Colorado, 1996Winter Storm in Colorado, March 13 to 15, 1996
March 13 to 15, 1996 · NWS PUB · 14 events in 14 counties and zones
A strong storm system in the desert southwest moved into southern Colorado late on the night of the 13th and during the early morning of the 14th. This system, which lasted until the early morning of the 15th, brought hazardous winter driving conditions and heavy snow amounts to south central and southeastern Colorado.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $600,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 14
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.
A strong storm system in the desert southwest moved into southern Colorado late on the night of the 13th and during the early morning of the 14th. This system, which lasted until the early morning of the 15th, brought hazardous winter driving conditions and heavy snow amounts to south central and southeastern Colorado. 3 to 8 inches of snow was generally found across the area, including 4 to 9 inches in the Colorado Springs area, with higher amounts recorded over the higher terrain. Other totals included 12 inches at La Veta Pass...16 inches in Rye...17 inches in Beulah...and 24 inches in Cuchara. 7 to 12 inches of a wet snow/freezing rain mixture fell across western Kiowa county, downing power lines and an estimated 600 poles. 3-5 days of repair time was expected.
Winter Storm, Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Ft
- When
- March 13, 9:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.832, -106.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Ft
- When
- March 13, 9:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.778, -106.530 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft
- When
- March 13, 9:00 PM MST to March 14, 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft
- When
- March 13, 9:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.578, -106.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 3:00 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.992, -105.637 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 9:00 AM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 9:00 AM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 9:00 AM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, West / Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft
- When
- March 14, 9:00 AM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- West / Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 5:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.867, -105.544 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Northwest Fremont County Above 8500 Ft
- When
- March 14, 5:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northwest Fremont County Above 8500 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft
- When
- March 14, 5:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
- Property damage
- $600,000
- Coordinates
- 37.897, -105.164 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Wet Mountains Between 8500 and 10000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 5:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Wet Mountains Between 8500 and 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 38.110, -105.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Wet Mountains Above 10000 Ft
- When
- March 14, 5:00 PM MST to March 15, 2:00 AM MST
- Where
- Wet Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 37.989, -104.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
- 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.
- Flood in California, March 13, 1996$75,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, March 13, 1996$20,000 · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, March 13 to 14, 19967 events
- Flooding in Wyoming, March 13 to 14, 19962 events
- Heavy Snow in Montana, March 13 to 14, 19961 event
- Heavy Snow in Montana, March 13, 19961 event
- Heavy Snow in Arizona, March 13, 19961 event
- Heavy Snow in Arizona, March 13, 19961 event
- High Wind in Oregon, March 13, 19961 event
- Strong Wind in California, March 13, 19961 event
- Hail in Arizona, March 13, 19960.75 in hail · 1 event
- Funnel Cloud in Arizona, March 13, 19961 event
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: 5546502, 5546503, 5546504, 5546658, 5546659, 5546657, 5546661, 5546662, 5546664, 5546660, 5546663, 5546665, 5546666, 5546667.