Winter Storm — Sedgwick County, Colorado

2016-02-01 to 2016-02-02 · Sedgwick County, Colorado

Wider weather episode

A slow moving storm system moved across the Four Corners region and strengthened as it moved into southeastern Colorado. The southeasterly flow aloft initially produced snowfall in the and near the foothills of Larimer County. By late in the afternoon on the 1st, a deep east to northeasterly flow upslope produced moderate to heavy snowfall that continued through the evening across the rest of Front Range Mountains, Foothills and adjacent plains. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds produced extensive blowing and drifting snow along the Palmer Divide and across the northeast plains of Colorado. Snowdrifts from 3 to 6 ft deep were observed. Numerous roads and highways were closed east of the Interstate 25, including I-70 and I-76 respectively overnight, as the roadways became impassable. The road closures continued through the morning hours as bands of light to moderate snow, with gusty winds to 35 mph persisted. The roads were reopened by the afternoon of the 2nd. In addition, at Denver International Airport, 480 were cancelled on the 1st, with an additional 125 flights on the 2nd. The official measurement at Denver International Airport was 11.6 inches.

In the mountains and foothills, storm totals included: 35.5 inches at Buckhorn Mountain; 25 inches, 4 miles west-southwest of Eldorado Springs; 24 inches at Genesee and 12.5 miles northwest of Golden; 22.5 inches, 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland; 21 inches, 4 miles south-southeast of Pinecliffe; 16.5 inches, 4 miles south-southeast of Brookvale; 14.5 inches near Estes Park; 14 inches at Intercanyon; 13 inches 4 miles west-northwest of Berthoud; Echo Mountain and 3 miles east-southeast of Tiny Town; 12.5 inches near Breckenridge, 12 inches near Antero Junction, 4 miles west-northwest of Conifer and Eldora Ski Area; 11 inches at Roxborough State Park; 9.5 inches, 3 miles southwest of Golden; 9 inches near Bergen Park and Strontia Springs Dam; with 8 inches, 3 miles north of Black Hawk.

Across the Interstate 25 Corridor, storm totals included: 19.5 inches near Parker; 18.5 inches, 4 miles north-northwest of Larkspur; 15 inches just north of Loveland; 14.5 inches near Louisville; 14 inches in northwest Arvada and Ken Caryl; 13 inches near Federal Heights, Northglenn and Ralston Reservoir; 12.5 inches, 4 miles south of Ft Collins; 12 inches in Broomfield, 3 miles north-northwest of Buckley AFB, near Castle Rock, Erie, Highlands Ranch and Wellington; 11.5 inches near Westminster; 11 inches, 3 miles south-southeast of Denver, north Longmont, Lafayette and Mead; 10 inches near Aurora, 3 miles east of Franktown and Wheat Ridge; 9.5 inches in Thornton; 9 inches at Frederick.

Across the Palmer Divide and adjacent plains, storm totals included: 21 inches, 4 miles northwest of Elizabeth; 14 inches, 8 miles southeast of Watkins; 12 inches at Agate and Burdett; 11 inches at Hereford; 10 inches, 4 miles south-southeast of Bennett and near Greeley, Holyoke and 21 miles north of New Raymer; 9 inches near Akron and Byers; 8 inches, 8 miles northwest of Greeley; 7 inches near Hugo; 6 inches near Ft Morgan, Karval and Sterling.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 610094. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.