Winter Weather — C & Se Park County, Colorado

2019-11-29 to 2019-11-30 · C & Se Park County, Colorado

Event narrative

Very strong winds coupled with period of light to moderate snowfall impacted several highways due to blowing snow and poor visibility. Adverse conditions forced the closure of U.S. 285, north of Fairplay to Kenosha Pass.

Wider weather episode

A powerful winter storm that moved out of the Southwest and across the Central Rockies, and brought a period of high winds and blowing snow to much of the area. Significant travel impacts occurred due to a combination of snow, high winds, and blowing snow. In the mountains and foothills, peak wind gusts ranged from 75 to 110 mph. Across the northeast plains, peak gusts ranged from 59 to 69 mph.

In the mountains, foothills and adjacent areas west of I-25, the more powerful gusts included: 110 mph at Comstock mine, 4 miles north of Eldora, 107 mph at the top of Eldora, 100 mph on Niwot Ridge, 94 mph at Floyd Hill, 87 mph atop Peak 8 in Breckenridge Ski Area and near Georgetown; 86 mph at Nederland, 85 mph at Evergreen, 84 mph at Loveland, 81 mph near Dumont and Lawson, 80 mph near Central City. At Eldora Mountain Resort, strong winds caused significant damage. The wind downed dozens trees, burst pipes and caused a power outage that prevented some chairlifts from operating. Nearly 100 trees that fell during the storm. Multiple tree blowdowns requiring response around Eldora, the Niwot Ridge base station, Allenspark, on U.S. 34 between the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and the junction of U.S. 34 and U.S. 36. In Evergreen, the wind blew down trees and knocked out power to hundreds of homes. One large tree feel through a synagogue's roof. U.S. 285 was closed between Kenosha Pass and Fairplay, with numerous accidents due to a ground blizzard and zero visibility. An estimated 300 travelers and 100 vehicles were stranded as snow cats were ordered from Jefferson and Park Counties to aid the rescue.

Across the northeast plains, peak wind reports included: 69 mph, 8 miles south of Holyoke; 68 mph at Akron Municipal Airport, 61 miles, 15 miles west-northwest of Sterling; 60 mph, 5 miles north of Pawnee Pass; 59 mph, 7 miles south-southwest of Burdett. Sections of I-76 through northeast Colorado were closed due ground blizzards caused by the high winds and blowing snow. Near whiteout conditions were reported. This resulted in the opening of shelters for stranded travelers for several hours. Approximately 360 people were sheltered until conditions improved.

Other road closures included: U.S. 40 from Granby to Grand County Road 5; I-76 from Hudson to Fort Morgan; CO 52 from Hudson to Wiggins; U.S. 34 from Kersey to Wiggins; CO 14 near Walden, CO 14 from Ault to Sterling, I-25 Northbound from Wellington to Wyoming border, U.S. 6 at Loveland Pass, CO 72 from CO 93 to Candelas Parkway, CO 93 from 64th Avenue to CO 128, I-70, U.S. 85 from Nunn to the Wyoming state line, U.S. 285 from Fairplay to Grant, U.S. 40 at Rabbit Ears Pass.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 865227. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.