Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, November 5 to 9, 2024

By the morning of November 6th, 5 to 10 inches had fallen and snow would continue for the most part through early morning of November 9th.

Storm total snowfall amounts from 24 to 36 fell across eastern Elbert and Lincoln Counties . Local amounts exceeding 40 fell across portions of Elbert and northern Lincoln Counties, where this storm recorded the second largest snowfall totals in recorded history, second only to the early November, 1946 Snowstorm. Here are a few of the heavier snowfall reports, 41.5 inches Ponderosa Park 11 NE, 40.0 inches Cedar Point 8 ENE, 38.0 inches Genoa, 38.0 inches Deer Trail 6.1 SW, 35.5 inches Limon, 34.5 Limon 8.5 NNW, and 29.4 inches Elbert 4.6 SSE. In addition to the very heavy snow, blowing snow create snow drift of 8 to feet according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Nearly all (or possibly all) roads were closed or impassible due to the very heavy snowfall. Interstate 70 was closed on the 7th and remain closed until 9th. Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency and activated members of the Colorado National Guard as several drivers became stranded. The Colorado Office of Emergency Management said crews went on a total 22 search and rescue missions on the Eastern Plains, bringing stranded drivers to safety. It was estimate that on the first night of the storm, approximately 3,000 people were stranded in Limon (population of Limon 2000).

By the morning of November 7th, an estimated 4 to 8 inches had fallen and snow would continue for the most part through early morning of November 9th. Only a couple snow reports came in for southern Lincoln county, but based on other nearby reports the storm total snowfall amounts reached 18 to 30 across far southeastern Elbert and southern Lincoln Counties. Here are the two snowfall reports received, 26.8 inches Hugo and 22 inches Karval. In addition to the very heavy snow, blowing snow create snow drift of 8 to feet according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.

Nearly all (or possibly all) roads were closed or impassible due to the very heavy snowfall. Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency and activated members of the Colorado National Guard as several drivers became stranded. The Colorado Office of Emergency Management said crews went on a total 22 search and rescue missions on the Eastern Plains, bringing stranded drivers to safety.

Snowfall amounts ranged from 5 inches across northern parts of the county to up to 12 inches over southern Washington County through the morning of November 7th. Due to the snow and blowing snow roads across southern Washington County were closed including Highway 36. Here are a few reports, Woodrow 16.8 miles SSE 11.6 inches, Anton 5.8 miles SE 10.0 inches, and Otis 5.7 W 5.5 inches. These snowfall reports are through 7AM November 7th. Snow then subsided for 12-18 before returning. Additional snowfall occurred on the 7th through the 9th was even heavier with additional snowfall of 16 to 24 inches across southern Washington County. For the entire 5 day event, an estimated 24 to 36 inches of snow fell across southern Washington County. At Woodrow 16.8 SSE 26.4 inches of snow was reported and at Anton 5.8 SE 30.0 inches of snow was reported. In addition to the snow, wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph on the 8th produced considerable blowing and drifting snow. Most roads across southern Washington County were closed for an extended time. If not closed, travel was very difficult to impossible due to the very heavy snowfall.

Snowfall of 4 to 10 inches produce slick and snow covered roads. Here are some snowfall reports from the area. 9.5 inches Lake George 7.5 WSW, 5.7 inches Guffey 5.5 W, and 5.1 inches Fairplay 2.7 WNW.

Snowfall amounts across the area generally ranged from 10 to 16 inches November 5th through the morning of November 7th. Slight higher amounts occurred across western and central Elbert County. Light lingered into the morning of the 7th before coming to a temporary end. Then even heavier snowfall occurred. Another 12-22 inches fell across Douglas County and 18 to 30 inches across western and central Elbert. Roads through out Elbert County become covered by deep snow and in many cases became impassible. Total snowfall for the event (November 5th through 9th) ranged from 20-25 inches across Douglas county to 35 to 44 inches over western and central Elbert County. The largest snowfall report was 44 inches at 3.7 miles west of Elbert.

Snowfall reports were sparse for this area east of Denver. An estimated 8 to 14 inches of snow fell November 5th through the morning of November 7th. At 5 miles ENE of Byers 9.8 inches fell, 10.8 miles SSW Bennett 10.8 inches fell, and 5 miles north of Strasburg 10 inches of snow fell. Interstate 70 was shut down at times through the 9th, especially for eastbound traffic. Also Highway 36 was closed at times. Travel became very difficult to impossible when heavy snow returned on the 8th. After the lull in snowfall on the 7th, an additional 12 to 24 inches of snow fell late on the 7th through the 9th. This brought total snowfall amounts to 20 to 36 inches, with the heaviest snowfall occurring over eastern Arapahoe County where 31.0 inches of snow fell 6.1 miles SW of Deer Trail. At 5 miles ENE of Byers storm total snowfall of 22 inches was reported.

Snowfall of 4 to 10 inches produced areas of slick and snow covered roads. Here are some snowfall reports from the area, 8.2 inches Blackhawk 3.6 NE, 8.0 inches Evergreen 4.2 SSE, and 6.1 inches Conifer 3.9 SE.

Snow developed across the area during the early morning hours of the 8th. Precipitation turn to rain at times across the lower elevations of Boulder County in Niwot and Longmont. The resulted in a large range of snowfall reports with as little an inch in the Longmont area to 7-9 inches in the Golden and Lakewood areas. Roads become snow covered and slippery, especially after sunset on the 8th. Here are some of the heavier snowfall reports, 8.9 inches 1.6 SW Golden, 8.8 inches, Lakewood 1.5 WSW, 8.0 inches Wheat Ridge 1.2 ENE, and 7.7 inches 6.1 WSW Denver.

Snowfall across the Denver Metro area ranged from 4 to 12 inches, with the heaviest snowfall occurring over the southeast part of the metro area which produce snow covered and slippery roads. Most highways south and east of Denver were closed including Interstate 70 just east of Denver. The storm’s impacts were not limited to the ground as Denver International Airport faced more than 1,300 canceled or delayed flights. Also, a carport in southeast Denver collapsed crushing 8 vehicles. Here are some snowfall reports across the Denver area, 12.6 inches Aurora 5.7 E, 12.4 inches Aurora 0.7 WSW, 11.0 inches at Denver International Airport, 9.7 inches Cherry Hills Village 2.1 N, and 8.5 inches Westminster 1.6 NE.

Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches fell across the area, much of the precipitation during the day on the 8th fell as rain. However, as temperatures cooled snow accumulate late on the 8th and on the 9th. Here are some snow reports from the area, 5.5 inches Greeley 1.0 WNW, 5.4 inches Erie 1.5 NNE, 4.5 inches Frederick 3.0 WSW, and 4.0 inches in Fort Lupton.

Snowfall amounts of 2 to 9 inches created slick and snow covered roads. Here are some snowfall reports, 9.0 inches Allens Park 1.5 ESE, 7.6 inches Virginia Dale 7.2 SSW, 7.5 inches Nederland 3.7 ENE, and 4.6 inches Estes Park 1.8 S.

Snowfall of up to 4 inches fell across Morgan County. Most of the precipitation fell as rain, limiting the impacts as it never cooled much below 32F. The heaviest snowfall report was in Brush where estimated 4.5 inches of snow fell.