Winter Storm, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm in Colorado, February 26, 1996
6-12 inches of new snow was common from another storm system moving across the state. Some of the heavier amounts included 15 inches at Steamboat Springs ski area and 14 inches at Purgatory ski resort.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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 GJT wrote it up.
6-12 inches of new snow was common from another storm system moving across the state. Some of the heavier amounts included 15 inches at Steamboat Springs ski area and 14 inches at Purgatory ski resort. Winds to 40 mph resulted in blowing and drifting snow. There were many traffic accidents reported.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Winter Storm, Upper Yampa River Basin
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Grand and Battlement Mesas
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- February 26, 9:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Lightning Strike in Kansas, February 26 to 27, 1996
- Blizzard in North Dakota, February 26 to 28, 1996
- High Wind in Texas, February 26, 1996
- Ice Storm in Wisconsin, February 26 to 27, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 26 to 28, 1996
- Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 26 to 27, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 26 to 27, 1996
- Ice Storm in Wisconsin, February 26 to 27, 1996
- Lightning Strike in Illinois, February 26, 1996
- Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 26 to 27, 1996
- High Wind in New Mexico, February 26, 1996
- Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, February 26 to 28, 1996
More
Every storm in Colorado in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 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: 5540371, 5540372, 5540373, 5540374, 5540375, 5540376, 5540377, 5540378.