Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, November 26 to 27, 1997

November 26 to 27, 1997 · NWS GJT · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A strong and moist Pacific trough produced 6 to 12 inches of snow in most mountain areas of western Colorado. Heavier totals included 17 inches at Purgatory Ski Area, 14 inches at Rio Grande Reservoir, 14 inches at Crested Butte, 13 inches at Red Mountain Pass, and 13 inches at Snowmass Ski Area, Additionally, strong winds produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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 strong and moist Pacific trough produced 6 to 12 inches of snow in most mountain areas of western Colorado. Heavier totals included 17 inches at Purgatory Ski Area, 14 inches at Rio Grande Reservoir, 14 inches at Crested Butte, 13 inches at Red Mountain Pass, and 13 inches at Snowmass Ski Area, Additionally, strong winds produced areas of blowing and drifting snow. Some peak wind gusts at mountain top locations included 82 mph at Telluride and 66 MPH at Snowmass.

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, Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau / E Rio Blanco / Ne Garfield / X Nw Eagle / Routt Except C Xs

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains/Flat Tops/White River Plateau / E Rio Blanco / Ne Garfield / X Nw Eagle / Routt Except C Xs forecast zone
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grand and Battlement Mesas / X Sc Garfield / E Mesa Except X Ne / N Delta

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas / X Sc Garfield / E Mesa Except X Ne / N Delta forecast zone
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys/Aspen and Vicinity / Ne S Eagle / Pitkin Except Xnc / X Ne Mesa / Se Garfield (Part)

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys/Aspen and Vicinity / Ne S Eagle / Pitkin Except Xnc / X Ne Mesa / Se Garfield (Part) forecast zone
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison forecast zone
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Leadville and Vicinity / E Lake

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Leadville and Vicinity / E Lake forecast zone

Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains / E Ouray / X Sw Gunnison / N Hinsdale / Se San Miguel

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains / E Ouray / X Sw Gunnison / N Hinsdale / Se San Miguel forecast zone
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta

When
November 26, 4:00 PM MST to November 27, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta forecast zone
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (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, November 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: 5620457, 5620458, 5620459, 5620460, 5620461, 5620462, 5620463.