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Mike's Weather Blog -- March 2005

March 31, 2005 - Like A Lion!

March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion for many Coloradoans this Thursday, as a spring storm crossed the state Wednesday and gained strength over southeast Colorado. Heavy snows have fallen over the Palmer Divide and portions of the eastern plains. Here in Denver, it really depends on what part of town you are in as to how much snow you've seen. The reason? A northwesterly wind coming off the foothills around the low pressure circulation has kept the heavy snows just to the east and south of town. Some snow totals thus far as of early morning include...

Southern Colorado has seen some heavy snows as well with 19" SE of Rosita in the Wet Mountains, and 7" reported both in Beulah and Walsenburg.

Many location have reported white out conditions along with drifts of 3 and 4 feet across portions of Morgan, Lincoln, and eastern Adams and Arapahoe Counties. This is due to some very gusty winds wrapping around the low pressure. Limon has seen a sustained north wind between 24 and 33 MPH for over six hours as of the 10 AM report. La Junta saw a sustained wind of 37 MPH with gusts to 43 during the 10:00 hour, and Fort Carson reported blowing snow with a sustained wind of 38 MPH gusting to 47. Those are like tropical storm force winds! Some additional area gusts include...

It's no surprise those winds blowing all that snow around have closed many roads on the eastern plains, including I-70 from Exit 328 to 354, I-25 from Colorado City (Exit 74) to the New Mexico state line, and sections of I-76 near Fort Morgan. Stay safe today and watch 7NEWS for all the latest weather and traffic information.

March 30, 2005, 6:10 P.M. - Mountain Snow Totals!

The latest spring snow storm to hit Colorado is moving through the mountains and now beginning to affect the Front Range, where a few inches of snow may accumulate by morning. As we round out March, some really nice snow totals are coming in thanks to a series of recent weather disturbances.

Colorado Ski Country Resorts have received an average of 42" of snow in March, with about a third of that falling in just the last seven days. Durango (Purgatory), Silverton, and Steamboat have been the big winners in the past 24 hours for most snowfall.

Speaking of Steamboat, I have some month-to-date stats for the resort, courtesy of Mike Lane. In the past two weeks, 46" of snow has fallen mid-mountain, with 52" at the summit. For the month, 51" has fallen mid-mountain and 56" at the summit. 14 out of the last 30 days have brought snow to the resort.

On Sunday, six Colorado resorts will end the season with a powder day. Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, Durango (Purgatory), Monarch, Ski Cooper, and Telluride will close the 2004-2005 ski season. The weekend is shaping up to be a beautiful stretch of weather for some early April skiing. Just don't forget that sun screen!

March 30, 2005 - A Snowy Day in Ruby!

On this date in 1899, if located in Ruby, Colorado, you probably were looking forward to some signs of spring weather! This mining camp in the Elk Mountains near Crested Butte was just ending a multiple day snowstorm in which 141" of powder fell! As mind boggling as that may sound, the camp reported 254" of snow for the entire month! To this day, that remains the state's monthly snowfall record for any given location.

Incredible snows piled up across Colorado's High Country during March of that year, cutting off fuel and food supplies to many mountain communities, including Aspen. With the month prior having been one of the coldest on record for the state, Coloradoans, and especially residents of Ruby, were definitely looking forward to April and the hopes of warmer weather.

For this March 30 in Ruby it looks like there will be some snow showers, but nothing like the area saw 106 years ago!

March 29, 2005 - Colorado's Highs and Lows!

No, I am not talking about highs and lows as in pressure, but highs and lows as in elevation! Within the borders of the 8th largest state in the Union, Colorado's terrain varies more than 11,000 feet from highest point (Mt. Elbert at 14,433 feet above sea level) to the lowest point (Arkansas River at 3,350 feet above sea level). This gives us a mean state elevation of 6,800 feet above sea level, making us have the highest mean altitude in the country. Our state is 380 miles long and 280 miles wide, and the geographic center is just 30 miles northwest of Pike's Peak in Park County.

The 10 highest cities and towns in Colorado are...

The 10 lowest cities and towns in Colorado are...

An interesting fact about the 10 lowest city or town elevations is that 8 of them are found either in the Arkansas or South Platte River Valleys.

We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful and diverse state!

March 28, 2005 - Ring Around the Moon!

