Peetz, Colorado

... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 PM MST
Thursday...

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 5 PM MST Thursday.

* Timing... areas of dense fog and freezing drizzle will give way
to more widespread snow early this morning. Periods of snow will
continue through tonight and then taper off Thursday morning.

* Accumulation/wind... snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches are
expected. North winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph will
increase to 20 to 35 mph tonight and Thursday... with gusts up to
45 mph by Thursday morning.

* Main impact... areas of dense fog and freezing drizzle may result
in icy roads this morning. Snow and blowing snow will cause
restricted visibilities later today through tonight and
Thursday. Roads and highways are expected to become snow covered
with hazardous and slow travel conditions... and Road closures
are possible tonight and Thursday.

* Other impacts... much colder temperatures will combine with the
strong winds to drop wind chill readings into the 5 to 15 below
zero range.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

People planning travel across the northeast plains of Colorado
should be prepared for hazardous driving conditions and possible
Road closures. Visibilities will be reduced to less than a quarter
mile at times due to falling and blowing snow. If you must
travel... take along a winter survival kit.

... Today in Metro Denver weather history...

17-24 in 1924... a prolonged cold spell occurred after mild
        temperatures during the first half of the month. Most
        low temperatures dipped below zero with the coldest
        reading of 15 degrees below zero occurring on the 24th.
        The high temperature of only 5 degrees on the 18th was
        a record low maximum for the date.
18-24 in 1998... a vigorous cold front with north winds gusting as
        high as 38 mph at Denver International Airport on the 18th
        dropped temperatures from a high of 51 degrees to a low of
        just 6 degrees before midnight. The Arctic air mass that
        settled over Metro Denver produced intermittent light snow
        and a week-long protracted cold spell that caused low
        temperatures to plunge well below zero for 6 consecutive
        nights. The coldest temperature was 19 degrees below zero
        on the morning of the 22nd. High temperatures climbed only
        into the single digits on 4 consecutive days... from the 19th
        through the 22nd. At least 15 people... mostly homeless...
        were treated for hypothermia at area hospitals. The bitter
        cold weather was responsible... either directly or indirectly...
        for at least 5 fatalities. Three of the victims died
        directly from exposure. The cold weather also caused
        intermittent power outages. Following the cold snap...
        thawing water pipes cracked and burst in several homes and
        businesses... causing extensive damage. Only one temperature
        record was set. The high temperature of only 7 degrees on
        the 19th set a record low maximum for the date.
19-23 in 1990... a surge of very cold Arctic air invaded Metro
        Denver. Many temperature records were broken as the
        Mercury remained at or below zero for 85.5 hours at
        Stapleton International Airport... making it the third
        longest period of subzero readings in 118 years of record
        keeping. On the morning of the 22nd... the Mercury plunged
        to 25 degrees below zero... which equaled the all time record
        low temperature for the month set on December 24... 1876.
        In the foothills southwest of Denver at Tiny Town... the
        Mercury plunged to 33 degrees below zero on the morning
        of the 21st. On the same morning at Castle Rock the
        temperature dipped to 26 degrees below zero. During
        the period... other daily temperature records were set at
        Denver... including: record low maximum of 3 degrees below
        zero on the 20th and a record low of 17 degrees below zero
        on the 23rd. The record low was equaled with 16 degrees
        below zero on the 20th and 21 degrees below zero on the
        21st. Snowfall totaled 2.7 inches at Stapleton
        International Airport from the 19th through the 21st.
20-23 in 1918... light snowfall on each day totaled 12.0 inches
        over downtown Denver. Northeast winds were sustained
        to 16 mph on the 21st.
20-25 in 1983... an extremely bitter cold spell occurred. The
        temperature remained below zero for 115 hours in Denver...
        the longest sub-zero period on record. The Mercury dipped
        to 21 degrees below zero on the 21st... the coldest recorded
        temperature in over 20 years. The cold was accompanied
        by winds that plunged chill factors to 50 to 70 degrees
        below zero. Two people froze to death in denver; both
        were found outside dead of exposure. Numerous cases of
        frostbite were reported. Hundreds of water pipes broke
        from the intense cold... water mains and natural gas lines
        also fractured... and electricity consumption reached record
        levels. Light snow totaling 5.8 inches fell at times... and
        Holiday traffic was delayed at Stapleton International
        Airport for several hours. Eight daily temperature records
        were set at the time. The all-time record low maximum
