Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, February 26, 1997

February 26, 1997 · NWS PUB · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

The upper level low pressure system over New Mexico spread snow to the southeast plains, with reported amounts of 3 to 6 inches. Strong north winds of 20 to 35 mph producing widespread blowing and drifting snow with near blizzard conditions at times.

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 PUB wrote it up.

The upper level low pressure system over New Mexico spread snow to the southeast plains, with reported amounts of 3 to 6 inches. Strong north winds of 20 to 35 mph producing widespread blowing and drifting snow with near blizzard conditions at times.

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, Northwest Fremont County Above 8500 Ft

When
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM 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, West / Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft

When
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM 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, Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft

When
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
Coordinates
37.897, -105.164 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wet Mountains Between 8500 and 10000 Ft

When
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM 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
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM 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, Teller County / Rampart Range Above 7500 Ft / Pikes Peak Between 7500 & 11000 Ft

When
February 26, 7:30 AM MST to 3:00 PM MST
Where
Teller County / Rampart Range Above 7500 Ft / Pikes Peak Between 7500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Coordinates
38.729, -105.043 (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 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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: 5590386, 5590387, 5590388, 5590389, 5590390, 5590391.