As Christmas approaches everyone reflects on the past and for longtime Denver residents that oftentimes means remembering one of the most significant winter storms in the Mile High City’s history – the Christmas Eve Blizzard of 1982.  This major winter storm has become the one by which all others are compared not only due to its record-setting impact but also due to its timing being near Christmas.

As Christmas 1982 approached, forecasters were predicting a white Christmas several days beforehand but most were expecting a moderate snowfall of 6 inches.  Two days before Christmas Eve though, the picture began to change.  On the 22nd a Pacific cold front came ashore in California bringing severe rain, high surf and even hurricane force winds.  As it moved east over higher terrain, it dumped 2 feet of snow in the Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City.

At about that same time, jet stream winds were forming a trough of low pressure over the southeastern plains of Colorado.  The counterclockwise motion of the trough began to pull moist air into the state.  Further east Kansas and Oklahoma experienced severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.  The winds set the stage for strong upslope conditions along the Front Range.

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• Do you remember the Christmas Eve Blizzard of ’82?  Leave a comment below with your memories
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Rain changed to snow on the plains and shortly before midnight on the 23rd, a full blown blizzard had developed.  Denver woke to snow on the ground the morning of Christmas Eve but the storm was just getting started.  Snowfall rates of 2 – 3 inches per hour were the norm during the day and winds screamed at 50mph causing wind chill temperatures to plummet to as low as -35 degrees.  As conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the day, the gravity of the situation began to be realized.

Stapleton International Airport was forced closed at 9:30am on the 24th and remained closed for 33 hours and only limited operations were possible for days following the storm.  Thousands of travelers were left stranded in the airport and forced to spend their white Christmas on the concourses of the facility.

Last minute Christmas shoppers quickly found themselves wishing they hadn’t procrastinated.  Malls and shopping centers became refugee centers as the city shut down and roads became impassible.  Mall workers were unable to go anywhere so the mall restaurants stayed open providing food for those who were stuck.  For the first time in history the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News were unable to publish their newspapers.

4 – 10 foot snowdrifts covered many areas of the city, built by the extreme winds and snow.  Every mode of transportation was paralyzed and every highway into and out of the city of Denver was closed.  Many residents who were caught in the storm had to rely on the kindness of strangers for shelter or braved the blizzard trying to make their way home on foot.

The snow totals for the storm were nothing short of incredible.  Golden Gate Canyon to the west of the city received 48 inches, Thornton 34 inches, Littleton 29 inches and Denver had 25 inches.  Denver’s 24 hour total was a record which still stands to this day.  Colorado’s bizarre weather can truly be seen also when looking at the snow total for Greeley – a mere 45 miles north of Denver – where only 1 inch of snow fell!

The aftermath of the storm took weeks to recover from and the toll was astounding.  Three people died as a direct result of the storm and there were many injuries from frostbite and falls.  Roofs collapsed across the city striking greenhouses especially hard whose damage alone was estimated at $5 million.  Fences and trees were downed and power outages were common.  The local economy took a tremendous hit as the second busiest shopping day of the year was a bust – it is estimated that area businesses lost $500 million in holiday sales.

The removal of that much snow proved to be a huge effort for residents and governments.  While children happily built snow forts and tunnels the adults labored for days digging out.

For Denver mayor Bill McNichols the storm proved to be disastrous to his re-election efforts the following May.  Millions of dollars was spent on snow removal but the city’s 45 snow plows simply were not capable of dealing with the sheer amount of snow.

A decision by McNichols to have trash trucks drive down the streets to compact the snow only added to the misery.  The compacted snow became riddled with “snow potholes” and ruts and was barely better than when buried under snow and residents were less than pleased.

To make matters worse, the misery of the storm was only prolonged by cold weather in late December and through January which left snow on the ground for 48 consecutive days – the third longest period on record.  The snow could easily have lasted longer except that perhaps mercifully, no significant snow fell for two months after the blizzard.

When the Denver mayoral elections came around the following May a young political new comer named Federico Pena defeated McNichols.  Voters indicated the response to the Christmas Eve Blizzard of ’82 was one of their biggest reasons for choosing a new mayor.

