Winter Storm — Larimer & Boulder Counties Between 6000 & 9000 Feet, Colorado

2024-02-03 · Larimer & Boulder Counties Between 6000 & 9000 Feet, Colorado

Event narrative

Storm totals included: 17 inches northwest of Horsetooth Mountain, 16.9 inches, 7 miles southeast of Cherokee Park, 16 inches near Buckhorn Mountain, 15.2 inches near Sunshine, 14.9 inches near Virginia Dale, and 12.8 inches near Mishawaka.

Wider weather episode

Very heavy wet snow occurred in and near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide. Storm totals ranged from 8 to nearly 20 inches in those areas, including the western and southern Denver suburbs. Further north and east, storm totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches in Fort Collins/Loveland, as well as eastern areas of metro Denver. Denver International Airport recorded 0.72 of precipitation on the 3rd, which tied this storm for the 3rd wettest for the month of February, going back to 1872. Numerous roads and highways from Denver west into the foothills were closed including Interstate 70, US 40, US 285 and C-470. Numerous vehicles became stuck in the heavy wet snowfall, with rates up to 2 inches per hour making the roadways impassable.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1152614. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.