ERA5 images from Fort Collins 12" snowstorms, 1979-2022

The links below each indicate a 12" snowstorm, defined as one or more consecutive days of measurable snowfall, at the Fort Collins weather station since 1979. In each directory are some basic maps from the ERA5 (ECMWF reanalysis) for these cases. The maps begin 4 days prior to the start of the snowstorm, and continue for four days after that, with maps at 0000 and 1200 UTC. Select a case and check it out!

Listing of cases (in YYYYMMDD format, with the date shown here being the start of the event)

This event started on 19800326 and had a storm total snowfall of 32.26 cm, or 12.70 inches!

Select a level/field

Click or hover mouse over a date to see the map (dates are listed as YYMMDD_HH, so that 791116_00 indicates 0000 UTC 16 November 1979). Left arrow for previous frame, right arrow for next, space to pause/play; click to open image in new tab

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800322_00 800322_06 800322_12 800322_18 800323_00 800323_06 800323_12 800323_18 800324_00 800324_06 800324_12 800324_18 800325_00 800325_06 800325_12 800325_18 800326_00 800326_06 800326_12 800326_18 800327_00 800327_06 800327_12 800327_18 800328_00 800328_06 800328_12 800328_18 800329_00 800329_06 800329_12 800329_18 800330_00 800330_06 800330_12 800330_18

Do you want to make plots like these for your own cases of interest? Check out the code on Github.

Data obtained from the ECWMF Climate Data Store and plotted using tools from the Unidata Python training gallery.

DISCLAIMER: The images and data on this site are intended for meteorological education and research purposes and, although they should generally be up to date, are not monitored at all times. Do not use for making decisions where money or lives are at stake. For official forecasts and warnings, visit the National Weather Service.