Colorado, 1997

Heavy Snow in Colorado, May 1 to 2, 1997

May 1 to 2, 1997 · NWS GJT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A cold Pacific trough moved across the area, followed by a moist northwest flow aloft to produce heavy snow mainly over some northern and central mountains of western Colorado. 6 to 12 inches of new snow were common above the 7000 foot level with 4 to 6 inches below the 7000 foot level.

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
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 GJT wrote it up.

A cold Pacific trough moved across the area, followed by a moist northwest flow aloft to produce heavy snow mainly over some northern and central mountains of western Colorado. 6 to 12 inches of new snow were common above the 7000 foot level with 4 to 6 inches below the 7000 foot level. 14 to 15 inches of snow fell on the Flat Tops and Park Mountains.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Central Yampa River Basin/Craig-Hayden and Vicinity

When
May 1, 2:00 AM MST to May 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Central Yampa River Basin/Craig-Hayden and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
40.361, -107.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau

When
May 1, 2:00 AM MST to May 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau forecast zone
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Leadville and Vicinity

When
May 1, 2:00 AM MST to May 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Leadville and Vicinity forecast zone

Heavy Snow, Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity

When
May 1, 2:00 AM MST to May 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park

When
May 1, 2:00 AM MST to May 2, 12:00 PM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park forecast zone
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (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, May 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: 5600644, 5600645, 5600646, 5600647, 5600648.