We are far from finished with winter weather as is clearly shown in our look back at this week in Denver weather history.  There are many occurrences of snowstorms wreaking havoc in the Mile High City.  One such notable event was just five years ago when 1 to 2.5 feet of snow was dumped on the Front Range.

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In 1959…snow falling over a 5-day period totaled 20 to 30 inches just east of the mountains…while over the plains blizzard conditions closed schools and blocked highways. The second big storm in two weeks dumped 16.4 inches of snowfall on Stapleton Airport with the most…11.6 inches… Occurring on the 8th.  East winds gusted to 37 mph on the 9th.  Temperatures dipped into the single digits on the mornings of the 7th and 12th when 7 degrees were registered.  Low temperature records for the dates were set on the 9th…10th…and 12th.  The cold temperatures caused streets to glaze with ice…resulting in the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car in Denver.  Three people died from heart attacks while shoveling the heavy… Wet snow.

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In 1951…heavy snowfall totaled 9.4 inches at Stapleton Airport.  The storm was accompanied by strong northeast winds gusting to 43 mph.
 
In 1953…heavy snowfall occurred at Stapleton Airport where 7.9 inches of snow were measured.  North winds gusted to 29 mph.
 
In 1994…6 to 14 inches of heavy snow buried much of eastern Colorado…closing many schools and I-70 from east of Denver to the Kansas border.  Rain changed to snow on the 9th…and snow continued through the 11th.  Snowfall totaled 5.7 inches at Stapleton International Airport…but maximum snow depth on the ground was only 3 inches on the 10th due to melting.  East winds gusted to 26 mph on the 9th.
 
In 1995…a major spring storm dumped 8 to 16 inches of snow in the foothills west of Denver.  Snowfall totaled 8.3 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport…but most of the snow melted as it fell with the maximum snow depth on the ground of only 2 inches.  Five-to 6-inch snow accumulations occurred over southern portions of metro Denver and eastward onto the plains.  Northeast winds gusted to 36 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th.  I-70 was closed for several hours east of Watkins to the Kansas border due to drifting snow and near whiteout conditions.  High temperature of only 29 degrees on the 10th was a record low maximum for the date.

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In 1901…rain changed to snow and totaled 10.8 inches in downtown Denver over the 4 days.  Northeast winds were sustained to 28 mph with gusts to 31 mph on the 11th. Temperatures hovered in the 30’s.

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In 1979…a heavy snow storm produced near-blizzard conditions across eastern Colorado with 10 to 20 inches in the foothills and 4 to 8 inches over the plains.  Winds to 35 mph combined with the snow to produce drifts at least 3 feet deep…closing many roads and causing power outages. Travel was interrupted south of Denver when the storm closed both I-25 and State Highway 83.  Snowfall totaled only 3.8 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted 37 mph…causing some blowing snow on the 11th.
 
In 2001…a potent spring storm dumped heavy snow over metro Denver and the adjacent foothills…while a blizzard roared across the plains to the east of Denver.  Snowfall amounts ranged up to a foot and a half across metro Denver and in the foothills.  North to northwest winds at sustained speeds of 40 to 50 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph piled the snow into drifts of 3 to 6 feet deep.  I-25 southbound was closed at lincoln avenue.  I-70 to the east was closed at gun club road.  The combination of heavy wet snow and damaging winds resulted in widespread electrical outages. Denver International Airport was completely shut down for the first time in its brief 6-year history.  Power surges and outages crippled the airport’s massive computer systems. The airport was closed at 5:00 am and did not re-open until mid-afternoon on the 11th.  The power outages resulted in businesses and schools closing.  Over all of northeastern Colorado…there were 220 thousand customers without power… The worst outage in Xcel energy’s history.  Repairs totaled 1.6 million dollars.  Across metro Denver…snow totals included:  18 inches in southeast Aurora…16 inches at centennial airport and Parker…14 inches at Broomfield… 13 inches in Louisville…12 inches at Lakewood and Morrison… 11 inches at Ken Caryl and Thornton…10 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport and in Wheat Ridge…9 inches in Westminster…and 8 inches in Littleton. Thunderstorms preceded the start of the snow on the afternoon of the 10th and were embedded in the snow storm during the early morning hours of the 11th at Denver International Airport where northwest winds gusted to 60 mph on the 11th.  Snow storm totals in the foothills included:  17 inches at Genesee…16 inches at Rollinsville… 14 inches at Intercanyon…13 inches in Coal Creek Canyon and near Evergreen…11 inches at Aspen Springs and Chief Hosa…10 inches at Blackhawk…and 9 inches atop Crow Hill.
 
