Winter Weather in Colorado, September 23 to 24, 2016

Name: Winter Weather in Colorado, September 23 to 24, 2016
Start: 2016-09-23T08:00
End: 2016-09-24T17:00
Location: Colorado

September 23 to 24, 2016 · NWS GJT · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Wraparound moisture from a departing early season winter storm and associated cold front brought snowfall to the higher elevations in the northern and central mountains of western 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

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

Wraparound moisture from a departing early season winter storm and associated cold front brought snowfall to the higher elevations in the northern and central mountains 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 Sep 23, 4:34 AM MST, 3 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 23, 4:34 AM MST, 3 hours 26 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 22, 10:36 PM MST, 9 hours 24 minutes before

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In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 23, 3:09 AM MST, 4 hours 51 minutes before

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Local storm report, Sep 23, 3:10 AM MST, 4 hours 50 minutes before

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Local storm report, Sep 23, 4:24 AM MST, 3 hours 36 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Sep 23, 5:11 AM MST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Sep 23, 5:11 AM MST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Sep 23, 5:31 AM MST, 2 hours 29 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

3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When: September 23, 8:00 AM MST to September 24, 1:00 PM MST
Where: Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches were measured across the zone at elevations above 9000 feet. Locally heavier amounts included 11 inches that was measured at the Grand Mesa Lodge, most of which fell with the passage of the cold front on the 23rd. Roads became snowpacked and slush-covered, including Highway 65 in the Skyway area.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When: September 24, 1:00 AM MST to 5:00 PM MST
Where: Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches were measured across the area.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When: September 24, 1:00 AM MST to 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)

Generally 2 to 5 inches of snow fell across the area.

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

Every storm in Colorado in 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, September 2016

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 679418, 686903, 686905.