Public Information Statement Issued by NWS Denver/Boulder, CO
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NOUS45 KBOU 200859
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COZ030>051-202300-
Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO
259 AM MDT WED MAR 20 2024
...Today in metro Denver weather history...
18-20 In 2020...a powerful storm system brought blizzard conditions
to the plains east of Interstate 25. Numerous roads
closures were posted east of Interstate 25 and over the
Palmer Divide. Highways closings included portions of
eastbound interstates 70 and 76 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 included: 23
inches near Nederland...22 inches at Aspen Springs...18.5
inches near Jamestown...17 inches at Genesee...15 inches at
Evergreen and 12 inches at Bergen Park. Along the urban
corridor...storm totals included: 11 inches at Centennial
and Ponderosa Park; 10.5 inches at Lone Tree...10 inches
near Commerce City...with 5 to 9 inches elsewhere including
6 inches at Denver International Airport. At Greeley and
Denver International Airport...north-northwest winds gusted
to 49 mph.
18-21 In 1907...a warm spell resulted in 6 daily temperature
records. Record maximum temperatures of 82 degrees
occurred on the 18th with 81 degrees on the 19th and
80 degrees on the 20th. Record high minimum temperatures
of 52 degrees occurred on the 19th and 20th with 54
degrees on the 21st.
19-20 In 1912...post-frontal heavy snowfall of 6.3 inches was
measured in downtown Denver. North winds were sustained
to 28 mph with gusts to 30 mph on the 19th. The strong
cold front plunged temperatures from a high of 60 degrees
on the 19th to a low of 1 degree on the 20th.
In 1959...a major storm dumped heavy snowfall of 7.7 inches on
Stapleton Airport where north winds gusting to 44 mph
caused much blowing and drifting snow. Many highways were
blocked...and there was damage to phone lines along the South
Platte River. The storm started as rain and changed to
heavy wet snow...which froze on the lines causing the poles
to break. The storm caused 2 deaths over eastern Colorado.
In 2006...strong northerly winds...associated with a surface
low pressure system that intensified as it moved into the
central Great Plains...brought heavy wet snow to the eastern
foothills and northeastern plains of Colorado. The hardest
hit areas included the foothills of Boulder and Gilpin
counties. Storm totals included: 15 inches at Rollinsville...
14 inches at Aspen Springs...12.5 inches near Nederland...and
5.7 inches in the Denver Stapleton area. Strong winds...heavy
snow...and poor visibility forced the closure of Interstate 70
from Denver east to the Kansas state line. North winds
gusted to 32 mph at Denver International Airport on the 19th.
19-21 In 1888...heavy snowfall totaled 8.6 inches over downtown
Denver. North winds were sustained to 27 mph on the 19th.
20 In 1915...north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts
to 42 mph. Only a trace of snow fell.
In 1989...2 to 6 inches of snow fell along the Front Range
Urban Corridor with up to 9 inches in Boulder. Only 1.6
inches of snowfall were measured at Stapleton International
Airport where north winds gusted to 36 mph.
20-21 In 1878...warm days with high temperatures in the lower
70`s in the city...caused snow to melt on the Palmer
Divide...which caused the waters in Cherry Creek to rise.
The high...rapid running water damaged a home and eroded
bridge footings and abutments. Some bridges became unsafe
for the passage of trains.
In 1904...southwest winds sustained to 48 mph with gusts
to 60 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 68 degrees
on the 20th. The high was only 42 degrees on the 21st
behind a cold front...which produced 1.3 inches of snow
and northeast winds sustained to 27 mph overnight.
In 1923...post-frontal rain changed to heavy snow and
totaled 8.2 inches over the city. North winds were
sustained to 27 mph with gusts to 29 mph on the 20th.
This was the second major snow in a week.
In 1932...rain changed to heavy snow...which totaled 6.2
inches in downtown Denver. North winds gusted to 22 mph
on the 21st.
In 1948...heavy snowfall totaled 7.2 inches over downtown
Denver.
In 1952...a major snow storm produced north wind gusts to 35
mph and dumped 16.9 inches of snowfall on Stapleton
Airport. The maximum snow depth on the ground was 13
inches due to melting.
In 2000...heavy snow fell in and near the foothills of
Douglas and Jefferson counties. Snowfall totals
included: 9 inches near Tiny Town and 7 inches in
Littleton. Snowfall totaled only 1.8 inches at the
site of the former Stapleton International Airport.
North winds gusted to 34 mph at Denver International
Airport on the 20th.
20-22 In 1944...heavy snow fell over metro Denver for a total of
36 hours. The storm dumped 18.5 inches of snowfall over
downtown Denver and 12.2 inches at Stapleton Airport.
Fortunately...there were no strong winds with the storm.
North winds to only 19 mph were recorded on the 21st.
$$