In 2005…a strong spring storm produced blizzard conditions in areas to the east of Denver and south of I-76 and near- blizzard conditions across metro Denver.  The combination of heavy snow and strong winds forced the closure of Denver International Airport…stranding thousands of travelers. Long stretches of I-25…I-70…and I-76 were also closed due to extensive blowing and drifting snow.  Snow amounts ranged from 1 to 2.5 feet in and near the eastern foothills and over the Palmer Divide.  Drifts were 2 to 5 feet in depth.  Downed power lines caused scattered electrical outages.  Storm total snowfall amounts in and near the foothills included:  31 inches near Conifer; 27.5 inches in Aspen Springs; 25.5 inches near Sedalia and Blackhawk; 25 inches near Bergen Park and around Genesee; 24.5 inches at Pine Junction and Roxborough park; 24 inches southwest of Boulder; 23.5 inches at Ken Caryl; 23 inches atop Crow Hill and near Larkspur…Evergreen…and Nederland; 21 inches at Eldora Ski Area; 18 inches at Eldorado Springs and near Castle Rock; 17 inches near Chatfield Reservoir and Perry Park; and 16 inches near Jamestown.  Across the city storm total snow amounts were:  22.5 inches in Aurora; 22 inches at Bennett; 20 inches near Arapahoe park and in centennial… Littleton…and south Denver; 17.5 inches near Bennett; 16 inches in Thornton; 15 inches in Lakewood; 14.5 inches in wheat ridge and near Englewood; 14 inches at Lone Rree and in Arvada; and 9.9 inches at Denver Stapleton.  North winds were sustained from 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 46 mph at Denver International Airport on the 10th.

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In 1997…a pacific storm produced heavy snow on the 10th and the 11th in and near the foothills with 6 to 8 inches at Louisville and turkey creek canyon…5 inches at Morrison… And only 3.5 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  Northeast winds gusted to 24 mph at Denver International Airport.  The storm also brought unseasonably cold weather with 5 new temperature records equaled or broken.  Record low temperatures of 8 and 6 occurred on the 11th and 12th.  Record low maximum temperatures of 20…19…and 30 occurred on the 10th…11th… And 12th respectively.  This was also only the second time on record that the temperature had failed to reach the freezing mark for 3 consecutive days in April.

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In 1927…post-frontal rain on the 10th changed to snow on the 11th and continued through the 14th.  Snowfall totaled 8.5 inches from precipitation of 1.28 inches.  North winds were sustained to 26 mph with gusts to 29 mph on the 13th.

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In 1954…strong and gusty southeast winds blew all day. Winds as high as 30 mph with gusts to 50 mph produced some blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1966…a tornado was sighted in an open area of southeast Denver.  Slight wind damage in the area was not directly attributable to the tornado.  Later in the day…a pilot reported a funnel cloud 10 miles southwest of Denver. Hail to 1/2 inch in diameter fell at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1984…strong Chinook winds gusted to 72 mph at Rocky Flats south of Boulder; speeds reached 70 mph in both Lakewood and Boulder.  At Stapleton International Airport… Northwest wind gusts to 52 mph were recorded.
 
In 2004…an afternoon cold front produced north winds sustained to 36 mph with gusts to 53 mph at Denver International Airport.  Light snowfall was 1.1 inches at Denver Stapleton through the evening.

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In 1876…heavy snow began during the late afternoon of the 11th and continued through the night.  Light snow ended around mid-morning of the 12th.  The amount of snow was not measured…but precipitation totaled 0.70 inch…which would be around 7 inches of estimated snowfall.  Strong winds accompanied the heavy snowfall.
 
In 1896…post-frontal light rain changed to light snow overnight…but totaled only a trace.  Northeast winds were sustained to 45 mph with gusts as high as 62 mph on the 12th.
 
In 1991…a strong pacific storm dumped heavy snow across metro Denver with amounts of 6 to 15 inches at lower elevations and up to almost 2 feet in the foothills west of Denver.  Snowfall reports included:  21 inches at Idaho Springs…19 inches at Aspen Springs…15 inches in Arvada… 14 inches at Rollinsville…10 inches in Boulder…8 inches in Aurora…and 7.3 inches at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 24 mph on the 11th.

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In 1906…north winds were sustained to 52 mph in the city.
 
In 1916…post-frontal north winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 42 mph.  Light rain also occurred.
 
