Colorado, 1998

Winter Storm in Colorado, March 27 to 29, 1998

March 27 to 29, 1998 · NWS GJT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A moist southwest flow produced 10 to 20 inches of snow over most central and southern mountain areas of western Colorado. Some heavier amounts included 36 inches at Purgatory Ski Area, 31 inches at Coal Bank Pass, and 29 inches at Chattanooga near Red Mountain Pass.

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 GJT wrote it up.

A moist southwest flow produced 10 to 20 inches of snow over most central and southern mountain areas of western Colorado. Some heavier amounts included 36 inches at Purgatory Ski Area, 31 inches at Coal Bank Pass, and 29 inches at Chattanooga near Red Mountain Pass. Wind gusts of 45 to 65 MPH were common in the mountains. Mount Abrams in the northwest San Juan Mountains had a peak gust of 86 MPH. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds resulted in over 50 known avalanches in the San Juan Mountains. The heavy snow and avalanches caused many road closures.

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, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
March 27, 4:00 PM MST to March 29, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park

When
March 27, 4:00 PM MST to March 29, 8:00 AM 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)

Winter Storm, Uncompahgre Plateau

When
March 27, 4:00 PM MST to March 29, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Uncompahgre Plateau forecast zone
Coordinates
38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
March 27, 4:00 PM MST to March 29, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
March 27, 4:00 PM MST to March 29, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains 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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 1998

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: 5638482, 5638483, 5638484, 5638485, 5638486.