Early winter storms dropped heavy snow over the San Juan Mountains in late December 2021 followed by over a month of dry weather into mid February 2022. By mid February, snowfall picked back up across the Colorado High Country with a series of winter storms passing through over the course of several weeks.
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.
Early winter storms dropped heavy snow over the San Juan Mountains in late December 2021 followed by over a month of dry weather into mid February 2022. By mid February, snowfall picked back up across the Colorado High Country with a series of winter storms passing through over the course of several weeks. The dry period in between weakened the snowpack, resulting in hazardous backcountry conditions into the month of March.
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 17, 12:45 PM MST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 145 PM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 .SHORT TERM...(Tonight through Friday night) Issued at 145 PM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 Low pressure has shifted east into the Southern Plains with predominately north to northwesterly flow settled overhead. Throughout the afternoon, the low to mid-level jet will weaken while traversing across the CWA. Expect gusty conditions to continue through mid afternoon, especially over the Four Corners region until sunset. Looking aloft, back winds indicated by this morning's sounding lend to CAA. As such, temperatures this afternoon have dipped a good 5 to 10 degrees cooler than readings ahead of Wednesday's cold front. However, backing winds also indicate sinking air, and thus clearing skies. Minimal cloud cover over eastern Utah will spread across western Colorado throughout this evening and overnight. As a result, low temperatures tonight will be cooler than this morning across majority of the region. One caveat would be persistent low stratus hugging higher terrain along the Divide, which may insulate high mountain towns along these ranges. On Friday, a weak perturbation will ripple through north- northwesterly flow bringing an increase in cloud cover from west to east early Friday morning. This disturbance may be able to squeeze out a few flurries over higher terrain, though minimal accumulation is anticipated. Elsewhere, cloud cover will begin to clear from west to east by Friday afternoon, allowing high temperatures to rebound another 3 to 5 degrees. This slight warming trend may bump up low temperatures Friday night, however, warm air will have to battle efficient radiational cooling under mostly clear skies. Have decided to nudge lows a few degrees below guidance over low-lying valleys, with anticipation of radiational cooling being the dominate mechanism. WAA overcomes radiational cooling moving upslope, therefore, mountain towns will experience a notably warmer morning come sunrise Saturday. .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 145 PM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 On Saturday a ridge will build over the region which will bring dry conditions and allow temperatures to moderate slightly above normal. As the ridge slides eastward southwest flow develops and winds start to increase. On Sunday an elongated trough will approach from the west and begin advecting moisture into the area. Therefore precip chances increase through the course of the day. The base of this trough is still expected to reach the US/Mexico border. There is fair agreement that the trough will close off over eastern AZ and western NM and begin to tracking more easterly. This will place the better dynamics south of our area. Regardless, the trough and associated cold front will provide enough lift and moisture for widespread precipitation here. The best chances are Sunday night into Monday with valley rain transitioning to snow. There is still disagreement on where this low pressure lifts out of NM which has implications along the Front Range and High Plains where significant amounts are possible. Unfortunately, the western slope will not fully benefit from this storm deepening given it's current projected path south of the area. Snowfall amounts continue to jump around, but it appears models are beginning to dial in on a consensus solution. This is also supported by the ensemble clusters. As it stands now the higher amounts remain confined to the mountains with most ranges receiving accumulation. We'll see a down tick in precip Monday night with most places dry by Tuesday morning. An amplified ridge will build in behind this system allowing for another dry and warming period. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Friday afternoon) Issued at 1121 AM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 A low cloud deck remains in place across the area with snow showers also causing issues. MVFR to brief and occasional IFR is likely under these snow showers mainly in the mountains. Anticipate ILS breakpoints being reached for some sites with improvement in the next few hours. Some gusty winds are also possible this afternoon as northwesterly winds gust to between 20 to 30 mph at times. Skies will begin to clear out after 00Z but perhaps a few hours later at KASE. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...None. UT...None. && SHORT TERM...ERW LONG TERM...KJS AVIATION...TGJT
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 426 AM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-181300- 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- 426 AM MDT Thu Mar 17 2022 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Some light snow will continue along the Continental Divide through noon and then become more showery in nature. The rest of the area will see clearing skies. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday A stronger system might impact the region Sunday with possible moderate valley rain and mountain snow showers. This system will likely impact travel over the mountain passes across the region through Monday with the heaviest accumulations in the southern mountains. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1054 AM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1053 AM SNOW 3 N SKYWAY 39.09N 108.12W
03/17/2022 M3.5 INCH MESA CO NWS EMPLOYEE
.30 SWE.
