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 20130501 and had a storm total snowfall of 32.77 cm, or 12.90 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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130427_00 130427_06 130427_12 130427_18 130428_00 130428_06 130428_12 130428_18 130429_00 130429_06 130429_12 130429_18 130430_00 130430_06 130430_12 130430_18 130501_00 130501_06 130501_12 130501_18 130502_00 130502_06 130502_12 130502_18 130503_00 130503_06 130503_12 130503_18 130504_00 130504_06 130504_12 130504_18 130505_00 130505_06 130505_12 130505_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.