A moist southwest flow that was followed by a potent upper trough brought a prolonged period of snowfall to the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 14 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 GJT wrote it up.
A moist southwest flow that was followed by a potent upper trough brought a prolonged period of snowfall to the region.
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 Jan 21, 9:48 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
948 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
.UPDATE...
Issued at 749 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
Current radar imagery shows snow moving from the northwest to
southeast this evening and continuing for the 550 corridor over
the San Juans. The warnings for those areas were supposed to fall
off at 8PM but decided to extend through midnight to account for
an additional 2 to 5 inches.
Winter Storm Watches have also been issued for the next storm that
will begin tomorrow afternoon and continue through Tuesday
morning. Another 10 to 20 inches is possible for the mountains
when all is said and done. The southern valleys also have another
chance for some good snow accumulation. Expect hazardous travel
again over mountain passes through the Sunday night through
Tuesday morning timeframe.
UPDATE Issued at 520 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
Still plenty of snow ongoing for much of the CWA though satellite
does show some breaking out over southeastern Utah and southern
Colorado. The warnings/advisories for those areas have been
allowed to expire. Remaining highlights continue. Next forecast
challenge turns to the next storm that looks to begin as early as
tomorrow afternoon/evening. More to come...
&&
.SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Sunday night)
Issued at 233 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
Have removed several lower elevation zones from the winter storm
products including most of SE Utah, the Paradox Valley area and
the Colorado river valley from Grand Junction to Avon as the best
push of precipitation moves northeast of these areas and temps
have risen to or above freezing, changing much of the precip to
rain. Also included with the winter storm warning all elevations
of the La Sal and Abajo mountains zone in SE Utah due to snow
reports. Satellite imagery and upper analysis show the 500 mb
trough to be splitting as it moves over northern Colorado. The
southern portion of the split will travel into New Mexico this
evening and most of the energy and moisture over western CO and
eastern UT will erode to the south and east. Current winter
weather highlights appear well timed to drop off in the south this
evening and then over the northern and central mountains
overnight.
The break between storms is well defined with dry ridging
developing over the western Great Basin. This will bring clearing
skies Sunday, then the next significant storm is developing off
the west coast. Warm advection clouds and precipitation is
projected to spread over the area late Sunday afternoon and
overnight.
.LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 233 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
The overall pattern Monday will shift from the warm advection
overrunning early in the day as the ridge slides east of the area.
This will be followed by cold advection aloft and at lower
levels. It appears an embedded shortwave trough will move
overhead about midday Monday, starting the transition to the next
storm, then a somewhat weak cold front is projected to slowly
drag through the area Monday afternoon. Cold advection behind the
front should kick in about 3 pm Monday afternoon behind the front.
700 mb temps in the GFS drop from around -4 to -6 C in the
Morning to -8 to -10 at sunset. Overnight 7000 mb temps lower to
-10 to -14. Precipitable water is projected to be high again with
this system. It all points to and early morning rain and snow mix
at lower elevations early Monday, transitioning to all snow by
late Monday afternoon.
The cold front should clear the forecast area to the east Monday
night, then another trough will dive into the northern Great
Basin from the north Tuesday. A cold and snowy pattern with 700 mb
temps below -15 Thru Wednesday. Anticipate more widespread winter
weather highlights for the first part of next week.
The overall pattern from Wednesday night through Saturday will
include a longwave trough over the midwest and eastern U.S. and a
strong ridge over the west coast and the Rockies.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night)
Issued at 942 PM MST Sat Jan 21 2017
IFR conditions will persist over the next 6 hours at ASE and TEX
with CIGs AoB 1500 ft and VIS less than 2 miles during snow.
Elsewhere, MVFR conditions during more steady snowfall still
moving northwest to southeast over the region. Conditions will
slowly improve to VFR in all but ASE and TEX by morning as the
snow diminishes overnight into early Sunday. Improving conditions
on Sunday before CIGs lower again Saturday afternoon and snow
returns at all terminals for Saturday evening.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MST tonight for COZ003-
014.
Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM MST Sunday for COZ009-010-012-
013.
Winter Storm Watch from Sunday evening through Tuesday morning
for COZ003-004-009-010-012-013-017>019-022-023.
Winter Storm Warning until midnight MST tonight for COZ017>019.
Winter Weather Advisory until 6 AM MST Sunday for COZ004.