&&
MPMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1133 AM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 AM SNOW 15 W MONTROSE 38.46N 108.16W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH MONTROSE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR SNOWFALL.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1136 AM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0825 AM SNOW 1 NW AVON 39.66N 106.54W
03/17/2022 M2.0 INCH EAGLE CO PUBLIC
24 HOUR SNOWFALL.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
1252 PM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0721 AM SNOW OURAY 38.03N 107.67W
03/17/2022 M8.8 INCH OURAY CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION URYC2 OURAY.
0700 AM SNOW 4 NW RIDGWAY 38.20N 107.80W
03/17/2022 M6.5 INCH OURAY CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-OR-24 RIDGWAY 3.6 NW.
0800 AM SNOW 1 ENE FALL CREEK 38.03N 108.01W
03/17/2022 M6.2 INCH SAN MIGUEL CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-SM-17 PLACERVILLE 3.6 E.
0800 AM SNOW 1 SW RIDGWAY 38.15N 107.76W
03/17/2022 M5.2 INCH OURAY CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-OR-29 RIDGWAY 0.6 SW.
0800 AM SNOW 5 SW COLONA 38.22N 107.81W
03/17/2022 M5.2 INCH OURAY CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-OR-19 COLONA 5SW.
0700 AM SNOW 3 NNW RIDGWAY 38.20N 107.77W
03/17/2022 M5.0 INCH OURAY CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-OR-13 RIDGWAY 3.3NNW.
0700 AM SNOW RIDGWAY 38.15N 107.76W
03/17/2022 M4.6 INCH OURAY CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION RGWC2 RIDGWAY 1 ESE.
0700 AM SNOW 2 NNW RIDGWAY 38.19N 107.77W
03/17/2022 M4.5 INCH OURAY CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-OR-27 RIDGWAY 2.4 NNW.
0800 AM SNOW 2 WSW GUNNISON 38.53N 106.97W
03/17/2022 M3.6 INCH GUNNISON CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION GUNC2 GUNNISON.
0600 AM SNOW 3 N SKYWAY 39.09N 108.12W
03/17/2022 M3.5 INCH MESA CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION MSXC2 MESA 6S.
0700 AM SNOW GUNNISON 38.55N 106.93W
03/17/2022 M3.5 INCH GUNNISON CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-GN-68 GUNNISON 0.2 NW.
0655 AM SNOW 1 NW EAGLE 39.66N 106.83W
03/17/2022 M3.5 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-51 EAGLE 0.7 NW.
0800 AM SNOW 4 NNE POWDERHORN 38.34N 107.09W
03/17/2022 M3.2 INCH GUNNISON CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-GN-58 POWDERHORN 4.4NNE.
0845 AM SNOW 15 W MONTROSE 38.46N 108.16W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH MONTROSE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
24 HOUR SNOWFALL.
0600 AM SNOW 3 SW EDWARDS 39.62N 106.65W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-62 EDWARDS 3.5 SW.
0630 AM SNOW 3 WSW EDWARDS 39.63N 106.65W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-61 EDWARDS 2.9 WSW.
0700 AM SNOW 1 W EDWARDS 39.65N 106.62W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH EAGLE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION EDRC2 EDWARDS 1WNW.
0700 AM SNOW 1 W EDWARDS 39.65N 106.62W
03/17/2022 M3.0 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-3 EDWARDS 1.3WNW.
0800 AM SNOW 1 SW REDSTONE 39.17N 107.25W
03/17/2022 M2.5 INCH PITKIN CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-PT-17 REDSTONE 1.2 SW.
0700 AM SNOW 1 ESE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 40.48N 106.81W
03/17/2022 M2.4 INCH ROUTT CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-RT-53 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
0.7ESE.
