A vigorous late Spring storm impacted many sections of southern Colorado with impressive snow amounts in combination with gusty winds and localized snow drifts around 5 feet in combination with many downed tree limbs. Some of the higher reported snow totals with this event included six to nine inches of snow near Leadville, Salida, the Air Force Academy, Lamar, Woodland Park, La Junta, Texas…
Every event with a place to put it; 19 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 vigorous late Spring storm impacted many sections of southern Colorado with impressive snow amounts in combination with gusty winds and localized snow drifts around 5 feet in combination with many downed tree limbs. Some of the higher reported snow totals with this event included six to nine inches of snow near Leadville, Salida, the Air Force Academy, Lamar, Woodland Park, La Junta, Texas Creek, Pueblo, Rocky Ford and Maysville. Ten to fifteen inches of snow was noted near WestCliffe, Manzanola, Walsenburg, Black Forest, Calhan, Pueblo West, Monument, Avondale, Springfield and Blende. 15 to 20 inches of snow graced the communities of Wetmore, Pritchett and Holly. 23 inches of snow was measured near Beulah. An impressive 25 to 30 inches of snow covered the communities of Rye, Colorado City and Two Buttes, while a whopping 39 inches of snow impacted San Isabel.
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 Apr 28, 2:24 PM MST, 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 324 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 324 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 ...Strong late Spring storm on track for southern CO with a prolonged period of heavy wet snow... Upper low taking shape near the 4 corners this afternoon, with clouds and precip rapidly increasing across the area as dynamic lift ramps up. Still a pocket of drier surface air over the plains/I-25 corridor at mid-afternoon which was limiting limiting shower chances across the lower Arkansas Valley, though moister air has begun to push westward as of 21z as deep layer of upslope flow intensifies. In general, 12z models all came in with fairly good agreement on position and movement of the upper low, as system will take a very favorable track E-SE across NM overnight and through the day Sat, producing a prolonged period of deep upslope and strong dynamic lift across the region. Over the mountains, snow already increasing this afternoon along the Continental Divide, and expect most mountains and high valleys will see steady snowfall near/shortly after sunset as lift increases. Periods of heavy snowfall are then likely overnight into Sat morning, before snow gradually ends from west to east during the day. Forecast N-NE low/mid level winds suggest eastern slopes of the Sangres/Wets will see big snowfall totals, along with nrn slopes of the Spanish Peaks. Some 2 foot plus storm totals not out of the question, especially above 9000 feet. Interior valleys will see modest amounts of snow, with perhaps a sliver of heavier snow over the wrn edge of the San Luis Valley as easterly flow becomes deep enough to push over the Sangres and through the valley by Sat morning. Across the I-25 corridor and plains, snow will develop early this evening along the Palmer Divide, with rain showers filling in farther south as air mass moistens. Snow line will drop south through the evening and overnight, with a change-over along I-25 by midnight and across most of the ern plains around 3 am. All areas should then see a burst of heavier snow early Sat morning, before strongest lift shifts south of the Arkansas River and eastward across the plains early Sat afternoon. Main problem areas with the forecast would appear to be the usual suspects in srn El Paso and nrn Pueblo counties (including COS and PUB), as strong downsloping north winds developing Sat morning may limit snowfall, leaving a rather tight gradient in amounts over the north side of COS and between PUB and Colorado City. On the other end of the spectrum, srn I-25 corridor and plains south of Highway 50 may see some fairly impressive snowfalls, with some nearly 2 foot storm totals possible in a few terrain favored locations near the NM border. Given warm ground, the spread between snow depth and snowfall will be fairly large, with some fairly quick melting once snowfall rates begin to diminish. Regarding temps, most areas will fall to at or below freezing levels by early Sat morning, with perhaps some slight warming to the mid/upper 30s at lower elevations late Sat, especially in locations where snowfall rates diminish. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 324 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 Saturday night through Sunday...Models have fluctuated the past 48 to 72 hrs, but agree on placing the upper low over northeastern New Mexico Sat night, then tracks it across the Panhandles and Kansas on Sunday. This solution is a bit slower than previous thinking just 24 hrs ago, allowing for a longer window of accumulating snow for the eastern CO plains through Sat night. Snow will gradually taper off from west to east as the system pulls away, with snow lingering over the far eastern plains through Sunday morning. Current highlights persist until 9 am Sun morning for the east, and expected snowfall amounts can be found in the various winter weather highlight products. Expect brisk n-nw flow for the forecast area as the low moves east, with isolated showers continuing over the central mts but ending across the east by mid-afternoon. Expect min temps below freezing for all areas Sat night, then highs on Sun in the 40s for most locations. Monday through Wednesday...Northwest flow aloft settles in across the state in the wake of the departing system. There will be a continued threat of isolated to low end scattered showers across the central mts and spilling over to Pikes Peak on Mon. A stronger shortwave crosses the Rockies on Tue, producing a better shot of convection for all of the forecast area including the plains for Tue afternoon through Wed afternoon. Expect max temps all three days to top out in the 50s to right around 60F. Thursday and Friday...A ridge of high pressure over the desert SW will produce dry north to northwest flow across the forecast area to finish out the work week. Look for temps to warm into 60s to around 70F for Thu, then 60s to lower 70s for the high valleys and 70s to near 80F for the plains on Fri. Moore && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday evening) Issued at 324 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 Forecast continues on track with VFR conditions quickly deteriorating to IFR or LIFR this evening for all three terminals and across most of southern CO as strong storm system develops and moves across the region. At KCOS...