A powerful storm system brought blizzard conditions to the northeast plains of Colorado. Numerous roads closures were posted east of Interstate 25 and over the Palmer Divide.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 powerful storm system brought blizzard conditions to the northeast plains of Colorado. Numerous roads closures were posted east of Interstate 25 and over the Palmer Divide. Highways closings included portions of eastbound interstates 70 and 76 in eastern Colorado due to strong winds and whiteout conditions. I-70 was also closed westbound into the mountains, due to heavy snow and numerous accidents.
In the Front Range Foothills, storm totals ranged from 12 to 23 inches. Along the urban corridor, south and west of a line from Boulder to Denver International Airport, storm totals ranged form 5 to 11 inches. Across portions of the northeast plains of Colorado, blizzard conditions were observed. Storm totals ranged from 3 to 9 inches. |Peak wind gusts included: 63 mph in Akron, 56 mph in Limon, 51 mph in Fort Morgan and 49 mph in Greeley and at Denver International Airport.
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 Mar 19, 3:25 AM MST, 4 hours 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 425 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 425 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 A strong shortwave trough over northern AZ and NM will lift northeast and deepen into a closed low over the CO/KS state border by noon today. At the surface, a closed low over southeastern Colorado is advecting moisture from the east into the plains in the form of drizzle/rain and low clouds, as well as pulling in slightly cooler air from the north. The 700 mb low will be moving to near the Palmer Divide by mid morning to really crank up the upslope flow into the Front Range Mountains and Foothills for heavy snowfall. West of the divide, there has been little snow yet over the mountains, even though lift has been sufficient. It's likely the moisture wasn't good enough yet, and in an unfavorable SW direction. Still expecting the colder surge mid to late morning, however most models have come more to a consensus of showing NW surface winds, likely rushing to the surface low over far eastern CO. This continues to make the snow forecast very difficult. Also, models have slowed the eastward progression of the upper low, resulting in slightly warmer temperatures. Therefore, it seems as we'll see rain and the precipitation type through most of the morning along the urban corridor and eastern plains. The one exception in over the Palmer Divide where the elevation will be high enough for snow. Therefore, have delayed the start of the urban corridor Winter Storm Warning and eastern plains Blizzard Warning for 3 hours, until noon when we should see a transition from rain to snow. Winds will increase through the day as QG motion becomes strong downward on the backside of the near stacked system, with gusts up to 50 mph over the plains. As the cold air filters in and precip turns to snow, the winds will create hazardous conditions to travel and outdoor activity. Snow amounts are still expected to be highest along the Front Range Mountains and Foothills as well as the Palmer Divide and the Palmer Divide reaching north into the Denver area as Upslope affects these areas the best. A minimum of snow amounts will be found over Weld County and far eastern Larimer due to the downsloping off the Cheyenne Ridge. Warmed the high forecasted temperature for that area today as well. The snow today will be quite wet and heavy, with snow-to-liquid ratios less than 10 percent, except perhaps near 10 in the mountains. Roads will likely be quite slushy, except where we see heavy snowfall rates of around 2 inches per hour. This will likely occur early to mid afternoon. Expected snow totals are 3 to 8 inches over the plains and urban corridor, 8 to 12 inches Palmer Divide, 8 to 18 inches for the mountains. Snow will then decrease quickly this evening as most moisture moves off east and subsidence increases behind the system. Enough moisture around the area however, and diffluence aloft will combine with northerly surface winds to keep snow going over the southern foothills, central mountains and Palmer Divide. Snow rates will be much lighter however. Temperatures will be dropping, into the teens to single digits. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday) Issued at 425 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 There is short wave upper ridging over the CWA Friday morning followed by increasing zonal flow Friday afternoon and night. On Saturday, there is weak zonal flow aloft. It increases a bit Saturday night. As far as the synoptic scale energy goes, there is some weak upward vertical velocity on the QG Omega fields Friday, then weak downward velocity Friday night, weak upward Saturday, then benign energy Saturday night. The low level winds will be east and southeasterly from the divide eastward on Friday. Friday night's winds will be a normal drainage and downsloping combination. Weak southeasterly and southerly winds should prevail Saturday, then a weak drainage, downsloping combo again Saturday night. There will be fairly decent moisture over much of the CWA Friday and Friday evening, then some decreasing cloudiness overnight. On Saturday, there will be some upper level moisture around with moisture increasing over the mountains by afternoon into Saturday night. There is a little CAPE over the mountains Friday afternoon and early evening. There is also a little progged over the western half of the CWA late day Saturday. The QPF fields show a bit of measurable snowfall for the mountains, foothills and adjacent plains Friday and Friday evening. There is a little over the high mountains overnight Friday and Saturday morning. There is a bit more progged over the mountains and southern CWA Saturday afternoon and evening. For pops, will go with "likely"s or better in the mountains Friday and Friday evening. Will go with 10-40%s on the Plains Friday and Friday evening, the 20-30%s Saturday afternoon and evening. Expected snowfall amounts in the mountains do not significant. For temperatures, Friday's highs will be close to today's readings. Saturday's temperatures are 5-9 C warmer than Friday's. For the later days, Sunday through Wednesday, A broad weak upper trough moves across Sunday. A jet maximum of strong zonal flow is in place Sunday night and Monday. By Monday night another weak upper trough moves across, with some upper riding on Tuesday. There is more very strong southwesterly flow aloft for the CWA on Wednesday. Moisture is fairly prevalent through the period, especially in the mountains. