Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 7 to 9, 2019

Name: Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 7 to 9, 2019
Start: 2019-03-07T21:00
End: 2019-03-09T12:00
Location: Colorado

March 7 to 9, 2019 · NWS GJT · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

A strong Pacific trough and associated cold front pushed into western Colorado and produced heavy snow across the mountains. Additionally, steep mid-level lapse rates and moderate instability resulted in the development of some convective snow bands which enhanced snowfall rates and accumulations.

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.

What forecasters said that day

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 Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 7, 6:10 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 7, 6:10 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 7, 4:41 AM MST, 16 hours 19 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
441 AM MST Thu Mar 7 2019

COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-081300-
Lower Yampa River Basin-Central Yampa River Basin-
Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus-Elkhead and Park Mountains-
Upper Yampa River Basin-Grand Valley-Debeque to Silt Corridor-
Central Colorado River Basin-Grand and Battlement Mesas-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-
Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin-
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains-Flat Tops-
Upper Gunnison River Valley-Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide-
Northwest San Juan Mountains-Southwest San Juan Mountains-
Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River-
Four Corners/Upper Dolores River-Animas River Basin-
San Juan River Basin-Southeast Utah-Eastern Uinta Mountains-
Eastern Uinta Basin-Tavaputs Plateau-Arches/Grand Flat-
La Sal and Abajo Mountains-Canyonlands/Natural Bridges-
441 AM MST Thu Mar 7 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western
Colorado.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Widespread valley rain and mountain snow showers will continue
today and diminish overnight. Expect another 4 to 8 inches of snow
across the mountains above 8000 feet with snow amounts tapering
off quickly below 8000 feet as snow switches over the rain.
Isolated thunderstorms are also possible this afternoon with gusty
winds to 40 mph and brief heavy precipitation expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Friday and Friday night...Another Pacific storm moves through the
area with significant snowfall accumulations possible.

Saturday...Mostly dry.

Sunday through Wednesday...Unsettled conditions appear likely with
a series of upper level disturbances expected to pass through the
region.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected today or tonight, however
spotters are encouraged to report snowfall amounts to the
National Weather Service in Grand Junction.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 heavy snow, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When: March 7, 9:00 PM MST to March 9, 10:00 AM MST
Where: West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 8 to 16 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts exceeding 2 feet at the McClure Pass and Schofield Pass SNOTEL sites (25.2 and 26.6 inches, respectively). CoCoRaHS reported 10.5 inches 4 miles north-northwest of Crested Butte.

Heavy Snow, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When: March 7, 10:00 PM MST to March 9, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 10 to 17 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts close to 2 feet (23.8 inches) at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide

When: March 7, 11:00 PM MST to March 9, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Upwards of 11 inches of snow fell west-southwest of Ridgway with locally higher amounts of 21 inches estimated at the Columbine Pass SNOTEL site.

Heavy Snow, Southwestern San Juan Mountains

When: March 7, 11:00 PM MST to March 9, 12:00 PM MST
Where: Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 8 to 18 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 24 inches estimated at the Bear Town SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus

When: March 8, 12:00 AM MST to March 9, 3:00 AM MST
Where: Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Douglas Pass received 12 inches of snow by the end of the storm.

Heavy Snow, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When: March 8, 2:00 AM MST to March 9, 7:00 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)

Generally 8 to 16 inches of snow fell across the area with almost 27 inches estimated at the Tower SNOTEL site.

Heavy Snow, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When: March 8, 3:00 AM MST to March 9, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 8 to 13 inches of snow fell across the area. Travel was impacted along Interstate 70 with Vail Pass closing due to multiple crashes.

Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains

When: March 8, 3:00 AM MST to March 9, 8:00 AM MST
Where: Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area.

Winter Weather, Central Colorado River Basin

When: March 8, 3:00 AM MST to March 9, 1:00 AM MST
Where: Central Colorado River Basin forecast zone
Reported by: CoCoRaHS
Coordinates: 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 2 to 6 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 7.5 inches measured 4 miles north of Cattle Creek.

Heavy Snow, Flattop Mountains

When: March 8, 4:00 AM MST to March 9, 10:00 AM MST
Where: Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Generally 10 to 18 inches of snow fell across the area above 9500 feet with lesser amounts near 7 inches at the Crosho SNOTEL site located at 9100 feet.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
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

Every storm in Colorado in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Colorado, March 2019

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 801595, 801598, 801599, 801601, 801597, 801593, 801594, 801600, 802226, 801596.