Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 230859
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COZ030>051-232300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT SAT MAR 23 2024
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
22-23 In 1936...heavy snowfall of 7.7 inches was measured in
downtown Denver. The heavy wet snowfall formed a thick
coating of snow on trees and shrubs...but caused little
damage. North winds were sustained to 15 mph.
In 1984...around a half foot of new snow fell across metro
Denver...causing flight delays at Stapleton International
Airport where snowfall totaled 6.0 inches and north winds
gusted to 31 mph. Up to a foot of snow fell in the
foothills. Icy roads produced numerous traffic accidents.
In 2011...Strong bora winds developed along the Front Range
following the passage of a storm system. Peak wind gusts
included: 87 mph at the National Wind Technology Center;
82 mph...6 miles northwest of Boulder; 72 mph at Front
Range Airport in Broomfield; 71 mph at Longmont; and 64
mph...4 miles west of Lakewood. At Denver International
Airport...a peak wind gust of 48 mph from the west was
observed on the 22nd.
In 2013...A wet early spring snowstorm brought heavy snow to
parts of the Front Range Foothills and Urban Corridor. The
heaviest snowfall occurred near the Front Range Foothills
and Palmer Divide. Near blizzard conditions forced the
closure of Interstate 70 east of Denver. In the foothills...
storm totals included: 14.5 inches near Conifer; 14 inches
just southwest of Eldorado Springs and Intercanyon; 13
inches near Indian Hills; 12.5 inches near Pinecliffe;
11.5 inches near Golden; 11 inches near Jamestown and
Roxborough; 10.5 inches near Brookvale and 10 inches at
Genesee. Across the Urban Corridor and Palmer Divide...
storm totals included: 12.5 inches...8 miles southeast of
Watkins; 10.5 inches in Boulder...Centennial and Northglenn;
9.5 inches...just south of Aurora; 9 inches in Westminster;
8 inches at Lafayette; 7.5 inches near Morrison; 7 inches
in Arvada...Bennett...Brighton; 6 inches in Highlands Ranch...
Longmont...Louisville and Thornton. Officially...11.6 inches
of snow fell at DIA from the evening of the 22nd to the
afternoon of the 23rd...which set a new two-day snowfall
record in Denver for the date. In addition...a peak wind
gust to 33 mph was observed from the east on the 22nd with
a gust to 30 mph from the north on the 23rd.
In 2016...a powerful blizzard developed across the Front
Range of Colorado late on the 22nd and continued through
much of the 23rd. The storm tracked east-southeast across
Utah on the 22nd...and then into southeast Colorado by the
morning of the 23rd. The storm rapidly intensified as it
reached eastern Colorado...producing extremely heavy and
intense snowfall with snowfall rates exceeding 3 inches
per hour at times. In addition to heavy snow...strong
winds gusting in excess of 50 mph east of I-25 produced
widespread blizzard conditions and zero visibilities. The
storm initially began with rain on the plains...but quickly
changed over to snow during the early morning hours of the
23rd. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were
common...with several inches of snow already accumulating
for the morning commute. Many roads became impassable due
to the depth of fallen snow...drifting snow...and near zero
visibilities during the day. During the peak of the storm...
snowfall rates reached or exceeded 3 inches per hour.
Widespread road closures occurred...including I-76 from
northeast of Denver to the Nebraska state line...I-70 east
of Denver to the Kansas state line...and much of I-25...
from near Castle Rock to Colorado Springs. The Colorado
Department of Transportation estimated over two thousand
vehicles became trapped on I-25 near Monument Hill alone...
with hundreds of stuck or abandoned cars elsewhere.
Numerous power outages occurred as heavy wet snow
accumulated on trees...despite the strong winds. At the
peak...several hundred thousand residents along the Front
Range were without power. Denver International Airport
was closed for 7 hours during and just after the peak
of the blizzard...with around 1300 cancelled flights.
The power outages shut down the fuel farm pumps...the
deicing facility...as well as train service to the
concourses at the airport. Peña Boulevard...the main road
to the airport...was impassable for much of the day. It
was the first time since December 21...2006 that Denver
International Airport had been shut down due to extreme
winter weather conditions. One to 2 feet of snow fell
across much of the Front Range Foothills and Urban
Corridor. In the foothills of northern Jefferson
County...31.5 inches of snowfall measured at Pinecliffe.
Most of the snow fell within a 12-hr period from the
early morning into the afternoon. A peak wind gust of
59 mph recorded at Denver International Airport. South
of Denver...over the Palmer Ridge...12 to 18 inches of
snow was reported...with 6 to 10 inches across the
adjacent plains. The official snowfall measurement at
Denver International Airport was 13.1 inches. In
addition...the snow was very heavy and wet...with many
areas receiving 1 to 2 inches precipitation. In
the foothills...some locations received nearly 3 inches
of water from this storm.
22-24 In 1965...a vigorous cold front swept across metro Denver
late on the afternoon of the 22nd with east-northeast
winds gusting to 38 mph causing some blowing dust.
Snowfall from the storm totaled 4.4 inches at Stapleton
International Airport. Temperatures on the 22nd dropped
from a maximum of 63 degrees to 18 degrees in just 10 hours
and dipped to 3 degrees below zero on the morning of the
24th. Maximum temperatures warmed to only 19 degrees on
the 23rd and 18 degrees on the 24th.
23 In 1887...west winds sustained to 44 mph warmed the temperature
to a high of 66 degrees.
In 1910...southwest winds were sustained to 40 mph. The
chinook winds warmed the temperature to a high of 73
degrees.
In 1913...west winds were sustained to 40 mph with a gust
to 44 mph.
