Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, January 11 to 14, 1997

January 11 to 14, 1997 · NWS GJT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A persistent southwest flow aloft ahead of an upper low over the Great Basin resulted in a total of 3 to 5 feet of snowfall in the southwest San Juan Mountains and generally 1 to 3 feet of snow at elevations below the 8000 foot level. Some of the heaviest snowfall amounts included 60 inches at Tall Timber Resort just north of Rockwood, 60 inches at Lemon Reservoir (20 miles northeast of…

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.

  • 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
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 GJT wrote it up.

A persistent southwest flow aloft ahead of an upper low over the Great Basin resulted in a total of 3 to 5 feet of snowfall in the southwest San Juan Mountains and generally 1 to 3 feet of snow at elevations below the 8000 foot level. Some of the heaviest snowfall amounts included 60 inches at Tall Timber Resort just north of Rockwood, 60 inches at Lemon Reservoir (20 miles northeast of Durango), 46 inches at Pagosa Springs, and 41 inches at Durango. Strong winds in portions of Montezuma and La Plata counties resulted in blizzard-like conditions, with snow drifts up to 6 feet deep. Many roads became impassable during this storm.

The radar

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

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Event by event

4 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
January 11, 3:00 PM MST to January 14, 9:00 PM 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
January 11, 3:00 PM MST to January 14, 9:00 PM 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
January 11, 3:00 PM MST to January 14, 9:00 PM 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
January 11, 3:00 PM MST to January 14, 9:00 PM 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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5589352, 5589353, 5589354, 5589355.