Old weather folklore tells us that a ring around the moon brings rain or snow. This "ring" or "halo" is caused by high altitude cirrus clouds, which contain tiny ice crystals that refract the moon's light. This process creates the ring or halo we see around the moon from here on earth.

Additionally, if you count the number of stars contained within the ring, folklore tells us this will predict the number of days the storm system is away from your location. Last night's moon was so bright, being just past full, it was difficult to see the exact number of stars contained within its ring with just the naked eye. A general rule of thumb is to let each star represent 24 hours, and faint stars 12 hours. Though this is just old folklore, there are many who swear by this "sign of Mother Nature."

Speaking of full moons, do you know the name of March's full moon? It is referred to as The Full Worm Moon, for it is in the month of March typically that the ground thaws and the earthworm reappears, inviting the return of the robins. The naming of the full moon dates back to Native Americans of the north and eastern United States.

The more northern tribes also referred to the March moon as The Full Crow Moon, when the cawing of the crows signaled winter's end, and The Full Crust Moon because the thawing of the snow during the day refroze into a crust at night.

Eastern tribes knew it as The Full Sap Moon, marking the time for tapping maple trees.

Still yet a few more names exist for the March full moon, including The Paschal Full Moon, the first full moon of the Spring Season. The first Sunday following the Paschal Moon is Easter Sunday. Early settlers also called it The Lenten Moon, or the last full moon of winter. Which of the two names above go to the March full moon of course depends on if it happens before or after the Vernal Equinox.

March 27, 2005 - The Easter Lily!

Happy Easter! In honor of this holiday, here is a bit of history on the Easter Lily, and an industry that is a true American success story.

Prior to 1941, most Easter Lily bulbs exported to the United States from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. After World War II, bulb production began in the USA, and today, over 95% of bulbs grown for the potted Easter Lily market are produced by just ten farms in the Pacific Northwest.

From Smith River, California, to Brookings, Oregon, these ten farms sit in a narrow coastal region straddling the California and Oregon boarder. The bulbs are harvested in the fall and shipped to greenhouses throughout the United States and Canada, where they are potted and forced to bloom by Easter under controlled conditions. Over 10 million bulbs are shipped each year.

So why is this part of the world so ideal for growing this beloved plant? Ideal climate, soil, and water conditions are present.

If you want to visit this part of the country, knows as the Easter Lily Capital, it is only accessible by a narrow, winding coastal highway, bordered by magnificent Redwood forests, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

March 26, 2005 - High Country Snows!

Many places in the high country have picked up a foot or more of snow over the past 48 hours, including...

In the Front Range we've seen unsettled weather with minor accumulations around the Denver metro over the past 48 hours, but some places on the southwest side of town and in the foothills have seen several inches accumulate.

A big warm up is in store over the next few days, along with some windy conditions returning to the area. Unsettled weather will enter the forecast by mid-week!

March 25, 2005 - A Look at the Snowpack!

The recent parade of storms across Colorado has been quite helpful for the snowpack. March started off so dry for many areas as we sat under a persistent late-winter ridge of high pressure. Thankfully a shift in the global circulation pattern of troughs and ridges has allowed periods of unsettled weather to move into Colorado, giving a slight boost to the snowpack.

With all the basins combined we had a statewide average of 101% on 3/15/05. Today that number stands at 105%. With more snow expected today and tomorrow, and another system possibly taking aim on the state early next week, we will definitely maintain these numbers for the next several days and hopefully add to them!

March 24, 2005 - Winter Weather Watch, Warning, and Advisory Criteria!

Winter Weather Watches, Warnings, and Advisories have different meanings to different parts of the country, and meanings even vary here in Colorado depending on where you live.

For example...snow accumulations of 6" or more at lower elevations west of the divide and 8" or more at lower elevations east of the divide, in a 24 hour period, would meet criteria for the National Weather Service to issue a heavy snow warning. In the higher elevations, 10" east of the divide and 12" west of the divide satifsy heavy snow warning criteria in a 24 hour period.

A Winter Storm Watch is issued when winter storm conditions are possible in the next 12-36 hours, but timing, intensity, and occurrence is still uncertain. When heavy snow is occurring or is expected in the next 18 hours, a Winter Storm Warning may be issued for a particular area.

During a storm that isn't quite as intense, but still poses a threat of appreciable snow accumulations, a Winter Weather Advisory will be issued. Criteria for this would generally be 3-6" at lower elevations within a 12-24 hour period, and 5-12" at higher elevations.