Leading up to the Christmas holidays of 2006 the weather was nothing extraordinary in the Mile High City – until the 20th of the month. Temperatures at the middle of the month had entered into the 60’s and Denver residents were enjoying the warmth.

A few short days later, that all changed in a big way. A slow moving low pressure system coupled with upslope flow and copious amounts of moisture provided the perfect setup for a historical winter storm whose effects would be felt for months. Snow began falling on the morning of the 20th and by the early afternoon blizzard conditions began to set in and it was obvious we were in for one heck of a storm.

• Scroll down to view images from this incredible storm
• If you have pics from this event, please share them with us to add to the slideshow. You can email them to info@thorntonweather.com or share them with us on our Facebook page.

Businesses shut down early on the afternoon of the 20th in order to allow their employees extra time to make it home safe but by then a foot or more of snow had fallen across the Front Range. The governor called out the Colorado National Guard to help rescue stranded motorists who were in turn transported to area Red Cross shelters to wait out the storm.

Heavy snow would continue nearly unabated for 34 hours. Strong winds added to the mess, creating monstrous snow drifts.

Every major interstate and highway in and out of Denver was shut down and RTD suspended all service in the city for the first time since 2003. Mail service on the 21st was canceled entirely as even the mail carriers couldn’t make their way to their appointed rounds. Most area businesses were forced to shut down on the 21st as employees couldn’t even make it out of their housing developments to get to work.

Air traffic at Denver International Airport was brought to a halt as our “all weather” airport shut down for 45 hours. Over 2000 flights were cancelled stranding over 5000 passengers in Denver and in other airports when flights were forced to divert to other locations.

Officially, Denver recorded 20.7 inches as measured at the old Stapleton International Airport site. That put the storm into the record books as the Mile High City’s seventh biggest snowstorm on record. The snow would linger as well with at least one inch of snow cover remaining on the ground until February 19, 2007, the second longest period of snow cover on record.

Other metro area totals for the event included:

• 34 inches near Buckley AFB
• 32 inches in Littleton
• 30 inches in Thornton
• 30 inches near Castle Rock
• 29.5 inches in Parker
• 28 inches in Wheat Ridge
• 25.5 inches at Centennial Airport
• 25 inches at Niwot
• 24 inches in Aurora
• 22.5 inches at Greenwood Village
• 22 inches in Arvada
• 21.5 inches in Lakewood
• 20 inches in Longmont
• 15.5 inches in Boulder

As we often experience, high winds in Colorado can cause conditions to deteriorate rapidly.  They present a very real danger to life and property, especially when coupled with other winter conditions like snow.

Why does it seem like we get so much wind in the winter?  What causes this?  How can you prepare and protect yourself and your property?

In this third in a series on winter weather preparedness from the National Weather Service, ThorntonWeather.com helps you understand why we receive so much wind and how to prepare for it.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOULDER CO
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
600 AM MDT WED OCT 19 2022

…WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS VISIT COLORADO DURING THE WINTER…

This week through October 22nd is Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Colorado.

The two main causes of high winds in Colorado during the cold season are the air pressure difference between strong low pressure and cold high pressure systems, and Chinook winds developing across the Front Range and other eastern mountain ranges.

A strong,  cold high pressure system moving from the north and setting up west of the Rockies can generate a damaging wind down the leeward slopes of the mountains, known as a bora.  These episodes feature widespread high winds from the west or northwest into the adjacent plains at speeds which can exceed 100 mph.  Much more rare are those episodes when low pressure is across the Rockies, and strong, cold high pressure is across the great plains.  The result is damaging winds from the east across the western slopes of mountain ranges and adjacent valleys.

Mid and upper level winds over Colorado are much stronger in the winter than in the warm season, because of the huge difference in temperature from north to south across North America. West winds, under certain conditions, can bring warm, dry chinook winds plowing down the slopes of the eastern mountains. These winds can exceed 100 mph in extreme cases, bringing the potential for widespread damage. Winds of 60 to near 100 mph will occur in and near the foothills in areas such as Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, Canon City, Westcliffe, Walsenburg and Trinidad areas. The areas around Boulder and Westcliffe are especially prone to these extreme wind episodes.

