Colorado, 1996

Winter Storm in Colorado, November 14 to 18, 1996

November 14 to 18, 1996 · NWS GJT · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

A storm pattern which began on the 14th resulted in a persistent series of snowfall events for western Colorado. The precipitation quit or changed to rain on the 18th as a warmer air mass spread into the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.

A storm pattern which began on the 14th resulted in a persistent series of snowfall events for western Colorado. The precipitation quit or changed to rain on the 18th as a warmer air mass spread into the area. Total snowfall accumulations for the period generally ranged from 1 to 2 feet above the 8000 foot level, with 8 to 12 inches between the 6000 foot level and 8000 foot level. Heavier amounts were reported, including 35 inches at Steamboat Springs. Many traffic accidents occurred during the period. Windy conditions in some areas caused blowing and drifting snow which compounded the travel difficulties.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity / S la Plata

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity / S la Plata forecast zone
Coordinates
37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin/Montrose and Vicinity / W C Gunnison / Part of Ne Montrose / S Delta / N C Ouray

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin/Montrose and Vicinity / W C Gunnison / Part of Ne Montrose / S Delta / N C Ouray forecast zone
Coordinates
38.737, -107.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau / E Rio Blanco / Ne Garfield / X Nw Eagle / Routt Except C Xs

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau / E Rio Blanco / Ne Garfield / X Nw Eagle / Routt Except C Xs forecast zone
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys/Aspen and Vicinity / Ne S Eagle / Pitkin Except Xnc / X Ne Mesa / Se Garfield (Part)

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys/Aspen and Vicinity / Ne S Eagle / Pitkin Except Xnc / X Ne Mesa / Se Garfield (Part) forecast zone
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grand and Battlement Mesas / X Sc Garfield / E Mesa Except X Ne / N Delta

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas / X Sc Garfield / E Mesa Except X Ne / N Delta forecast zone
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Leadville and Vicinity / E Lake

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Leadville and Vicinity / E Lake forecast zone

Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains / E Ouray / X Sw Gunnison / N Hinsdale / Se San Miguel

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains / E Ouray / X Sw Gunnison / N Hinsdale / Se San Miguel forecast zone
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River / X Sw Mesa / W Montrose / C W San Miguel / C Dolores

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River / X Sw Mesa / W Montrose / C W San Miguel / C Dolores forecast zone
Coordinates
38.294, -108.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus / Sw Rio Blanco / W Garfield / Part of Nc Mesa

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus / Sw Rio Blanco / W Garfield / Part of Nc Mesa forecast zone
Coordinates
39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, San Juan River Basin/Pagosa Springs and Vicinity / S Archuleta

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
San Juan River Basin/Pagosa Springs and Vicinity / S Archuleta forecast zone
Coordinates
37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta forecast zone
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upper Gunnison River Valley/Gunnison and Vicinity / S Gunnison Except X Sw / Part of E Montrose

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Gunnison River Valley/Gunnison and Vicinity / S Gunnison Except X Sw / Part of E Montrose forecast zone
Coordinates
38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity / C Routt

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity / C Routt forecast zone
Coordinates
40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison

When
November 14, 8:00 PM MST to November 18, 9:00 AM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison forecast zone
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (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, November 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5582683, 5582684, 5582685, 5582686, 5582687, 5582688, 5582689, 5582690, 5582691, 5582692, 5582693, 5582694, 5582695, 5582696.