When high winds will accompany a storm system, you may find blizzard warnings issued. There are some other winter weather advisories that can be issued, such as an ice storm warning or freezing rain advisory, but we don't generally see these in Colorado.

When any type of watch, warning, or advisory is issued for your area, tune to 7NEWS for the latest information from the 24/7 Weather Center, and don't forget to check theDENVERchannel.com!

March 23, 2005 - An Exciting Afternoon!

When you hear the saying "Springtime in the Rockies" you think of an afternoon like we had today across the Front Range. A Pacific Storm System making its way across Colorado interacted with some pockets of unstable air aloft, bringing a few brief thundershowers to the area. Rumbles of thunder and some lightning was reported around town, with thundersnow falling in Pine Junction. Almost a half inch of sleet fell in Evergreen shortly before 5 pm, and Tabernash saw a quick 1.5" of snow. Pea sized hail fell in Highlands Ranch. Things will settle overnight, with the main weather story being the mountain snows.

Tomorrow we will be tracking a cold front approaching from the north, and that may bring a few inches of snow to the Front Range and adjacent Foothills late tomorrow into Friday. The 24/7 Weather Center will follow it closely for you.

Things should clear out by Easter with another unsettled week in store for Colorado as we close out March and head into April. We could even see a decent spring storm affect the state by late next week, but that is a long way out and a lot can change between now and then.

Stay with us here at 7NEWS and we'll keep you up to date with all the latest forecast information from the 24/7 Weather Center.

March 22, 2005 - TADD!

TADD = Turn Around, Don't Drown!

It is the first annual Flood Safety Awareness Week here in the United States, March 21-25. This is an extremely important topic to be educated on because flooding claims more lives each year in this country than any other weather related phenomenon.

Flooding can result from numerous situations, including stagnant weather patterns and slow-moving tropical systems...but one of the most dangerous occurrences is the flash flood. A flash flood occurs within 6 hours of a heavy rain event, a dam failure, or a sudden release of water from an ice jam. Though 6 hours sounds like plenty of time to take action, you don't always have that much time. There have been many cases where one has 45 minutes or less to react to a flash flood situation.

A flood, on the other hand, typically occurs over several days and can even be predicted to some extent, when a known amount of water upstream is on the way. An example of this situation often occurs in the east, when heavy snowmelt in the upper Mississippi River Valley is moving downstream. The Hydrologic Prediction Service of the National Weather Service can alert lowland farmers that flooding conditions is on the way due to snowmelt.

Here in Colorado, we are very prone to flash floods due to the varying terrain and our dry, sandy soils. We have several examples of past flood events, and one that comes to mind is the Big Thompson Flood of 1976. In 1982, the Long Lake Dam failure brought destruction to Rocky Mountain National Park, and more recently, you may recall the devastating Fort Collins Flash Flood of 1997. We had some metro-area flooding in the summer of 2004, recapped below.

So just exactly what do you do in a flood situation? Immediately seek higher ground! Don't ever walk through floodwaters. Did you know that just 6" of swiftly moving water could sweep you off your feet? Water is a very powerful force.

If you are in a car and it stalls due to floodwaters, immediately abandon it and seek higher ground. If you approach floodwaters over the roadway while driving, TADD. You don't know how deep the water is on that roadway due to the turbulent flow and debris its carrying, and more importantly, you have no way of knowing if the roadway is still there. Water 6-12" deep can carry your automobile away, and water up to 2 feet deep can even carry a bus!

In the event that conditions are possible for flash floods in your area, the national weather service will issue a FLASH FLOOD WATCH, meaning to simply be alert and prepared for a possible emergency. When flooding is occurring a FLASH FLOOD WARNING will be issued, alerting you to put your plan of action in place.

A fact that many people find amazing is that is doesn't even have to be raining for a flash flood to occur in your area. Some of the most dangerous floods originate miles away. That is why it's important for you to stay tuned to the 24/7 Weather Center here at 7NEWS during active weather for the latest information and updates, and during clear weather for the most accurate forecast of any potentially dangerous weather forecasted for Colorado.

March 21, 2005 - Spring Has Sprung!

