Winter Weather in C & Se Park County, Colorado

A strong westerly flow aloft ushered a prolonged period of heavy snow and strong winds into the north central mountains of Colorado. The combination of snow and wind resulted in a high avalanche danger. An avalanche occurred along Interstate 70 between Frisco and Copper Mountain late in the afternoon on the 3rd. Several vehicles were trapped by the snow as it swept across the interstate. Another avalanche occurred near the same area earlier in the day. No injuries were reported and the vehicles were able to pull out of the snow field. Large stretch of I-70 now closed through the mountains. On the 5th, both directions of Interstate 70 between Herman Gulch and Silverthorne were closed for 9 hours for avalanche mitigation work. One of the avalanches brought down more snow than expected and covered the westbound lanes with 15 feet of snow and the eastbound lanes with 8 feet.

Storm totals for the 3-day event included: 35 inches at Mt Audubon; 32.5 near Mt Zirkel; 27.5 inches near Hoosier Pass, Longs Peak, Loveland Pass; 26 inches near Berthoud Falls, Climax, Glendevey and Silverthorne; 25.5 inches near Frisco; 22.5 inches near Guanella Pass; 20 inches near Cameron Pass; 19 inches at Brainard Lake; 16.5 inches near Ward; 15 inches near Alma, Eldora and Meeker Park.

In the Front Range Foothills, storm totals included: 17 inches near Estes Park; 11 inches near Georgetown and Nederland; 10 inches near Virginia Dale; 8.5 inches near Buckhorn Mountain and Glen Haven. Along the I-25 corridor and adjacent plains, storm totals included: 8.5 inches near Fort Collins; 8 inches near Elizabeth and Nunn; 7.5 inches near Loveland; 7 inches near Wellington; with 2 to 6 inches elsewhere.