Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 18 to 20, 2012

Name: Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 18 to 20, 2012
Start: 2012-03-18T05:00
End: 2012-03-20T06:00
Location: Colorado

March 18 to 20, 2012 · NWS GJT · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

A Pacific trough brought heavy snow accumulations and strong winds to many mountain areas, as well as significant snowfall to some lower elevation areas of western Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 12

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 trough brought heavy snow accumulations and strong winds to many mountain areas, as well as significant snowfall to some lower elevation areas of western Colorado.

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 18, 3:50 AM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 18, 3:50 AM MST, 1 hour 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
450 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT)
ISSUED AT 450 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

P-GRADS ARE STRENGTHENING THIS MORNING WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
NEAR ALAMOSA...AND LOW PRESSURE NEAR SALT LAKE. MODEL GUIDANCE
SUGGESTS VERY STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL VALLEYS AND PORTIONS
OF THE NW PLATEAU. CURRENT WIND ADVISORY IS IN SYNC WITH GUIDANCE.

OTHERWISE THE STRONG LONG WAVE TROF OVER THE GRT BASIN THAT HAS
BEEN WELL ADVERTISED WILL SHIFT EWRD TODAY...PUSHING A DRAMATIC
COLD FRONT THROUGH ERN UT THIS MORNING AND WRN CO EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON. OVERALL QG FORCING PRETTY IMPRESSIVE ALONG WITH DECENT
MOISTURE AND VERY RESPONSIVE LAPSE RATES. CURRENT WINTER
HIGHLIGHTS LOOK ON TRACK WITH RESPECT TO BOTH TIMING AND INTENSITY
OF THIS EVENT. EXPECT A GOOD BURST OF PCPN WITH THE FRONT AND
RAPIDLY COOLING TEMPS. WARM PAVEMENT SURFACES IN THE LOWER AND MID
ELEVATIONS WILL PRECLUDE SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UNTIL LATTER THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE FRONT WILL WASTE NO TIME MAKING IT
THROUGH OUR ENTIRE CWA AND EXPECT IT TO BE EAST OF THE AREA BY
LATE THIS EVENING. THIS WILL LEAD TO MUCH COOLER TEMPS TONIGHT AND
SPECIFIC HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ALSO BEGIN TO DECREASE. HOWEVER
A STRONG OROGRAPHIC COMPONENT AND FAVORABLE DENDRITIC GROWTH
REGION WILL ALLOW SNOW TO CONTINUE ALL AREAS INCLUDING THE LOWER
VALLEY LOCATIONS.

.LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 450 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

COLD TROUGH WILL BE OVER UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO ON MONDAY...BUT
THE MAIN UPPER LOW WILL BE MOVING NORTH TOWARD SASKATCHEWAN.
CONVECTIVE SNOW SHOWERS WILL TEND TO HUG THE HIGHER TERRAIN GIVEN
THE LIGHT GRADIENT FLOW AND THE LACK OF QG FORCING.  MOISTURE
CONTENT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY DRIER AND THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE QPF
FORECAST.  HOWEVER THE LAYER OF POTENTIAL INSTABILITY REMAINS DEEP
AND ABOVE 500 MB...INDICATING THAT CONVECTIVE SNOW SHOWERS WILL
STILL BE ROBUST WITH MODERATE ACCUMULATIONS.

SHEAR AXIS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TROUGH DOES NOT TRANSLATE ACROSS
THE FORECAST AREA UNTIL TUESDAY (ECMWF IS FASTER BUT THE SLOWER
MOVEMENT IS PREFERRED).  THE LAYER OF POTENTIAL INSTABILITY WILL BE
SHRINKING AND MOISTURE CONTENT CONTINUES TO TREND LOWER...THE THREAT
OF NEW SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LOW.  ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
OROGRAPHIC SNOW SHOWERS/FLURRIES WILL PERSIST OVER THE NRN AND
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS UNTIL THE BACK SIDE OF THE TROUGH MOVES EAST OF
THE DIVIDE.

WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND AND DRY AS
RIDGE BUILDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS.  EXPECT 5-10 DEGREES OF
WARMING ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...BUT THE RATE OF WARMING SLOWS ON
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.  BY LATE IN THE WEEK...TEMPERATURES WILL BE
SEVERAL DEGREES ABOVE CLIMO.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z EARLY MONDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 450 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

SOUTH WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN STARTING EARLY THIS MORNING. CLOUDS
AND PRECIPITATION WILL BE ON THE INCREASE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE
FRONT LATE THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS WILL BRING
LOWERING CLOUD BASES AND VSBYS FOR WIDESPREAD MVFR AND OCCASIONAL
IFR CONDITIONS AT ALL TAF SITES. MOUNTAINS AND HIGH PASSES WILL
ALL BECOME OBSCURED.

