A strong upper level jetstream coupled with a very deep fetch of Pacific moisture, produced a prolonged period of heavy snow and strong winds in the mountains. Peak wind gusts above timberline ranged from 55 to 65 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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 strong upper level jetstream coupled with a very deep fetch of Pacific moisture, produced a prolonged period of heavy snow and strong winds in the mountains. Peak wind gusts above timberline ranged from 55 to 65 mph. The winter storm made travel nearly impossible at times, including Interstate 70 between Georgetown and Vail Pass. In the mountains, storm totals ranged from 2 to 4 1/2 feet. A SNOTEL site near Rabbit Ears Pass measured 54.5 inches of snow. Some of the other more impressive totals included: 41.5 inches, 11 miles south of Rabbit Ears Pass; 40 inches at Breckenridge and Loveland ski areas; 34 inches near Cameron Pass; 33 inches near Berthoud Summit and Copper Mountain; 30 inches and Eldora, Winter Park and 4 miles southeast of Mount Zirkel. Moderate to heavy snowfall also impacted the Front Range Foothills and portions of the urban corridor. Storm totals in the foothills ranged from 8 to 18 inches, with 2 to 7 inches in most areas along the urban corridor, near the foothills and Palmer Divide.
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 5, 7:58 PM MST, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 758 PM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 755 PM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 In the near term, downslope low level flow was beginning to develop in the foothills with an increase in mid and high level clouds. This will allow for temps to slowly rise overnight in and near the foothills. Meanwhile, as winds increase late tonight may see areas of blowing snow in the foothills as well. In the mtns, low level airmass is pretty dry this evening and will take some time to saturate. Areas of light snow should gradually increase late tonight as better moisture arrives. Looking further out to Thursday night, there remains a high amount of uncertainty, as to where a band of heavy snow may occur over portions of the front range and plains. Low level wind fields and position of the upper level jet will be critical to where heavier banded snowfall may occur. So far models have been focusing mainly northeast of a line from Fort Collins to Denver up to the WY border. However, NW flow aloft is notorious for pulling surprises, so have little confidence in current model solutions. There is certainly the potential, for heavier snow, to occur further west or southwest into northern and eastern portions of the Denver metro area Thursday night into Fri morning. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 110 PM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 The mountains will be transitioning to a period of prolonged winter weather conditions during the next 24 hours. Currently, broad high pressure aloft over the Eastern Pacific with a downstream northerly flow aloft over Colorado. The flow will shift a bit more northwest which will open a steady stream of moisture coming in from the Pacific northwest under a strong 130kt jet core. Moisture depth will be increasing through Thursday as well as the mountain top flow. Cross sections showing mountain top flow increasing to 30-40kt by later Thursday afternoon with enhanced orographic flow developing. Light snow will expand from west to east across the mountains later tonight with mainly light snow. Expect mountain weather conditions will deteriorate by later Thursday afternoon as the winds and snow kick in to elevated levels! Across the plains, mainly clear now but should see some increasing clouds later tonight and Thursday with upstream moisture. Should see some warming across lower elevations given a bit stronger northwest winds developing in the afternoon. Any precipitation chances will hold off until Thursday evening on the plains. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 110 PM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 A jet streak in northwest flow aloft will push out of Wyoming and into the state Thursday evening. This will put the forecast area into the favored left exit region, though little effect is expected on QG subsidence with continued downward motion expected to last through Friday. However, the amount of Pacific moisture pushing into the area in the favored northwest flow into the mountains, snow will increase in intensity across the mountains where snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour will prevail. Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph will still create areas of blowing and drifting snow. The dynamics will move over the plains as well, and high surface pressure to the lee of the Rockies will push a shallow cold front south across the area. All models are showing the expecting snow banding to occur over the northern plains, but location varies greatly. The GFS and NAM keep it further north over Larimer into Weld and Morgan counties, and the Canadian and EC have it pushing further south and west into the main urban corridor. Viewing cross sections of saturated theta-e and geostrophic momentum don't offer any better idea of where it will set up as each model has it's own idea of where it will be. Such as it is with snow banding, the confidence in it happening is high but confidence in the where is low. There has been a slight trend in the band moving further southwest, perhaps some