Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, February 27 to 28, 1997

February 27 to 28, 1997 · NWS GJT · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A low pressure system developed over the area from the north and produced 8 to 24 inches of new snow in the southwest San Juan Mountains. 6 to 9 inches of snow fell in the northwest San Juan mountains and central mountains of western Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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 low pressure system developed over the area from the north and produced 8 to 24 inches of new snow in the southwest San Juan Mountains. 6 to 9 inches of snow fell in the northwest San Juan mountains and central mountains of western Colorado. Snowfall in the lower elevations of southwest Colorado ranged from 6 to 16 inches. Some of the heaviest amounts included 28 inches at Lemon Dam northeast of Durango, 22 inches at Coal Bank Pass, 22 inches at Bonham Reservoir on the Grand Mesa, 17 inches at Mesa Verde National Park, and 17 inches in Durango. Blowing and drifting snow were common over the higher elevations.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
Coordinates
39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM 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
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River/Cortez and Vicinity

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River/Cortez and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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

When
February 27, 2:00 AM MST to February 28, 6:00 AM MST
Where
San Juan River Basin/Pagosa Springs and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
37.194, -107.048 (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: 5590222, 5590223, 5590224, 5590225, 5590226, 5590227, 5590228.