A snow biker died in an avalanche near the summit of Cottonwood Pass.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 PUB wrote it up.
A snow biker died in an avalanche near the summit of Cottonwood Pass.
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 5, 10:01 AM MST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1001 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 851 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 UPDATED TO TRIM BACK POPS THIS MORNING...AS LIGHT SHSN CONTINUE TO DISSIPATE SOUTH OF HGWY 50. SHOULD SEE DRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL BY 18Z. ROSE && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 357 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 ...A BIT OF LIGHT SNOW ACROSS THE PLAINS THIS MORNING... A WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCE HAS TRIGGERED SOME LIGHT SNOWFALL OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS AS IT DROPS SOUTHWARD THIS MORNING. NOTHING TOO GREAT...BUT SOME ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 INCHES REPORTED IN PARTS OF COLORADO SPRINGS AS IT MOVED THROUGH EARLIER. THE PUEBLO AIRPORT PICKED UP 0.4 INCHES OF SNOW WITH ITS PASSAGE. NOW MOST OF THE SNOW IS CONCENTRATED SOUTH AND EAST OF PUEBLO...FROM THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS...OUT ACROSS THE PLAINS. THE SNOWFALL SHOULD CONTINUE PROGRESSING SOUTH AND EASTWARD THIS MORNING ACCOMPANIED BY LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR...GENERALLY AN INCH OR LESS AT MOST LOCATIONS WITH UP TO 2 INCHES ON A LOCAL BASIS...UNDER THE HEAVIER...MORE PERSISTENT AREAS OF SNOWFALL. THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE MOSTLY...IF NOT ENTIRELY...SOUTH OF THE BORDER BY NOON TODAY...WITH CLEARING SKIES TO FOLLOW THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. NOT TOO MUCH COOL AIR WITH THIS SYSTEM SO TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL NOT BE TOO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM YESTERDAY. AFTERNOON HIGHS...MUCH LIKE YESTERDAY...WILL BE ABOUT 10 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE IN MOST AREAS...AND UP TO 20 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY. TONIGHT...GENERALLY CLEAR AND COLD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AROUND THE REGION. HOWEVER...DOWNSLOPE FLOW WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE MOUNTAINS OVERNIGHT AS UPPER HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. THIS MEANS WESTERLY BREEZES WILL PICK UP ALONG AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS OVERNIGHT...KEEPING MORNING LOWS MILDER IN THESE AREAS. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 357 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...NW FLOW ALOFT WILL BE IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION OVER THE WEEKEND...WITH ANOTHER UPPER DISTURBANCE CROSSING THE ROCKIES LATE SAT INTO SUN. THIS FEATURE LOOKS LIKE IT WILL PROVIDE A GLANCING BLOW TO THE STATE WHICH SHOULD HELP INCREASE WINDS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN...AS WELL AS PRODUCE SOME STRONGER SFC WINDS FOR THE FAR EASTERN PLAINS. A MAJORITY OF THE MODELS ARE INDICATING DRY CONDITIONS...SO REMOVED THE ISOLATED POPS FOR THE CENTRAL MTS. THIS GLANCING BLOW WILL ACTUALLY EASE A COLD FRONT DOWN THE E PLAINS SUN MORNING...DROPPING TEMPS ON SUN ABOUT 10 DEGREES COOLER THAN TEMPS REALIZED ON SAT. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...AN UPPER RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTRY STARTING MON...KEEPING CONDITIONS DRY. RELAXING WINDS AS WELL AS A WARMING TREND ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE EXTENDED PERIOD...WITH MAX TEMPS CLIMBING TO AROUND 60 F FOR THE PLAINS BY MIDWEEK. MOORE && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1000 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 VFR CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE TAF SITES AND SE CO THROUGH THE NEXT 24-30 HOURS. ROSE && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...ROSE SHORT TERM...LW LONG TERM...MOORE AVIATION...ROSE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 623 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 COZ058>089-093>099-061400- 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- 623 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WEAK UPPER DISTURBANCE WILL BRING SOME LIGHT SNOW TO AREAS SOUTH AND EAST OF PUEBLO THIS MORNING. ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LIGHT...GENERALLY LESS THAN AN INCH...BUT A FEW AREAS COULD SEE UP TO 2 INCHES UNDER THE HEAVIER...MORE PERSISTENT SNOW SHOWERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS MORNING OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF PUEBLO. 50/27
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
830 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNW PETERSON AFB 38.89N 104.75W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.84W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0827 AM SNOW 4 NNE FALCON 38.99N 104.60W
02/05/2016 M1.4 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNE FLORISSANT 39.01N 105.26W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE MANITOU SPRINGS 38.85N 104.89W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0825 AM SNOW 2 NNE FOUNTAIN 38.71N 104.69W
