Another round of favorable moist southwesterly flow provided Wolf Creek Pass with an additional 15 inches of snow.
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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.
Another round of favorable moist southwesterly flow provided Wolf Creek Pass with an additional 15 inches of snow.
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 Feb 14, 4:04 PM MST, 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 404 PM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday) Issued at 400 PM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 ...More Snow and Wind for the Mountains with More Wind & Elevated Fire Weather Elsewhere... Strong westerly winds gusting to near 40 mph and dry air will continue to the high fire danger across the plains this evening. Caution to avoid fire starts needs to continue. Tonight, a good stream of moisture from the subtropical Pacific will blast into southwest Colorado overnight bringing another round of snow, wind and blowing snow. Another foot or more is probable at places like Wolf Creek Pass. For the mountain ranges farther north and east, the southwest winds won't be quite as favorable for heavy snow. But, there will still be more snow, wind and blowing snow with several inches of accumulation. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the San Juans. For the mountains farther north and east, Winter Weather Advisories are in effect. Wind gusts over 50 mph will be possible in and near the high country overnight. On Thursday, moderate snowfall rates will continue early in the mountains before gradually decreasing in the afternoon. Meanwhile, mild temperatures and high fire danger will return to the plains as gusty winds and dry air continue. Humidity values won't quite be low enough for fire weather highlights but it will still be gusty and dry. Wind gusts over 50 mph will be possible in and near the high country. Caution to avoid fire starts needs to continue. Temperatures on Thursday will be a little cooler than today but still well above average for mid February. Most readings will fall between 10 and 15 degrees above average for this time of year. However, late in the day, a cold front will drop south across northern El Paso County and the Palmer Divide, resulting in falling temperatures and winds shifting out of the north. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 400 PM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 Relatively active conditions are anticipated over the forecast district during the longer term with primary meteorological concerns being winds, pops, qpf and temperatures. Latest longer term computer simulations, PV/Precipitable water analysis and forecast model soundings indicate that next round of generally light precipitation should impact eastern portions of the forecast district from later Thursday evening into Friday morning with drier conditions then returning to the majority of southern Colorado from Friday afternoon into Sunday night as drier northwesterly to zonal upper flow develops over the region. In addition, gusty to strong winds at times are expected over many sections of the CWA from Thursday night into Monday, which will also be capable of producing elevated fire weather concerns(favoring eastern sections), especially by Sunday as maximum temperatures climb well above mid-February climatological averages this day. WFO Pueblo will monitor closely. Then, next potential round of unsettled and colder conditions(including the potential of moderate to heavy snow at times) is anticipated from Monday into Tuesday as next vigorous upper disturbance interacts with a healthy moist north-northeasterly surface surge. Improving meteorological conditions are then expected by next Wednesday. Warmest temperatures during the longer term over the majority of the forecast district should be realized this weekend(especially Sunday), while coolest temperatures are expected Friday and especially from Tuesday into next Wednesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 400 PM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 Widespread IFR/LIFR conditions will develop in the mountains tonight and Thursday, particularly over the Continental Divide, as a moist stream of subtropical moisture enters the region from the southwest. Strong gusty winds over 50 mph at times will continue in the high country resulting in areas of blowing snow and poor visibilities. It is expected to remain dry elsewhere across the flight area. For the KPUB, KCOS and KALS terminals, gusty winds are the main concern next 24 hours. Westerly wind gusts to around 40 mph are expected at the KCOS terminal yet this evening, with gusts to around 30 mph at KPUB and KALS. After dropping back tonight, another round of gusty winds is expected for all 3 sites on Thursday. A cold front will bring a windshift from the north to KCOS probably 21z-00Z Thursday. As far as flight rules, however, VFR expected at all 3 sites next 24 hours. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM MST Thursday for COZ058-060-068. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Thursday for COZ061-073- 075. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1051 AM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 COZ058>089-093>099-151800- Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Feet- Leadville Vicinity/Lake County Below 11000 Feet- Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Western Chaffee County Between 9000 and 11000 Feet- Central Chaffee County Below 9000 Feet- Western Mosquito Range/East Chaffee County Above 9000 Feet- Saguache County West of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet- Saguache County East of Continental Divide Below 10000 Feet- La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Upper Rio Grande Valley/Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Del Norte Vicinity/Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet- Alamosa Vicinity/Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Feet- Southern San Luis Valley- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Feet- Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 and 11000 Feet- Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Feet- Northwestern Fremont County Above 8500 Feet- Western/Central Fremont County Below 8500 Feet- Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Feet- Wet Mountains between 6300 and 10000 Feet- Wet Mountains Above 10000 Feet- Teller County/Rampart Range Above 7500 Feet/Pikes Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Feet-Pikes Peak Above 11000 Feet- Canon City Vicinity/Eastern Fremont County- Northern El Paso County/Monument Ridge/Rampart Range Below 7500 Feet- Colorado Springs Vicinity/Southern El Paso County/Rampart Range Below 7400 Feet-Pueblo Vicinity/Pueblo County Below 6300 Feet- Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Feet- Trinidad Vicinity/Western Las Animas County Below 7500 Feet- 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- 1051 AM MST Wed Feb 14 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Locally strong wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph will be possible through the afternoon in and near the mountains. Gusty winds and dry air will result in near critical fire weather conditions across the southeast Colorado plains this afternoon. This is especially true for the plains south of Highway 50 and east of I-25 that generally saw little snowfall from the last storm. Outdoor burning or any other activities that could accidentally start a wildfire should be postponed today. A winter storm will affect the mountains tonight, especially along the Continental Divide. 5 to 10 inches of new snow will be possible by sunrise Thursday. The heaviest accumulations and locally heavier amounts will be found across the eastern San Juan Mountains. Winds of 30 to 50 mph will cause significant blowing snow and poor visibilities through the mountain passes. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday Moderate to heavy snow is expected over the higher terrain, and especially along the Continental Divide, Thursday morning. Light snowfall will then be possible over the higher terrain Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Another round of light snow will be possible over the mountains Sunday night through Tuesday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be likely tonight in the mountains. 50/50
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2018
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: 732574.