A long duration storm system generated snow, heavy at times over sections of southern Colorado. Some of the higher reported snow totals with this system included six inches of snow near the communities of Beulah and Buena Vista.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
A long duration storm system generated snow, heavy at times over sections of southern Colorado. Some of the higher reported snow totals with this system included six inches of snow near the communities of Beulah and Buena Vista. Eight to ten inches of snow was observed near Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs and Peterson Air Force Base. Twelve inches of snow graced locations near Penrose, while 29 to 30 inches of snow impacted Monarch Pass, Wolf Creek Pass and Leadville respectively.
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 28, 10:59 PM MST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Pueblo CO 1059 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 306 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 Currently...GOES water vapor imagery and upper air analysis shows a westerly jet extending from off the northern California coast into western Colorado, with subtle disturbances accelerating through the flow. Large scale forcing associated with the jet along with strong westerly flow into the west-facing slopes and increasing moisture has led to the development of snow showers along the Continental Divide late this afternoon. Elsewhere, mid to upper level clouds have spread over the CWA, but the lower elevations are dry. Southeast winds persist across most of the plains, while early day heating has led to temperatures in the 50s to around 60 across much of the plains, except for the northeast counties where temperatures are around 40. Tonight through tomorrow...Strong westerly flow aloft with periodic disturbances continues over Colorado, leading to persistent snowfall across the Continental Divide. The most widespread, abundant snow will fall over the central mountains where flow will be most favorably oriented to the terrain. Through tomorrow afternoon, accumulations of 4-8 inches are expected across the central mountains, with up to an inch elsewhere. Therefore, a Winter Storm Warning will go into effect starting with this package (for the central mountains), and continue into the long-term (see discussion below). For the plains, conditions should remain dry through tomorrow afternoon, with mid to upper level cloud cover. Patchy fog may develop over the northeast plains counties given easterly flow over snow cover. Overnight lows should be in the 20s across most of the plains and high valleys, and 30s along the eastern slopes of the eastern mountains. During the day on Friday, gusty westerly winds are expected to mix to the surface across the I-25 corridor, driving temperatures to around 60. Humidities will drop to around 20%, or even slightly lower, but are expected to stay above critical levels precluding the need for Fire Weather highlights. While temperatures across the northeast plains counties will be slightly cooler given snow cover, exact temperatures will depend on the timing of a backdoor cold front dropping southwest out of northeast Colorado and western Kansas. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday) Issued at 306 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 Behind a sfc cold front low clouds are expected to develop over most of the southeast plains Fri evening. There will also be the potential for areas of fog and maybe some light precip in the form of snow/flurries or freezing drizzle, and this will continue into Sat morning. Snow is expected along the CONTDVD Fri night, with the best chances being over the Sawatch and Mosquito mtns. Snow will increase along the CONTDVD on Sat, and some snow is also expected to spread to the eastern mtns, while the high valleys will probably see the potential for scattered showers. Across the southeast plains, there is a good chance that much of the area will continue to see low clouds thru the day. However the GFS shows gusty westerly winds kicking in along the southern I-25 corridor and in Fremont county on Sat, with the low clouds retreating eastward in these areas. Even if the low clouds retreat, it looks like there will still be a lot of higher cloud cover over the area. As a disturbance moves into western CO later in the day, there will likely be a better chance for showers acrs the plains. Temps on Sat are expected to be about average in the high valleys, and below average over the southeast plains. Sat night that disturbance moves acrs southern CO, exiting the area early Sun morning. Chances for snow look quite good acrs most of southern CO Sat night and into Sun morning. The mtns will likely see several inches, especially along the CONTDVD, and we may need a winter weather highlight, especially for the central mtns. At this time, it looks like the southeast plains could see a few inches of snow, and the impacts could justify a winter weather advisory if subsequent model runs continue to show this solution. By midday Sun, most of the precip will end, although there could be some lingering light snow showers in some areas. It looks like there could continue to be a lot of low cloud cover acrs the southeast plains thru the day. Temps on Sun will be well below average acrs southeast CO by about 30 degrees. High temps in the high valleys are expected to be close to average. Low clouds should cover the southeast plains Sun night and into Mon morning. Late Sun night and Mon, a disturbance will be moving thru southern CO and northern NM. This system is expected to bring snow chances to some of southern CO thru Mon, but the GFS has more widespread snow than the EC, so there is a little uncertainty at this time. Temps on Mon will remain well below average acrs southeast CO, with slightly below average in the high valleys. Tue an upper ridge builds over the area, bringing dry and warmer weather. On Wed an upper trof moves over the western U.S. and snow returns to the CONTDVD thru Thu. Some light snow will likely spread to the eastern mtns on Thu. Windy conditions are forecast to develop over the mtns and plains Thu, and at this time it looks like the southeast plains should remain dry. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Friday night) Issued at 1055 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 VFR conditions at all taf sites the next 24 hrs. Gusty west winds likely at all sites from late Fri morning into the afternoon, then a cold front pushes through KCOS around 23z and KPUB around 00z, shifting the winds to easterly. Expect cigs at both sites to then begin falling through the evening, though MVFR or lower conditions will likely hold off until after 06z. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from Saturday morning through Sunday morning for COZ066-068. Winter Weather Advisory until noon MST Sunday for COZ061. Winter Storm Warning until noon MST Sunday for COZ058-060. && SHORT TERM...LINE LONG TERM...28 AVIATION...PETERSEN
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Pueblo CO 814 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 COZ058>089-093>099-020315- 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- 814 PM MST Thu Feb 28 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central...east central...south central and southeast Colorado. .DAY ONE...Tonight Snow is expected to increase across Continental Divide locations tonight. Central mountain locations will likely see 1 to 4 inches of snow with locally higher snow amounts possible. Lesser snow amounts are anticipated over the San Juan and La Garita Ranges. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Light to moderate snowfall will continue over the Continental Divide and spread to the eastern mountains through Tuesday. The best chance for snowfall over the plains will be Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. The next chance for snow will be next Thursday and at this point in time will only be a snow event for the mountains. Fog mixed with freezing drizzle and very light snow is expected over the eastern plains Friday night into Saturday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Weather conditions that meet reporting criteria for spotters will be possible over Continental Divide locations tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 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, March 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: 813368, 813369, 813370.