While we had just a slushy sprinkle of snow on the windshield this morning, it’s supposed to start really storming in earnest this morning:
The National Weather Service in Denver has issued a Blizzard Warning… which is in effect from 6 am this morning to 6 am MDT Friday. The Winter Storm Warning has been cancelled.
Snow will develop across northeastern Colorado this morning and will be heavy at times… especially this afternoon and evening. North to northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to around 45 mph will produce blizzard conditions and considerable drifting snow on the plains by afternoon. The worst conditions are expected to be in areas south of a line from Boulder to Akron.
Total snow accumulations by late Thursday night will range from 6 to 12 inches across the northeast plains… with 8 to 16 inches of snow from the Denver Metro area to Limon… and one to two feet in Douglas and western Elbert counties. The snow and prolonged winds will also produce considerable drifting of snow.
Unfortunately, I had to come into the office this morning — but plan on leaving again as soon as I can.
And for those who wonder, no, having a big snow storm this late in the season isn’t unusual. http://www.wunderground.com/US/CO/040.html#WIN
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Mar 24-26 in 1959… the second major Spring storm in less than a week
dumped 10 to 20 inches of wet snow across northeastern
Colorado. Snowfall totaled 14.3 inches at Stapleton
Airport where north winds gusted to 36 mph… causing near-
blizzard conditions with visibilities frequently reduced to
1/2 mile in snow and blowing snow. Many travelers were
marooned when trains… planes… and buses were unable to make
their schedules. Utility lines were again damaged as a
result of the storm.
25-26 in 1899… a major storm dumped 13.1 inches of heavy snow
over downtown Denver. Rain changed to snow around mid-
morning on the 25th. Snowfall became heavy and continued
until late evening on the 26th. North to northeast
winds gusted to 30 mph on both days. The cold air mass
plunged temperatures from a high of 55 degrees on the
25th to a low of 8 degrees on the 26th.
In 1995… a potent early Spring storm produced heavy snow in
the mountains… but skipped over Metro Denver… before
producing blizzard conditions and 6-foot drifts over
eastern Colorado… causing the closure of I-70 and other
highways. Only 0.7 inch of snow fell at the site of the
former Stapleton International Airport. North winds
gusted to 40 mph at Denver International Airport on
the 25th.
In 2001… a persistent band of moderate to heavy snow showers
with a few embedded thunderstorms formed in the foothills
around Estes Park and spread to the southeast across Boulder
and Denver and on the plains to the east of Denver. Thunder
and snow was reported at Jefferson County… Centennial… and
Denver international airports during the evening of the 25th.
Snowfall totals included: 7 inches at Boulder and louisville;
6 inches at Broomfield… Niwot… and westminster; 5 inches at
Eldorado Springs… Nederland… and near Strasburg. Only 2.1
inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton
International Airport.
25-27 in 1904… heavy snowfall totaled 7.0 inches in downtown
Denver.
26 in 1899… a major winter storm dumped 11.3 inches of snow over
downtown Denver.
In 1910… west winds were sustained to 42 mph. A snow shower
produced a trace of snow.
In 1935… a severe dust storm swept across the city. The
dense dust blew in on a gale from the east-northeast.
The dust “bank” was first visible on the northeastern
horizon at about 2:00 PM. It advanced toward the city
as a rolling… swirling… yellowish-to smoke-black cloud.
At 2:06 PM… the cloud of dust enveloped the station.
Before the storm the visibility was unlimited. At
2:08 PM… the visibility was reduced to 1/8th mile. By
2:25 PM… the visibility was increasing and was above
1000 feet at 3:10 PM. Thereafter… the sun appeared
as a dim “ball of fire” at times. The dust was
partially gone at 8:30 PM. During the storm… northeast
winds were sustained to 32 mph with gusts as high as
35 mph.
In 1971… the highest recorded temperature in March… 84
degrees… occurred. This was the highest temperature
recorded so early in the season. Previously… 84 degrees
had not been reached until April 21st. The temperature
also exceeded the previous daily record of 75 degrees set
in 1960. Strong northwest Chinook winds gusting to 37 mph
at Stapleton International Airport were partially
responsible for causing the extremely warm weather
so early in the season.
In 1985… strong winds occurred along the foothills. A wind
gust to 76 mph was recorded in Boulder. A dust storm
produced by the strong winds caused a 35-car pileup on I-25
north of Denver. In Denver… the high winds blew out windows
in a few downtown buildings. West winds gusted to 52 mph
at Stapleton International Airport.
In 1993… strong winds from high based thunderstorms blew a
roof off an Englewood business onto several parked cars.
The winds also caused half of a furniture warehouse roof to
collapse in north Denver… ripped a mechanical shed off the
roof of a building in downtown Denver… and downed power
lines in Commerce City. Wind gusts ranging from 55 to
68 mph were recorded. At Stapleton International Airport…
where no thunder was heard… a microburst wind gust to 55 mph
briefly reduced the visibility to zero in blowing dust.
In 1994… heavy snow fell in the foothills west of Denver and
over the Palmer Divide to the south of Metro Denver.
Snowfall totaled 11 inches at both the Eldora ski area and
at Idaho Springs. Only 1.3 inches of snowfall were measured
at Stapleton International Airport where north winds
gusted to 28 mph.
In 2006… Post-frontal strong winds quickly dissipated the
dense morning fog across Metro Denver. West to northwest
winds were strong and gusty from mid-morning until sunset.
West winds were sustained to 37 mph with gusts to 52 mph
at Denver International Airport.
26-27 in 1886… heavy snowfall totaled 7.1 inches in downtown Denver.
In 1911… Post-frontal north winds were sustained to 48 mph on
the 26th and to 47 mph on the 27th.
In 1931… a cold front brought snow and very cold weather to
the city. Snowfall totaled 7.3 inches over downtown Denver
with most of the snow… 6.4 inches… occurring on the 26th…
when northwest winds were sustained to 38 mph with gusts to
44 mph. High temperature of 31 degrees on the 26th equaled
the low temperature of the previous day as the temperature
plunged to a low of 1 degree below zero. High temperature of
only 15 degrees on the 27th was a record low maximum for the
date. Low temperature of 2 degrees below zero on the 27th
was not a record.
In 1975… a major pre-Easter blizzard… the worst since the
vicious storm of 1949… battered northeastern Colorado and
left livestock losses in millions of dollars… but Metro
Denver escaped the main brunt of the storm and received
only 5.0 inches of snowfall. North winds gusted to 38 mph
at Stapleton International Airport where temperatures
plunged from a high of 50 degrees to 18 degrees by midnight
on the 26th.
In 1991… heavy snow fell over portions of the eastern
foothills with 9 inches recorded at Lake Eldora west of
Boulder. The snow spread across Metro Denver… but
snowfall totaled only 1.7 inches at Stapleton International
Airport where north to northeast winds gusting to 31 mph
on both days produced some blowing snow.
And I’m home. Yay!
Few inches already accumulating on the deck.
Ironically, today was “Hawaiian Shirt Day” at the office. Which has just been canceled until next Thursday.