March snowstorm hits on five year anniversary of Bomb Cyclone

(SOUTHERN COLORADO) — As many in Southern Colorado are hunkered down during the dangerous weather system that moved in on Wednesday evening, March 13, newcomers to the area might not know that while this storm may seem bad, on this day five years ago, it was much, much worse.

Locals will remember March 13, 2019 as the day thousands became stranded in their cars and at airports, trees and power lines fell, power was knocked out, and much of the state came to a screeching halt.

I-25 was closed from Denver all the way to Rockrimmon in Colorado Springs. Denver International Airport (DIA) closed entirely, and approximately 5,000 passengers spent the night at DIA due to cancelled flights, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The NWS said the system officially met the criteria of a “Bomb Cyclone,” in which barometric pressure readings dropped in excess of 24 mb over a 24-hour period. The storm created widespread blizzard conditions across northeast Colorado, the Palmer Divide and El Paso County.

1,500 people were stranded in northern El Paso County alone, and the Colorado National Guard was activated to aid search and rescue operations which numbered over 100.

Intense wind gusts comparable to a Category 2 hurricane along with impassable lack of visibility gridlocked roadways, like Woodmen Road east toward Falcon. So many cars had to be abandoned, the aftermath looked more like an apocalyptic zombie movie than a major thoroughfare.

The highest wind gusts ever recorded at the Colorado Springs Airport were recorded during the Bomb Cyclone–96 mph. Numerous trees and power poles were blown down in rural and urban areas, and at one point, the NWS said 445,000 customers were without power, some for days following the storm.

One person was killed in eastern El Paso County. 68-year-old Harry Brantley ventured out in the storm in Yoder to start a generator in an outbuilding, and when he didn’t come back, a woman went to look for him, finding him dead. By the time El Paso County deputies arrived, the woman was suffering from hypothermia.

The NWS also reported that a Colorado State Trooper was killed along I-76 northeast of Denver.

Treacherous driving conditions cause multiple road closures

Now, five years later, another storm has parked itself over much of Colorado, bringing high snow totals, blizzard conditions, canceled flights, and power outages, with the heavy, wet nature of the snow reminiscent of the dangers brought by the 2019 Bomb Cyclone. So why are Spring blizzards in Colorado seemingly far more dangerous than storms in the winter months?

FOX21 Storm Team Meteorologist Ryan Matoush said it’s due in part to the moisture that tends to be lacking during the colder, dryer months.

“Snow storms in March tend to yield some higher snow totals due to a higher availability of moisture in the atmosphere,” Matoush said. “These storm systems feed off of moisture as it is one of their main sources of energy. During the winter months, our snow storms tend to be a bit drier and colder. The opposite is usually true for our Springtime Snowstorms. Temperature also plays a big role in how the storm systems evolve and how the precipitation falls.”

Hard lessons were learned in March of 2019, though this storm serves as a reminder for those of us who were here, and a rude awakening for those who weren’t. If at all possible, staying off the roads removes the danger of becoming stranded and needing rescue, and lets city and county crews clear the snow faster. If you do have to venture out, make sure your tires are appropriate, have an emergency kit ready, and ensure you have enough fuel.

Having enough food, necessary medications, and water at home in case of outages is also wise.

The majority of winter storm warnings expire on Friday, March 15 around noon, at which point the labor of digging out and cleaning up begins. Until then, heavy wet snow makes for excellent snowmen.

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