Colorado, 1999

Winter Storm in Colorado, February 5 to 6, 1999

February 5 to 6, 1999 · NWS GJT · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A moist southwest flow ahead of a Pacific storm system produced 8 to 12 inches of snow in most mountain areas of western Colorado. Some lower elevation areas received 6 to 10 inches of snow, especially in the southwest corner of the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
10

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 ahead of a Pacific storm system produced 8 to 12 inches of snow in most mountain areas of western Colorado. Some lower elevation areas received 6 to 10 inches of snow, especially in the southwest corner of the state. Strong southwest winds in some mountain areas produced blowing and drifting snow.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 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
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity / C Routt

When
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Yampa River Basin/Steamboat Springs and Vicinity / C Routt forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.485, -106.991 (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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc to Ec Gunnison

When
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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, Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta

When
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains / C E Dolores / San Juan / S Hinsdale / N la Plata / Ne Montezuma / E N Archuleta forecast zone
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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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
February 5, 12:00 AM MST to February 6, 7:00 AM 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)

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, February 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: 5688361, 5688362, 5688363, 5688364, 5688365, 5688366, 5688367, 5688479, 5688480, 5688481.