-shra developing late this afternoon will quickly change over to snow between 01z and 03Z with periods of moderate snow overnight into Sat morning, before gusty northerly winds of 25-35kts begin to decrease snowfall by midday Sat. Conditions will improve to MVFR during the afternoon as snowfall begins to decrease. At KPUB... -shra will develop early this evening, with the switch over to snow between 04-06z. Gusty northerly winds and snow will persist into Sat morning, with MVFR conditions gradually developing Sat afternoon as snowfall rates diminish and cigs begin to rise. COS and PUB terminals will have the potential for snow accumulations in the 4 to 8 inch range by Saturday afternoon, although warm pavement surfaces will help melt snow at times. At KALS... W-SW winds 15-25 kts this afternoon will shift to the E- SE later tonight as cold air pushes into the valley from the east. Best window for snow and IFR to LIFR conditions will come in 08z-14z timeframe with the potential for a couple inches at the terminal by mid day Saturday. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 3 AM Saturday to 9 AM MDT Sunday for COZ089-093-095>099. Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Sunday for COZ074-075-087-088. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Sunday for COZ072-073-079-080. Winter Storm Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ078-081-082-084. Winter Weather Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ058-060-061-063-065>068-076-077. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM MDT Sunday for COZ094. Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ086. Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ085. Winter Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 6 PM MDT Saturday for COZ083. && SHORT TERM...PETERSEN LONG TERM...MOORE AVIATION...PETERSEN
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1217 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 COZ058>089-093>099-291830- 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- 1217 PM MDT Fri Apr 28 2017 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A developing storm system will spread snow into the mountains late this afternoon through this evening as an upper low intensifies over the Four Corners region. Isolated thunderstorms will be possible over the eastern plains late this afternoon, with lightning and wind gusts to 50 mph the main storm threats. Rain and snow will then spread southward from the Palmer Divide into the southeast plains this evening through the overnight hours as the storm moves slowly across New Mexico overnight. This system has much colder air associated with it than the past several storms and a quicker change over to snow is expected this evening along the I-25 corridor, with rain changing to snow across all of the southeast plains by early Saturday morning. The heaviest snow is expected to impact the southeast mountains and I-25 corridor tonight with deteriorating travel conditions expected into Saturday morning, particularly south of highway 50. Gusty north winds 20 to 30 mph will cause areas of poor visibilities in blowing snow. Tree damage and power outages will be possible due to heavy wet snow accumulation on leafed out trees and cold surfaces. If you have travel plans across southern Colorado please check the latest forecasts. Some areas may see difficult to impossible travel conditions by late tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday A vigorous storm system is expected to impact the region with snow, heavy at times, in combination with gusty north winds from Saturday into Sunday morning. The heaviest snowfall amounts will impact the Wet Mountains and Sangre De Cristo mountains where 8 to 15 inches will be possible with locally up to 2 feet along northeast facing slopes. Over the plains and I-25 corridor, areas around Pueblo and Colorado Springs as well as locations north of Highway 50 will see 4 to 8 inches by Saturday evening, while the plains south of Highway 50 and the southern I-25 corridor see heavier snow, with 8 to 14 inches expected by early Sunday morning. Storm total snowfall estimates are for 6 to 12 inches for the central mountains, Pikes Peak and northern El Paso county, with 4 to 8 inches and locally up to 1 foot for the southwest mountains. The San Luis Valley could see 2 to 4 inches with up to 6 inches along the valley edges, particularly in the southern portions of the valley. Much of Fremont county will see snowfall in the 4 to 8 inch range. Heavy snowfall rates, along with strong north winds gusting to 40 mph may lead to downed tree limbs and power lines due to snow loading. Travel may also be adversely impacted due to poor visibilities in blowing snow along with slushy or snow covered road surfaces at times. Colder air with this storm will also lead to below freezing temperatures across most of southern Colorado this weekend. If you have tender vegetation outside make plans to bring them indoors or protect them. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be likely across all of south central and southeast colorado tonight. 10/31
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
629 PM MDT FRI APR 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0629 PM SNOW 1 W ROSITA 38.10N 105.35W
04/28/2017 E2.0 INCH CUSTER CO TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
RMGPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
647 PM MDT FRI APR 28 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0646 PM SNOW 2 NNE MONUMENT 39.13N 104.86W
04/28/2017 M1.0 INCH EL PASO CO TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW BEGAN 537 PM MDT.
&&
RMGThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 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: 690628, 690629, 690632, 690633, 690634, 690644, 690630, 690631, 690648, 690649, 690645, 690658, 690650, 690651, 690659, 690660, 690661, 690662, 690664.