In 1964…strong gusty winds raked metro Denver.  Wind gusts estimated to 60 mph or higher caused widespread damage to buildings and power lines.  Blowing dust closed some roads. A wind gust to 46 mph was recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1967…microburst winds gusted to 51 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1982…wind gusts to 60 mph were reported in and near the foothills.  Wind gusts to 44 mph were recorded at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1987…snow fell over metro Denver…causing traffic tie-ups on the roads and at Stapleton International Airport where some flights were delayed for 90 minutes.  I-25 south of Denver was closed for a time due to numerous traffic accidents.  While only 4.2 inches of snow fell in Denver… Foothills to the southwest received 6 to 12 inches of snow. North winds gusted to 33 mph at Stapleton International Airport where the maximum snow depth on the ground was only 2 inches due to melting.

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In 1922…post-frontal rain changed to heavy snow…which totaled 7.0 inches in downtown Denver.  This was the second snow in 3 days.  North winds were sustained to 29 mph with gusts to 31 mph on the 12th.
 
In 1993…heavy snow occurred in the foothills northwest of Denver with 21 inches recorded at the Eldora Ski Area. Only 1.9 inches of snow fell at Stapleton International Airport where northeast winds gusted to 32 mph on the 13th. Most of the precipitation from the storm fell as rain across the city with 0.62 inch of precipitation measured at Stapleton International Airport.

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In 1933…heavy snowfall of 5.6 inches occurred in downtown Denver on the 12th and 13th behind a vigorous cold front… Which presented an awe-inspiring spectacle as it approached the station during the late afternoon of the 12th.  Brilliant white wind-torn cumulus clouds were sandwiched by a brownish- tan dust cloud at the surface and dark blue cumulus clouds above.  The dust cloud storm rapidly enveloped the station with northeast winds sustained to 38 mph and gusts to 44 mph producing much blowing dust…which was accompanied by rapidly falling temperatures and rising pressure.  Moist snowfall started in about an hour and continued to midday on the 13th. Record low temperatures of 17 and 15 degrees occurred on the 13th and 14th respectively.  The high temperature of only 27 degrees on the 13th was a record low maximum for the date.

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In 1927…snowfall totaled 8.5 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow fell on the 14th.  Northwest winds were sustained to 27 mph during the storm.

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In 1873…heavy snow started with fresh and brisk north winds around 9:00 am…and continued heavy until 2:00 pm and lightly until 7:00 pm.  Temperatures were below freezing for most of the day…but the snow melted almost as fast as it fell.  Precipitation from the melted snow totaled 0.70 inches.  This would be around 7.0 inches of estimated snowfall.
 
In 1912…a severe wind and dust storm struck the city. West winds were sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 42 mph.
 
In 1967…a late season snow storm affected areas along the eastern foothills from Denver south.  Snowfall between 2 and 3 feet closed I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. In Denver…snowfall was only 3.6 inches…but precipitation from the storm totaled 3.25 inches…the greatest 24-hour precipitation ever recorded during the month of April. North winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport.  Temperatures across the city were in the 30’s most of the day.
 
In 1974…a major spring snow storm dumped 8.5 inches of heavy wet snow at Stapleton International Airport where north wind gusts to 38 mph produced some blowing snow.  The storm caused minor damage to public utilities.
 
In 1986…strong winds howled across metro Denver.  Boulder reported a peak gust of 79 mph.  Wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph were common across all of metro Denver.  There were power outages.  The wind toppled a brick wall under construction in Arvada…and also damaged luxury sky boxes under construction atop mile high stadium in Denver.  Road signs in Arvada were damaged.  West winds gusted to 56 mph at Stapleton International Airport.

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In 1968…high winds struck Boulder.  Sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts as high as 102 mph were recorded at the National Center for Atmospheric Research…while in downtown Boulder winds peaked to 73 mph.  The winds damaged a building under construction and some homes in south Boulder.  Northwest winds gusted to 35 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 13th.
 
In 1996…a potent spring storm strengthened just east of Denver.  Blizzard conditions developed over eastern Adams and eastern Arapahoe counties.  Strong northerly winds ranging from 25 to 50 mph…cold temperatures…and heavy snowfall combined to create very hazardous conditions. The strong winds whipped snow in drifts 3 to 4 feet high. High winds and heavy wet snow downed power lines and caused traffic accidents.  Some roads were closed. Snowfall totaled 15 inches at Strasburg…while only 2.1 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  North winds gusted to 40 mph at Denver International Airport on the 13th.

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In 1945…heavy snowfall totaled 9.8 inches in downtown Denver.  Most of the snow…4.8 inches…fell on the 14th. Snow fell for a total of 53 consecutive hours.  This was the second big snow in less than 2 weeks.  The air mass was very cold for April.  High temperatures of 21 degrees on the 14th and 32 degrees on the 15th were record low maximums for the those dates.

