Numerous shortwave disturbances moved through western Colorado in a prolonged period of unsettled northwesterly flow and produced moderate to heavy snow across most mountains and some valleys. Wind gusts exceeded 45 MPH at times.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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 GJT wrote it up.
Numerous shortwave disturbances moved through western Colorado in a prolonged period of unsettled northwesterly flow and produced moderate to heavy snow across most mountains and some valleys. Wind gusts exceeded 45 MPH at times.
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 Jan 11, 4:28 AM MST, 5 hours 32 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
428 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020
.SHORT TERM...(Today through Sunday)
Issued at 425 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020
Conditions remain fairly quiet this morning across the area with the
only immediate concern being cold temperatures across much of
northern and central Colorado. Satellite imagery shows an intial
surge of moisture headed our way this morning in the form of clouds.
Additional moisture will move in late this morning and early
afternoon as the first (of several) trough axis moves into the Great
Basin. This will setup the start of a multi-day orographic snow
event favoring our northern and central Colorado mountains. This
orographic precipitation will be aided by dynamic energy as the
trough passes through our CWA late this afternoon/evening and again
Sunday morning.
On Sunday, we then enter quasi-zonal flow for a short period ahead
of the next incoming trough. Expect this favorable flow to continue
light snowfall through Sunday night. Snowfall rates will vary
through the entire event with periods of no snowfall possible at
times. Decided to add Steamboat and surrounding areas in addition
to Aspen and Vail (where generally 6-12 inches is possible) to the
existing advisory. Outside of this, only slight adjustments were
made to the existing snowfall grids. The southwestern Colorado and
eastern Utah mountains will only pickup about 3-6 inches of snow
with this event. A little snow (generally less than a couple inches
total) is also possible in the lower valleys with the best chances
for accumulation being this evening and Monday morning.
.LONG TERM...(Sunday night through Friday)
Issued at 425 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020
Late Monday morning looks to be best chance for moderate to heavy
snowfall, albeit brief, as the second trough axis passes through our
area. Thus, decided to extend hazards through the day on Monday
ending at 03Z. A third trough passage is expected by Tuesday night.
Models are in pretty good agreement about the timiing of this
system. There is some disagreement on the intensity but it looks
like much of the forecast area stands a good chance of precipitation
again with this system. A fairly intense low is progged to arrive
off the Pacific NW coast Wednesday. Models then diverge as to how
fast the energy translates across CONUS. At any rate, this looks to
be yet another trough influencing our area by late next week. As
mentioned by the previous forecaster: confidence remains high for an
unsettled and cooler than normal work week.
&&
.AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Sunday morning)
Issued at 425 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020
The next weather disturbance will arrive late this morning with
showers spreading across the northern mountains by 15Z. KHDN,
KEGE, KASE, and KRIL may be impacted Saturday afternoon as
scattered snow showers will likely lower CIGS below IFR/LIFR
conditions. Chances for snow spread into the upper Colorado River
Basin Saturday evening.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...Winter Weather Advisory from noon today to 8 PM MST Monday for
COZ005-009-010-012-013.
Winter Storm Warning from noon today to 8 PM MST Monday for
COZ004.
UT...None.
&&
SHORT TERM...SS
LONG TERM...SS
AVIATION...TGJTHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 518 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-121230- 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- 518 AM MST Sat Jan 11 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Snow will be on the increase through the day as the first in a series of storms begins to impact the Rockies. Significant snow is likely over much of the northern and central Colorado mountains though all mountain ranges and some valleys will see new snowfall by Sunday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Cooler and wetter than normal conditions expected as a series of passing storms keeps the weather unsettled into the middle of next week. Snowfall will be favored in mountains though some valley locations will pick up lighter amounts. Travel through the high country will be difficult at times. .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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 5 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 18 inches estimated at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site.
Generally 10 to 20 inches of snow fell with locally higher amounts up to 27 inches estimated at the Tower SNOTEL site. Wind gusts up to 50 MPH occurred throughout the event.
Generally 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of 13.5 inches estimated at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site.
Generally 7 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 15 inches estimated at the Ripple Creek SNOTEL site. Winds gusted up to 47 MPH at times.
Generally 5 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area in 24 hours.
Generally 6 to 9 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 12 inches estimated at the Vail Mountain SNOTEL site. Winds gusted up to 45 MPH at times.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2020
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: 864446, 864485, 864445, 864447, 864448, 864449, 864450.