Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
A man hauls his wagon load of snow past the Pioneer Monument on Cheyenne Street towards Civic Center, Denver, Colorado. The Scholtz Drug Company, Capitol Store, the State Capitol Building and the First United Presbyterian Church show in distance. Photo by George L. Beam of the "Big snow of December 1913."

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
Pedestrians trudge through snow on Welton and Sixteenth (16th) streets in the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado, on Dec. 5,1913. Shows a Denver City Tramway trolley car and snow-laden electrical wires, lamp posts and buildings. The Daniels and Fisher building is in the distance.

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
View of snow along Colfax and Downing Avenues, Denver, Colorado, shows paused street cars and pedestrians, with the Lawrence C. Phipps mansion in the background. Photo by Howard B. Gelt, The Rocky Mountain News Photographer Collection.

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
A young boy poses in front of a tall snowman next to a snowcovered post, downtown Denver, Colorado. Snow piles have American flags stuck in them for decoration. The sidewalks are cleared, while the street shows deep snow heavily tracked. Signs read: "Clarke's Restaurant" and "Tom Moore, Cigar 10 cents, Little Tom 5 cents." Photo by George L. Beam of the "Big snow of December 1913."

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
Men shovel snow onto horse-drawn wagons on 16th (Sixteenth) Street in Denver, Colorado after the snowstorm of 1913. Pedestrians walk along the street and sidewalks. Signs on buildings read, "Keen Kutter, Tools, Cutlery" "Coca-Cola" and "Your credit is good."

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
Men in Civic Center unload snow laden horse-drawn wagons after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Shows pedestrians on the sidewalk, the Arapahoe County Courthouse building and the Majestic Hotel are in the distance. A sign reads, "Oil and Gas (?) 500,000 Population for Denver, the Colorado Producers Oil Company."

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
A blizzard in 1913 piled the snow high in Denver, turning Eighth Avenue, below, into a snow run for sledders and a reminder for us that monstrous snowstorms are nothing new in Denver. Photo by Howard B. Gelt, The Rocky Mountain News Photographer Collection.

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
A snowman wears a hat as it sits in the driver's seat of probably a Model T Ford after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado.

Courtesy of the Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Dept.
Pedestrians, a man carrying skis, horse drawn wagons and street cars number 92 and 75 make their way through deep snow on Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado. The Argonaut Hotel and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral show in distance. Photo by George L. Beam of the "Big snow of December 1913."

Denver and much of the Front Range are gearing up for what’sexpected to be a significant snowstorm this weekend, though meteorologists are cautioning that it’s too early to put credence in models that are measuring anticipated snowfall in feet, not just inches.

That being said, it’s a good opportunity to look back at how some of Denver’s truly historic snowstorms.

The list presented below, using data from the National Weather Service dating back to the late 1800s, ranks the 10 largest snowfalls in the Mile High City, with a nearly 46-inch whopper more than a century ago coming in first.

But No. 2, a crippling March event, is of far more recent vintage.

For an even longer list, and other winter data, visit the National Weather Service’sDenver-area Snow Statistics page.

Denver’s biggest snowstorms

1. 45.7 inches, Dec. 1-5, 1913

2. 31.8 inches, March 17-19, 2003

3. 30.4 inches, Nov. 2-4, 1946

4. 24.1 inches, March 13-14, 2021

5. 23.8 inches, Dec. 24, 1982

6. 23 inches, April 23, 1885

7. 22.7 inches, Oct. 20-23, 1906

8. 21.9 inches, Oct. 24-25, 1997

9. 21.5 inches, Nov. 26-27, 1983

10. 20.7 inches, Dec. 20-21, 2006

Source: National Weather Service