Colorado, 1997

Heavy Snow in Colorado, March 24, 1997

March 24, 1997 · NWS BOU · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

An early spring storm system moving across Wyoming and into northern Colorado brought more snow to portions of the northeast. Several accidents occurred along the I-70 corridor between Frisco and Copper Mountain as roads became snowpacked and slick.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
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  • Winter weather
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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

An early spring storm system moving across Wyoming and into northern Colorado brought more snow to portions of the northeast. Several accidents occurred along the I-70 corridor between Frisco and Copper Mountain as roads became snowpacked and slick. The accidents resulted in several injuries and one fatality. Snowfall totals in the North Central Mountains and Front Range Foothills included: 10 inches at Breckenridge, 9 inches at the Mount Evans Research Station, 7 inches one mile east of Buckhorn Mountain, 5 inches at Evergreen, with 4 inches reported at Keystone and Winter Park. Heavy snow over the Palmer Divide caused snowpacked and slick road conditions to develop by afternoon. One woman was killed when she lost control of her vehicle along Colorado Highway 82 near Castle Rock. By late afternoon, Larkspur received a total of 5 inches of snow while Elizabeth reported 4 inches.

The radar

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

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Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet

When
March 24, 4:30 AM MST to 4:00 PM 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
March 24, 4:30 AM MST to 4:00 PM 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
March 24, 4:30 AM MST to 4:00 PM 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
March 24, 4:30 AM MST to 4:00 PM 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)

Heavy Snow, Elbert / C & E Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet

When
March 24, 4:30 AM MST to 4:00 PM MST
Where
Elbert / C & E Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet forecast zone
Coordinates
39.422, -104.468 (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, March 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: 5594359, 5594360, 5594361, 5594362, 5594363.