Colorado, 2006

Winter Weather in Colorado, March 17 to 19, 2006

March 17 to 19, 2006 · NWS GJT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A Pacific low pressure system moved across western Colorado and produced widespread snowfall of 5 to 12 inches across most southern and central mountains of western Colorado. Locally higher amounts were reported in the western San Juan Mountains and included 21 inches at the Silverton Mountain Ski Area, 19 inches at Red Mountain Pass, and 13 inches at the Telluride Ski Area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
4

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 Pacific low pressure system moved across western Colorado and produced widespread snowfall of 5 to 12 inches across most southern and central mountains of western Colorado. Locally higher amounts were reported in the western San Juan Mountains and included 21 inches at the Silverton Mountain Ski Area, 19 inches at Red Mountain Pass, and 13 inches at the Telluride Ski Area.

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 Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 17, 2:46 PM MST, 3 hours 14 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 17, 2:46 PM MST, 3 hours 14 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 17, 4:37 AM MST, 13 hours 23 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
March 17, 6:00 PM MST to March 19, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
March 17, 6:00 PM MST to March 19, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
March 17, 6:00 PM MST to March 19, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
March 17, 6:00 PM MST to March 19, 3:00 PM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2006Every state in 2006This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 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: 5495802, 5495803, 5495804, 5495805.