Winter Storm — Grand & Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet, Colorado

2011-10-25 to 2011-10-26 · Grand & Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet, Colorado

Wider weather episode

A powerful early season storm brought heavy snow to the Front Range and adjacent plains. The heavy, wet snow caused extensive downed large branches and in some cases, entire trees. Massive power outages occurred from Fort Collins and Greeley south to Denver and the surrounding metro area. Most of the trees still had their leaves, which helped to catch snow and down trees under the weight of the moisture laden snow. Nearly 200,000 utility customers along the Front Range were without heat and electricity for several hours. Residents in the Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley areas were hit the hardest. As a result, the Red Cross opened four temporary shelters overnight until the power could be restored. The outages also forced the closure of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and the Boulder Criminal Justice Center the following day. In Fort Collins, a student at Colorado State University was hospitalized with minor injuries after she was struck by a falling tree branch. The fallen trees and branches also caused extensive property damage to roofs and automobiles. In the Front Range mountains and foothills, storm total snowfall ranged from 10 to nearly 20 inches. Across the Urban Corridor and adjacent northeast plains, storm totals ranging from 6 to nearly 13 inches, heaviest north of Denver.

In the mountains and foothills, storm totals included: 19.8 inches, 3 miles west of Jamestown; 18 inches, 5 miles west of Copper Mountain and Loveland SNOTEL; 16 inches at Bear Lake; 14 inches at Elliot Ridge SNOTEL and Estes Park; 13 inches, 3 miles north of Blackhawk and 3 miles south of Evergreen, 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland and Lake Eldora; 12 inches at Bethoud SNOTEL, 4 miles south-southeast of Brookvale, Hourglass Lake and Middle Fork Camp; 11.5 inches, 2 miles south-southeast of Tabernash.

Along the Urban Corridor and adjacent plains, storm totals included: 12.5 inches, 1 mile north of Greeley and 7 miles south of New Raymer; 11.5 inches in Boulder and north Longmont; 11 inches in Hygiene, 9.5 inches at the National Weather Service in Boulder; 9 inches, 1 mile southwest of Westminster; 8.5 inches in Broomfield, Denver International Airport, Frederick and Louisville; 8 inches in Aurora, 4 miles south of Fort Collins and Galeton; 7 inches in Fleming, Iliff, Loveland and Watkins; with 6 inches in Arvada.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 347743. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.