Colorado, 1996

Winter Storm in Colorado, March 5 to 6, 1996

March 5 to 6, 1996 · NWS GJT · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A winter storm struck western Colorado, depositing 12-20 inches of snow in the central and southern mountains during the two day period. Traffic was impeded due to the heavy snow accumulations and blowing snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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.

A winter storm struck western Colorado, depositing 12-20 inches of snow in the central and southern mountains during the two day period. Traffic was impeded due to the heavy snow accumulations and blowing snow.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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
March 5, 10:00 AM MST to March 6, 11:59 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

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 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: 5540907, 5540908, 5540909, 5540911, 5540912, 5540913.