A rapidly moving Pacific trough and associated cold front moved through Colorado bringing widespread snowfall and windy conditions to the mountains of northwest Colorado, as well as the lower elevations of the mid and upper Yampa River Basin.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 GJT wrote it up.
A rapidly moving Pacific trough and associated cold front moved through Colorado bringing widespread snowfall and windy conditions to the mountains of northwest Colorado, as well as the lower elevations of the mid and upper Yampa River Basin.
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 17, 9:59 AM MST, 4 hours 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1059 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 406 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
...BIG WEATHER CHANGES IN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS...
TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR ABOVE NORMAL TODAY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS
DUE TO SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF A RAPIDLY MOVING COLD FRONT FROM
THE NORTH. ASSUMING HIGH CLOUDS DO NOT HINDER A SUPERADIABATIC LAPSE
RATE FROM DEVELOPING LATE THIS MORNING...THE REGION IS IN FOR HIGH
WINDS AND A RAPID TEMPERATURE CHANGE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
WINDS WILL INCREASE BY NOON TODAY AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT
TIGHTENS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO PASS
THROUGH UT AND CO THIS EVENING AND FILTER IN SUBSTANTIALLY COLDER
AIR INTO THE REGION. PRECIPITATION WILL BE RELATIVELY LIGHT WITH
THIS SYSTEM...BUT HEAVY SNOWFALL UP TO 8 INCHES IS POSSIBLE IN
THE NORTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND SMALLER AMOUNTS (UP TO 5 INCHES)
AS FAR SOUTH AS VAIL PASS. ELSEWHERE...CONVECTIVE SHOWERS ARE
POSSIBLE BOTH AHEAD OF AND BEHIND THE FRONT IN CAA. THE BEST QG
VERTICAL VELOCITY IS OVER NORTH CENTRAL CO THOUGH NOT ALIGNED WITH
THE STRONGEST FRONTOGENESIS WHICH PASSES THE FOUR CORNERS TONIGHT.
CAA SNOWFALL WILL CONTINUE OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND ACROSS
NORTHERN CO THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING.
UPGRADED WIND ADVISORIES FOR A FEW AREAS IN EASTERN UT AND
NORTHWESTERN CO TO HIGH WIND WARNINGS WITH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE
TO ACCOUNT FOR VALLEY WINDS REACHING 40+ MPH THIS AFTERNOON FOR
AWHILE. PUT MOST CWA ZONES INTO A WIND ADVISORY WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF MOUNTAIN ZONES ALONG THE DIVIDE WHERE FORECAST DOES NOT QUITE
REACH ADVISORY CRITERIA. WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL
MTN AREAS AND VAIL PASS CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE ON AND OFF SNOWFALL EXPECTED IN THESE AREAS.
.LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY)
ISSUED AT 406 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
SNOW SHOWERS WINDS DOWN TUESDAY EVENING ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND
CENTRAL COLORADO MOUNTAINS...WITH WINDS DIMINISHING AND SKIES
CLEARING OVERNIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. WEST
NORTHWEST FLOW BECOMES FIRMLY ENTRENCHED WEDNESDAY AND LOOKS TO
REMAIN IN PLACE FLATTENS A BIT LATE WEDNESDAY WITH WEST TO
NORTHWEST THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. BEST ENERGY STAYS WELL
NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH DRY AND WARMER CONDITIONS
EXPECTED. NEXT POTENTIAL WEATHER MAKER FOR OUR AREA ARRIVE
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS DRAGGING A WEAK
PACIFIC WAVE INLAND AND ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. MOISTURE MAY BE
THE MISSING LINK FOR A WIDESPREAD EVENT AND NOT READY TO START
BROAD BRUSHING THE WEEKEND WITH HIGH POPS.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 1053 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG WINDS TO THE AREA TODAY
ALONG WITH SOME SNOW FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE NORTH AND
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL BECOME MORE WESTERLY
TO NORTHWESTERLY AS THE DAY PROGRESSES WITH WINDS OF 30 TO 40 KTS
BEING COMMON WITH SOME GUSTS REACHING 45 TO 55KTS.
KCAG...KEEO...KHDN...AND SURROUNDING AIRFIELDS CAN EXPECT THE
STRONGER WINDS. DUE TO WINDS...TURBULENCE CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG
WITH LLWS ESPECIALLY FOR KEGE...KASE...KCNY. WINDS WILL START
SUBSIDING AROUND 03Z IF NOT A LITTLE SOONER.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING
COZ006>008-011-014-020>022.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING COZ001-002.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING COZ003-009-017.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM MDT
TUESDAY COZ004-010-013.
UT...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING UTZ023-025.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING UTZ022-024.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING UTZ027-029.
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM MDT THIS EVENING UTZ028.
&&
SHORT TERM...JAM
LONG TERM...JDC
AVIATION...TGRHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 529 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-181200- LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN- ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS- UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-GRAND VALLEY-DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR- CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS- GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS- CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN- WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-FLATTOPS- UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE- NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER- FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN- SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH-EASTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS- EASTERN UINTA BASIN-TAVAPUTS PLATEAU-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT- LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES- 529 AM MDT MON MAR 17 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS FRONT WILL BRING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ALONG WITH AN INCREASING CHANCE FOR RAIN AND SNOW THROUGH THE DAY AND INTO TONIGHT. HIGH WIND WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO WITH WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES TONIGHT AND TUESDAY FOR THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS. VALLEYS CAN EXPECT WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WHILE THE MOUNTAINS WILL LIKELY SEE WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS WILL RANGE FOR 4 TO 8 INCHES TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SNOW SHOWERS WILL LINGER OVER THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS ON TUESDAY AS WINDS DIMINISH. DRY AND WARMER CONDITIONS ARE THEN EXPECTED TO MOVE IN FOR THE REMAINDER OF WORK WEEK. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR RAIN AND SNOW WILL ARRIVE OVER THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
109 PM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1248 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NNW MONTROSE 38.51N 107.88W
03/17/2014 M45 MPH MONTROSE CO ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1400783
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
110 PM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1250 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE CRAIG 40.51N 107.53W
03/17/2014 M45 MPH MOFFAT CO ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1400784
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
203 PM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0140 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 S MEEKER 40.04N 107.89W
03/17/2014 M45 MPH RIO BLANCO CO ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1400785
TBPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
224 PM MDT MON MAR 17 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0126 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 1 ESE VERNAL 40.44N 109.51W
03/17/2014 M47 MPH UINTAH UT ASOS
&&
EVENT NUMBER GJT1400786
TBThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall totals of 7 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included the Tower SNOTEL site with 15 inches. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall totals of 5 to 9 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph produced extensive blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions.
Snowfall totals of 2 to 6 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow at times.
Snowfall totals of 1 to 4 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph produced blowing and drifting snow at times.
Snowfall totals of 2 to 5 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2014
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: 559462, 559463, 559464, 559465, 560753.