Colorado, 2013

Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, February 13 to 15, 2013

February 13 to 15, 2013 · NWS GJT · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A moist northwest flow aloft with embedded disturbances produced significant to heavy snowfall in the mountains of northwest Colorado.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
3

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 moist northwest flow aloft with embedded disturbances produced significant to heavy snowfall in the mountains of northwest Colorado.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
February 13, 3:00 AM MST to February 15, 5:00 PM 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 12 to 18 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 28 inches at the Tower SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
February 14, 2:00 AM MST to February 15, 4:00 PM MST
Where
Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 15 inches at the Ripple Creek SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
February 14, 2:00 AM MST to February 15, 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 amounts of 4 to 11 inches were measured across the area.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 518797, 518793, 518799.