Colorado Extreme Snowstorm Comparison

 

This table is a compilation of storm reports from official National Weather Service weather stations (1913 and 2003) and supplemental volunteer observers (2003 only).

County Max Snow March 17-19, 2003 Max Snow Dec. 1-5, 1913 or other
Adams  Up to 28" in West portion of county - water content up to 4.5" 

26-36" snowfall with up to 4" water content

 
Arapahoe 36" or more in west portion of county with 4.5 - 6" of water content

No actual data, but estimates show 30-50" snowfall, with 4-5” water content

 
Boulder  14-24" in Boulder and Longmont; 36-60" in mountains and foothills with 3" water content in Longmont - 4.5" water content in Boulder, and 4-7"+ water content in foothills

44" in Boulder, with 3.54" water content; 26" in Longmont with 4.05" water content; and up to 84" in foothills and mountains with up to 6.6" water content

 
Broomfield    25 - 35" snowfall with 4-5" water content 

No data available, probably more snowfall in 1913, but similar water content
Clear Creek 50-70" snowfall and reports of 5-7" water content      

Up to 86" snowfall and up to 6" water content

 
Custer  30-80" snowfall with 3-6" water content

Up to 60" snowfall and up to 5" water content

 
Denver  24-36" snowfall with 3.8-5.5" water content   

46" snowfall with 4.2" water content
Douglas  24-48" snowfall and 4-6" water content 

40"+ and 4.5" water content
Elbert 24-40" snowfall, western half of county with 3-5" water content 

Little data available, but likely up to 40" snowfall and up to 5" water content
El Paso  30-40" Monument/Black Forest with

less elsewhere, and up to  2-5" water content

 Up to 50" and 5" water content
Fremont Up to 33" snowfall  

More than 28" and more than 3" water content
Gilpin 40-70" with 4-7" water content     

No data available, butlikely up to 65" snowfall and 6" water content
Grand Up to 65" in east Grand County and up to 5" water content

Little data available. Fraser had 37" snowfall,  Grand Lake 46" snow, more than 3.7" water in east Grand County
Huerfano 20-45" snowfall  2-5" water content No data available 
Jackson Up to 40" eastern Jackson County No data available
Jefferson From 26” in NE corner to 72" near Evergreen, Genesee, and Conifer. Up to 7"+ water content near Conifer

Little foothills data, but at least 59" of snow with up to 6" of water content

 
Larimer  32" in Fort Collins with 5.3" water content. Up to 60" in foothills and mountains with up to 6" water content

At least 36" in Fort Collins  with 3.84" water content and at least 62" in mountains with 5" water content
Las Animas 8 - 24" snowfall  

At least 42" snow and at least 3.86" water content
Lincoln  Not too much  At least 20" snow and 5" water content
Park  30-46 near Jeffco county line -  much less elsewhere with up to 4" water content 

At least 33" snowfall and maybe 3" water content by Jeffco line
Summit Up to 28" near Breckenridge more above Keystone

Up to 26" snow at Dillon (several other storms have been greater)
Teller  24-36" snow  At least 40" of snow
Weld Up to 24" SW Weld County with much drifting. Up to 4" water content with less in other parts of county

33" at Greeley with 4.76" water content

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In summary, the storm of 1913 was larger in area and dropped more total precipitation in Colorado than the March 17-19, 2003 storm, but as this table shows, the 2003 storm equaled or exceeded the remarkable 1913 storm, at least in terms of water content, in portions of several counties including Larimer, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, Douglas, Custer and a few other counties.