A powerful blizzard developed across the Front Range of Colorado late on the 22nd and continued through much of the 23rd.  The storm tracked east-southeast across Utah on the 22nd, and then into southeast Colorado by the morning of the 23rd.  The storm rapidly intensified as it reached eastern Colorado, producing extremely heavy and intense snowfall with snowfall rates exceeding 3 inches per hour at times.  In addition to heavy snow, strong winds gusting in excess of 50 mph east of Interstate 25 produced widespread blizzard conditions and zero visibilities.  The storm initially began with rain on the plains, but quickly changed over to snow during the early morning hours of the 23rd. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were common, with several inches of snow already accumulating for the morning commute.  Many roads became impassable due to the depth of fallen snow, drifting snow, and near zero visibilities during the day.
During the peak of the storm, snowfall rates reached or exceeded 3 inches per hour.  Widespread road closures occurred, including Interstate 76 from northeast of Denver to the Nebraska state line, Interstate 70 east of Denver to the Kansas state line, and much of I-25 , from near Castle Rock to Colorado Springs and from Highway 7 north to the Wyoming border.  The Colorado Department of Transportation estimated over 2,000 vehicles became trapped on I-25 near Monument Hill alone, with hundreds of stuck or abandoned cars elsewhere.  Numerous power outages occurred as heavy wet snow accumulated on trees, despite the strong winds.  At the peak, several hundred thousand residents along the Front Range were without power.  Denver International Airport was closed for 7 hours during and just after the peak of the blizzard, with around 1,300 cancelled flights.  The power outages shut down the fuel farm pumps, the deicing facility, as well as train service to the concourses at the airport.  Pe��a Boulevard, the main road to the airport, was impassable for much of the day.  It was the first time since Dec. 21,2006 that Denver International Airport had been shut down due to snow conditions.
One to 2 feet of snow fell across much of the Front Range Urban Corridor, with over 30 inches in some foothill locations.  Most of the snow fell within a 12-hr period from the early morning into the afternoon. A peak wind gust of 59 mph recorded at Denver International Airport.  South of Denver, over the Palmer Ridge, 12 to 18 inches of snow was reported, with 6 to 10 inches across the northeast plains of Colorado.  The official snowfall measurement at Denver International Airport was 13.1 inches.  In addition, the snow was very heavy and wet, with many areas receiving 1 to 2 inches precipitation.  In the foothills, some locations received nearly 3 inches of water from this storm.

Blizzard in LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / NW WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm totals included 13.5 inches at the C.S.U. campus in Fort Collins and 6 inches, 4 miles east of Fort Collins.  Sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph were observed at the Ft Collins/Loveland Airport, with a peak wind gust to 58 mph.

Blizzard in N DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / DENVER / W ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES / E BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm totals included:  25 inches, 2 miles west-northwest of Aurora; 21.5 inches, 2 miles northeast of Thornton; 20 inches at Northglenn, 16 inches near Englewood, 12.5 inches at Denver Stapleton, 5 miles west-northwest of Brighton, Centennial,  and 5 miles northeast of Westminster.  A peak wind gust to 59 mph was recorded at Denver International Airport.

Blizzard in ELBERT / C & E DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in NE WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph were measured in Briggsdale with a peak wind gust of 57 mph.

Blizzard in C & S WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph were observed in Greeley with a peak wind gust to 45 mph.

Blizzard in MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In Fort Morgan, sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph were recorded with a peak wind gust to 59 mph.

Blizzard in C & E ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In Strasburg, sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph were observed with a peak wind gust to 64 mph.

Blizzard in N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In Genoa, sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph were measured with a peak wind gust to 61 mph.

Blizzard in LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The combination of strong winds and light to moderate snow produced blizzard conditions.  Several roads and highways were closed including Interstate 76 as well at Colorado Highways 6, 14, 63, 113 and 138.  Emergency crews responded to multiple vehicle accidents around the county due to the hazardous driving conditions. Schools were also closed as well and the Red Cross set up an emergency shelter for stranded travelers.

Blizzard in WASHINGTON COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In Woodrow, sustained winds of 30 to 35 mph were measured with a peak wind gust to  48 mph.

Blizzard in SEDGWICK COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter measured 5.5 inches of snowfall 4 miles north-northwest of Marks Butte.  Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph were measured at Chadron, Nebraska with peak gust to 35 mph.

Blizzard in PHILLIPS COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A storm spotter measured 7 inches of snowfall, 3 miles southwest of Holyoke.  Sustained winds of 35 to 40 mph were recorded along with a peak gust to 63 mph.

Winter Storm in BOULDER & JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET / W BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm totals included:  25.5 inches, 4 miles east of Boulder; 24 inches in Westminster, 23 inches in Broomfield, 21 inches in Lafayette, 20 inches in Louisville and Wheat Ridge, 17 inches, 2 miles south of Erie and Niwot; 16.5 inches in Arvada, 15 inches, 2 miles north of Longmont; 13.5 inches, 5 miles west of Littleton; 12.5 inches, 3 miles north-northwest of Boulder.  Officially, 17.3 inches of snow was measured at the National Weather Service Office in Boulder.

Winter Storm in LARIMER & BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 & 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 01:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm totals included:  23.5 inches, 4 miles east-northeast of Nederland; 16 inches, 4 miles west of Eldorado Springs; 16 inches, 4 miles west of Berthoud; 8 miles east of Four Corners; 14 inches, 7 miles east of Virginia Dale; 11 inches, 5 miles northeast of Ward; with 10 inches at Black Mountain.

Winter Storm in JEFFERSON & W DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / NE PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 03:50:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm totals included:  31.5 inches near Pinecliffe, 26 inches near Idledale, 20.5 inches near Evergreen, 19.5 inches near Bergen Park, 15 inches near Conifer, with 11 inches at Intercanyon.

Winter Weather in WEST JACKSON & WEST GRAND COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 22-MAR-16 18:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Storm totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches.

Winter Weather in S & E JACKSON / LARIMER / N & NE GRAND / NW BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 22-MAR-16 18:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Storm totals ranged from 6 to 11 inches.

Winter Weather in S & SE GRAND / W CENTRAL & SW BOULDER / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / SUMMIT / N & W PARK COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 22-MAR-16 18:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Storm totals ranged from 4 to 7 inches.

High Wind in SE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 23-MAR-16 04:00:00 to 23-MAR-16 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter