Colorado, 1996

High Wind in Colorado, April 17, 1996

April 17, 1996 · NWS PUB · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Strong west to southwest winds ripped across southern Colorado, producing sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with higher gusts of 50 to 60 mph. The highest winds ranged from the Pikes Peak Region south to the Wet Mountains.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.

Strong west to southwest winds ripped across southern Colorado, producing sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, with higher gusts of 50 to 60 mph. The highest winds ranged from the Pikes Peak Region south to the Wet Mountains.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft

When
April 17, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern San Luis Valley

When
April 17, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Southern San Luis Valley forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
37.240, -105.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft

When
April 17, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
37.992, -105.637 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft

When
April 17, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph)
Coordinates
37.867, -105.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5544214, 5544215, 5544216, 5544217.