Colorado, 2018

Winter Weather in Colorado, January 6 to 7, 2018

January 6 to 7, 2018 · NWS GJT · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A Pacific storm system produced significant snowfall in many areas within western Colorado. For some locations, this was the first recorded precipitation in three months.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
10

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 Pacific storm system produced significant snowfall in many areas within western Colorado. For some locations, this was the first recorded precipitation in three months.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
January 6, 11:00 AM MST to January 7, 12:00 AM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall accumulations ranged from 2 to 5 inches across the zone.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
January 6, 2:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:30 AM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Measured snowfall accumulations ranged from 6 to 14 inches above 9,000 feet and 2 to 6 inches below that elevation. Winds gusts of to 25 mph produced localized blowing snow.

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
January 6, 3:00 PM MST to January 7, 6:00 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)

Measured snowfall accumulations generally ranged from 6 to 9 inches, although Crested Butte received 9 to 11 inches.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
January 6, 3:00 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 PM 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 accumulations ranged from 4 to 12 inches.

Winter Weather, Upper Gunnison River Valley

When
January 6, 3:00 PM MST to January 7, 5:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Gunnison River Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Measured snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 3 inches.

Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When
January 6, 3:00 PM MST to January 7, 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)

Measured snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 7 inches across the zone.

Winter Weather, Debeque to Silt Corridor

When
January 6, 3:30 PM MST to January 7, 3:30 AM MST
Where
Debeque to Silt Corridor forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.308, -108.185 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Measured snowfall accumulations ranged from 1 to 4 inches with most reports around 3 inches. Roads, including I-70, were snowpacked or slushy.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
January 6, 5:00 PM MST to January 7, 9:00 AM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Above 8,500 feet, measured snowfall accumulations ranged from 5 to 9 inches. Below that elevation, snowfall amounts only ranged from 2 to 4 inches.

Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When
January 6, 6:00 PM MST to January 7, 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 amounts ranged from 3 to 10 inches across the zone.

Winter Weather, Central Colorado River Basin

When
January 6, 8:30 PM MST to January 7, 8:00 AM MST
Where
Central Colorado River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 4 inches.

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 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2018

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 726457, 726452, 726459, 726460, 726461, 726464, 726455, 726458, 726462, 726456.