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 19830403 and had a storm total snowfall of 54.36 cm, or 21.40 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

Slow Fast Fit window Full size

830330_00 830330_06 830330_12 830330_18 830331_00 830331_06 830331_12 830331_18 830401_00 830401_06 830401_12 830401_18 830402_00 830402_06 830402_12 830402_18 830403_00 830403_06 830403_12 830403_18 830404_00 830404_06 830404_12 830404_18 830405_00 830405_06 830405_12 830405_18 830406_00 830406_06 830406_12 830406_18 830407_00 830407_06 830407_12 830407_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.