Winter Storm in Colorado, January 19 to 20, 2006

Name: Winter Storm in Colorado, January 19 to 20, 2006
Start: 2006-01-19T11:00
End: 2006-01-20T02:00
Location: Colorado

January 19 to 20, 2006 · NWS PUB · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

A strong, slow moving storm system produced widespread snow across southern Colorado. 18 inches at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass in Mineral County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 17

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 strong, slow moving storm system produced widespread snow across southern Colorado. Some of the higher snow totals follow: 6 to 10 inches in and around...Trinidad...Aguilar...Walsenburg...Colorado Springs...Nathrop...Crestone...Maysville...Salida...Cripple Creek...Divide...Monarch Pass and La Veta...12 inches of snow was noted 12 miles north-northeast of Texas Creek in Fremont County...8 miles west of Westcliffe in Custer County and in Beulah in Pueblo County...13 inches 5 miles south of Rosita in Custer County...14 inches in and near Cuchara...15 inches around San Isabel...17 inches around Rye...and finally...not to be outdone...18 inches at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass in Mineral County.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 18, 3:02 PM MST, 19 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 18, 3:02 PM MST, 19 hours 58 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
302 PM MST WED JAN 18 2006

.SHORT TERM...
(TONIGHT AND SUNDAY)

...MORE SNOW FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS TONIGHT AND THURSDAY...
...WINDY OVER THE SANGRES AND RATON TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING...

WARM DAY TODAY WITH TEMPS TOPPING OUT IN THE MID 60S OVER THE PLAINS
AS PREDICTED. LESS WIND TONIGHT AND COOLING ALOFT SHOULD DROP LOWS
TONIGHT A GOOD 5 TO 10 DEGREES LOWER THAN LAST NIGHT. EXCEPT FOR SOME
CIRRUS SHOULD BE A PRETTY CLEAR NIGHT. WINDS TODAY WERE FAIRLY WELL
BEHAVED. SOME GUSTS IN VICINITY OF WALSENBURG AND TRINIDAD
REGISTERED IN THE 40S TODAY. EXPOSED AND ELEVATED WIND PRONE AREAS
SHOULD BE EVEN MORE WINDY TONIGHT AND FRI MORNING AS CORE OF A 90 KT
MID-LEVEL JET STREAK PASSES THROUGH N NM. GUSTS SHOULD BE
BRIEF/LOCALIZED SO DID NOT ISSUE ANY HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WIND.

MODELS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE DETAILS CONCERNING THE STORM
CURRENTLY DEVELOPING OFF THE OR-WA COAST. INITIALIZATION OF NCEP
SUITE LOOKS REASONABLE...THOUGH MAY BE A TAD TOO FAR NORTH WITH THE
LOW CENTER. LOOKS AS THOUGH GFS HAS BETTER HANDLE ON OVERALL
PATTERN. UNFORTUNATELY THAT LEAVES LITTE GUIDANCE FOR MESOSCALE
OROGRAPHICS AND PRECIP. GFS PAINTS HIGHEST QPF OVER THE NORTHERN
RANGES WHILE ETA12 IGNORES THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND TARGETS THE
SAN JUANS. WINDS ARE MODEST...BUT MOISTURE APPEARS RESPECTABLE WITH
SOUNDINGS PRETTY MUCH SATURATED THROUGH THE TROPOSPHERE. ATMOSPHERE
BECOMES RATHER UNSTABLE ON THU WITH 8.5 DEGREE LAPSE RATES NOTED
OVER THE N MTNS. SHOULD SEE A GOOD 12-24 HOURS OF MODERATE SNOWS
OVER THE W AND SW SLOPES. STORM NOT QUITE STRONG ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY
WARNING CRITERIA...BUT WILL ISSUE AN ADVISORY FOR ALL OF THE CENTRAL
MTNS AS PASSES SHOULD PICK UP SOME DECENT SNOWFALL.

