A rapidly intensifying storm system or bomb cyclone brought hurricane strength winds to the northeast plains of Colorado, along with moderate to heavy snowfall.  Peak wind gusts ranged from 60 to 80 mph. Thundersnow produced snowfall rates up to 3 inches per hour just west of Denver.   Two records were established at Denver International Airport.  A record non-thunderstorm wind gust of 80 mph broke the previous record of 63 mph set in Match 13, 2009.  A record low sea level pressure of 979.01 MB broke the previous record of 979.9 MB set on February 25, 1998.  Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 6 inches near the base of the foothills, with up to 20 inches in the mountains and foothills.  Along the Palmer Divide east of I-25 and the northeast plains of Colorado, storm totals ranged from 4 to 10 inches.
Widespread outages, multi-vehicle accidents and road closures prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency which activated the Colorado National Guard to assist state and local authorities in rescuing hundreds of stranded motorists.  Disaster declarations included the following counties and cities:  Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert counties, as well as the city of Aurora.   Multiple accidents included a 100-car pileup on Interstate 25, from MM 285 to the WY border; with another 100-car accident south of Denver toward Monument. A state trooper was struck and killed on Interstate 76.  He was at the scene of a vehicle off the road near Roggen when another car lost control and struck him.  Road closures included:  Interstate 70 from Denver Airport to Limon, and from Golden to Idaho Springs;  I-25 from South Denver to Monument Hill;  I-76 closed from northeast Denver to Nebraska.
Nearly 1400 flights in and out of Denver International Airport that were canceled due to the blizzard.  Five thousand passengers were stranded at the airport.  The number of people who lost power during the storm totaled 445,000.  Xcel energy called over 500 employees work to restore power with additional 300 out-of-state workers on their way to assist.  Approximately 85,000 people, mostly in the Denver area, were without electricity the following day.  At least 335 vehicles were stuck and abandoned on Interstate 25 near Larkspur.  In Denver, 250 vehicles were abandoned during the storm.  School buses were used to rescue stranded drivers.  At least 33 public school districts were closed on the 13 and 14th.  Warming centers and shelters opened area wide.

Blizzard in N DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / DENVER / W ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES / E BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 10:00:00 to 13-MAR-19 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in NE WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard in MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in C & E ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in WASHINGTON COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in SEDGWICK COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in PHILLIPS COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in SE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 11:00:00 to 14-MAR-19 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

Blizzard in C & S WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 13-MAR-19 10:00:00 to 13-MAR-19 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Reported by: ASOS