October Snowstorm Blankets Rockies, Northern Plains; Blizzard Conditions in North Dakota; First Snow of Season in Denver

The highest snowfall total from this storm was reported near Harvey, North Dakota, where 30 inches of snow piled up. Devils Lake, North Dakota, picked up 28 inches of snow.

The Weather Channel named this system Winter Storm Aubrey.

(NEWS: Snowstorm Closes Interstates in the Northern Plains)

Snowstorm Recap

Spokane, Washington, picked up 3.3 inches of snow late on Oct. 8. That tied as the city's second-snowiest October day in records dating to 1893.

Power outages and broken trees limbs were reported because of the heavy, wet snow in the Spokane area, as well as in adjacent parts of northern Idaho, according to the National Weather Service. More than 30,000 Avista Utilities customers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho were without power on the morning of Oct. 9.

Blowing and drifting snow were reported in parts of northern Idaho and western Montana. Whiteout conditions near Leadore, Idaho, on the morning of Oct. 9 led to several vehicle slide-offs, according to a report received by the National Weather Service.

A 29-mile stretch of Interstate 15 in northeastern Idaho was closed in both directions midday Oct. 9 due to blowing snow, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

Two to 4 inches of snow accumulated in the Denver metro area on the morning of Oct. 10, though the official measurement at Denver International Airport east of the city was 1 inch.

Nearly 100 traffic accidents were reported in the Denver metro on the morning of Oct. 10 as snow made roadways slippery.

Snow also accumulated in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Oct. 10, making it the third-shortest time between the last 1-inch snowfall of the spring and the first snow of the fall (140 days).

On the morning of Oct. 11, whiteout conditions occurred near Northwood and Hensel, North Dakota.

Difficult travel was reported in various portions of North Dakota early Oct. 11 due to heavy snow and gusty winds. Over a dozen rescues took place between Jamestown and Crystal Springs, including a bus with 42 people on board, on the morning of Oct. 11.

(MORE: Snowstorm Is the Last Thing the Flood-Weary Plains Needs)

Blizzard conditions were reported on Oct. 11 in several locations in North Dakota, including Devils Lake, Jamestown and Grand Forks, where visibility was reduced to one-quarter mile or less due to heavy, blowing snow and gusty winds.

Many North Dakota roads were closed or travel was not advised from Oct. 11 into Oct. 12.

This snowstorm set a couple of October snowfall records in parts of the Northern Plains.

Bismarck, North Dakota, received 16.9 inches of snow from Oct. 10-12, 2019. This broke the previous three-day October snowstorm record of 16 inches from Oct. 28-30, 1991.

Jamestown State Hospital in North Dakota reported 14 inches of snow through Oct. 11, which broke its three-day October snowstorm record of 4.9 inches from Oct. 29-31, 1951.

Snowfall Totals

Here are some top snow totals by state:

Colorado: 9 inches near Breckenridge; up to 4.5 inches east of Denver

Idaho: 8 inches near Gibbonsville

Minnesota: 12.5 inches near Sea Gull Lake; 10 inches in East Grand Forks; about 4 inches near Grand Marais

Montana: 24 inches at Pony; 18 inches near Helena

Nebraska: 12 inches near Crawford; 3.4 inches in Scottsbluff

North Dakota: 30 inches in Harvey; 29 inches in Vang; 28 inches in Devils Lake; 16.9 inches in Bismarck; 12 inches at Grand Forks Air Force Base

South Dakota: 12.9 inches near Dupree; 8 inches near downtown Rapid City

Washington: About 5 inches near Spokane

Wyoming: 8 inches near Sugar Loaf Campground and West Deep Creek Campground

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