In 1951...a chinook wind gust to 56 mph was recorded at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 1957...strong north winds gusting to 62 mph reduced the
visibility at times to 1 mile in blowing dust at Stapleton
Airport as metro Denver dodged a major spring storm...
which produced heavy rain...snow...wind...and dust over
eastern Colorado on the 22nd through the 25th. Snow
drifted to 15-foot depths in some areas. All traffic
was blocked...power lines were downed...and livestock and
crop losses were high.
In 1994...strong winds raked the eastern foothills. While
the highest winds occurred north of metro Denver...wind
gusts to 74 mph were recorded atop Squaw Mountain near
Idaho Springs and to 70 mph at Rocky Flats north of
Golden. West wind gusts to 40 mph were recorded at
Stapleton International Airport.
In 2005...lightning struck the roof of a home in Paradise
Hills near Genesee. About 5 percent of the residence
was damaged by the resulting fire.
In 2018...intense outflow winds spread south to north across
Denver International Airport and points south and east.
Peak wind gusts included: 67 mph at Limon Airport...66 mph
near Bennett...63 mph at Denver International Airport...62
mph at Front Range Airport...61 mph...9 miles north of
Manila Village; with 58 mph at Woodlin School
23-24 In 1909...post-frontal rain on the 23rd changed to heavy snow
during the evening and continued through the morning of the
24th. Snowfall totaled 13.8 inches. Rain and melted snow...
totaled 2.43 inches...which was the record greatest 24 hour
precipitation ever recorded in March at that time. A
thunderstorm of moderate intensity occurred on the 23rd in
advance of the cold front. North winds were sustained to
27 mph overnight.
In 1990...several hours of freezing drizzle covered roadways
with a thin layer of "black ice" which caused nearly 100
traffic accidents across metro Denver. In Boulder...snow
and freezing rain caused numerous accidents and brief power
outages. Snow in Boulder ranged from an inch east of town
to 4 to 5 inches near Table Mesa. At times thunder was
heard during the snow. Snowfall totaled only 0.6 inch
at Stapleton International Airport where northwest winds
gusted to 30 mph on the 23rd.
In 1995...high winds developed late on the 23rd and continued
through the 24th. A few windows were blown out of a Denver
high rise building...spraying glass on the sidewalks and
streets below. Southeast winds gusted to 48 mph at Denver
International Airport on the 23rd.
In 1996...the third storm in 10 days brought heavy snow to
the mountains...foothills...and metro Denver. Snowfall
totaled 18 inches at Golden Gate Canyon and 10 inches
at Nederland in the foothills. Across metro Denver...
snowfall ranged from 4 to 8 inches. At the site of the
former Stapleton International Airport...snowfall totaled
6.5 inches with most of the snow occurring on the 24th.
North winds gusted to 34 mph at Denver International
Airport. As the storm moved east on the 24th and 25th...
blizzard conditions developed over northeastern Colorado
closing both I-70 and I-76 east of Denver.
In 2010...a powerful spring snowstorm swept across northern
Colorado. The heaviest snowfall occurred in and near the
Front Range Foothills and deep upslope developed. The
heavy...wet snow clung to tree limbs and power lines...which
caused 36500 electrical outages throughout Denver and the
surrounding metro area. Power outages also occurred in
Douglas and Elbert Counties. In addition...approximately
5 thousand travelers were stranded at Denver International
Airport due to flight cancellations and delays. Initially...
the snow fell at a rate of 2 to 4 inches per hour...between
Boulder and Denver...bringing the evening rush hour to a
complete halt. Countless motorists were stuck on U.S.
Highway 36 for several hours. Other road closures
included I-70...from Idaho Springs to Genesee and I-25 in
both directions...from Lincoln Avenue south to Greenland...
or about 15 miles south of Castle Rock. In and near the
Front Range Foothills and Palmer Ridge...storm totals
included: 26 inches at Coal Creek Canyon...23.5 inches...3
miles south of Evergreen; 22 inches at Aspen Springs...13
miles northwest of Golden and 3 miles west of Jamestown;
21.5 inches...3 miles north of Blackhawk...20 inches at
Genesee; 16 inches near Nederland; 14 inches near
Elizabeth and Strontia Springs Dam; 13 inches at Bergen
Park and 3 miles southeast of Indian Hills; 12.5 inches...
3 miles southwest of Conifer; 11.5 inches at St. Mary`s
Glacier. In Denver and the surrounding suburbs...storm
totals included: 15 inches at Lone Tree; 14 inches near
Highlands Ranch; 13 inches near Louisville...12.5 inches
at Aurora...Commerce City...Englewood and 5 miles west of
Littleton; 12 inches at Erie and Greenwood Village; 11
inches at Ralston Reservoir and Westminster; 10.5 inches
at the National Weather Service in Boulder...10 inches...
4 miles northeast of Castle Rock...Fredrick...Lakewood...3
miles southeast of Morrison and 4 miles southeast
of Watkins; 9.5 inches...3 miles southeast of Denver; 9
inches in Broomfield...Lafayette...Northglenn and Thornton;
8.5 inches near Federal Heights; 8 inches in Arvada...
Brighton and Wheat Ridge; 6 inches...5 miles southwest
of Hudson. Officially...10.8 inches of snow was measured
at Denver International Airport.
23-25 In 1891...rain changed to snow and totaled 8.8 inches in
downtown Denver. Most of the snow fell on the 24th.
Winds were light.
In 1964...heavy snowfall of 5.8 inches was measured at
Stapleton International Airport. North-northeast winds
gusted to 21 mph behind a cold front.
$$