March is Colorado's snowiest month, and this year is no exception. 1-2 feet of snow fell across the densely populated Front Range and over 2 feet of snowfall in the foothills and mountains to the west and northwest. Parts of Wyoming, including Cheyenne, received 2-3 feet of snow, with the highest amount clocking in at 52.5 inches at Windy Peak, Wyoming.

Air and ground travel came to a standstill for a significant portion of the weekend, with major highways either completely closed or enforcing commercial vehicle bans. Denver International Airport ceased operations late Sunday due to blizzard conditions and remained closed well into Monday as crews worked to clear runways.

Forecast Verification

AccuWeather For Business clients received the first notice of this event on March 4 in our long-range Storm Potential Outlook (SPO) product. Late the following week, a portion of the Rockies and High Plains was highlighted for a potential major winter storm.

By Monday, March 8, still a full six days before the snow started to fall, a Storm Potential Notice (SPN) had been issued to our clients, calling for 12-24 inches of snow for the foothills and mountains just west of Denver.

The morning update to this SPN on Wednesday, March 10 included the addition of blizzard conditions to the forecast. “Blizzard conditions will develop Saturday afternoon across portions of the Nebraska Panhandle and northeast Colorado, expanding through the evening and overnight across much of eastern Colorado, western Nebraska, and into southern South Dakota Sunday. Winds up to 40 mph along with heavy snowfall at times will cause blowing and drifting snow and local whiteout conditions.”

A Blizzard Warning (meaning criteria of ¼ mile visibility and sustained winds of 35mph for over 3 hours would be met) was issued by the National Weather Service in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday, March 14 at 12:19 pm MDT, which included the area outlined on all AccuWeather products for the previous 4 days.

Advance Notice Matters

Dynamic storms like this can have a ripple effect and lasting impacts across numerous industries.

This storm occurred over the weekend, but many remote employees may have found themselves without power or the internet on Monday morning. Incorporating long-range products, as well as location-specific SkyGuard^® alerts into your operations is crucial for business continuity.

Key SkyGuard Service Benefits

• Site-specific products that offer earlier notice well before disruptive weather hits

• A team of expert meteorologists watching out for you and your assets, 24/7/365

• The ability to speak directly with a meteorologist who can help you make the best decisions prior to and/or during an impactful weather event

• A secure, customized weather portal and mobile companion app with real-time radar, storm reports, and warnings for your location

Call AccuWeather's experts immediately to learn more about how AccuWeather's SkyGuard Severe Weather Warnings can help your business be better prepared for severe weather.

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