Colorado, 1996

Heavy Snow in Colorado, May 25 to 26, 1996

May 25 to 26, 1996 · NWS BOU · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A late spring snowstorm dumped anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of snow in the Northern Mountains and Front Range Foothills. The sticky, heavy snow clung to power lines and pulled tree branches down causing power outages to approximately 1200 homes in the Conifer area.

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.

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  • Tropical storms and surge
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  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
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  • Cold
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  • Marine and coastal
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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 BOU wrote it up.

A late spring snowstorm dumped anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of snow in the Northern Mountains and Front Range Foothills. Conifer picked up 10 inches of new snow and Aspen Springs 9 inches while Central City and Winter Park reported 8 inches.The sticky, heavy snow clung to power lines and pulled tree branches down causing power outages to approximately 1200 homes in the Conifer area. It took up to 6 hours to restore power to some residents.

The radar

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

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Event by event

4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
May 25, 3:00 PM MST to May 26, 3:00 PM MST
Where
S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone
Coordinates
40.382, -105.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
May 25, 3:00 PM MST to May 26, 3:00 PM MST
Where
S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet forecast zone
Coordinates
39.726, -105.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Larimer & Boulder Counties Between 6000 & 9000 Feet

When
May 25, 3:00 PM MST to May 26, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Larimer & Boulder Counties Between 6000 & 9000 Feet forecast zone
Coordinates
40.380, -105.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet

When
May 25, 3:00 PM MST to May 26, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet forecast zone
Coordinates
39.516, -105.413 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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, May 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5553554, 5553555, 5553556, 5553557.