A passing storm system generated thirteen inches of snow and gusty winds at Wolf Creek Pass in Mineral county.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A passing storm system generated thirteen inches of snow and gusty winds at Wolf Creek Pass in Mineral county.
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 2, 10:25 PM MST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1025 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday) Issued at 346 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 ...Damaging winds possible for the southeast mountains and adjacent lower elevations...Heavy wind driven snow for the southwest mountains...Critical fire weather conditions for the I-25 corridor on Sunday.... A mix of highlights have been issued for southern Colorado on Sunday as a fast moving shortwave and associated jet translates across the region late tonight through Sunday. This will bring a variety of concerns from wind driven snow along the Continental Divide...to high winds to the southeast mountains and adjacent I-25 corridor...to critical fire weather conditions for the I-25 corridor as humidities drop to near critical thresholds. First for the wind driven snow concerns...should see snow ramp up across the Continental divide after midnight with the best southwesterly orographics and lift impacting the eastern San Juan mountains. Still getting around 6 to 13 inches of snow, with the heaviest falling late tonight through Sunday morning. Some locally higher amounts will be possible across the southwest facing slopes. While these amounts are more in the advisory range, when coupled with strong southwest winds gusting to 55 mph, considerable wind driven snow is expected to increase impacts more into the warning . threshold. So current highlights still look on track. The remainder of the mountains along the Continental Divide may pick up between 2 to 6 inches of snow, which seems too low at this point to warrant any highlights. There will be a period of blowing snow across the higher peaks and passes of the La Garitas and Sawatch range on Sunday...but given the lighter amounts decided to hold off on any advisories. Later shifts may need to consider this for the eastern Sawatch range should amounts increase a bit more. As for the wind concerns...model cross sections show impressive mountain wave signature setting up for the Sangre De Cristo and Wet Mountains, Wet Mountain Valley and southern portions of the I-25 corridor from Pueblo county southward to the New Mexico border. Best conditions set up across the southern I-25 corridor down around Walsenburg. Strongest winds still appear to hit in the 15z to 21z time frame. Event may transition to more of a deep mixing high wind event during the afternoon as forward shear increases with the upper jet. However, even then we may still be able to transport the higher momentum aloft to the surface due just to mixing in the afternoon...even across northern portions of the I-25 corridor where cross barrier component is not as good. Some gusts up to around 55 mph may impact portions of El Paso county as well. Model cross- sections show another inversion developing around mtn top towards late afternoon and evening given some subsidence behind the upper trof...and this may set up another brief window for mountain wave wind gusts into the evening, especially as the upper jet pulls away to the northeast and we loose some of the forward shear again. Have upgraded the high wind watch to a warning and have included the Wet Mountain valley as well where high res models suggest some gusts to at least 60 mph may spread down into the into the lower elevations during the morning. With mtn top winds increasing to around 65 mph ...could conceivably see some gusts approach 85-90 mph in and near the mountains, with gusts to 65 mph spreading into the adjacent lower elevations along and west of I-25 depending on how the finer details of the mountain top inversion, etc set up. For Pueblo county...suspect the strongest gusts will stay confined to close to the Wet Mountains until later in the afternoon when deep mixing may help tap some gusts in the 50 to 60 mph range as far east as the I- 25 corridor. Remainder of the plains will see gusts more in the 35 to 45 mph range late as the upper trof moves across kicking the surface low eastward into western KS/NE by late in the day. Finally fire weather concerns exist for mainly the I-25 corridor where RH values are dropping to around 15-20 percent in the afternoon. Its possible humidity values could come up just shy of the 15% threshold...but given the strength of the winds and the fact that fuels are classified as critical across lower portions of even zone 225...have issued a Red Flag Warning to increase awareness of the potential for rapid fire spread...especially in the drier fine fuels. This will run from 8 AM until 6 PM which starts a little early, but coincides with the potential for strong downslope winds. Not getting enough of fire weather zone 225 to warrant inclusion. Its possible that another tier or so of counties may need to be included if humidities end up a bit drier. -KT .LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Saturday) Issued at 346 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 Sunday night-Monday...Strong westerly flow aloft moderates Sunday night and becomes more southwest across the area through the day Monday. Strong mountain wave potential continues into Sunday evening across the Southern Mts as flow aloft weakens, leading mean state critical layer, especially across Southern Sangre De Cristo Mts. With that said, high wind warning continues through 3Z Monday across the Southern Mts and Southern I-25 Corridor with winds diminishing through the rest of the evening and into the overnight hours. Otherwise, should see snow diminishing across the ContDvd Sunday night into early Monday morning, with a few inches possible across the higher peaks. Lee troughing across the plains on Monday will lead to another warm and breezy day, with highs in the 50s to lower 60s across the lower elevations, and mainly 30s and 40s