A Pacific storm system tracking from southwestern Utah into southwestern Nebraska produced 26 inches of snow at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County) and lesser amounts across the rest of the Continental Divide, including 7 inches at the Monarch Ski Area.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A Pacific storm system tracking from southwestern Utah into southwestern Nebraska produced 26 inches of snow at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County) and lesser amounts across the rest of the Continental Divide, including 7 inches at the Monarch Ski Area.
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 Feb 7, 11:00 PM MST, 5 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1100 PM MST THU FEB 7 2013 .AVIATION... VFR EXPECTED AT ALL 3 TAF SITES...KPUB...KALS AND KCOS NEXT 24H. SFC WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY TOMORROW AFTERNOON FROM THE SOUTH- SOUTHWEST. EXPECT 15 TO 30 KNT WINDS BY AFTERNOON MTN TOP CLOUDS WILL THICKEN LATER TONIGHT ACROSS THE CONTDVD IN ADVANCE OF A LARGE STORM SYSTEM MOVING TOWARDS THE STATE. SNOW WILL DEVELOP TOMORROW MORNING ALONG THE DIVIDE...ESPECIALLY THE SW MTNS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 300 PM MST THU FEB 7 2013/ SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT AND FRIDAY) CURRENTLY...UPPER LEVEL RIDGING HAS MOVED ACROSS COLORADO WITH GENERALLY CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS. TEMPERATURES HAVE REMAINED COOL WITH MID 40S TO LOWER 50S FOR THE PLAINS. TONIGHT...THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL SHIFT EAST INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS AS A STRONG UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE GREAT BASIN. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL INCREASE TOWARDS MORNING WITH A FEW MID AND UPPER LEVEL CLOUDS MOVING INTO THE REGION. HIGH-RES MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE A FEW LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS DEVELOPING OVER THE SAN JUAN RANGE BY SUNRISE. FRIDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EAST INTO THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AS THE STORM APPROACHES. SURFACE WINDS WILL INCREASE BY EARLY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE PLAINS WITH WIDESPREAD WIND GUSTS 20 TO 40 KTS WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS OUT NEAR THE KANSAS BORDER. HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS GIVEN THE STRONG WINDS...BUT GIVEN MOISTURE ADVECTION INTO THE REGION...LOW LEVEL HUMIDITY VALUES WILL ONLY FALL TO AROUND 20 PERCENT. EXTREME CAUTION IS STILL ADVISED DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND ONGOING DROUGHT CONDITIONS...BUT ELEVATED HUMIDITY VALUES WILL KEEP US FROM ISSUING ANY HIGHLIGHTS AT THIS TIME. OTHERWISE...EXPECT SNOW TO INCREASE ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...ESPECIALLY OVER THE SAN JUAN RANGE. SNOW THROUGHOUT THE DAY OVER THE SAN JUANS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE AN INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION. LIGHT SNOW WILL ALSO INCREASE OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...HOWEVER ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH THE DAY SHOULD ONLY BE AROUND AN INCH. 88 LONG TERM... (FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ..GOOD SNOWS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...MUCH LIGHTER AMOUNTS EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS... LARGE UPPER LOW OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON IS CURRENTLY POISED TO DIVE SOUTHEAST AND CLOSE OFF OVER THE GREAT BASIN TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. THEN...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...IT WILL TAKE A TRACK FROM SOUTHWEST UTAH INTO SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. THIS TRACK WILL BE GOOD FOR SOME MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE DURING THIS PERIOD. HOWEVER...IT IS NOT VERY FAVORABLE FOR SNOW ACROSS THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS OR PLAINS. THUS...HAVE HOISTED A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR ALL THE RANGES ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...INCLUDING THE SAN JUAN...LA GARITA...SAWATCH AND MOSQUITO RANGES...WHERE 8 TO 16 INCHES IS POSSIBLE DURING THE WATCH PERIOD. FOR THE RANGES FARTHER EAST...THE FLOW REMAINS WESTERLY FOR THE DURATION OF THE STORM PASSAGE...WITH NO LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW TO BACK THE MOISTURE INTO THE MOUNTAINS. SO...3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN...ABOVE 10000 FEET DURING THIS TIME...WITH PERHAPS 1 TO 3 INCHES ON THE LOWER EASTERN SLOPES BELOW THIS LEVEL. FOR THE PLAINS...UPPER LOW TRACK FAVORS WIND RATHER THAN SNOW. COULD BE SOME INSTABILITY SHOWERS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS THE UPPER LOW TRACKS ACROSS...BUT MAINLY ACROSS THE PALMER DIVIDE AND NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY...WHERE LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH OR 2 WILL BE POSSIBLE. FOR EVERYONE ELSE ON THE PLAINS...JUST A HIT OR MISS SNOW SHOWER AT THIS POINT WITH LITTLE OR NO ACCUMULATION EXPECTED. ALSO...THE HIGH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS...INCLUDING THE SAN LUIS...WET AND UPPER ARKANSAS VALLEYS COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW SHOWER ACTIVITY AS THE LOW MOVES ACROSS SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. BUT...ANY ACCUMULATIONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD GENERALLY BE AN INCH OR LESS. A SECOND STORM SYSTEM IS POISED TO IMPACT THE AREA FROM LATER SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. THIS SECOND SYSTEM IS REALLY PART OF THE FIRST SYSTEM...COMING THROUGH AT A LATER TIME. THIS SECOND PIECE OF ENERGY IS PROGGED TO TAKE A MORE SOUTHERN TRACK...ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW MEXICO...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. BECAUSE OF ITS MORE SOUTHERN TRAJECTORY...THIS SECOND SYSTEM WILL PROBABLY FAVOR SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE STATE MORE THAN ITS NORTHERN COUSIN. THE WAY IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW...THE PALMER DIVIDE WOULD BE ON THE NORTHERN FRINGE OF THE SNOW...WITH INCREASING SNOW CHANCES AS YOU HEAD SOUTH TO NEW MEXICO. THIS WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS...EXCEPT THAT MOST OF THE GOOD DYNAMIC LIFT AND MOISTURE DEPART WITH THE FIRST SYSTEM. SO...ALL THE SECOND SYSTEM HAS TO WORK WITH IS SOME MODEST MOISTURE...WEAK DYNAMIC LIFT AND WEAK OROGRAPHIC LIFT. REGARDLESS...THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS ALONG THE I-25 CORRIDOR COULD SEE A PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW DEVELOP FROM LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY. CONFIDENCE NOT NEARLY HIGH ENOUGH TO RAISE POPS VERY MUCH AT THIS POINT BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. ALSO...THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WILL SEE ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL DEVELOP FROM THIS SECOND SYSTEM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY. AFTER THE SECOND SYSTEM...THERE'LL BE A COUPLE OF DRY DAYS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...AND THEN THE POTENTIAL FOR THIRD SYSTEM IMPACTING THE AREA ON THURSDAY THE 14TH. THIS 3RD SYSTEM IS HIGHLY UNCERTAIN AS IT IS STILL 7 DAYS AWAY. BUT...CURRENT TIMING WOULD BRING THE SYSTEM INTO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH SNOW SPREADING SOUTH ACROSS THE REST OF THE AREA...FAVORING THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS...ON THURSDAY. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. LW AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO FRIDAY AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 KTS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT ALL THREE TERMINAL LOCATIONS AFTER 18Z FRIDAY. 88 && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WATCH FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT FOR COZ058-060-066-068. && 34/34
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 745 PM MST THU FEB 7 2013 COZ058>089-093>099-090245- 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- 745 PM MST THU FEB 7 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS LATER TONIGHT. SPOTTY LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF GENERALLY LESS THAN AN INCH CAN BE EXPECTED BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE FRIDAY MORNING AND WILL BECOME STEADIER AND HEAVIER FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OVER THE DIVIDE...PARTICULARLY OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS THIS WEEKEND. LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS. A BRIEF PERIOD OF LIGHT SNOW MAY ALSO OCCUR OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY MORNING. ANY ACCUMULATIONS OVER THE PLAINS WILL LIKELY BE LIGHT. THE PALMER DIVIDE IN NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY COULD SEE A BRIEF PERIOD OF MODERATE SNOWFALL..ALONG WITH NORTH WINDS GUSTING FROM 25 TO 35 MPH...SATURDAY NIGHT OR EARLY SUNDAY. GUSTY WINDS ALONG WITH BLOWING SNOW COULD RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS...PARTICULARLY OVER MONUMENT HILL AND HIGHWAY 24 EARLY SUNDAY. LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO FALL OVER THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK. A SECOND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO NORTHERN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO ON MONDAY. THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS STORM IS STILL HIGHLY UNCERTAIN...BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL TRACK SOUTH OF OUR AREA...AND SHOULD BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOWFALL TO THE ENTIRE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. DEPENDING ON THE TRACK THIS SYSTEM EVENTUALLY TAKES...THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR COULD SEE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW BY TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS WILL NOT BE NEEDED TONIGHT. 34/34
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2013
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: 436700.