Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 20 to 21, 1997

Name: Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 20 to 21, 1997
Start: 1997-02-20T11:00
End: 1997-02-21T06:00
Location: Colorado

February 20 to 21, 1997 · NWS BOU · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Several accidents were blamed on the heavy snow as roads became snowpacked and slick. Snowfall totals included: 16 inches at Eldora Ski Area, 15 inches at South Turkey Creek, 14 inches at Conifer and Morrison, 12 inches at Winter Park, 11 inches near Blackhawk, Evergreen and Intercanyon.

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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Heat and drought
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Fire, smoke and dust
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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 combination of low level upslope conditions and a slow moving upper level weather disturbance resulted in more heavy snow for portions of the northern mountains and northeast foothills.Several accidents were blamed on the heavy snow as roads became snowpacked and slick. Snowfall totals included: 16 inches at Eldora Ski Area, 15 inches at South Turkey Creek, 14 inches at Conifer and Morrison, 12 inches at Winter Park, 11 inches near Blackhawk, Evergreen and Intercanyon. Elsewhere snowfall amounts generally ranged from 6 to 10 inches.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

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: February 20, 11:00 AM MST to February 21, 6:00 AM 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: February 20, 11:00 AM MST to February 21, 6:00 AM 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: February 20, 11:00 AM MST to February 21, 6:00 AM 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: February 20, 11:00 AM MST to February 21, 6:00 AM 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

Every storm in Colorado in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, February 1997

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: 5591144, 5591145, 5591146, 5591147.