Today marks the first full day of spring and it has brought the first outbreak of severe weather to the southern plains. Storms broke out in southern Kansas and central Oklahoma by early afternoon with some tornado touchdowns and large hail. This line of storms will continue to press eastward ahead of a cold front. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, issued tornado watches for the ARKLATEX region that last well into the overnight hours. (ARKLATEX is the area where Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas join)

On the cold side of this storm system, winter weather advisories cover portions of Nebraska where several inches of snow will be likely by morning.

Closer to home, we have a very unsettled week ahead of us with an almost daily chance for mountain snows, and period of clouds and showers on the eastern plains as we round out the work week. Looking at the 7-Day we do see some warm and dry weather on deck for the start of next week. Click here to view the 7-Day forecast from the 24/7 Weather Center.

March 20, 2005 - Happy Spring to You!

Today marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere, denoted by the Vernal Equinox. Here is a little trivia to celebrate spring. Answers are in bold type.

1. So just what does "Vernal Equinox" mean?

Equal night of spring.

*This is the day when the sun's path intersects the Earth's equator, giving equal daylight and night to nearly the entire planet! It always occurs around March 20 or 21 marking the beginning of Spring.

2. There is an old belief that on the Vernal Equinox, and ONLY on this day, you can balance a raw egg on its end. Is this true?

No, it's a myth.

*You can stand an egg on its end anyday of the year with enough patience!

3. Which ancient monument was built facing the sunrise of the Vernal Equinox?

The Great Sphinx at Giza, Egypt.

4. Which country celebrates New Year's Day on the Vernal Equinox?

Iran.

*Iran's New Year is called Nowrooz, celebrated on the Vernal Equinox because the first day of spring marks a happy time of rebirth that is considered the start of a new year.

5. Egypt's pyramids may be the most well known, but they aren't unique. Which country is home to the pyramid of Kulkulkan, built with the solstices and equinoxes in mind?

Mexico.

*Kulkulkan, also known as Quetzalcoatl, is in Chichen Itza, Mexico, in the Yucatan Peninsula west of Cancun.

March 19, 2005 - Snowy Upper Midwest!

A small but potent storm system dropped heavy amounts of snow across southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and southern Wisconsin yesterday, with 15-30" common. 19.8" of snow fell in Rochester, Minnesota, not only setting a daily record for March 18, but also for the most snow ever recorded in a single day since records began in 1947. It was also a snowy day for residents of La Crosse, Wisconsin, where 15.2" of snow fell, making for the 9th largest snow since records began in 1909.

Other snow totals from the region include...

Did you know we have a map right here on theDENVERchannel.com that shows you national snow depth? Click here to view this map, as well as numerous additional maps in the pull down menu you'll find in the upper right of the snow depth map.

March 18, 2005 - The Great "Tri-State Tornado"!

The most deadly tornado in US history occured on this date back in 1925. This monsterous cyclone stayed on the ground over 3 hours and traveled 219 miles from east-central Missouri to southern Indiana. 695 lives were lost during the storm, with 234 alone in Murphysboro, Illinois. The town of West Frankfort, Illinois, lost 148 citizens. Also in West Frankfort, a school was leveled, with 17 students inside being picked up and set down unharmed 150 yards away. The tornado produced $17 million dollars in damage. Reports show the swath of damage was at times a mile wide. 4 towns were completely destroyed by the twister, 6 other severly damaged, 15,000 homes were destroyed, and 2,000 people were injured.

This tornado was apart of a larger storm system that produced 7 other tornadoes, claiming an additional 97 lives.

In more recent history, this date was a windy one back in 1971 from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, as an area of low pressure crossed the region. Winds gusted to 100 mph at Hastings, Nebraska, and reached 115 mph at Hays, Kansas. The high winds caused $2 million dollars worth of damage across the state of Kansas alone.

Closer to home, on this date just two years ago, we were in the midst of a blizzard in the Front Range, with snow being measured in feet from Castle Rock to Fort Collins, and Denver westward into the foothills.

March 17, 2005 - Fast Moving Storm!

A fast moving storm system is bringing strong winds and mountain snows to Colorado this St. Patrick's Day, with 5-10" of fresh powder likely in the northern and central mountains. This is excellent news for water sheds in this portion of the state, as most of the winter storm systems this season have favored southern Colorado. For Denver, we will have plenty of wind but little in the way of precipitation as the disturbance passes by. A few rain or snow showers can't be ruled out.

So just how much snow has fallen in Denver this season? As of 10 AM today, 25.6" has accumulated this season at Denver's official snow measurement site, Stapleton. Typically we'd be over 40" of snow by this time during an average season. The snow season runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.

