December 1913 - The biggest blizzard ever known to hit Denver came on December 1, 1913, and it still serves as a benchmark for the Mile High City today. While it only lasted a few days, it hit during a time when weather forecasting was in its infancy, with only vague reports about even the following day’s weather. That meant residents were unprepared for the devastating heavy, wet snow that swept over Colorado and other western states. The storm left 45.7 inches of snow in its wake and remains the largest snowstorm every recorded in the city. (Pioneer's Museum)
Extreme and unpredictable weather is characteristic of Colorado in any season, but it can be particularly rough in winter. The state started recording weather data in 1871 and since then, there have been some seriously impressive snowstorms. Here 5 of the most epic snowstorms in the Centennial State’s history.
December 1913 – The biggest blizzard ever known to hit Denver came on December 1, 1913, and it still serves as a benchmark for the Mile High City today. While it only lasted a few days, it hit during a time when weather forecasting was in its infancy, with only vague reports about even the following day’s weather. That meant residents were unprepared for the devastating heavy, wet snow that swept over Colorado and other western states. The storm left 45.7 inches of snow in its wake and remains the largest snowstorm every recorded in the city. (Pioneer’s Museum)November 1946 – An early season storm enveloped the eastern plains, with many reporting three feet of snow or more. Denver got 30.4 inches during the second longest snowfall in the city’s history, 70 hours and 46 minutes. The streetcars, of course, couldn’t run, so the only thing that anyone could do was stay inside, or start tossing snowballs. (AP photo file)Mailman Robert Gallegos delivers mail amid piles of snow in Montbello after “The Blizzard of ‘82” hit the Mile High City on Christmas Eve. He remarked that he was between two and three hours behind schedule on his daily route. (Denver Post via AP)October 1997 – Denver International Airport had just opened when a snowstorm brought 21.9 inches of snow, and stranded 4,000 passengers. There was no hotel nearby at the time, so travelers were stuck having to sleep wherever they could, in uncomfortable seats or on the floor, using coats and jackets for blankets. (Jay Janner, The Gazette)March 2003 – The one that many Coloradans still talk about today and remember very well hit on March 17, 2003. Heavy snow fell for three days until a total of 31.8 inches hit Denver, and even more in some towns in the surrounding area – the foothills got as much as 82 inches.In this photo, a truck navigates through the snow-covered street as local resident, Carol Lanes, 45, digs her car out the snow on Detroit Street in Denver, Colo., Wednesday, March, 19, 2003. (BILL ROSS, AP)
