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

2015-12-14 to 2015-12-15 · Grand & Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet, Colorado

Wider weather episode

A fast moving but potent Pacific storm system moved into southeast Colorado. It then produced a deep upslope that brought heavy snow to the areas in and near the Front Range Foothills, Palmer Divide and northeast plains. The combination of moderate to heavy snowfall and gusty winds caused roads to get snowpacked with drifts 1 1/2 to 4 ft deep in spots. Storm totals generally ranged from 6 to 16 Denver International Airport has canceled about 500 flights and hundreds of other flights were delayed for an average of nearly four hours. Heavy snow and gusty winds made for a long and slow commute to work, with many reports of accidents and school and government cancellations. The official storm total at Denver International Airport was 7.7 inches; with 9.5 inches at the National Weather Service Office in Boulder.

In and near the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide, storm totals included: 17 inches, 6 miles northwest of Larkspur; 16 inches, 4 miles southwest of Eldorado Springs and 8 miles northeast of Four Corners; 15 inches, 12.5 miles northwest of Golden and 2 miles north of Roxborough Park; 14 inches at Genesee and near Ken Caryl; 12 inches near Berthoud; 11 inches near Arapahoe Park, 4 miles east of Boulder, Castle Rock, 3 miles southwest of Conifer, Lone Tree, Louisville and Parker; 10.5 inches, at Centennial and 8 miles southeast of Watkins; 10 inches in Broomfield and Strasburg; 9.5 inches at Ralston Reservoir; 9 inches, 4 miles south of Fort Collins and Loveland; 8.5 inches in Arvada; 7.5 inches at the CSU Campus in Fort Collins.

Elsewhere storm totals included: 11.5 inches in Sheridan; 11 inches in northwest Aurora, Federal Heights, Fredrick and Greeley; 10 inches just north of Lochbuie; 9.5 inches in north Longmont; 9 inches in Westminster, 8 inches in Iliff, 21 miles north of New Raymer, Northglenn and Mead; 6 inches in Crook, Holyoke, Julesburg and 5 miles south of Sedgwick. In the mountains and high valleys, storm totals ranged from 4 to 9 inches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 604830. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.