March 13-14, 2021 Snowstorm
A significant blizzard struck northeast Colorado March 13th and 14th, 2021. A deep storm system over the Desert Southwest tracked to the Four Corners area on Saturday, March 13, and then east/northeast across southern Colorado and into east central Colorado on Sunday, March 14. This is a very favorable track for significant winter storms for northeast Colorado, the Front Range, and the Denver metropolitan area, and this storm lived up to its full potential.
Areas of snow (rain on the eastern plains) developed ahead of the storm system and spread northward across Colorado Saturday. By Saturday night, the focus for the heaviest snow had shifted to the northern border area, with areas around Fort Collins and the northern Front Range Foothills receiving the heaviest snow. By early Sunday morning, between 10 and 17 inches of snow was already reported in the Fort Collins and Wellington areas, with around two feet in the foothills of Larimer County. The heavy, wet snow had accumulated on trees and powerlines, producing scattered power outages. Meanwhile, most of the Denver metro area had received between five and eight inches of snow. However, the heaviest snowfall was yet to come!
Early Sunday morning, the heavy snow quickly spread southward across the rest of the I-25 Urban Corridor and Front Range, including the entire Denver metropolitan area. Snow was falling at the rate of one to two inches per hour. Winds also began to increase at this time, with north winds along the I-25 Corridor increasing to 20-30 mph with gusts around 40 mph. Blizzard conditions developed all up and down the Front Range late Sunday morning as winds continued to increase, and the snow became even heavier, falling at the rates of two to three inches per hour. Peak wind gusts recorded in the afternoon included; 48 mph at Denver International Airport, 49 mph at Centennial and Fort Collins/Loveland Regional Airports, and as high as 66 mph along I-25 north of Wellington, Colorado. Travel became nearly impossible due to the significant snow accumulations, blowing snow, deep drifting, and without conditions. Snow drifts reached a depth of three to seven feet. All major interstates were closed except for those areas immediately in/near Denver and Fort Collins. Denver International Airport runways were closed from noon Sunday until 2 pm on Monday, with over 2,000 flights canceled.
The snow decreased from west to east across the plains Sunday evening, finally ending over the northeastern plains Monday morning. Snowfall totals by the end of this significant blizzard ranged from 18 to 30 inches across the I-25 Corridor, with 20 to 40 inches in the Front Range Mountains and Foothills. Local amounts up to four feet were reported in the northern foothills and mountains of Larimer county. The official snowfall for Denver was 27.1 inches, which was the fourth largest storm on record since 1882.
Summary of Snowfall Reports
Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Colorado... ...Adams County... 1 ENE Brighton 25.9 in 0916 AM 03/15 39.99N/104.78W 2 NE Thornton 20.6 in 0607 AM 03/15 39.92N/104.93W 1 WNW Northglenn 20.2 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.91N/105.00W 2 NE Northglenn 18.2 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.92N/104.96W 2 WSW Northglenn 18.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.90N/105.01W 4 NNW Aurora 17.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.76N/104.84W 2 NW Todd Creek 17.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.00N/104.91W ...Arapahoe County... 2 N Highlands Ranch 30.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.58N/104.97W 2 ESE Buckley AFB 28.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.69N/104.71W 3 E Cherry Creek Reservoir 26.0 in 1236 AM 03/15 39.64N/104.82W Aurora 25.0 in 0547 AM 03/15 39.70N/104.81W 3 SSE Arapahoe Park 24.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.59N/104.67W 1 NNW Englewood 24.0 in 0344 AM 03/15 39.66N/105.00W 2 ENE Highlands Ranch 22.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.57N/104.93W 3 N Foxfield 18.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.63N/104.80W 2 N Lone Tree 17.5 in 1232 AM 03/15 39.57N/104.89W 2 NNE Foxfield 16.3 in 0844 AM 03/15 39.62N/104.78W 2 SW Cherry Hills Village 14.8 in 0944 AM 03/15 39.62N/104.97W 4 S Bennett 14.8 in 0900 AM 03/15 39.70N/104.41W 2 WSW Byers 10.