Colorado, 2017

Winter Weather in Colorado, April 25 to 26, 2017

April 25 to 26, 2017 · NWS GJT · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A moist disturbance which swung through the bottom of a slow moving upper level trough produced significant snowfall in the mountains of southwest 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.

A moist disturbance which swung through the bottom of a slow moving upper level trough produced significant snowfall in the mountains of southwest 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 Apr 24, 10:17 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 24, 10:17 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 24, 2:38 AM MST, 21 hours 22 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service GRAND JUNCTION CO
338 AM MDT Mon Apr 24 2017

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-250945-
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-Flat Tops-
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-
338 AM MDT Mon Apr 24 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Cooler temperatures are expected today with the possibility of
rain showers for the lower elevations and mountains snows this
evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Cool temperatures with periods of unsettled weather are expected
through the new week as a series of storm systems move through the
area.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected today or tonight, however
spotters are encouraged to report snowfall amounts to the
National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Apr 24, 11:02 PM MST, 58 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, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
April 25, 12:00 AM MST to 8:00 AM MST
Where
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 8 inches at Schofield Pass and 6 inches at Gothic.

Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
April 25, 2:00 AM MST to April 26, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 3 to 6 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 9 inches on Highway 550 at the Avalanche Monument.

Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
April 25, 6:00 AM MST to April 26, 2:00 AM MST
Where
Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were measured 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

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, April 2017

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 697037, 697032, 697034.