0700 AM SNOW 5 W TOPONAS 40.08N 106.89W
03/17/2022 M2.3 INCH ROUTT CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-RT-26 YAMPA 5.1S.
0904 AM SNOW 9 SW MAHER 38.55N 107.69W
03/17/2022 M2.0 INCH MONTROSE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION BKCC2 BLACK CANYON OF
THE GUNNISON.
0600 AM SNOW 1 NW AVON 39.67N 106.55W
03/17/2022 M2.0 INCH EAGLE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION AVNC2 AVON 2N.
0700 AM SNOW 7 ENE MONTROSE 38.52N 107.75W
03/17/2022 M1.8 INCH MONTROSE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-MT-31 MONTROSE 7.3ENE.
0700 AM SNOW 1 NE STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 40.48N 106.81W
03/17/2022 M1.7 INCH ROUTT CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-RT-16 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
1.1E.
0700 AM SNOW 2 W VAIL 39.65N 106.40W
03/17/2022 M1.6 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-21 VAIL 0.9WNW.
0700 AM SNOW 2 ENE VAIL 39.65N 106.33W
03/17/2022 M1.6 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-19 VAIL 2.6E.
0700 AM SNOW 3 E PLATEAU CITY 39.18N 107.92W
03/17/2022 M1.5 INCH MESA CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-ME-133 PLATEAU CITY 3E.
0700 AM SNOW 3 ESE PARLIN 38.48N 106.67W
03/17/2022 M1.5 INCH GUNNISON CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-GN-39 PARLIN 2.7ESE.
0843 AM SNOW 8 SE PARLIN 38.42N 106.62W
03/17/2022 M1.5 INCH GUNNISON CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-GN-49 DOYLEVILLE 2.1W.
0700 AM SNOW 4 E VAIL 39.63N 106.29W
03/17/2022 M1.4 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-53 VAIL 3.5 E.
0800 AM SNOW 5 N REDSTONE 39.25N 107.24W
03/17/2022 M1.2 INCH PITKIN CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-PT-16 REDSTONE 4.9 N.
0600 AM SNOW 2 E STEAMBOAT SPRINGS 40.47N 106.79W
03/17/2022 M1.1 INCH ROUTT CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-RT-43 STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
1.9E.
0800 AM SNOW 5 N REDSTONE 39.25N 107.24W
03/17/2022 M1.0 INCH PITKIN CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-PT-15 CARBONDALE 10.0 S.
0700 AM SNOW 2 NNE LAKE CITY 38.05N 107.30W
03/17/2022 M1.0 INCH HINSDALE CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LCIC2 LAKE CITY 1
NNE.
0700 AM SNOW 4 NNW MOUNT CRESTED BUT 38.97N 106.98W
03/17/2022 M1.0 INCH GUNNISON CO CO-OP OBSERVER
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION GTHC2 4.2 N MOUNT
CRESTED BUTTE.
0700 AM SNOW 4 NNW MOUNT CRESTED BUT 38.96N 106.99W
03/17/2022 M1.0 INCH GUNNISON CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-GN-18 CRESTED BUTTE
6.2N.
0700 AM SNOW EDWARDS 39.65N 106.59W
03/17/2022 M1.0 INCH EAGLE CO COCORAHS
COCORAHS STATION CO-EG-52 EDWARDS 0.5 E.
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
105 PM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1220 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 WSW VERDURE 37.76N 109.40W
03/17/2022 M46 MPH SAN JUAN UT MESONET
MESONET STATION UTMCO 3.1 SW VERDURE (UTAH
DOT).
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
200 PM MDT THU MAR 17 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0132 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 SW CORTEZ 37.30N 108.63W
03/17/2022 M47 MPH MONTEZUMA CO ASOS
ASOS STATION KCEZ CORTEZ MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
At around 2:00 PM on March 17, 2022, a solo backcountry snowboarder was caught, buried, and killed in an avalanche south of Trout Lake, about five miles southwest of the town of Ophir.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche, Southwestern San Juan Mountains | 2022-03-17 | 29 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, March 2022
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: 1007737.