Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, November 28 to 29, 1997

November 28 to 29, 1997 · NWS BOU · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong north to northeast upslope flow developed over northeast Colorado as a storm system tracked across northern New Mexico. Heavy snow fell portions of the northern mountains and in the foothills and Monument Ridge area west and south of Denver.

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
  • 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 BOU wrote it up.

A strong north to northeast upslope flow developed over northeast Colorado as a storm system tracked across northern New Mexico. Heavy snow fell portions of the northern mountains and in the foothills and Monument Ridge area west and south of Denver. Gusty northerly winds 20 to 35 mph blew across portions of Monument Ridge causing some blowing and drifting snow.Snowfall totals included: 14.5 inches at Larkspur, 14 inches near Deckers, 13 inches at Breckenridge Ski Area, 12 inches at Castle Rock and Sedalia, 11 inches at Elizabeth, with 10 inches reported at Buffalo Creek, 3 miles southwest of Conifer, Keystone and 11 miles southwest of Morrison. Elsewhere accumulations generally ranged from 5 to 8 inches.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Summit County/Mosquito Range/Indian Peaks

When
November 28, 4:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Summit County/Mosquito Range/Indian Peaks forecast zone
Coordinates
39.726, -105.675 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin

When
November 28, 4:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin forecast zone
Coordinates
39.516, -105.413 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Denver Metropolitan Area

When
November 28, 4:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Denver Metropolitan Area forecast zone
Coordinates
39.714, -104.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern Douglas and Western Elbert Counties/Castle Rock and Vicinity

When
November 28, 4:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Douglas and Western Elbert Counties/Castle Rock and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
39.422, -104.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Front Range Foothills/Upper Laramie and Cache la Poudre River Basins

When
November 28, 4:00 PM MST to November 29, 11:00 AM MST
Where
Northern Front Range Foothills/Upper Laramie and Cache la Poudre River Basins forecast zone
Coordinates
40.380, -105.410 (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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5622163, 5622164, 5622165, 5622166, 5622167.