Colorado, 2018Winter Weather in Colorado, April 19 to 21, 2018
April 19 to 21, 2018 · NWS GJT · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
A closed low pressure system moved into the Four Corners area and brought significant snowfall to most mountains in western Colorado. Strong southerly flow at the onset of the storm favored the San Juan Mountains.
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.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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.
A closed low pressure system moved into the Four Corners area and brought significant snowfall to most mountains in western Colorado. Strong southerly flow at the onset of the storm favored the San Juan Mountains. Then the flow became more easterly and eventually northeasterly as the storm exited to eastern Colorado which allowed the significant wraparound moisture to favor the northern and central mountains.
Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- April 19, 11:00 PM MST to April 21, 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Measured snowfall totals ranged from 6 to 12 inches. Locally higher amounts included 17 inches at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas
- When
- April 19, 11:00 PM MST to April 21, 5:00 AM MST
- Where
- Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall totals generally ranged from 5 to 10 inches. Locally higher amounts included 12 inches at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- April 20, 12:00 AM MST to April 21, 6:00 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)
Measured snowfall totals generally ranged from 3 to 6 inches. Locally higher amounts included a foot of snow at the HIghway 550 monument and just over a foot at the Slumgullion Pass SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- April 20, 12:00 AM MST to April 21, 7:00 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)
Measured snowfall totals generally ranged from 5 to 10 inches.
Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains
- When
- April 20, 2:00 AM MST to April 21, 5:00 AM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Measured snowfall totals ranged from 5 to 12 inches. Locally higher amounts included 16 inches at the Ripple Creek SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- April 20, 4:00 AM MST to April 21, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall totals generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches.
Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- April 20, 10:00 AM MST to April 21, 4:00 AM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall totals generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches.
- 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.
- High Wind in New Mexico, April 19 to 20, 2018$145,000 · 58 kt wind · 6 events
- High Wind in California, April 19, 20181 injured · $50,000 · 65 kt wind · 6 events
- Marine Thunderstorm Winds in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 19, 201829 events
- High Wind in Arizona, April 19, 201862 kt wind · 5 events
- Flooding in Indiana, April 19 to 26, 20182 events
- High Wind in Texas, April 19 to 20, 201854 kt wind · 1 event
- Marine Thunderstorm Wind in North Atlantic Coastal Waters, April 19, 20181 event
- Dust Storm in Arizona, April 19, 20181 event
- Flood in South Dakota, April 19 to 30, 20181 event
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 741524, 741529, 741525, 741527, 741530, 741528, 741523.