Dangers from high winds include flying debris, reduced visibility due to dust, damaged or destroyed structures, downed power lines, and overturned vehicles. The national weather service will issue a high wind watch when there is around a 50 percent chance for high winds to develop during the next day or two. When the threat becomes more certain in a specific area, a high wind warning will be issued. Cold strong winds can also bring dangerously low wind chill values, prompting a wind chill advisory or wind chill warning.

If high winds are forecast for your area, you should bring lightweight objects indoors, or tie them down outdoors, or move them so they do not become dangerous missiles. Any downed power lines should not be approached. Instead call the utility company. Stay clear from buildings under construction during high winds, as they can easily collapse. Traveling on north – south roads near the mountains along the Front Range during a high wind episode can also be dangerous. If you drive a lightweight or high profile vehicle, you may want to wait until the high winds die down.

The National Weather Service office in Boulder issues High Wind Warnings to highlight particularly strong wind episodes. A High Wind Warning is issued for the following conditions:

• In the mountains – Sustained winds of 50 mph or more, or gusts of at least 75 mph
• Lower elevations – Sustained winds of 40 mph or more, or gusts of at least 58 mph

Before hitting the road, Coloradans need to ensure that they and their vehicles are prepared should inclement weather strike.

ThorntonWeather.com presents the first in a series from the National Weather Service (NWS) as part of Winter Weather Preparedness Week has declared by Colorado’s Governor.  Check back throughout the week for more winter preparedness stories.

Today’s message from the NWS highlights the importance of having a proper emergency kit in your vehicle and should the worst-case scenario occur where you get stuck, what you should do to survive.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
601 AM MDT MON OCT 17 2022

Winter Travel Safety

Winter Weather Preparedness Week continues through Saturday October 23rd. Preparedness is a big part of this campaign. Before winter weather arrives in earnest, it is highly recommended that you prepare your car or truck for winter travel. This includes a winter survival kit and good snow tires.

Before winter weather arrives in earnest, it is highly recommended that you prepare your car or truck for winter travel.

A well-equipped vehicle has adequate tires, tire chains, tow rope, sand or cat litter for traction, shovel, tool kit, windshield scraper and brush, battery cables, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, blankets and/or sleeping bags, extra clothing, candles, waterproof matches, jug of water, high calorie packaged food for quick energy, and an empty can to melt snow for drinking.

And during winter weather events, the best way to prevent treacherous winter travel is to avoid it. This can be done by staying informed about current weather and road conditions as well as the latest weather forecasts. Information on road conditions in Colorado is available on the web at www.cotrip.org or from the toll free number 1-877-315-7623. When calling from anywhere in Colorado, dialing 511 will also access the Colorado road reports. Additionally, a free smartphone application, CDOT Mobile, is available.

If you should become stranded during a winter storm, stay with your vehicle and do not panic. If accompanied by others, take turns sleeping. Run the motor every hour for about ten minutes to maintain warmth, but keep windows open a little to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked. Keep the car visible with brightly colored cloths tied to the side view mirrors, door handles, or external antenna. At night, turn on the dome light when running the engine. Exercise periodically by vigorously moving arms, legs, toes and fingers.

In the mountains, avalanches become a possibility in the winter, especially below steep slopes. Avalanches occasionally come down across roads, with little or no warning. However, avalanche control work is performed on many avalanche prone roads in Colorado, making the roads safer to travel. Caution is advised when traveling along avalanche prone roads, especially during and shortly after a heavy snowstorm, as well as during periods of rapid snowmelt.

Very strong downslope winds occur at times mainly along the front range of Colorado. These Chinook and Bora winds can have gusts exceeding 100 mph. Persons planning travel in lightweight or high-profile vehicles should avoid travel during these strong wind events especially on north-south oriented roads.

Roads which appear to be clear in the wintertime may actually be coated with a thin layer of ice, commonly known as black ice. This nearly invisible ice layer can cause you to rapidly lose control of your vehicle. Black ice is most common during the nighttime hours. If you detect black ice you should reduce your speed.

Please follow these winter travel safety recommendations which could save your life.