Colorado, 1999

Winter Storm in Colorado, April 4 to 5, 1999

April 4 to 5, 1999 · NWS PUB · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A fast moving winter storm brought some heavy snow to the higher elevations of the eastern San Juan and La Garita mountains. One to 3 inches of snow fell in the northern San Luis Valley.

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 PUB wrote it up.

A fast moving winter storm brought some heavy snow to the higher elevations of the eastern San Juan and La Garita mountains. One to 3 inches of snow fell in the northern San Luis Valley. A cool, moist northerly surge of air brought 3 to 6 inches of snow to northern and western El Paso county, including Colorado Springs. Monument received the 6 inch totals. The summit of Wolf Creek Pass had 18 inches of snow. Snows of over 8 inches occurred in the higher elevations of the eastern San Juan and La Garita 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 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, La Garita Mountains / W Sanguache

When
April 4, 8:00 AM MST to April 5, 1:00 AM MST
Where
La Garita Mountains / W Sanguache forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.677, -106.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern San Juan Mountains / Mineral / W Rio Grande / W Conejos

When
April 4, 8:00 AM MST to April 5, 1:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern San Juan Mountains / Mineral / W Rio Grande / W Conejos forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern San Luis Valley/Del Norte and Vicinity / E Sanguache Except X E / N Rio Grande

When
April 4, 12:00 PM MST to April 5, 3:00 AM MST
Where
Northern San Luis Valley/Del Norte and Vicinity / E Sanguache Except X E / N Rio Grande forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern El Paso County/Colorado Springs and Vicinity

When
April 4, 9:00 PM MST to April 5, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Southern El Paso County/Colorado Springs and Vicinity forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.240, -105.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge

When
April 4, 9:00 PM MST to April 5, 6:00 AM MST
Where
Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.992, -105.637 (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: 5694067, 5694068, 5694069, 5694070, 5694071.