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 20061220 and had a storm total snowfall of 50.55 cm, or 19.90 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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061216_00 061216_06 061216_12 061216_18 061217_00 061217_06 061217_12 061217_18 061218_00 061218_06 061218_12 061218_18 061219_00 061219_06 061219_12 061219_18 061220_00 061220_06 061220_12 061220_18 061221_00 061221_06 061221_12 061221_18 061222_00 061222_06 061222_12 061222_18 061223_00 061223_06 061223_12 061223_18 061224_00 061224_06 061224_12 061224_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.