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In 2001…a huge dust storm over southern and inner Mongolia during April 3rd through the 6th lifted desert dust into the jet stream.  This dust cloud moved over metro Denver on the 13th and persisted through the 17th.  The cloud created widespread haze…giving the sky a milkish cast due to the scattering of incoming solar radiation.

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In 1872…high winds damaged buildings in the city.  At 9:00 am west winds commenced to blow a perfect gale… Averaging 40 mph sustained until 9:00 pm.
 
In 1904…west winds sustained to 40 mph with gusts to 48 mph warmed the temperature to a high of 74 degrees.
 
In 1918…a thunderstorm produced hail that covered the ground to a depth of 1/2 inch.  The stones varied in size from small shot to a cherry stone.  Rain and melted hail totaled 0.70 inch.  There was no reported damage.
 
In 1935…northeast winds sustained to 30 mph caused a dust storm across the city.  The visibility was greatly reduced by blowing dense dust.
 
In 1970…strong winds caused mostly light but widespread damage to trees…roofs…power lines…and other property across the northeastern Colorado plains.  Wind gusts of 45 to 60 mph were common.  Southwest wind gusts to 44 mph occurred at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 1995…high winds spread from the foothills onto the plains.  West winds gusted between 70 and 90 mph in the foothills and 50 to 70 mph on the plains.  West winds were clocked to 51 mph at Denver International Airport.  Most of the significant wind damage occurred north and east of metro Denver.

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In 1873…north winds blew a gale during the afternoon on both days.  Winds were brisk throughout each day.
 
In 1902…snowfall totaled 6.0 inches in downtown Denver. Most of the snow melted as it fell.  Northeast winds were sustained to 20 mph.
 
In 1910…strong winds occurred on both days.  Northeast winds were sustained to 52 mph on the 14th.  North winds were sustained to 44 mph on the 15th.
 
In 1921…heavy snowfall and strong winds produced near- blizzard conditions in the city.  Snowfall totaled 10.0 inches.  Strong north winds sustained to 48 mph with gusts to 54 mph on the 15th produced drifts to several feet in depth.  The heavy wet snow caused extensive damage to trees…utility poles…and buildings.  Precipitation from the storm was 1.73 inches.  Very heavy snow also fell in the foothills.  At Silver Lake…in the mountains west of Boulder…95 inches of snow fell in 32.5 hours on the 14th and 15th.
 
In 1935…dense dust…apparently behind a dry cold front… Enveloped the city at 1:00 pm on the 14th and persisted through the night.  The dust blew into the city on northeast winds sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 32 mph. By mid-morning on the 15th…the dust had become light and continued as such into the evening.  North winds were sustained to only 13 mph on the 15th.
 
In 1999…a spring storm dumped heavy snow over portions of metro Denver.  Nearly 2 feet of snow fell in the foothills with half a foot to a foot over western and southern suburbs.  The heavy snow alleviated drought conditions and associated high fire danger that prevailed during much of the winter season.  Snowfall totals included:  22 inches in Coal Creek Canyon…20 inches at Wondervu…19 inches at Genesee…17 inches near Evergreen and Nederland and at Idaho Springs and Tiny Town…14 inches at Georgetown…13 inches at Morrison…10 inches near Sedalia…9 inches in south Boulder… 8 inches at Highlands Ranch and Wheat Ridge…and 7 inches at Littleton and Parker.  Only 3.4 inches of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  North- northwest winds gusted to 41 mph on the 15th at Denver International Airport.

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In 1874…light snow developed around daybreak and became moderate to heavy by mid-morning and continued into the early evening.  While most of the snow melted as it fell… Total precipitation from the melted snow was 0.95 inch. This would make the estimated snowfall nearly 10 inches.
 
In 1963…high winds were widespread across metro Denver. West winds gusted to 63 mph in Denver at Stapleton Airport with sustained winds of 35 mph and gusts to 70 mph in downtown Boulder.  The winds caused extensive damage to buildings and other property.  Visibility was briefly reduced to 1/2 mile in blowing dust at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 1998…another spring storm brought heavy snow to the foothills.  Thirty to 40 vehicles were involved in accidents along I-70 near Georgetown.  The combination of poor visibilities…slick roads…and careless drivers led to the multi-car pileups.  Only minor injuries were reported.  The accidents forced the closure of all of I-70’s eastbound lanes.  Snowfall totals included 12 inches at Genesee and 10 inches at Aspen Springs…Chief Hosa…Georgetown…near Morrison…and on north turkey creek.  Only 0.1 inch of snow fell at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  East winds gusted to 30 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 2002…unseasonable warm weather resulted in two records being broken.  The high temperature of 84 degrees was a record maximum for the date.  The low temperature of 57 degrees was a record high minimum for the date.

