March 2003 Denver Blizzard — A Retrospective Part I: Building Damage Due to Snow Loading

In March 2003, Denver Colorado and the surrounding area experienced code-level snow loads due to one of the most destructive blizzards in Colorado history. According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, personal claims from the storm exceeded $93,000,000 due to damage across the region. This is in addition to large commercial building losses as well as untold dollar amounts in lost business revenue while buildings were unsafe to enter. Hundreds of structures collapsed or sustained severe structural damage, and thousands of buildings sustained repairable structural or cosmetic distress This paper discusses the types of structural systems commonly damaged as a result of the snow loads. Based on the lessons learned from this storm, recommendations are made for future design and structural condition assessment of snow loaded structures.