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.70N/104.26W ...Boulder County... 3 NNE Pinecliffe 30.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.97N/105.40W 3 S Raymond 28.6 in 1254 AM 03/15 40.11N/105.44W 3 W Jamestown 28.6 in 1209 AM 03/15 40.11N/105.44W Nederland 25.9 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.97N/105.51W 2 WSW Louisville 25.6 in 0840 AM 03/15 39.96N/105.18W 3 NE Longmont 25.5 in 0800 AM 03/15 40.20N/105.08W 2 NE Longmont 24.9 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.19N/105.09W 2 WNW Erie 24.0 in 1214 PM 03/15 40.04N/105.07W 1 WNW Eldorado Springs 23.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.94N/105.28W Louisville 22.0 in 1210 PM 03/15 39.97N/105.14W 1 SSW Lafayette 21.0 in 0734 AM 03/15 39.98N/105.11W 3 SSW Boulder 20.7 in 0825 AM 03/15 39.99N/105.27W 2 NNW Erie 20.0 in 0912 AM 03/15 40.06N/105.06W 3 SSE Hygiene 20.0 in 0730 AM 03/15 40.14N/105.15W 2 N Longmont 19.0 in 0613 AM 03/15 40.20N/105.11W 1 NNE Lafayette 16.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.01N/105.09W 1 NNW Hygiene 15.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.20N/105.18W 1 W Boulder 15.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.03N/105.28W 5 E Jamestown 9.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.12N/105.29W ...Broomfield County... 1 NW Broomfield 22.5 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.93N/105.08W ...Clear Creek County... 2 SSE Blue Valley 32.4 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.68N/105.47W 3 SSE Silver Plume 30.0 in 0600 AM 03/15 39.66N/105.71W 2 SSW Brookvale 27.1 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.61N/105.44W Georgetown 22.4 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.72N/105.70W ...Denver County... 2 SE Denver Intl Airport 27.1 in 1200 AM 03/15 39.85N/104.66W 2 E Denver 19.7 in 0854 AM 03/15 39.74N/104.95W 5 SE Commerce City 18.4 in 0600 AM 03/15 39.76N/104.87W 4 ESE Denver 17.0 in 0745 AM 03/15 39.72N/104.92W 2 ESE Denver 16.2 in 0746 AM 03/15 39.73N/104.95W ...Douglas County... 2 ENE Parker 28.4 in 0747 AM 03/15 39.52N/104.73W 3 SE Shamballa 26.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.33N/104.96W 3 W Ponderosa Park 25.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.39N/104.69W 3 WSW Roxborough Park 24.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.43N/105.12W 1 NW Castle Pines 23.0 in 1043 AM 03/15 39.48N/104.90W 2 NNW Roxborough Park 22.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.46N/105.09W 3 SSW Castle Pines 20.2 in 0559 AM 03/15 39.43N/104.90W 2 WSW Lone Tree 18.5 in 0659 AM 03/15 39.53N/104.92W 1 N Castle Rock 18.1 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.39N/104.85W 3 SW Highlands Ranch 16.5 in 0748 AM 03/15 39.53N/105.02W 1 NW Lone Tree 16.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.55N/104.90W 2 SE Chatfield Reservoir 14.0 in 0630 AM 03/15 39.54N/105.03W ...Elbert County... 9 NNE Kiowa 25.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.46N/104.38W Elizabeth 23.5 in 0822 AM 03/15 39.36N/104.60W 1 WNW Ponderosa Park 23.0 in 0731 AM 03/15 39.41N/104.66W Ponderosa Park 20.6 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.40N/104.64W 2 NE Elizabeth 17.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.38N/104.58W 9 NE Ponderosa Park 15.0 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.50N/104.53W 1 SE Agate 9.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.46N/103.94W 10 NE Kutch 2.0 in 0630 AM 03/15 39.00N/103.74W ...Gilpin County... 1 W Aspen Springs 41.3 in 0850 AM 03/15 39.83N/105.50W 3 NNE Aspen Springs 39.0 in 1019 AM 03/15 39.87N/105.46W Aspen Springs 32.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.83N/105.48W ...Grand County... 1 ENE Winter Park 17.5 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.89N/105.76W 4 SW Grand Lake 8.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.21N/105.86W 2 SSW Elkdale 5.7 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.01N/105.89W 9 WNW Kremmling 3.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.12N/106.52W Williams Fork Reservoir 2.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.03N/106.20W ...Jackson County... 