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Little addition will be made to the majority of these totals, which are extremely impressive.  Especially for the foothills west of Denver...  Storm totals via the NWS Office in Boulder, which are some of the biggest since the two December storms of 2006: 

0600 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SE PINECLIFFE         39.90N 105.38W  
10/29/2009  M45.8 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   CO-OP OBSERVER    
 
            COAL CREEK CANYON COOP OBSERVER.  
 
0557 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NE DENVER               39.73N 104.96W  
10/29/2009  M12.0 INCH       DENVER             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0549 PM     BLIZZARD         FORT MORGAN             40.27N 103.79W  
10/29/2009                   MORGAN             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            5 INCHES OF SNOW. VIS 1.5 BLOCKS. NORTHWEST WIND 30 MPH   
            GUSTING TO 40 MPH.  
 
0547 PM     BLIZZARD         6 NE KARVAL             38.79N 103.46W  
10/29/2009                   LINCOLN            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            HEAVY SNOW WITH VIS LESS THAN 100 YARDS. VERY STRONG   
            WINDS ESTIMATED AT 40 MPH.  
 
0534 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 S EVERGREEN           39.59N 105.34W  
10/29/2009  M40.0 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0526 PM     BLIZZARD         LIMON                   39.27N 103.69W  
10/29/2009                   LINCOLN            CO   ASOS              
 
            VIS LESS THAN 1/4 WITH HEAVY SNOW. WIND NORTHWEST 33 MPH   
            GUSTING 44 MPH.  
 
0526 PM     BLIZZARD         1 N AKRON               40.18N 103.21W  
10/29/2009                   WASHINGTON         CO   ASOS              
 
            VIS 1/4 MILE WITH HEAVY SNOW. WIND NORTHWEST 31 MPH   
            GUSTING TO 37 MPH.  
 
0526 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NW CASTLE ROCK        39.42N 104.90W  
10/29/2009  M19.3 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0526 PM     HEAVY SNOW       21 N NEW RAYMER         40.91N 103.83W  
10/29/2009  M18.0 INCH       WELD               CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            WIND GUSTING TO 30 MPH. VIS ABOUT 100 YARDS.  
 
0521 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 ENE PARKER            39.51N 104.75W  
10/29/2009  M14.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   CO-OP OBSERVER    
 
0521 PM     BLIZZARD         11 ESE HOLYOKE          40.53N 102.10W  
10/29/2009                   PHILLIPS           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            BLOWING SNOW WITH WINDS AT 40 MPH. VIS LESS THAN 1/4   
            MILE.  
 
0500 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WNW JULESBURG           40.99N 102.27W  
10/29/2009  M1.5 INCH        SEDGWICK           CO   CO-OP OBSERVER    
 
0445 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NW ELIZABETH          39.40N 104.65W  
10/29/2009  M18.0 INCH       ELBERT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0444 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 WNW LITTLETON         39.62N 105.10W  
10/29/2009  M28.5 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0439 PM     HEAVY SNOW       CENTENNIAL              39.60N 104.87W  
10/29/2009  M17.0 INCH       ARAPAHOE           CO   NWS EMPLOYEE      
 
0430 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 ESE GREELEY           40.40N 104.70W  
10/29/2009  M12.0 INCH       WELD               CO   CO-OP OBSERVER    
 
            STORM TOTAL. 2 FOOT DRIFTS. ON UNC CAMPUS.  
 
0401 PM     BLIZZARD         4 SSE BENNETT           39.70N 104.39W  
10/29/2009                   ARAPAHOE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            BLOWING SNOW. VIS 1/8 TO 1/2 MILE. WIND 24 GUST TO 35   
            MPH.  
 
0358 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SW CONIFER            39.49N 105.34W  
10/29/2009  M41.0 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0349 PM     HEAVY SNOW       10 SSE AURORA           39.57N 104.74W  
10/29/2009  M26.2 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0332 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GENESEE                 39.69N 105.27W  
10/29/2009  M38.0 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0330 PM     HEAVY SNOW       12 NW GOLDEN            39.86N 105.38W  
10/29/2009  M32.0 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0311 PM     BLIZZARD         8 SE WATKINS            39.67N 104.49W  
10/29/2009                   ARAPAHOE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            19.2 INCHES OF SNOW. DRIFTS TO 5 FEET. WIND NORTHWEST 29   
            GUST TO 39 MPH.  
 
0230 PM     HEAVY SNOW       BOULDER                 40.03N 105.25W  
10/29/2009  M18.8 INCH       BOULDER            CO   NWS EMPLOYEE      
 
            STORM TOTAL ON ROOF OF NWS OFFICE.  
 
0227 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 E PARKER              39.51N 104.69W  
10/29/2009  M23.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            FRIFTS TO FIVE FEET. NORTH WINDS GUSTS TO 30 MPH.  
 
0215 PM     HEAVY SNOW       10 SSE AURORA           39.57N 104.74W  
10/29/2009  M23.7 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0213 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NW AURORA             39.71N 104.84W  
10/29/2009  M16.0 INCH       ARAPAHOE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            DRIFTS TO 27 INCHES.  
 
0200 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SW HIGHLANDS RANCH    39.53N 105.02W  
10/29/2009  M18.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0200 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 WSW BROOMFIELD        39.93N 105.08W  
10/29/2009  M20.0 INCH       BROOMFIELD         CO   NWS EMPLOYEE      
 
0150 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 NW ELIZABETH          39.40N 104.65W  
10/29/2009  M16.0 INCH       ELBERT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            THREE FOOT DRIFTS.  
 
