Colorado, 2013

Winter Weather in Colorado, April 13 to 14, 2013

April 13 to 14, 2013 · NWS GJT · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong upper level jet and surface cold front brought significant snowfall to many mountain areas of western Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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 strong upper level jet and surface cold front brought significant snowfall to many mountain 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 Apr 13, 2:31 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 13, 2:31 PM MST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 13, 5:46 AM MST, 10 hours 14 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 13, 1:26 PM MST, 2 hours 34 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

6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
April 13, 4:00 PM MST to April 14, 9:00 AM 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 amounts of 5 to 12 inches were measured across the zone. Locally higher amounts of 15 inches were reported at the Beaver Creek Ski Area and 14 inches on Independence Pass.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
April 13, 5:00 PM MST to April 14, 7:00 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 amounts of 5 to 10 inches were measured across the zone.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
April 13, 6:00 PM MST to April 14, 7:00 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 amounts of 5 to 12 inches were measured across the zone. Locally higher amounts included 18 inches at the Crosho SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
April 13, 6:00 PM MST to April 14, 10:00 AM 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 amounts of 5 to 12 inches were measured across the zone. Locally higher amounts of 21 inches were reported at Irwin Lodge Ski Area, and 14 inches at Schofield Pass. Power outages and locally strong winds were also reported.

Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
April 13, 7:00 PM MST to April 14, 7:00 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)

Snowfall amounts of 5 to 11 inches were measured across the zone.

Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
April 13, 10:00 PM MST to April 14, 9:00 AM 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 amounts of 5 to 8 inches were measured across the zone. Wind gusts ranged from 25 to 45 mph producing blowing and drifting snow. Stronger winds were measured on ridgetops with gust of 72 mph measured on Mount Abrahms.

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 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2013

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: 507484, 507483, 507485, 507486, 507487, 507488.