A storm system brought a period of moderate to heavy snowfall to portions of the urban corridor and northeast plains. The heaviest snowfall occurred over eastern Larimer and northeast Boulder counties early in the morning, then shifted into the northeast plains of Colorado for much of the day.
Every event with a place to put it; 11 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 storm system brought a period of moderate to heavy snowfall to portions of the urban corridor and northeast plains. The heaviest snowfall occurred over eastern Larimer and northeast Boulder counties early in the morning, then shifted into the northeast plains of Colorado for much of the day. Snowfall rates in some up those bands were as high as 2 inches per hour. Storm totals generally ranged from 6 to 12 inches. The heaviest snowfall occurred in Weld County where Pierce picked up an impressive 13.5 inches of snow. Gusty northerly winds 35 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow over the northeast plains. The combination of snow and gusty winds caused several road closures near the Nebraska border where several roads were closed including Interstate 76 due to blowing snow and poor visibilities.
Stronger gusts to 58 mph were noted across northern Lincoln County, with areas of light snow producing low visibilities along the I-70 corridor east of Denver to Limon at times. Storm totals in and near the Palmer Divide, ranged from 1 to 3 inches. Peak wind gusts included: 62 mph at Clifford, 55 mph at Cedar Point, 53 mph at Limon Municipal Airport and 52 mph in Hugo.
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 27, 2:28 AM MST, 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 328 AM MDT Mon Mar 27 2023 .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 328 AM MDT Mon Mar 27 2023 Water vapor satellite imagery showing an upper level trough centered over Utah with good lift ahead of it over northern Colorado. The trough will progress eastward across the state today and be east of Colorado this evening. Mountain top observations and 700mb winds on the RAP model indicate the 700mb low/trough is over Summit and Grand Counties at this time. Along the northern Front Range, radar showing surface convergence under the heavier snow. All this will progress eastward through the day. The surface low should intensify over northeast Colorado this morning and expect the heavier snow to fall here, where the advisory is in effect. Overall, models have been doing a decent job with this system so far. They've captured the area of snow earlier that formed over Elbert, El Paso, and Lincoln counties and lifted northeast. The models also appear to be handling the area over snow along the Front Range well. Will not make any big changes to the forecast and keep the Winter Weather Advisory as is. Still looks like up to 3 inches for most areas with 3 to 6 inches in the advisory area. A few light snow showers and flurries may linger into the evening over the mountains and far northeast Colorado as the storm system exits the region. Drier air in the northwest flow aloft behind the departing system will result in mostly clear skies by midnight. This will lead to good radiational cooling and chilly overnight lows. For northeast Colorado, lows are expected to be in the 5F to 15F degree range. The mountain valleys will see the coldest readings with temperatures bottoming out below zero and as cold as 15F below zero. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 328 AM MDT Mon Mar 27 2023 Upper level high pressure building over the Rocky Mountain Region will bring dry and warmer weather to North Central and Northeastern Colorado Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, a moderate to strong south to southwesterly flow aloft sets up over Colorado as the next Pacific storm system moves into the Western U.S. Increasing mid level moisture ahead of this system, combined with QG ascent associated with the upper jet will bring a return to snow to the high country by late in the day. Due to the poor south-southwesterly orographic flow, snowfall amounts should generally be light. East of the mountains this pattern should bring mild, dry and breezy conditions which may lead to elevated fire weather conditions across portions of the plains and Palmer Divide Thursday afternoon. The upper trough moves across the Rocky Mountain Region Thursday night and Friday bringing cooler unsettled weather to the forecast area. As the trough passes, the upper level flow will become northwesterly. This flow combined with plenty of moisture and some instability should result in accumulating snow and breezy conditions across the mountains. The plains could see scattered showers and breezy conditions as well with the best chance across the far northeastern zones. Dry weather and near normal temperatures are expected to return on Saturday as a flat upper level ridge of high pressure moves over the State. By Sunday, the flow becomes more zonal with continued mild and dry weather on the plains and a chance of snow in the high country. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday night) Issued at 1136 PM MDT Sun Mar 26 2023 Snow is filling in across the Denver area with widespread snow overnight. Snowfall amounts for the Denver airports are expected to be 1 to 3 inches. Confidence is low in snowfall amounts due to the convective nature of it, which will lead to localized heavier amounts over northeast Colorado. Heaviest snow is expected to occur through 14Z. Large difference among the models on when the snow will end. Anywhere from mid morning to mid afternoon. Split the difference for the 06Z TAFs and have snow ending at DEN at 19Z. Expect gusty north to northwest winds to prevail after 18Z when the low shifts east of the Denver area. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT this evening for COZ042- 044-048>051. && SHORT TERM...Meier LONG TERM...jk AVIATION...Meier
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1013 AM MDT Sun Mar 26 2023 COZ030>051-271615- 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- 1013 AM MDT Sun Mar 26 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Snow showers will develop over the mountains this afternoon with just a light accumulation possible. Snow will be likely tonight over mountains, foothills, and plains as the next Pacific system moves across the region. Most locations will see less than 2 inches of snow. A few locations may pick up more than 2 inches of snow, leading to snow covered and slippery roadways. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Snow showers are expected to move onto the plains for Sunday night and Monday. There is the potential for heavy snow across the plains northeast and east of Denver on Monday which may impact travel. Dry weather with a warming trend is expected for Tuesday and Wednesday, with some cooling and mountain snow likely by Thursday and a chance of rain or snow on the plains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Reports of snowfall or high winds will be appreciated.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather, 5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm totals included: 10 inches near Kelim and Timnath, 9.6 inches in northwest Ft. Collins, 8 inches near Laporte and 6.3 inches near Loveland.
Storm totals included: 13.5 inches at Pierce, 10.5 inches near Windsor, 10 inches in Severance, 9.4 inches near Eaton, 8.7 inches near Milliken, 7.5 inches near Nunn and 7.4 inches near Greeley.
Storm totals included: 6 inches in Longmont, 5.2 inches, 5 miles east-northeast of Boulder, 4.6 inches in Niwot, 3.8 inches in Lafayette, with 2.5 inches in Erie.
Storm totals included: 8.4 inches near Brush, 6.1 inches in Gary, 5 inches near Hillrose and at Hoyt Beet Dump.
Storm totals included: 12 inches, 2 miles south of Sterling, 7.5 inches, 15 miles south of Sterling; 7.2 inches near St Petersburg and 6.2 inches in Iliff.
Storm totals included: 7 inches in Anton, 6 inches in Platner, 4.5 inches, 6 miles north of Last Chance and 4 inches in Cope.
Storm totals ranged from 1 to 3 inches.
Storm totals included 5 inches, 14 miles south of Ovid.
Storm totals included 6 inches near Fairfield, 5 inches in Haxtun, with 2 to 4 inches around Holyoke.
Storm totals ranged from 1 to 3 inches.
Snowfall ranged from a trace to 2 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2023
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: 1078575, 1078576, 1090323, 1078578, 1078579, 1078580, 1078587, 1078582, 1078583, 1078584, 1078585.