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In 1900…heavy rainfall totaled 2.33 inches.  A trace of snow was mixed with the rain at times.
 
In 1950…thunderstorms and heavy rain behind a cold front produced 2.13 inches of rain in 24 hours at Stapleton Airport.
 
In 2003…a fast moving pacific storm system moved across Colorado allowing strong winds to develop over the eastern foothills and metro Denver.  Northwest winds gusted to 59 mph at Denver International Airport late in the evening of the 15th.

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In 1922…heavy snowfall totaled 9.0 inches in downtown Denver.  Most of the snow…6.0 inches…fell on the 16th. This was the third major snow storm in a week.  Northwest winds were sustained to 43 mph with gusts to 47 mph on the 15th.

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In 1960…a wind storm struck all of metro Denver.  Estimated wind gusts up to 80 mph were registered in Boulder.  At Stapleton Airport sustained west-northwest winds over 50 mph with gusts as high as 70 mph produced some blowing dust.  The high winds damaged buildings…power and telephone lines…and signs.  Five people were injured in metro Denver as a result of the wind storm.  Blowing dust reduced visibility at times.  The winds were strong and gusty for most of the day.

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In 1944…heavy snowfall totaled 7.5 inches in downtown Denver.  Northwest winds were sustained to 18 mph on the 16th.

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In 1889…northwest winds were sustained to 48 mph.
 
In 1899…apparent post-frontal north winds were sustained to 42 mph with gusts as high as 48 mph.
 
In 1935…light dust moved over the city behind an apparent dry cold front…which produced northeast winds to 19 mph with gusts to 20 mph.
 
In 1978…winds estimated to 70 mph occurred in Morrison. Northwest winds gusted to 49 mph at Stapleton International Airport.
 
In 2000…strong pre-frontal winds and widely scattered thunderstorms caused high winds to develop across northern metro Denver and portions of the northeast plains.  Peak wind gusts included 75 mph at Louisville.  South winds gusted to only 28 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 2002…strong southwest winds in advance of a cold front gusted to 52 mph at Denver International Airport.
 
In 2003…severe thunderstorms produced 1 inch diameter hail 7 miles east of Brighton.  Strong thunderstorm winds blew out an auto windshield near Denver International Airport where south winds gusted to 48 mph.

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In 1878…the wind blew violently all day on the 17th with a maximum sustained velocity of 40 mph.  Dust hung over the city like a cloud.  The relative humidity was zero nearly all day.  A terrific gale blew overnight.  There was much damage to buildings…signs…fences…etc.  Some wind gusts were so strong as to jar buildings to their foundations.  The station anemometer recorded sustained winds to 50 mph with higher gusts before it was damaged by the winds.  The winds moderated during the day on the 18th and ended at sunset.
 
In 1894…post-frontal rain changed to snow on the 17th around sunrise and continued through 9:00 am on the 18th. Snowfall totaled 10.5 inches…but most of the snow melted as it fell.  The high temperature warmed to only 35 degrees on the 17th after a high of 76 on the 16th.  Northeast winds were sustained to 30 mph with gusts to 32 mph on the 17th.
 
In 1998…more spring snow fell across metro Denver and in the foothills.  Snowfall totals included:  11 inches at Golden Gate Canyon; 10 inches at Highlands Ranch; 9 inches at Elizabeth; 8 inches at Broomfield and Morrison; and 7 inches at Chief Hosa…Evergreen…Littleton…and Sedalia. Snowfall totaled only 3.2 inches at the site of the former Stapleton International Airport.  North winds gusted to 22 mph at Denver International Airport.

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In 1920…snow fell across the city continuously for 57 hours… From the early morning of the 17th until 11:40 am on the 19th.  The heavy wet snowfall totaled 18.2 inches with the greatest accumulation on the ground of 12 inches.  Winds during the storm were strong with sustained speeds in excess of 27 mph for over 40 consecutive hours…which created near-blizzard conditions.  The highest recorded wind speeds were 44 mph with gusts to 50 mph from the north on the 17th and 39 mph with gusts to 48 mph from the northwest on the 18th.  The strong winds piled the snow into high drifts which stopped all Denver traffic. Railroads were blocked with only one train entering the city on the 19th.  All interurban trains were blocked…as were the 13 trolley lines.  Thus…many workers were unable to get home at night and filled all of the downtown hotels to capacity.  No grocery or fuel deliveries were possible… Except milk and coal to hospitals and to families with babies.  No lives were lost in the city…but several people perished in surrounding districts.  Stock losses were heavy on the plains.  Temperatures during the storm were in the 20’s.