Colorado, 2000

High Wind in Colorado, April 18, 2000

April 18, 2000 · NWS GJT · 19 events in 19 counties and zones

An approaching cold front induced strong winds across western Colorado. Gusts of 50 to 60 MPH were common.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 19 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.5 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
19

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.

An approaching cold front induced strong winds across western Colorado. Gusts of 50 to 60 MPH were common. Some peak measured wind gusts include 92 MPH on Huntsman Mesa in southwest Gunnison County, 84 MPH near Hotchkiss, 77 MPH near Ignacio, 74 MPH at Jacks Canyon on the Uncompahgre Plateau, 73 MPH near Montrose, 73 MPH on the Tavaputs Plateau just north of Palisade, and 67 MPH about 20 miles northwest of Craig. The strong winds downed many trees and a number of power poles. Several vehicles were smashed or damaged by fallen trees. Several mobile homes were destroyed when they were blown from their moorings. Many houses and businesses sustained damage, mostly as a result of being struck by fallen trees or by having the roofs blown off. Within one particular community in La Plata County, 20 houses were damaged. Electrical power and telephone service was disrupted in many areas for up to several hours. Many controlled burns became out-of-control fires.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Lower Yampa River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Lower Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Measured
43 kt (49 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.066, -108.109 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Central Yampa River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Central Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.361, -107.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grand Valley

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Grand Valley forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Debeque to Silt Corridor

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Debeque to Silt Corridor forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Central Colorado River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Central Colorado River Basin forecast zone
Measured
42 kt (48 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin forecast zone
Measured
73 kt (84 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.737, -107.907 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Upper Gunnison River Valley

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Upper Gunnison River Valley forecast zone
Measured
47 kt (54 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
Measured
64 kt (74 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Measured
80 kt (92 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Paradox Valley / Lower Dolores River Basin forecast zone
Measured
49 kt (56 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.294, -108.414 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Animas River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Animas River Basin forecast zone
Measured
67 kt (77 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, San Juan River Basin

When
April 18, 8:00 AM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
San Juan River Basin forecast zone
Measured
47 kt (54 mph)
Property damage
$1.5 million
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2000

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: 5138047, 5138048, 5138049, 5138050, 5138051, 5138052, 5138053, 5138054, 5138055, 5138056, 5138057, 5138058, 5138059, 5138060, 5138061, 5138062, 5138063, 5138064, 5138065.