STROM SHIFTS INTO TELLER...EL PASO...AND FREMONT COUNTIES BY SUNSET.
TEMPS SHOULD BE COOLING OFF INTO THE 40S BY THEN AND LOW BL DEWPOINTS
SHOULD PERMIT RAPID TRANSITION TO AN ALL SNOW EVENT...IF THERE IS
ANY PRECIP BEFORE 00Z. MAY SEE SOME SNOW START OVER MONUMENT HILL
BEFORE THE END OF RUSH HOUR. ROSE

.LONG TERM...
(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)

...BIGGEST PROBLEM IS AMOUNTS OF SNOW EXPECTED THURSDAY NIGHT INTO
   FRIDAY...

NAM CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO EASTERN COLORADO
AROUND 00Z FRIDAY. A COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTH INTO THE
PALMER DIVIDE AREA AROUND 02Z WITH MAXIMUM UPSLOPE AND STRONGEST
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS BETWEEN 06Z AND 12Z. THIS WILL COMBINE
WITH THE BEST UPSLOPE CONDITIONS OVER EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES...
WITH A QUICK 1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW OVER MAINLY NORTHEAST AND EAST
FACING SLOPES. TO THE SOUTH...MAINLY EAST FACING SLOPES OF THE WET
MOUNTAINS AND SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS WILL RECEIVE 2 TO 5 INCHES
OF SNOW. SNOW WILL BE MAINLY FLUFFY DUE TO VERY COLD AIR ALOFT WITH
THIS SYSTEM.

THE NAM PROG INDICATES THAT WINDS WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNRISE FRIDAY
OVER THE NORTHERN AREAS...WITH THE TROF LINE MOVING SOUTH TO THE
RATON MESA AREA...WITH MODEST ACCUMULATIONS MAINLY THROUGH THE
MORNING IN THAT AREA.

SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...THE GFS INDICATES ANOTHER SYSTEM MOVING
THROUGH OUR AREA...WITH CONTINUING SOUTHWEST FLOW BRINGING LIMITED
MOISTURE BRINGING LIGHT AMOUNTS MAINLY TO THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS.

WEDNESDAY...ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE
GREAT BASIN...BRINGING SOME PRECIPITATION TO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
DURING THE DAY.  -JKH-

&&

.PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SNOW ADVISORY FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 PM MST THURSDAY FOR
COZ058-COZ059-COZ060-COZ061-COZ064-COZ065-COZ066-COZ067-COZ068.

&&

44/51

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.677, -106.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Western Chaffee County Between 9000 & 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Western Chaffee County Between 9000 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.747, -106.194 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.484, -106.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.832, -106.332 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West / Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: West / Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Westcliffe Vicinity / Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.897, -105.164 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Teller County / Rampart Range Above 7500 Ft / Pikes Peak Between 7500 & 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Teller County / Rampart Range Above 7500 Ft / Pikes Peak Between 7500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.729, -105.043 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Colorado Springs Vicinity / Southern El Paso County / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Colorado Springs Vicinity / Southern El Paso County / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.832, -104.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Walsenburg Vicinity / Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Walsenburg Vicinity / Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.685, -104.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Trinidad Vicinity / Lower Huerfano River Basin & Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Trinidad Vicinity / Lower Huerfano River Basin & Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.316, -104.039 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northwest Fremont County Above 8500 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Northwest Fremont County Above 8500 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.473, -105.440 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wet Mountains Between 8500 and 10000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Wet Mountains Between 8500 and 10000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.110, -105.070 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wet Mountains Above 10000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Wet Mountains Above 10000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 37.989, -104.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pikes Peak Above 11000 Ft

When: January 19, 11:00 AM MST to January 20, 2:00 AM MST
Where: Pikes Peak Above 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 38.857, -104.844 (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

Every storm in Colorado in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, January 2006

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5487136, 5487137, 5487138, 5487139, 5487140, 5487141, 5487142, 5487143, 5487144, 5487145, 5487146, 5487147, 5487148, 5487149, 5487150, 5487151, 5487152.