Colorado, 1997

Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 5 to 7, 1997

February 5 to 7, 1997 · NWS GJT · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

A relatively slow moving Pacific storm generally produced 6 to 12 inches of new snow in the southern mountains and 6 to 8 inches in most central mountain areas of western Colorado. 5 to 12 inches of snow fell in some valleys of southwest Colorado, mainly above the 7000 foot level.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
8

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 relatively slow moving Pacific storm generally produced 6 to 12 inches of new snow in the southern mountains and 6 to 8 inches in most central mountain areas of western Colorado. 5 to 12 inches of snow fell in some valleys of southwest Colorado, mainly above the 7000 foot level. A few of the heaviest snowfall totals included 12 inches at Ridgeway, 14 inches over Red Mountain Pass, and 20 inches on the mountain tops above Telluride.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
Coordinates
39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin forecast zone
Coordinates
38.737, -107.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
Coordinates
38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin

When
February 5, 9:00 PM MST to February 7, 10:00 PM MST
Where
Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin forecast zone
Coordinates
38.294, -108.414 (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 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: 5589556, 5589557, 5589558, 5589559, 5589561, 5589562, 5589563, 5589564.