Denver isn't the only city below average on snowfall this season. Many places from Washington state to Wisconsin are below average. Numbers given below are as of March 17, 2005.

On the flip side, there are some places that have had above normal snowfall this season, such as Marquette, Michigan, which sits on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette has seen over 200" of snow since July 1, 2004! Residents of this beautiful city are probably looking forward to seeing the grass this spring, as there has been 1" or more of snow on the ground since November 27, 2004. The snowpack has been at least 10" deep since December 12, 2004, and 20" or deeper since January 19 of this year. Today the snowpack measured 32", down a bit from the season's maximum recorded depth of 39" back on March 2. Though amazing numbers to many, the 200" of snow season-to-date is only 42.5" above normal for Marquette.

Looking at the snowfall statistics for Denver, which date back to 1881, we've only had one instance where the total snowfall surpassed 100", and that was 1908-09. The Mile High City saw 118.7" of snow that season.

March 16, 2005 - A Chilly Grand Valley!

The chilly airmass that settled over Colorado these past few days hasn't been good for the fruit producing areas of western Colorado, such as the Grand Valley. Many of the fruit producing trees have experienced bud growth way ahead of schedule due to the mild January and February across the region. Some Tuesday morning lows from fruit producing areas include...

The forecast tonight does call for slightly warmer temperatures, but those with sensative vegetation will want to take necessary precautions.

March 15, 2005 - Mid-March Update!

Now that we have reached the middle of our snowiest month, I thought I would update you on how the snowpack is doing across Colorado.

With all the basins combined we have a statewide average of 101%. The northern basins remain the driest, but hopefully we can add a bit to those numbers with some snow expected in the mountains late Wednesday into Friday.

March 14, 2005 - Winter's Last Stand!

With just a few days left before Spring arrives, the Front Range is experiencing Winter's last stand with our late weekend snow and chilly Monday temperatures. Today we struggled to reach 30 degrees in many communities up and down the Front Range. A chilly night is in store as we see some partial clearing late. Most areas will bottom out in the teens. A few single digits are possible in the usual cold spots of the Eastern Plains. A warming trend is in store for mid-week before another system crosses the region late Thursday into Friday, bringing another shot of snow and cold air to Colorado.

The Vernal Equinox will occur this weekend, the date when day and night are nearly the same length. This marks the first day of Spring for the northern hemisphere, with the official arrival time in Denver being 5:33 am Sunday, March 20.

March 13, 2005, 7:30 P.M. - Area Snow Totals!

We are very fortunate here in Colorado to have a rain, hail, and snow study called CoCo RaHS! That stands for Community Collaborative Rain and Hail Study. CoCo RaHS volunteers make daily reports of Colorado's precipitation, allowing us to see patterns from a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly standpoint like never before!

Here are some snow amounts from last nights storm courtesy of CoCo RaHS. I would highly encourage you to check out their Web site. You can look at text reports and real time maps of the state and your county. If you are interested in joining CoCo RaHS or learning more about the project, click here.

March 13, 2005, 7:13 A.M. - First Snow in 3 Weeks!

It's been 3 weeks since the metro area has seen a measurable snowfall. Back on February 15 we saw 0.5" of the white stuff. Prior to that it was January 30 and 31 when we last saw an accumulating snow. The moisture is greatly needed to help settle to dust from this dry spell.

Some area snow totals through 7 AM include...

4.0" in Milliken and Brush

5.0" in Aurora and Broomfield

5.5" in Parker, Franktown, and Golden

7.5" in Boulder

11.0" near Nederland

If you are heading out this morning you'll have to make sure you remember your winter driving skills, as it's been a while since we've had to use them! Stay warm and have a safe day.

March 12, 2005, 12:35 P.M. - Changes Underway!

The strong Canadian cold front we've been talking about the last few days is pushing into northeast Colorado this afternoon as forecasted. The observation from Denver's International Airport has read widespread blowing dust for the last few hours due to the winds ahead of the front. When traveling around northeast Colorado this afternoon, please keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and watch for areas of low visibility due to blowing dust.

Early afternoon temperatures have topped out in the mid 60s around Denver today, with mid 70s across southeast Colorado, from Pueblo to Lamar to Springfield. Once the front passes your area you will notice a shift in winds from a west-southwesterly direction to a north-northeast direction. Temperatures will quickly fall through the 50s into the 40s.

