Colorado, 2000

Winter Storm in Colorado, March 20 to 21, 2000

March 20 to 21, 2000 · NWS GJT · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

A cold and moist upper low moved slowly eastward across the southern Rockies and produced 12 to 18 inches of snow in the mountains of western Colorado. Some lower elevation areas in northwest and extreme southwest Colorado received 4 to 8 inches of snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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
11

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 cold and moist upper low moved slowly eastward across the southern Rockies and produced 12 to 18 inches of snow in the mountains of western Colorado. Some lower elevation areas in northwest and extreme southwest Colorado received 4 to 8 inches of snow. Heavier reported amounts in the mountains include 23 inches at Rio Grande Reservoir, 23 inches in the mountains 12 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs, 22 inches at Lemon Dam, 20 inches on the Grand Mesa, 20 inches at Fort Lewis, and 19 inches at Purgatory Ski Area. Heavier amounts reported at lower elevations include 14 inches at Pagosa Springs and 9 inches in West Durango. Strong winds accompanied the snowfall in many areas. Measured peak gusts include 80 MPH at Steamboat Springs Ski Area, 60 MPH at Ladore Pass, and 56 MPH at Telluride Ski Area. The storm resulted in many road closures, stranded thousands of motorists, downed power lines in some areas, shut down airports, and resulted in the rescue of nearly 300 people who were trapped on the mountain at Steamboat Springs 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

11 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Central Yampa River Basin

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Central Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.361, -107.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus 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

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains 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

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide 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

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Animas River Basin

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Animas River Basin 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

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
San Juan River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Flattop Mountains

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lower Yampa River Basin

When
March 20, 12:00 AM MST to March 21, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Lower Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
40.066, -108.109 (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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 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: 5137430, 5137431, 5137432, 5137433, 5137434, 5137435, 5137436, 5137437, 5137438, 5137439, 5138939.