A potent weather system produced snow, heavy at times, across portions of southern Colorado. Some of the higher reported snow totals included: 6 to 8 inches near Beulah and Rye (Pueblo County), Monument, Black Forest, and Air Force Academy (El Paso County), and 10 inches near Westcliffe (Custer County).
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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 potent weather system produced snow, heavy at times, across portions of southern Colorado. Some of the higher reported snow totals included: 6 to 8 inches near Beulah and Rye (Pueblo County), Monument, Black Forest, and Air Force Academy (El Paso County), and 10 inches near Westcliffe (Custer County).
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 Mar 31, 10:29 PM MST, 1 hour 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1129 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 943 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 Based on latest guidance, have cut back on snowfall amounts for the greater Pikes Peak areas. I changed the winter storms warning for N El Paso county to a winter weather advisory. The rest of the fcst looks good. Very heavy snow has been reported in the Wet Mtn Valley (~3"/hr snowfall amounts). \/Hodanish && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 240 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 An upper level low will track over AZ tonight and is expected to be over the central portion of the western NM border by 12Z. The low then only moves a little eastward through the day Sat. For tonight, pcpn will be widespread across southeast and south central CO. The NAM has deep easterly flow until a bit past midnight acrs eastern CO, and then becomes more north to northeast. The GFS has stronger deep easterly flow thru midnight and then the sfc winds become more northerly, and keeps the mid-level flow more easterly for a bit longer than the NAM, into Sat morning. Also, temps are now expected to be a little colder than the previous forecast. There is still a bit of uncertainty as to how much snowfall some areas, given model differences. There will be the potential for heavy wet snow this evening and into late tonight along the eastern slopes and nearby lower elevations. So for tonight, the areas that will have the best chances of seeing the highest snow accumulations will be along the eastern mtns and the I- 25 corridor (especially the northern half of El Paso county and Huerfano and western Las Animas counties). The deep easterly flow will also likely allow snow to spill over into the San Luis Valley, with eastern and northern portions of the valley likely seeing several inches. The easterly flow will also be favorable for Fremont and Chaffee counties. On Saturday, pcpn should start to decrease over western locations in the mid to late morning hours. Over eastern areas chances should also decrease some, and as temps warm at the lower elevations, pcpn will change over to rain. The forecast models show the continuation of pcpn along the eastern mountains thru the day, with some additional snow accumulations. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 240 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 There is much better agreement between all the models in regards to the next upper level storm system to move across Colorado Monday into Tuesday. The main issue has been model run to run consistency, or lack thereof. So while the models are in good agreement, would like to see multiple runs showing the same solution for higher confidence. Saturday night through Sunday...a strong upper level storm system will eject out of New Mexico and into western Kansas Saturday night and pull away from the area on Sunday. Moderate to heavy precipitation will likely be falling over the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, east into the southern I-25 corridor during the evening hours. Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches may be possible through the evening. This area of precipitation will shift southeast and clear the area later in the night. Over the Plains, showers will likely continue through the evening and dissipate through the overnight hours. Dry conditions are expected by Sunday morning across the region. Flat high pressure will quickly move in behind the upper low with generally clear skies and warming temperatures through Sunday afternoon. Highs in the 50s to lower 60s are possible across the Plains. Expect a dry Sunday for most of the area, with the exception of the Central Mountains where an isolated snow shower will be possible through the day. Monday into Tuesday...as mentioned above, the next upper level storm system is forecast to move across the area Monday into Tuesday. Currently, the NAM, GFS and ECMWF have come into line with a storm track across northern New Mexico into Central Kansas. There has been little run to run consistency for any of the models. The GFS and ECMWF both had an open wave moving across Wyoming with yesterdays solutions. So there is still a lot of uncertainty in regards to how this system will develop and track. With the current runs, there are several things we will have to look out for. One will thunderstorms across the Plains Monday afternoon. Instability is weak but there would be a boundary in place that may spark convection during the afternoon hours. At this point, it does not look severe. Precipitation chances will increase across all of the region Monday night into Tuesday. Temperatures progged with this storm are much cooler than the current storm (-5C currently, -12C for Tuesday). This would mean better chances for snow across the whole region. In turn, we would also have to work about colder overnight lows in the 20s and sensitive vegetation. The GFS also brings another very strong cold front south Tuesday morning. Very strong winds, 40G60+mph, would not be out of the question behind the front. So this storm has the potential to be very impactful, especially late Monday night into Tuesday afternoon across all