UT...Winter Weather Advisory until midnight MST tonight for UTZ025.
Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening
for UTZ023-025-028.
&&
UPDATE...TGR
SHORT TERM...CC
LONG TERM...CC
AVIATION...MACHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 507 AM MST SAT JAN 21 2017 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-221215- 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- 507 AM MST SAT JAN 21 2017 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SERIES OF WINTER STORMS WILL PASS THROUGH THE AREA THIS WEEKEND BRINGING HEAVY SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS WITH A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW FOR THE LOWER VALLEYS. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED ONE FOOT OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH MUCH LIGHTER AMOUNTS IN MOST OF THE VALLEY LOCATIONS. THE BEST ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL FALL DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. TRAVEL WILL BE HAZARDOUS AND YOU ARE ENCOURAGE TO CHECK THE LATEST FORECAST BEFORE VENTURING OUT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY UNSETTLED WEATHER CONTINUES THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH THE STRONGEST IN THIS SERIES OF STORMS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE MONDAY AND TUESDAY. HEAVY MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL CONTINUES WITH VALLEY SNOWS RAMPING UP IN INTENSITY AS WELL. DRIER WEATHER LOOKS TO MOVE IN AROUND MIDWEEK. .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.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
555 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM SNOW 1 S DOVE CREEK 37.76N 108.91W
01/21/2017 M13.5 INCH DOLORES CO PUBLIC
SOUTH OF DOVE CREEK. FACEBOOK POST.
&&
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
650 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0647 PM SNOW OURAY 38.02N 107.67W
01/21/2017 M2.0 INCH OURAY CO PUBLIC
.
&&
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
652 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0551 PM SNOW 9 WNW TINCUP 38.82N 106.61W
01/21/2017 M1.2 INCH GUNNISON CO CO-OP OBSERVER
SWE 0.06 INCHES.
&&
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
655 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0555 PM HEAVY SNOW 10 N MEXICAN HAT 37.27N 109.93W
01/21/2017 M5.0 INCH SAN JUAN UT CO-OP OBSERVER
SWE 0.37 INCHES. THE REPORTED OBSERVER
LOCATION WAS VALLEY OF THE GODS.
&&
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
657 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0557 PM HEAVY SNOW 4 NW COLONA 38.32N 107.80W
01/21/2017 M5.0 INCH OURAY CO PUBLIC
SWE 0.20 INCHES.
&&
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
IRIS SYSTEMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1034 PM MST SAT JAN 21 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0943 PM HEAVY SNOW 5 NNE CHIMNEY ROCK 37.27N 107.15W
01/21/2017 M13.0 INCH ARCHULETA CO PUBLIC
1.28 INCHES WATER EQUIVALENT.
&&
NLThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 winter storm, 6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 8 to 16 inches of snow fell across the area. Locally higher amounts included 20 inches at the Tower SNOTEL site.
Snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches were measured across the area.
Generally 12 to 24 inches of snow were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 34 inches just northeast of Mancos. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow especially over the passes. Even stronger winds were measured at the ridgetops, including a gust to 72 mph on Eagle Mountain. |Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass and Highway 550 were closed for significant periods of time due to adverse weather conditions.
Snowfall amounts of 8 to 18 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 28 inches at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site.
Generally 10 to 20 inches of snow fell across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow especially over the higher passes. Highway 550 at Red Mountain Pass and Highway 145 over Lizard Head Pass were closed for much of the duration of the storm.
Snowfall amounts of 7 to 11 inches were measured across the area.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 5 inches were measured across the area.
Snowfall amounts of 8 to 16 inches were measured across the area. On the evening of the 24th an isolated band of heavy snow showers set up between the town of Mesa and Powderhorn Ski Resort which produced 6 to 9 inches of snow within 12 hours.
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area.
Snowfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches were measured in the Pagosa Springs area.
Snowfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches were measured mainly in the Steamboat Springs area northward to Clark.
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area. Locally higher amounts included 20 inches near Dolores.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches and locally higher amounts to 8 inches were measured within the zone.
Snowfall amounts around 6 inches were measured over Douglas Pass.
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, January 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: 685408, 685412, 685407, 685414, 685415, 685418, 685419, 685417, 685409, 685416, 685406, 685413, 685420, 685410.