A cold front progressed across eastern Utah and generally produced light snow across the region. However, instability associated with the front led to the development of a strong convective snow band which extended from the La Sal Mountains in southeast Utah to the West Elk Mountains in west-central Colorado.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
A cold front progressed across eastern Utah and generally produced light snow across the region. However, instability associated with the front led to the development of a strong convective snow band which extended from the La Sal Mountains in southeast Utah to the West Elk Mountains in west-central Colorado. This band produced localized snowfall totals of up to 9 inches across the La Sal Mountains.
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 1, 2:48 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 248 PM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Monday night) Issued at 246 PM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 Large-scale pattern continues to show a positively-tilted trough over the western US this afternoon. A closed-low over northern California will drop slowly south as a baroclinic zone stretching northeast over southern Wyoming drops south across the forecast area tonight. As this baroclinic zone drops south across eastern Utah and western Colorado several model solutions are showing the front will stall and produce heavier localized snowfall. Models are showing good frontal forcing with fairly steep lapse rates through the evening hours. However, model consensus for a favored location for heavier snow is not great. Have taken a blended approach with the best focus stretching from the Grand Mesa across the Elk and West Elk mountains where sub-advisory amounts are expected with localized higher amounts possible if the band forms over the area. Have also slightly increased amounts in the southern San Juan mountains. Stay tuned to the latest forecasts overnight for any updates. Much colder temperatures are expected on Monday with snow showers continuing to produce light snow over the higher terrain. Snow showers will end by Monday night with seasonably cold overnight temperatures. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 246 PM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 Scattered snow showers over the higher terrain will diminish Monday night with partial clearing expected. A closed-low over the Baja California on Monday evening will moves slowly east and remain south of our forecast area through Tuesday and will move across Texas by Wednesday. Dry northwest flow over the area on Tuesday and Wednesday will transition to a progressive ridge which will move across the region on Thursday into Friday. Expect dry conditions through the workweek with seasonably warm temperatures. By late Friday and Saturday, southwest flow will increase ahead of a Pacific storm system which will bring an increased threat of mountain snow and valley rain by the weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1045 AM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 VFR conditions occurring early this afternoon with MVFR conditions at higher elevations due to lower cigs under mainly virga showers. Expect development of scattered showers late this afternoon mainly after 21Z, with a peak this evening into Monday morning for the central and southern locations. Isolated thunder is possible but confidence is somewhat low on the extent. ILS breakpoints could be reached at times in showers due to lower cigs/vsby. Conditions improve after 12Z Monday with showers dissipating and drier air moving in from the northwest. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...MPM LONG TERM...MPM AVIATION...MDA
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 508 AM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-021400- 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- 508 AM MST Sun Mar 1 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A few isolated showers are possible today and this afternoon, maybe a rumble of thunder as well. A front will move through the region tonight bringing several inches of snow to the higher elevations. Most precipitation will be over by Monday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday High pressure builds in bringing pleasant weather for much of next week. The next system looks to move in next Saturday bringing another chance for precipitation. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 8 to 9 inches of snow fell across the La Sal Mountains, much of that within 12 hours, with 2 to 4 inches of snow across the Abajos. Winds gusted up to 46 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, March 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: 870826.