Weather
Colorado Snow Records: 63 Inches in One Day, Could It Happen Again?
Denver, CO – Colorado has experienced some extraordinary winter storms, including one that deposited more than 5 feet of snow in a single day. With winter 2026 27 approaching, historical snowfall reco
By Cameron Hayes · 2026-10-21T13:12:31.744Z
Denver, CO – Colorado has experienced some extraordinary winter storms, including one that deposited more than 5 feet of snow in a single day. With winter 2026 27 approaching, historical snowfall records demonstrate just how severe winter weather can become across the Rocky Mountains and Front Range.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information, Georgetown in Clear Creek County recorded 63 inches of snow on Dec. 4, 1913, the highest one day measurement in the supplied Colorado county level snowfall records.
The historic event occurred during a major December storm that also produced 48 inches at Silver Lake in Boulder County the following day.
Colorado's Top 10 Historical One Day Snowfall Events The following records highlight 10 distinct snowfall events or periods represented in NOAA's county level database. Multiple measurements associated with the same storm are grouped rather than ranked separately.
63.0 inches — Georgetown, Clear Creek County: Dec. 4, 1913. Silver Lake also recorded 48 inches Dec. 5 during the same storm. 55.0 inches — Wolf Creek Pass, Mineral County: Jan. 14, 1997. 54.0 inches — Lake Moraine, El Paso County: April 2, 1957. 49.0 inches — Bellvue, Larimer County: March 19, 2003. Other locations recorded substantial snowfall during the same storm. 49.0 inches — Bonham Reservoir, Mesa County: Dec. 29, 2021. 48.0 inches — Fraser, Grand County: April 15, 1921. 46.0 inches — La Veta Pass, Costilla County: Feb. 12, 1940. 40.0 inches — Cumbres, Conejos County: Nov. 22, 1931. 40.0 inches — Taylor Park, Gunnison County: Dec. 31, 2021. 39.0 inches — Pagosa Springs, Archuleta County: Feb. 17, 1938. Why Colorado's Snowfall History Matters Colorado's mountainous terrain can dramatically increase snowfall when moisture rich air is forced upward over the Rockies.
These conditions can produce intense snowfall over relatively short periods, particularly along mountain passes and higher elevations.
Major winter storms can disrupt Interstate 70, Interstate 25 and mountain highways, creating dangerous travel conditions and extended closures.
The March 2003 storm is especially significant because substantial snowfall affected multiple counties, demonstrating how a single weather system can create widespread disruptions.
What Could This Mean for Winter 2026 27? Even during winters influenced by El Niño, when seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns may shift, Colorado remains vulnerable to major snowstorms.
Warmer than average conditions do not eliminate the possibility of powerful winter systems, particularly at higher elevations.
However, historical snowfall records cannot predict whether Colorado will experience another extreme storm during winter 2026 27.
For residents from Denver and Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, Boulder and mountain communities, these records highlight the importance of monitoring winter forecasts and preparing for rapidly changing conditions.