02/05/2016 M2.2 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0730 AM SNOW ROCKY FORD 38.05N 103.72W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH OTERO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 2 N WOODLAND PARK 39.02N 105.05W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 E DIVIDE 38.94N 105.14W
02/05/2016 M5.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
833 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNW PETERSON AFB 38.89N 104.75W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.84W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0827 AM SNOW 4 NNE FALCON 38.99N 104.60W
02/05/2016 M1.4 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNE FLORISSANT 39.01N 105.26W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE MANITOU SPRINGS 38.85N 104.89W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0825 AM SNOW 2 NNE FOUNTAIN 38.71N 104.69W
02/05/2016 M2.2 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0730 AM SNOW ROCKY FORD 38.05N 103.72W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH OTERO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 2 N WOODLAND PARK 39.02N 105.05W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 E DIVIDE 38.94N 105.14W
02/05/2016 M5.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0757 AM SNOW 2 N BLACK FOREST 39.05N 104.70W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0729 AM SNOW 9 WSW FOUNTAIN 38.66N 104.87W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0615 AM SNOW 2 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.3 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
0812 AM SNOW 2 NNE MONUMENT 39.12N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 AM SNOW 2 N SECURITY 38.78N 104.73W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
835 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0827 AM SNOW 4 NNE FALCON 38.99N 104.60W
02/05/2016 M1.4 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0825 AM SNOW 2 NNE FOUNTAIN 38.71N 104.69W
02/05/2016 M2.2 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0812 AM SNOW 2 NNE MONUMENT 39.12N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0757 AM SNOW 2 N BLACK FOREST 39.05N 104.70W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0730 AM SNOW ROCKY FORD 38.05N 103.72W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH OTERO CO COCORAHS
0729 AM SNOW 9 WSW FOUNTAIN 38.66N 104.87W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 AM SNOW 2 N SECURITY 38.78N 104.73W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
0700 AM SNOW 1 E DIVIDE 38.94N 105.14W
02/05/2016 M5.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 2 N WOODLAND PARK 39.02N 105.05W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE MANITOU SPRINGS 38.85N 104.89W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNE FLORISSANT 39.01N 105.26W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.84W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNW PETERSON AFB 38.89N 104.75W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0615 AM SNOW 2 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.3 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
836 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0800 AM SNOW 4 N FLORISSANT 39.00N 105.30W
02/05/2016 M1.6 INCH TELLER CO PUBLIC
&&
RMGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
841 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 AM SNOW 2 NW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.85N 104.85W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0.21 WATER EQUIVALENT
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1041 AM MST FRI FEB 5 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0840 AM SNOW 2 NW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.85N 104.85W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0.21 WATER EQUIVALENT
0827 AM SNOW 4 NNE FALCON 38.99N 104.60W
02/05/2016 M1.4 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0825 AM SNOW 2 NNE FOUNTAIN 38.71N 104.69W
02/05/2016 M2.2 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0812 AM SNOW 2 NNE MONUMENT 39.12N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0800 AM SNOW 4 N FLORISSANT 39.00N 105.30W
02/05/2016 M1.6 INCH TELLER CO PUBLIC
0757 AM SNOW 2 N BLACK FOREST 39.05N 104.70W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0730 AM SNOW ROCKY FORD 38.05N 103.72W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH OTERO CO COCORAHS
0729 AM SNOW 9 WSW FOUNTAIN 38.66N 104.87W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNW PETERSON AFB 38.89N 104.75W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.84W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 5 NNE FLORISSANT 39.01N 105.26W
02/05/2016 M1.8 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE MANITOU SPRINGS 38.85N 104.89W
02/05/2016 M2.8 INCH EL PASO CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 2 N WOODLAND PARK 39.02N 105.05W
02/05/2016 M2.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 1 E DIVIDE 38.94N 105.14W
02/05/2016 M5.5 INCH TELLER CO COCORAHS
0700 AM SNOW 2 N SECURITY 38.78N 104.73W
02/05/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
0615 AM SNOW 2 WSW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.82N 104.86W
02/05/2016 M2.3 INCH EL PASO CO NWS EMPLOYEE
1144 PM SNOW COLORADO SPRINGS 38.83N 104.83W
02/04/2016 M2.0 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche, Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Ft | 2016-02-05 | 58 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2016
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: 611168.