ISOLATED CONVECTIVE SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS WILL PRODUCE OCCASIONAL LIFR
CIGS AND VSBYS ALONG THE RIDGES AND HIGH MT PASSES. SOUTH WINDS
OF 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH WILL PRODUCE MECHANICAL
TURBULENCE.

&&

.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ001-002-006-011.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM MDT
     TUESDAY FOR COZ014.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT MDT
     MONDAY NIGHT FOR COZ018.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY
     NIGHT FOR COZ009-012-017.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON MDT
     MONDAY FOR COZ020-021.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT MONDAY FOR COZ019.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT MONDAY
     NIGHT FOR COZ003-010-013.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO NOON MDT MONDAY
     FOR COZ022-023.

UT...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MDT MONDAY FOR UTZ025-028.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR UTZ027.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 3 PM MDT MONDAY FOR UTZ023.

&&

SHORT TERM...MC
LONG TERM....PF
AVIATION...MC

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 18, 12:22 AM MST, 4 hours 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
122 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1252 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNE GRAND JUNCTION    39.12N 108.53W
03/18/2012  M51 MPH          MESA               CO   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1200268

DC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 1:39 AM MST, 3 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
239 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNE GRAND JUNCTION    39.12N 108.53W
03/18/2012  M55 MPH          MESA               CO   ASOS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1200269

DC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 2:43 AM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
343 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0300 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW RED MOUNTAIN PASS 37.88N 107.74W
03/18/2012  M54 MPH          SAN JUAN           CO   MESONET

            WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE EAGLE SNOTEL NEAR RED MTN
            PASS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1200270

DC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 3:31 AM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
431 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0400 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW RED MOUNTAIN PASS 37.88N 107.74W
03/18/2012  M62 MPH          SAN JUAN           CO   MESONET

            WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE EAGLE SNOTEL NEAR RED MTN
            PASS

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1200271

DC

Local storm report, Mar 18, 4:29 AM MST, 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
529 AM MDT SUN MAR 18 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0500 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW RED MOUNTAIN PASS 37.88N 107.74W
03/18/2012  M82 MPH          SAN JUAN           CO   MESONET

            WIND GUST MEASURED AT THE EAGLE SNOTEL NEAR RED
            MOUNTAIN PASS.

&&

EVENT NUMBER GJT1200272

DC

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 winter weather, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When: March 18, 5:00 AM MST to March 19, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 10 to 17 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 57 mph on Kendall Mountain. Snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet deep occurred in the Red Mountain Pass area.

Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When: March 18, 6:00 AM MST to March 19, 11:00 PM MST
Where: Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 12 to 18 inches were measured above the 8000 foot level. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 78 mph on Mount Abrahms. Snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet deep occurred in the Red Mountain Pass area.

Winter Weather, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide

When: March 18, 12:00 PM MST to March 19, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 11 inches were measured above the 7500 foot level. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 65 mph at the Cottonwood Basin RAWS site.

Winter Weather, Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin

When: March 18, 12:00 PM MST to 7:00 PM MST
Where: Four Corners / Upper Dolores River Basin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 37.698, -108.507 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches were measured above the 6000 foot level. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When: March 18, 1:00 PM MST to March 19, 9:00 PM 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)

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 12 inches were measured across the area, except for locally heavier accumulations on the southern portion of the Grand Mesa where 16 inches was measured at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 61 mph at the Whitewater Creek climate station.

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When: March 18, 1:00 PM MST to March 19, 10:00 PM MST
Where: West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 56 mph near Monarch Pass.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When: March 18, 1:00 PM MST to March 20, 5:00 AM MST
Where: Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 11 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Upper Gunnison River Valley

When: March 18, 1:00 PM MST to March 19, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Upper Gunnison River Valley forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches were measured across the wester portion of the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather, San Juan River Basin

When: March 18, 2:00 PM MST to 10:00 PM MST
Where: San Juan River Basin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations around 3 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When: March 18, 2:00 PM MST to March 19, 7:00 PM MST
Where: Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of around 5 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When: March 18, 2:00 PM MST to March 19, 5:00 PM MST
Where: Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches were measured across most of the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow. I-70 was closed for a period of time due to vehicle accidents on the slick and snowpacked roadway.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When: March 18, 3:00 PM MST to March 20, 6:00 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)

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

Every storm in Colorado in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, March 2012

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: 371038, 371040, 371061, 371062, 371044, 371053, 371060, 371063, 371043, 371058, 371059, 371064.