of southern Colorado. Confidence will grow with more model run to run consistency. Wednesday through Friday...the upper level storm system is forecast to move east Wednesday with broad northerly upper level flow across Colorado through the end of the week. Temperatures will warm slightly with 50s and 60s across the Plains. Generally dry conditions will prevail with perhaps a few light snow showers over the mountains each afternoon and evening given the orographic flow. Mozley && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Saturday night) Issued at 1125 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 KALS... A few passing snow showers will be possible but for the most part believe KALS will see VFR during the next 24h. Winds will be light. KPUB and KCOS... LOW cigs will predominate through the next 24h as upper low moves to the south of the region keeping upslope conditions in place. bands of snow tonight and rain/snow tomorrow will occur reducing vis at times. We will not clear out for good until Sunday late morning or early afternoon. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until noon MDT Saturday for COZ087-088. Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ072>076- 078>082. Winter Weather Advisory until noon MDT Saturday for COZ058- 060>063-065-066-068-069-077-083-085-086. Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ084. && UPDATE...HODANISH SHORT TERM...28 LONG TERM...MOZLEY AVIATION...HODANISH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 350 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 COZ058>089-093>099-012200- 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 9000Ft- 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 Ft- Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Ft- Southern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft- Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500Ft- Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Ft- Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft- Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000Ft- Wet Mountains above 10000 Ft- Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's 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 Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet- 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- 350 PM MDT Fri Mar 31 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A moist spring storm will move into southern Colorado through tonight. It will bring widespread precipitation to the area. Areas above 4000 feet will see mainly snow with this event. Areas below 4000 feet will see rain mixed with wet snow at times tonight. Teller County, El Paso County and the eastern mountains including Pikes Peak, the Rampart Range, the Palmer Divide, the Sangre Cristo Mountains, the Wet Mountains, and the Wet Mountain Valley will likely see the most snow from this storm. Mountains and lower elevation areas next these areas could also see some significant snowfall but amounts will generally be less. For elevations below 4000 feet, there could be some local accumulations of an inch or 2 mainly on grassy areas. Snow will also fall over the Continental Divide through tonight. One or two lightning strikes are also possible out west with convective cells. Several inches of snowfall are possible tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday The upper low pressure system will cross New Mexico on Saturday and lift into the Central Plains by Sunday. Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are expected through the day. The heaviest snowfall is expected over the Palmer Divide, El Paso and Teller Counties, the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains, south into the southern Interstate 25 corridor. Mountain areas will see up to 12 inches with locally higher amounts on the peaks. Lower elevations will see 4 or more inches. Travel will be hazardous Saturday morning up and down the Interstate 25 corridor due to snow packed roads and poor visibility. Out west, periods of light to moderate snow will continue Saturday morning before dissipating during the afternoon. Several inches are possible along the Continental Divide, down into northern portions of the San Luis Valley. Expect snow to come to an end across the region Saturday evening. Another upper level storm system is forecast to move across Colorado Monday into Tuesday. The track of this storm has changed over the past 24 hours and would bring greater impacts to the region. A few thunderstorms may be possible Monday afternoon across the Plains. A very strong cold front will arrive by Tuesday morning. Forecast winds with this front could be quite strong, with gusts 40 to 60 mph possible. In addition, another round of snow is expected behind the front across much of the area. There is a high degree of uncertainty with this storm at this time, and there could be many changes over the next couple of days. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be likely through tonight across all of southern Colorado. 88/88
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
701 PM MDT FRI MAR 31 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0701 PM SNOW 5 W WESTCLIFFE 38.13N 105.56W
03/31/2017 M2.0 INCH CUSTER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
FELL IN THE PAST 2 HOURS.
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
820 PM MDT FRI MAR 31 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0819 PM SNOW 5 W WESTCLIFFE 38.13N 105.56W
03/31/2017 M5.0 INCH CUSTER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES OVER THE PAST 1.25 HOURS.
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
1134 PM MDT FRI MAR 31 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1134 PM SNOW 4 N FLORISSANT 39.00N 105.30W
03/31/2017 M2.0 INCH TELLER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
.
&&
NWS PUEBLO CO
IRIS SYSTEMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2017
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: 683941, 683942, 683944, 683945, 683946, 683948, 683949.