: 31 inches near Rabbit Ears Pass, 21 inches near Mount Zirkel, 17 inches, 9 miles south-southeast of Spicer; 16 inches, 11 miles south of Rabbit Ears Pass.
Storm totals included: 22.5 inches near Cameron Pass, 17 inches, 7 miles south-southeast of Cameron Pass and 9 miles south-southeast of Spicer; 14 inches, 9 miles south-southeast of Gould; 12.5 inches, 8 mile south-southeast of Rand.
Storm totals included: 17 inches near Mount Audobon; 14 inches, 5 miles west-southwest of Winter Park; 12.5 inches; 3 miles south of Brainard Lake; 11 inches near Breckenridge and Eldora; 10 inches near Copper Mountain; 8.5 inches, 4 miles south of Longs Peak, Loveland Pass, 6 miles northwest of Silverthorne and 3 miles southwest of Ward.
Storm totals included: 12 inches, 10 miles northwest of Kremmling; 10 inches near Stillwater Creek and Tabernash; 8 inches in Fraser.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2020
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: 873704, 873705, 873706, 873707.