Colorado, 1999

Winter Storm in Colorado, April 1 to 2, 1999

April 1 to 2, 1999 · NWS GJT · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A slow moving upper low from the Pacific produced 1 to 3 feet of snow in the mountains of western Colorado and 8 to 12 inches in the lower elevations of southwest Colorado. Some of the heaviest snowfall reports included 33 inches on the Grand Mesa, 35 inches near Pagosa Springs, 36 inches at Telluride Ski Area, and 41 inches at Purgatory Ski Area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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
12

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 slow moving upper low from the Pacific produced 1 to 3 feet of snow in the mountains of western Colorado and 8 to 12 inches in the lower elevations of southwest Colorado. Some of the heaviest snowfall reports included 33 inches on the Grand Mesa, 35 inches near Pagosa Springs, 36 inches at Telluride Ski Area, and 41 inches at Purgatory Ski Area. Winds of 50 to 60 MPH in the higher mountains produced areas of blowing and drifting snow. A peak gust of 62 MPH was reported at Telluride Ski Area.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

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

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River / X Sw Mesa / W Montrose / C W San Miguel / C Dolores

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River / X Sw Mesa / W Montrose / C W San Miguel / C Dolores forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.294, -108.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River/Cortez and Vicinity / X Sw San Miguel / W Dolores / Monteauma Except Ne

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River/Cortez and Vicinity / X Sw San Miguel / W Dolores / Monteauma Except Ne forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity / S la Plata

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Animas River Basin/Durango and Vicinity / S la Plata forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, San Juan River Basin/Pagosa Springs and Vicinity / S Archuleta

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
San Juan River Basin/Pagosa Springs and Vicinity / S Archuleta forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus / Sw Rio Blanco / W Garfield / Part of Nc Mesa

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus / Sw Rio Blanco / W Garfield / Part of Nc Mesa forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM 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
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
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
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas / X Sc Garfield / E Mesa Except X Ne / N Delta forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
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
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM 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
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
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
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Uncompahgre Plateau / S Mesa Except X Sw / X Ne San Miguel / C Montrose / Nw Ouray

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Uncompahgre Plateau / S Mesa Except X Sw / X Ne San Miguel / C Montrose / Nw Ouray forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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

When
April 1, 8:00 AM MST to April 2, 6:00 PM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains / E Ouray / X Sw Gunnison / N Hinsdale / Se San Miguel forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 1999

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: 5697659, 5697660, 5697661, 5697662, 5697663, 5699434, 5699435, 5699436, 5699437, 5699438, 5699439, 5699440.