Later tonight we should see the flakes-a-flying! Stay tuned to 7NEWS throughout the day and check theDENVERchannel.com for all the latest forecast information from the 24/7 Weather Center.

March 11, 2005 - Wild Weekend Weather!

The weekend will start dry and mild, but turn cold and snowy after a spring-like cold front pushes into the state. At 4pm this afternoon it was 53 degrees in Dickinson, ND. Just 100 miles east on I-94, it was only 37 degrees in Bismarck. This is just a sign of the changes to come this weekend.

With the recent dry conditions over northeast Colorado, combined with the strong winds expected ahead of the cold front tomorrow, blowing dust may significantly reduce visibilities at times. Use extreme caution when traveling on the open plains. Meanwhile, it will also be windy in the higher terrain. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel if your travel plans take you to the mountains.

March 10, 2005 - Winds of Change

If you woke up to strong winds about 3:15 this morning you witnessed a cold front rushing through the Front Range. It wasn't quite as dynamic as Tuesday's system but nonetheless, we did manage to get some clouds and light showers across the northeast plains late this morning and early afternoon. Things will dry out and warm up before a new storm approaches the region late Saturday into Sunday.

Do you have travel plans for the upcoming weekend? Don't forget you can get forecast information here or abroad right from the weather page on theDENVERchannel.com! Look under the travel section. We offer 85 maps including radars, satellites, the jet stream, surface maps, US temperatures, and even the UV Index!

We are your source for 24/7 Weather Information! Have a great night.

March 9, 2005 - A Change is Coming for Thursday

It was a warm afternoon today with highs climbing into the middle and upper 60s on the eastern plains. Mountain locations topped out in the 40s to near 50. We have a change in store for the day tomorrow as a cold front passes the state. Much like the day on Tuesday, we'll see windy conditions with rain or snow showers before going over to partly cloudy skies. The big story will be the cooler afternoon readings. Combined with the wind, you might just need a light jacket!

The 24/7 Weather Center is busy watching the forecast for the upcoming week. Things will become unsettled as early as late Saturday with much cooler weather and an ongoing chance for rain or snow showers.

On this date in 1992 we were digging out from a potent winter storm. Snow totals included 18" at Conifer, 13" at Boulder and Denver, 12" in Morrison and Brighton, and 10" in Aurora. Winds as high as 52 MPH drove visibilities down to 0, created power outages, and closed many roads, including I-70 east of Denver and I-25 both north and south of the city.

March 8, 2005 - Wild Morning In Denver

The jet stream passing over Colorado this morning met up with an approaching cold front to produce a brief shot of snow in the metro area between 9 and 11am. It was nice to see some flakes flying as dry as it has been lately. The main story was the intense winds and the dust kicked up from the recent dry conditions. Visibility was low making for some hazardous moments on the roadways.

Area gusts include 55 MPH at DIA, 48 MPH at JeffCO Airport, 41 MPH at Centennial Airport, 49 MPH at Fort Collins/Loveland Airport, and 46 MPH at Greeley. We have some great photos from our viewers on the weather page of theDENVERchannel.com in the weather news section.

Denver's official reporting station picked up .01" from the system, which was the first recorded precipitation in 3 weeks out at the airport!

March 7, 2005 - March Outlook

March is typically a month of transition across Colorado as the days grow longer and warmer air makes a return. Cold air can still make an appearance from time to time when arctic fronts drop south out of Canada. As these two air masses battle it out over Colorado in March, we can get some pretty dramatic weather.

Back on March 8, 1992, Denver topped out in the lower 50s with afternoon thunderstorms containing hail and tornadoes on the northeast plains. After the cold front raced across the area snows spread into the region, with a storm total of 12.4” at Stapleton. A similar situation occurred more recently in March 2003. On the 17th Denver topped out in the low 50s with a line of thunderstorms east of the city that produced a tornado near Bennett.

Cold air rushed in and turned the precipitation over to snow. As you may recall, we ended up with 31.8" in Denver over a 3 day period, with 5-8 feet in the foothills.

This year is rather quiet with a persistent ridge of high pressure anchored over the Rockies. The long range models do hint that this ridge will move out and put Colorado into a more favorable pattern for precipitation. We’re monitoring it closely for you here in the 24/7 Weather Center and will keep you ahead of any coming storms with the latest forecast information!

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