Meteorologists agree, Fort Collins looking at significant spring snow storm

A significant spring snow storm is forecast to blow into the state Wednesday night, touching off a winter storm warning for Larimer County’s western mountains and a winter storm watch for Fort Collins.

While areas of the mountains west of Fort Collins are expected to see more than a foot of snow, meteorologists pretty much agree the city will see 4 to 9 inches of snow with 7 inches being where the most consensus lies.

Watches and warnings

The winter storm warning runs 6 p.m. Wednesday through midnight Thursday with 12 to 20 inches of snow expected.

The winter storm watch runs midnight Wednesday until 6 p.m. Thursday.

In Wyoming, there is a winter storm warning through Thursday for the Interstate 80 corridor from Laramie east past Sidney, Nebraska with 6 to 8 inches of snow expected.

Drivers should expect snow-packed and slippery roads in the watch and warning areas. 

Snow total forecasts

Here is a look at what different meteorologists are forecasting for Fort Collins:

All are generally calling for around 14 inches of snow for Estes Park and 16 inches for Red Feather Lakes.

Timing of snow in Fort Collins

Easter surprise: Storm drops impressive snow totals

April snow

April is one of Fort Collins’ snowiest months with an average of 6.2 inches, which we will likely surpass with this storm. The 4.5 inches we received Sunday and Monday plus 1.4 inches on April 2 pushed us to 5.9 inches of snow for the month.

We sit at 61.6 inches of snow on the year. Our average is 55.8 inches, according to the Colorado Climate Center.

Boulder has received more than twice that much snow and sits at 134.3 inches of snow as of Wednesday, the fifth most snow in a season. The record of 143.2 inches could be broken with this storm as the city is forecast to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow. 

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Measure the weather

The Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network is looking for volunteers to gather weather information.

Volunteers are backyard weather observers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow) in their local communities through low-cost measurement tools, training and education.

The information gathered is used by the National Weather Service.

If you would like to learn more, visit https://www.cocorahs.org/

Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.