Two men were buried and perished when up to 2 1/2 feet of snow slid off a cabin roof 17 miles west of Creede. This was the first instance of a fatal roof avalanche since 1996 in Vail.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
Two men were buried and perished when up to 2 1/2 feet of snow slid off a cabin roof 17 miles west of Creede. This was the first instance of a fatal roof avalanche since 1996 in Vail.
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 Mar 19, 4:36 AM MST, 7 hours 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 536 AM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010 .SHORT TERM... (TODAY AND TONIGHT) ...SNOW TO SPREAD QUICKLY SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING... MORNING SATELLITE PICTURES AND RADAR LOOPS SHOW A BROAD BAROCLINIC ZONE ORGANIZING ALONG A DIAGONAL EXTENDING FROM NORTHWEST COLORADO INTO NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST COLORADO. THERE IS SNOW UNDER THIS BAND AT THE PRESENT TIME...AND PRECIPITATION WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD...MORE INTENSE AND BETTER ORGANIZED AS IT SHIFTS SOUTH INTO SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO EARLY THIS MORNING. SO...THE STORM IS STILL ON ITS WAY ALTHOUGH NOT A LOT HAS HAPPENED DOWN OUR WAY SO FAR. HAVE LEFT HIGHLIGHTS AS THEY APPEARED IN THE EVENING FORECAST IN TACT...ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRIMMED AMOUNTS DOWN IN MANY CASES...BASED ON THE LATEST MODEL RUNS WHICH ARE TENDING TO SHIFT THE MAIN PRECIPITATION BAND SOUTHWARD A LITTLE QUICKER THAN IN PREVIOUS RUNS. THIS WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF LESSENING ACCUMULATIONS SOME...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. ALSO...WITH THIS QUICKER MOVEMENT OF THINGS...IT LOOKS LIKE THE SYSTEM WILL WIND DOWN A LITTLE QUICKER THAN PREVIOUS THOUGHT...WITH MOST OF THE ACTIVITY LIKELY DIMINISHING AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHILE THIS SYSTEM DOES APPEAR AS THOUGH IT WILL SHIFT SOUTH A LITTLE QUICKER THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT...THERE WILL STILL BE SEVERAL HOURS OF SNOW AND WIND TO DEAL WITH TODAY...RESULTING IN AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW...REDUCED VISIBILITY...AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. SNOWFALL...WHICH HAS NOT BEEN VERY WIDESPREAD SO FAR...SHOULD QUICKLY EXPAND ACROSS THE I-25 CORRIDOR BETWEEN 6 AND 9 THIS MORNING...WITH SNOWFALL INTENSITIES INCREASING. PLEASE SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE (WMO HEADER WWUS45) ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE FOR DETAILS ON EXPECTED SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE AREA. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/PUB. LW .LONG TERM... (SATURDAY-THURSDAY) MAIN LONG TERM CONCERNS ARE TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK ALONG WITH INCREASING CHANCES OF WIDESPREAD PRECIP NEXT TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SATURDAY-SUNDAY...STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY MODERATES TO MORE WESTERLY THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY AS UPPER TROUGH AXIS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO EARLY SATURDAY DIGS INTO THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGING BUILDS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND INTO WESTERLY COLORADO THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SUBSIDENCE INCREASES BEHIND TROUGH AXIS AND SHOULD SEE SNOW SHOWERS DIMINISHING ACROSS EASTERN MTS AND PLAINS THROUGH THE LATE MORNING WITH SOME LIGHT ACCUMS STILL POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND NORTHEAST FAVORED TERRAIN OF THE EASTERN MTS...THE PALMER DVD AND RATON MESA. A COLD AIRMASS REMAINS IN PLACE BEHIND PASSING SYSTEM AND WITH BREEZY NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS STILL LOOKING AT A RAW DAY DESPITE A SLIGHT WARMUP INTO THE LATE AFTERNOON. WARMING ALOFT UNDER BUILDING RIDGE ALLOWS FOR TEMPS AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES ACROSS THE AREA FOR SUNDAY. SUNDAY NIGHT-TUESDAY...WARMER AND MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING AS UPPER RIDGING BUILDS ACROSS THE STATE MONDAY AHEAD OF A NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEMS MOVING INTO THE GREAT BASIN REGION. H7 TEMPS WARM TO BETWEEN 0C AND 4C ACROSS THE AREA MONDAY AND ALONG WITH WEAK DOWNSLOPE FLOW...SHOULD SEE HIGHS APPROACHING 70F ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE FAR EASTERN PLAINS WITH SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPS EXPECTED TUESDAY ALONG WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AS MID AND HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE INCREASES ACROSS THE REGION. TUESDAY NIGHT-THURSDAY...A BROAD UPPER TROUGH IS PROGGED TO MOVE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE PERIOD AS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEMS MERGE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND THEN CONTINUES ACROSS THE ROCKIES. WITH A COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY...SHOULD SEE INCREASING CHANCES OF PRECIP ACROSS THE AREA AND HAVE BEGUN TRENDING POPS UPWARD THROUGH THE PERIOD...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND ALONG AND WEST OF THE I-25 CORRIDOR WITH DEVELOPING UPSLOPE FLOW. -MW && .AVIATION...WIDESPREAD MVFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD SOUTH ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO THIS MORNING AND LAST INTO THIS EVENING...AS A STRONG LATE WINTER STORM SHIFTS SOUTH OVER THE REGION. IMPROVING CONDITIONS...FROM NORTH TO SOUTH...SHOULD BE NOTED AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT...AS THE STORM SYSTEM SHIFTS SOUTH THROUGH NEW MEXICO INTO TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA. ALL 3 TAF SITES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THESE CONDITIONS. LW && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR COZ058>061-063- 081-082-084. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR COZ062-066>068- 072>080-083. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR COZ064-065-069>071-085>088-093-094. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM MDT SATURDAY FOR COZ099. && 50/23