across the higher terrain. Monday night-Tuesday...Southwest flow aloft increases across the area Monday night and Tuesday, ahead of an upper low digging into the Great Basin. Models differ on strength of the flow as well as location of induced surface low across the Eastern Plains, leading to possibility for a cooler airmass to sneak into portions of the Southeast Plains, as surface high pressure builds across Northern and Central High Plains. For now, have a gradient set around La Junta, with highs in the mid to upper 50s along with breezy west to southwest winds west, and cooler east to southeast winds and temperatures in the mid 40s to mid 50s east. Otherwise, should see occasional light snow across the Continental Divide, with generally light accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, greatest across the Southwest Mts. Tuesday night-Thursday night...A lower confidence forecast remains in the offing with continued model differences on strength, timing and location of the Great Basin system as it translates across the Rockies. The GFS is slower and weaker this system as compared with the EC, and have tilted the current blended model solution towards the faster solution at this time. With that said, will continue to see increasing chances of snow across the ContDvd through the Tuesday night and Wednesday timeframe, with the potential for winter weather highlights to issued through this period. Chances of snow to spread across the High Mountain Valleys through the Southeast Plains Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with much cooler temperatures areawide expected on Thursday behind the passing system. Friday-Saturday...Drier and warmer weather pattern expected into the early weekend, as upper level ridging builds across the region once again. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 1018 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 Brief break in the mid/upper level cloud shield has allowed KALS to radiate this evening, with vis falling to 7sm at 05z. Might be some brief MVFR vis for a couple hrs after 06z, though with west wind and incoming cloud cover, not enough confidence to include anything in the taf at this point. Overall, VFR at all terminals the next 24 hours, with increasing southwest to west winds Sunday morning. Gusts of 35 to 45 kts will be possible Sunday afternoon for both KCOS and KALS...while gusts of 45 to 50 kts will be possible by late afternoon for KPUB. For the mountains...expect deteriorating cigs and vis along the Continental Divide through the night as SN and BLSN become more widespread, then improving conditions by late Sunday afternoon as upper system pulls away. Mountain top winds will increase to around 60-70 kts by Sunday morning with strong mountain wave and LLWS possible in the lee of the southeast mountains. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning from 2 AM to 8 PM MST Sunday for COZ072>075- 078>080-082-083-086>088. Red Flag Warning from 8 AM to 6 PM MST Sunday for COZ227>230. Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM MST Sunday for COZ068. && SHORT TERM...KT LONG TERM...CARLBERG/MW AVIATION...PETERSEN
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 451 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 COZ058>089-093>099-040000- 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- 451 PM MST Sat Feb 2 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Tonight A potent pacific winter weather system will move into the region later tonight, bringing wind driven snow to the mountains along the Continental Divide beginning after midnight. Winds gusting to 50 to 60 mph will occur along with locally heavy snow, with the heaviest snow over the southwest mountains. Winds will increase across the remainder of the mountains late tonight and into the early morning hours of Sunday, and gusts of 60 to 70 mph will be likely toward sunrise. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Several areas of concern are expected on Sunday as a strong storm system passes across the area. Strong winds are expected over the Eastern Mountains, east into the adjacent Plains through the day on Sunday. Higher elevations will see west winds gusting from 75 to 90 mph, with the strongest winds over the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains, and near the summit of Pikes Peak. For the lower elevations, along and west of Interstate 25, west winds gusting in excess of 60 mph are likely, with the strongest winds occuring from Colorado City south to Trinidad. Extreme caution is advised for high profile and light vehicles traveling on all north-south oriented highways, including Interstate 25, due to strong cross winds. Snow and blowing snow are expected to persist along the Continental Divide through the day before tapering off Sunday night to light snow and flurries. Snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible over the San Juan Mountains, while areas north into the La Garita Mountains and Central Mountains see lesser amounts of 2 to 6 inches. Strong, gusty winds will produce areas of blowing snow creating hazardous travel conditions over mountain passes. Critical fire weather conditions are expected along the Interstate 25 corridor from Colorado Springs south to Trinidad Sunday afternoon, as strong west winds, near record high temperatures and low humidity values combine to create high fire danger. Any outdoor burning is highly discouraged due to these critical conditions. Periods of light snow are expected due to persistent southwest flow aloft along the Continental Divide Tuesday and Wednesday. Minor snow accumulations are expected, especially on southwest facing slopes and the San Juan Range. Another storm system is possible for mid week, although there is a high degree of uncertainty at this time due to storm track and timing. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be likely across the mountains late tonight. 10/34
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 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2019
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: 805737.