0130 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NW CASTLE ROCK        39.39N 104.86W  
10/29/2009  M16.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0128 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 S EVERGREEN           39.62N 105.34W  
10/29/2009  M38.5 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
0123 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 W PARKER              39.51N 104.80W  
10/29/2009  M23.1 INCH       DOUGLAS            CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            11.4 SINCE MIDNIGHT.  
 
0110 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SW CONIFER            39.49N 105.34W  
10/29/2009  M37.0 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
1244 PM     HEAVY SNOW       8 SE WATKINS            39.67N 104.49W  
10/29/2009  M18.0 INCH       ARAPAHOE           CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
            DRIFTS 4 TO 5 FEET WITH VISIBILITY AT 1/8 MILE  
 
1241 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GENESEE                 39.69N 105.27W  
10/29/2009  M37.4 INCH       JEFFERSON          CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
1238 PM     HEAVY SNOW       7 E PARKER              39.51N 104.63W  
10/29/2009  M13.5 INCH       ELBERT             CO   TRAINED SPOTTER   
 
1215 PM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSE FEDERAL HEIGHTS   39.84N 105.00W  
10/29/2009  M16.0 INCH       ADAMS              CO   TRAINED SPOTTER 

Totals in Southern Colorado not as impressive, but substantial nonetheless.  These totals courtesy of the NWS Office in Pueblo:

 25.40   7 SSW NATHROP            CO  CHAFFEE          0802 AM  
                 STORM TOTAL...21.6 INCHES 7AM YSTDY TO 7AM  
                 TODAY...  
22.40   7 SSW NATHROP            CO  CHAFFEE          0630 PM  
22.00   4 NE FLORISSANT          CO  TELLER           1246 PM  
22.00   4 WNW BUENA VISTA        CO  CHAFFEE          0401 PM  
17.60   5 S NATHROP              CO  CHAFFEE          0301 PM  
16.60   MAYSVILLE                CO  CHAFFEE          0725 AM  
                 STORM TOTAL.  
16.50   2 ENE MONUMENT           CO  EL PASO          0245 PM  
16.10   7 SSW NATHROP            CO  CHAFFEE          0140 PM  
16.00   6 E MONUMENT             CO  EL PASO          0215 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SO FAR. 4.5 INCHES SINCE 8 AM.  
16.00   LA VETA                  CO  HUERFANO         1245 PM  
16.00   1 E WOLF CREEK PASS      CO  MINERAL          1056 AM  
                 SNOWFALL PAST 24 HOURS...24 INCHES PAST 48  
                 HOURS.  
15.00   2 S CUCHARA              CO  HUERFANO         1031 AM  
                 SNOW VERY LIGHT.  
15.00   SALIDA                   CO  CHAFFEE          0730 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SO FAR.  
14.50   SALIDA                   CO  CHAFFEE          0845 AM  
14.50   5 S NATHROP              CO  CHAFFEE          1149 AM  
14.00   LA VETA                  CO  HUERFANO         0310 PM  
                 SNOW SINCE MIDNIGHT. NOON TO 2 PM...2 INCHES.  
14.00   8 SSW TRINIDAD           CO  LAS ANIMAS       1242 PM  
                 ABOUT 2 INCHES SINCE SUNRISE  
14.00   3 NE TRINIDAD            CO  LAS ANIMAS       1237 PM  
                 ABOUT 4 INCHES SINCE SUNRISE  
14.00   8 S WALSENBURG           CO  HUERFANO         1129 AM  
                 STORM TOTAL...10 INCHES ON GROUND AT 1115  
                 AM...SNOW ENDED...  
14.00   2 ENE MONUMENT           CO  EL PASO          1116 AM  
13.10   1 W RYE                  CO  PUEBLO           0320 PM  
13.00   2 S CUCHARA              CO  HUERFANO         0620 AM  
                 STORM TOTAL...ONLY LIGHT SNOW AT THIS TIME...  
12.20   BEULAH                   CO  PUEBLO           0548 AM  
                 6.1 INCHES SINCE MIDNIGHT...VISIBILITY 1/2  
                 MILE  
12.00   3 SW ROSITA              CO  CUSTER           0200 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SO FAR. LIGHT SNOW CONTINUING.  
12.00   1 NNW MONARCH PASS       CO  CHAFFEE          0120 PM  
                 AT BASE OF MONARCH SKI AREA  
12.00   2 WSW ROSITA             CO  CUSTER           0115 PM  

If you read our blog regularly, you know this is the third storm of October, bringing some rather large totals to areas west of I-25.  Places like Woodland Park have totaled close to 50" this month, Rye and Beulah have received about four feet, and places like Trinidad, Walsenburg and Monument have been hit hard too.  However, if you were to just look at the snow totals from Colorado Springs and Pueblo this month, you wouldn't know that it has been active.  Pretty crazy...

I've been predicting an active Winter since early last Summer, due to the El Nino that is currently occurring.  A check of the recent Sea Surfact Temperature Anomalies shows that El Nino has strengthened this past month, and will likely remain a key player in our weather through Spring.

That greenish/yellow coloring in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean is the warmer than normal water associated with El Nino.  Again, the last time October was this active was in 2006.  By no coincidence, we had an El Nino then too...

Our weather pattern looks to relax for the next several days and that means a return to warmer and drier weather.  Enjoy it while it lasts...

Chief Meteorologist Brian Bledsoe