3 SSE Mt Zirkel 18.0 in 0600 AM 03/15 40.80N/106.64W 1 SE Gould 8.6 in 0831 AM 03/15 40.51N/106.01W 1 NNE Rabbit Ears Pass 8.0 in 0600 AM 03/15 40.39N/106.60W ...Jefferson County... 3 WNW Arvada 29.3 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.85N/105.16W 1 SSW Crescent Village 29.0 in 0836 AM 03/15 39.91N/105.34W 2 SSW Rocky Flats 23.0 in 0722 AM 03/15 39.87N/105.23W 2 W Wheat Ridge 22.2 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.77N/105.13W Arvada 22.0 in 0400 AM 03/15 39.83N/105.11W 1 ENE Evergreen 20.0 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.64N/105.32W 2 ESE Ken Caryl 20.0 in 1201 AM 03/15 39.57N/105.11W 1 WSW Lakewood 18.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.69N/105.13W 1 S Columbine 16.5 in 0900 AM 03/15 39.58N/105.07W 1 NNW Cheesman Reservoir 16.0 in 0730 AM 03/15 39.22N/105.28W 2 ENE White Ranch Open Space 13.0 in 0800 AM 03/15 39.83N/105.24W ...Larimer County... 3 ESE Buckhorn Mountain 48.5 in 0830 AM 03/15 40.60N/105.28W 8 NE Four Corners 42.0 in 0703 AM 03/15 40.94N/105.79W 7 E Pingree Park 41.0 in 0812 AM 03/15 40.58N/105.45W 2 SE Horsetooth Mountain 36.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.52N/105.16W 7 SE Cherokee Park 33.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.85N/105.40W 4 S Cherokee Park 32.3 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.86N/105.51W 7 ENE Virginia Dale 31.0 in 0835 AM 03/15 40.97N/105.22W 7 W Rustic 30.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.70N/105.71W 2 N Campion 30.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.37N/105.10W 2 WNW Loveland 28.4 in 0401 PM 03/15 40.43N/105.11W 2 S Laporte 27.9 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.59N/105.13W 1 NNE Estes Park 26.3 in 1100 AM 03/15 40.39N/105.51W 1 NE Glen Haven 24.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.47N/105.43W 4 WSW Berthoud 23.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.28N/105.16W 4 WSW Drake 23.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.41N/105.41W 2 NW Fort Collins 23.0 in 1151 PM 03/14 40.57N/105.10W 2 S Estes Park 22.7 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.35N/105.52W 1 S Loveland 17.0 in 0809 AM 03/15 40.40N/105.07W Berthoud 17.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.30N/105.08W ...Lincoln County... Hugo 5.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.13N/103.47W Limon 4.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.27N/103.69W ...Logan County... 1 S Crook 2.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.85N/102.80W 1 SSW Sterling 1.3 in 0837 AM 03/15 40.62N/103.22W Crook 1.0 in 0630 AM 03/15 40.86N/102.80W ...Morgan County... 1 ESE Gary 11.2 in 0600 AM 03/15 40.07N/103.57W 1 SW Fort Morgan 8.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.25N/103.81W 1 S Wiggins 7.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.21N/104.08W ...Park County... 3 N 11-Mile Canyon Reservoir 16.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 38.94N/105.49W 1 NW Grant 10.0 in 0730 AM 03/15 39.46N/105.68W Antero Reservoir 3.0 in 0714 AM 03/15 38.99N/105.89W ...Summit County... 6 NNW Silverthorne 6.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.72N/106.14W 2 SSW Silverthorne 5.1 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.62N/106.10W Dillon 5.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.63N/106.04W 2 N Heeney 4.7 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.90N/106.31W Frisco 4.6 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.58N/106.10W 1 NW Heeney 4.5 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.87N/106.31W ...Washington County... 3 SSE Woodlin School 13.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 39.76N/103.50W ...Weld County... 1 W Firestone 25.0 in 1031 AM 03/15 40.12N/104.96W 2 S Johnstown 21.0 in 1053 AM 03/15 40.31N/104.91W 2 NW Frederick 18.0 in 0911 AM 03/15 40.12N/104.96W 1 NNE Erie 17.6 in 0142 PM 03/15 40.05N/105.03W 1 SSW Carr 14.8 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.89N/104.88W 1 NW Briggsdale 12.0 in 0800 AM 03/15 40.64N/104.33W 1 WNW Briggsdale 12.0 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.63N/104.33W Evans 11.2 in 0700 AM 03/15 40.38N/104.70W
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