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Friday morning) Issued at 425 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 North winds continue to bring drizzle/rain, low clouds and fog across the area this morning. With a slightly warmer forecast today, we are now expecting rain to change to a heavy, wet, wind- driven snow a little later, in the 17Z-19Z timeframe. But when it does change over, the strong winds will produce blowing and drifting snow with a quarter mile or less visibility for a good chunk of the afternoon. Then conditions will slowly improve through the evening as snow decreases in intensity. Wind gusts to around 40 knots expected 19Z-00Z. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Blizzard Warning from 9 AM this morning to 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ041>046-048>051. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ035-036. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ033-034. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ031. Winter Storm Warning from 9 AM this morning to 6 AM MDT Friday for COZ038>040. && SHORT TERM...Kriederman LONG TERM....RJK AVIATION.....Kriederman
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 458 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 COZ030>051-201100- 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- 458 AM MDT Thu Mar 19 2020 ...MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW ACROSS THE AREA BY NOON WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING... ...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS... This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A strong spring storm system will bring heavy snow to the mountains east of the divide, the foothills and plains. Precipitation will begin as rain over the plains this morning, but a strong cold surge should change it over to snow around noon, and north winds will increase dramatically with gusts to 50 mph across the plains. This will create hazardous conditions for traveling and outdoor activities. The wet heavy snow this afternoon will likely create mostly slush on roads, however some areas will receive snowfall rates near 2 inches an hour, which would result in accumulating snow, along with extremely low visibility. The heaviest snowfall amounts will be found along the Front Range mountains and foothills, mainly east of the divide, where 8 to 18 inches will fall. Moderate snow amounts of 3 to 8 inches are expected across the plains with localized areas of heavy snow, especially the Palmer Divide. Precipitation will decrease quickly in the evening with cold overnight lows in the teens to single digits. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Light snow can be expected in the mountains Friday and Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday, and Monday afternoon through Wednesday. Over the plains, there will be a chance of light snow Friday afternoon, Saturday night, Tuesday afternoon and evening, then again Wednesday and Wednesday night. None of these periods of snowfall will likely produce significant accumulations. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight, however snowfall reports, as well as wind and visibility reports will be greatly appreciated.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 blizzard, 4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm totals included: 23 inches, 4 miles northeast of Nederland; 18.5 inches, 3 miles west of Jamestown; 18 inches, 2 miles east of Estes Park; 11.5 inches, 6 miles west of Bellvue.
Storm totals included: 22.5 inches, 4 miles southeast of Pinecliffe; 22 inches at Aspen Springs; 21 inches near Crescent Village; 17 inches near Genesee; 16 inches, 4 miles south of Brookvale; 15 inches near Evergreen; 14.5 inches near Kittredge; 13.0 inches near Silver Plume; 12 inches near Bergen Park.
Storm totals included: 9.5 inches near Westminster; 9 inches near Louisville and 4 miles southeast of Rocky Flats; 8.5 inches, 2 miles south-southwest of Boulder; 7 inches in Arvada and Broomfield; 6.5 inches near Lakewood; 6 inches near Wheat Ridge.
Storm totals included: 11 inches near Centennial; 10 inches, 5 miles south-southeast of Commerce City; 9 inches at the former Stapleton International Airport; 8 inches in Aurora; 6 inches at Denver International Airport as well as near Englewood and Sheridan. At Denver International Airport, a peak wind gust to 49 mph was observed.
Storm totals included: 11 inches near Ponderosa Park; 10.5 inches near Lone Tree; 9 inches near Castle Rock 8.5 inches near Parker. Peak wind gusts around 40 mph produced extensive blowing and drifting snow, with near zero visibility. Numerous road closures were in place during the storm.
Storm totals included: 8.5 inches in Frederick; 6 inches in Erie; 5 inches near Mead with 4 inches near Firestone. Peak wind gusts to 49 mph caused blowing and drifting snow, along with whiteout conditions.
Storm totals up to 3 inches were measured in Fort Morgan and near Woodrow. Strong wind gusts up to 51 mph caused blowing and drifting snow along with whiteout conditions.
Storm totals up to 4 inches were observed, with wind gusts estimated to 50 mph, which resulted in extensive blowing and drifting snow, along with whiteout conditions.
The storm system produced 9 inches Agate and peak wind gusts to 56 mph, which resulted in extensive blowing and drifting snow, along with whiteout conditions.
The storm system produced up to 4 inches of snowfall. Peak wind gusts ranging from 55 to 63 mph caused blowing and drifting snow along with whiteout conditions.
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, March 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: 881363, 881364, 881367, 881368, 881369, 881371, 881372, 881373, 881374, 882264.