response to the cold front. Have increased PoPs and snow amounts over northern Larimer, Weld and Morgan counties with agreement between models, and issued a Winter Storm Watch for the potential to see 6 to 12 inches from the band. Conditions look to hold through Friday as yet another jet streak pushes down in northwest flow. Snow, heavy at times, and strong wind will continue over the mountains with snow still likely into the plains. Warm advection however will move over the area as higher pressure pushes up from the southwest. This will lower snow ratios but enough moisture and continue northwest flow will keep accumulating snow. Have lowered max temperatures over northern Larimer, Weld and Morgan counties where the potential band is expected to put down enough snow to affect them. The jet max will push east Friday night to limit the forcing and mountain top flow will turn more westerly. Snow will be diminishing across the area with dry conditions expected by Saturday morning. Yet another system will be quick on its heels, dropping out of British Columbia and down along the Rockies. Snow will again ramp up over the northern mountains on Saturday evening with a cold front to bring upslope conditions to the Front Range urban corridor by Sunday morning to bring colder temperatures and a chance of snow. This system will have less moisture and dynamics associated with it, so less of an impact is expected. Though model agreement decreases next week, there is still overall agreement on weak ridging Monday for a relatively dry and warmer forecast before they all show another system dropping into the Great Basin for another chance of snow for the area by Tuesday and Wednesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 755 PM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 Winds have already gone drainage and will turn more southwest by midnight. Otherwise expect VFR conditions overnight. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Thursday evening through Friday evening for COZ038-042>044. Winter Storm Warning from 5 AM Thursday to midnight MST Friday night for COZ034. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to midnight MST Friday night for COZ031-033. && UPDATE...RPK SHORT TERM...Entrekin LONG TERM...Kriederman AVIATION...RPK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1048 AM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 COZ030>051-061800- 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- 1048 AM MST Wed Feb 5 2020 ...Heavy snow expected in the northern mountains late tonight through Friday night... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Gusty west to northwest winds can also be expected in the mountains, foothills this afternoon with speeds up to 35 mph. An increasing northwesterly flow aloft will develop tonight with stronger winds developing in the mountains above timberline. Snow will increase in coverage and intensity after midnight across the northern mountains, especially around Rabbit Ears Pass. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Mountain snow will continue increasing in intensity Thursday, with heavy snow occurring off and on through Friday. 1 to 3 feet of snow is expected with the heaviest amounts along northwest facing slopes. Strong gusty winds up to 60 mph at times will create blowing and drifting snow producing low visibilities so travel could be difficult to impossible. Winds will also cause wind chill temperatures of 25 to 30 degrees below zero. Travelers and outdoor enthusiasts should be prepared and traveling with emergency kits. There will be a good chance of snow over the plains Thursday night and Friday with localized bands of heavy snowfall possible. Temperatures will be below normal through Friday with slightly warmer readings for the weekend. Another storm system could bring snow to the mountains on Sunday with a slight chance of snow spreading onto the northeast plains of Colorado by Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm totals included: 54.5 inches near Rabbit Ears Pass, 41.5 inches, 11 miles south of Rabbit Ears Pass and 30 inches near Mount Zirkel.
Storm totals included: 34 inches near Cameron Pass; 30 inches, 7 miles south-southeast of Cameron Pass; 24.5 inches, 9 miles southeast of Gould; 18 inches, 8 miles south-southeast of Rand.
Locally higher amounts up to 26 inches were observed at Aspen Springs with 15.5 inches near Pinecliffe. Elsewhere storm totals ranged from 5 to 10 inches.
Locally, storm totals up to 16 inches were observed around Evergreen. Elsewhere, storm totals ranged from 4 to 10 inches.
Storm totals included: 40 inches at Loveland and Breckenridge ski areas; 33 inches near Berthoud Summit and Copper Mountain Ski Resort; 30 inches at Eldora and Winter Park ski areas; 29 inches at A-Basin; 27.5 inches near Mount Audobon; 24.5 inches, 5 miles west-southwest of Guanella Pass; 26 inches, 5 miles west of Green Mountain Reservoir; 22 inches near Brainard Lake and Climax; 19.5 inches, 5 miles south-southwest of Blue River; 18 inches near Alma and 5 miles west-southwest of Grand Lake.
Storm totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches.
Locally, storm totals up to 11 inches were reported in Littleton and Wheat Ridge, with 3 to 6 inches observed elsewhere.
Storm totals included: 10 inches near Cherry Hills Village, 7 inches at Centennial Airport, with 2 to 5 inches elsewhere.
Storm totals ranged from 4 to 9 inches.
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: 871274, 871275, 871277, 871278, 871276, 871279, 871280, 871281, 871282.