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 631 AM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010 COZ058>089-093>099-201245- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT- LEADVILLE VICINITY/LAKE COUNTY BELOW 11000 FT- EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT- CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY BELOW 9000 FT- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST CHAFFEE COUNTY ABOVE 9000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY WEST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT- EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- DEL NORTE VICINITY/NORTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- ALAMOSA VICINITY/CENTRAL SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- SOUTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 8500 AND 11000 FT- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- NORTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTY ABOVE 8500 FT- WESTERN/CENTRAL FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 8500 FT- WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY BELOW 8500 FEET- WET MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 6300 AND 10000 FT- WET MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-PIKES PEAK ABOVE 11000 FT- CANON CITY VICINITY/EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY- NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7500 FT- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT-PUEBLO AND VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FT- WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT- TRINIDAD VICINITY/WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY BELOW 7500 FT- CROWLEY COUNTY-LA JUNTA VICINITY/OTERO COUNTY- EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-WESTERN KIOWA COUNTY- EASTERN KIOWA COUNTY-LAS ANIMAS VICINITY/BENT COUNTY- LAMAR VICINITY/PROWERS COUNTY-SPRINGFIELD VICINITY/BACA COUNTY- 631 AM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG...LATE WINTER STORM WILL BRING WIDESPREAD SNOW TO THE REGION TODAY...ALONG WITH AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY. ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 16 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN COLORADO...WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER THE AREAS NEAR THE MOUNTAINS. THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AND MOST OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS AWAY FROM THE MOUNTAINS WILL SEE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOWFALL. NORTHEAST WINDS AT 15 TO 25 MPH WILL RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PLAINS AND THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN PASSES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY LIGHT SNOWFALL WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE ACROSS AREA SATURDAY MORNING WITH ANY ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED TO BE GENERALLY LESS THAN AN INCH. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL AGAIN BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...AS ANOTHER WEATHER SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY TODAY OVER MUCH OF THE AREA. 50/23
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1227 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1227 PM SNOW 5 SSE CRESTONE 37.93N 105.67W
03/19/2010 E2.0 INCH SAGUACHE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
28PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1237 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1237 PM SNOW 1 SSE CRESTONE 37.98N 105.69W
03/19/2010 E3.0 INCH SAGUACHE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
28PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1239 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 PM SNOW 5 WSW WALSENBURG 37.60N 104.86W
03/19/2010 M2.0 INCH HUERFANO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
1230 PM SNOW 2 NE LEADVILLE 39.27N 106.27W
03/19/2010 M6.0 INCH LAKE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE MIDNIGHT... STARTED AROUND 6 AM...
&&
JKHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1242 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1241 PM SNOW 4 N FLORISSANT 39.00N 105.29W
03/19/2010 M4.0 INCH TELLER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
28PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1246 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM SNOW 1 SSE WOLF CREEK PASS 37.47N 106.79W
03/19/2010 M4.0 INCH MINERAL CO NWS EMPLOYEE
1245 PM SNOW 1 SSW RYE 37.91N 104.94W
03/19/2010 M4.0 INCH PUEBLO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
28PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1246 PM MDT FRI MAR 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 PM SNOW 1 SSW RYE 37.91N 104.94W
03/19/2010 M4.0 INCH PUEBLO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
28The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche, Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft | 2010-03-19 | 56 | Male | Long Span Roof | Direct |
| Avalanche, Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft | 2010-03-19 | 53 | Male | Long Span Roof | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2010
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: 222685.