        temperature for the month of 8 degrees below zero on the
        21st still stands today. Other temperature records still
        standing include record low maximum temperatures of 5
        degrees below zero on both the 22nd and 23rd and 4 degrees
        below zero on the 24th.
21-23 in 1924... heavy snowfall totaled 7.9 inches over downtown
        Denver. During the storm north to northeast winds were
        sustained to 21 mph. Temperatures were quite cold... ranging
        from a high of 24 degrees on the 21st to a low of 5 degrees
        below zero on the 23rd.
      In 1964... high winds were recorded along the eastern
        foothills. A wind gust to 100 mph was registered at
        Jefferson County Airport near Broomfield. In Boulder...
        where many thousands of dollars in damage occurred... warm
        Chinook winds gusted in excess of 45 mph downtown. A wind
        gust to 82 mph was recorded at the National center for
        atmospheric research in Boulder. Heavy damage to power
        lines... homes... and roads was reported at Evergreen... Golden...
        and Boulder. Several people were injured by wind-caused
        accidents. West winds gusted to 53 mph on the 22nd and
        to 51 mph on the 23rd at Stapleton International Airport
        where some blowing dust occurred. The Chinook winds warmed
        temperatures in Denver to highs of 68 degrees on the 22nd
        and 71 degrees on the 23rd.
22-23 in 1926... snow was heavy and totaled 6.7 inches in downtown
        Denver. Northeast winds were sustained to 17 mph with
        gusts to 18 mph on the 23rd.
      In 1979... heavy snow blanketed Metro Denver. Total snowfall
        at Stapleton International Airport was 6.9 inches... and north
        winds gusted to 20 mph. Most of the snow... 5.7 inches... fell
        on the 22nd.
      In 1984... strong Chinook winds howled along the Front Range
        foothills. At Table Mesa in southwest Boulder... gusts
        reached 108 mph on the morning of the 23rd. Gusts to 79
        mph were clocked in Golden Gate Canyon. Gusts to 94 mph
        were reported in east Boulder. The winds flattened a two
        floor cinder block building under construction in Boulder...
        causing 75 thousand dollars damage. Flying debris from the
        building slightly injured a policeman. A chain link
        fence was blown down. Dozens of windows and roofs were
        damaged in Boulder... along with Mobile homes and cars.
        Numerous trees and power lines were downed. A giant
        plastic bubble dome was blown apart and collapsed... causing
        at least 100 thousand dollars damage. West winds gusted
        to 41 mph at Stapleton International Airport on the 23rd.
23 in 1915... apparent bora winds were sustained to 46 mph with
        gusts to 58 mph. Snowfall was only 0.8 inch in the city.
      In 1955... west-northwest winds gusted to 55 mph at Stapleton
        Airport. The downslope winds kept the low temperature
        from dipping below 50 degrees... the record highest minimum
        for the month.
      In 1969... a strong wind gust did 4 thousand dollars in damage
        just west of Broomfield. Minor injuries also occurred.
      In 1977... high winds occurred in Boulder with 90 mph recorded
        at several locations. A wind gust to 72 mph was reported
        at Lafayette. West winds gusted to 39 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 1989... high winds were reported in the foothills west of
        Denver. At Rollinsville... a wind gust to 90 mph was
        measured. Northwest winds gusted to 44 mph at Stapleton
        International Airport.
      In 2007... high winds developed in and near the Front Range
        foothills of Boulder and Jefferson counties. Peak
        gusts included: 89 mph at the National wind technology
        center; 88 mph atop Niwot ridge; 83 mph... 4 miles east-
        northeast of Bergen park; 80 mph... 3 miles southeast
        of Jamestown. At Denver International Airport... east of
        the surface trough... southeast winds gusted to 28 mph.
23-24 in 1907... winds nearly as strong as a hurricane raked Boulder
        and areas north of Denver... killing one person and injuring
        others. Property damage was minor.
      In 1973... a pre-Christmas blizzard... the second in 5 days...
        produced strong winds and dumped heavy snow across Metro
        Denver. Nearly a foot... 11.8 inches... of snow fell at
        Stapleton International Airport where north winds gusting
        from 30 to 40 mph produced much blowing snow. The strong
        winds whipped the snow into 2- to 4-foot drifts... closing
        many roads and airports. About 10 thousand people were
        stranded at Stapleton International Airport for up to 24
        hours.
      In 1978... wind gusts to 90 mph on the 23rd and 73 mph on the
        24th were recorded in Boulder. A townhouse under
        construction was severely damaged by the winds. At
        Stapleton International Airport... west winds gusted to
        37 mph on the 23rd and northwest winds gusted to 35 mph
        on the 24th.
      In 1987... a snowstorm assured a white Christmas for Metro
        Denver... where 4 to 8 inches fell. Amounts in the foothills
        ranged from 10 to 18 inches. Snowfall totaled 3.9 inches
        at Stapleton International Airport... where north winds gusted
        to 32 mph on the 23rd.