Colorado, 2018Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, November 23 to 25, 2018
November 23 to 25, 2018 · NWS GJT · 10 events in 10 counties and zones
A moist and strong west to northwest flow in the wake of a cold upper level trough resulted in significant to heavy snow accumulations across the northern and central Colorado mountains, as well as some northern and central valleys in western Colorado.
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
- 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.
A moist and strong west to northwest flow in the wake of a cold upper level trough resulted in significant to heavy snow accumulations across the northern and central Colorado mountains, as well as some northern and central valleys in western Colorado.
Winter Storm, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- November 23, 12:00 PM MST to November 25, 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)
Generally 15 to 20 inches of snow was measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 3 feet at the Tower SNOTEL site. Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm, Flattop Mountains
- When
- November 23, 12:00 PM MST to November 24, 11:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 9 to 18 inches of snow was measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 26 inches at the Ripple Creek SNOTEL site. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, Upper Yampa River Basin
- When
- November 23, 10:00 PM MST to November 25, 12:00 AM MST
- Where
- Upper Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 4 to 9 inches of snow fell in the Steamboat Springs area.
Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas
- When
- November 24, 12:00 AM MST to 10:00 PM 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)
Generally 6 to 10 inches of snow was measured across the area.
Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- November 24, 12:00 AM MST to 11:00 PM 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)
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow was measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 18 inches at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- November 24, 1:00 AM MST to 9:00 PM 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)
Generally 10 to 15 inches of snow was measured across the area. Wind gusts of 25 to 50 mph produced blowing and drifting snow especially on the passes. Interstate 70 on Vail Pass was closed for over an hour due to slick and snowpacked roads combined with very limited visibility.
Winter Weather, Central Yampa River Basin
- When
- November 24, 9:00 AM MST to 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Central Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 40.361, -107.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 4 inches were measured across the area.
Winter Weather, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus
- When
- November 24, 10:30 AM MST to 10:00 PM MST
- Where
- Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Travel was severely impacted over Douglas Pass due to slick roads and whiteout conditions from heavy snowfall and blowing snow. Wind gusts across the area ranged from 30 to 55 mph.
Winter Weather, Central Colorado River Basin
- When
- November 24, 12:00 PM MST to 5:00 PM MST
- Where
- Central Colorado River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 3 to 6 inches of snow was measured across the area.
Winter Weather, Upper Gunnison River Valley
- When
- November 24, 1:00 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Gunnison River Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 38.535, -107.650 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 3 to 7 inches of snow was measured across the area.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- 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.
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, November 23 to 24, 20189 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Utah, November 23 to 24, 201851 kt wind · 7 events
- Coastal Flood in Florida, November 23 to 24, 20186 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nebraska, November 23 to 25, 201855 kt wind · 5 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 23 to 24, 20185 events
- Coastal Flood in Georgia, November 23, 20183 events
- Heavy Snow in Idaho, November 23 to 24, 20183 events
- High Wind in California, November 23 to 24, 201853 kt wind · 3 events
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 23 to 24, 20183 events
- High Wind in Tennessee, November 23, 201855 kt wind · 3 events
- High Wind in Nevada, November 23 to 24, 201870 kt wind · 3 events
- Extreme Cold in New York, November 23, 20182 events
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: 787977, 787981, 787983, 787978, 787980, 787979, 787982, 787984, 787985, 787986.