A second shortwave disturbance tracked across the Western Slope. Ample moisture paired with favorable orographics and support aloft resulted in moderate snow across the mountains of western Colorado.
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.
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 second shortwave disturbance tracked across the Western Slope. Ample moisture paired with favorable orographics and support aloft resulted in moderate snow across the mountains of western Colorado. Winds in both the mountains and valleys exceeded 50 mph at times. Additionally, stronger snow bands and subsequent snow squalls developed along portions of I-70 and Highway 40, with visibilities dropping to less than one quarter of a mile in heavy snow and strong winds.
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 Feb 26, 5:04 PM MST, 56 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted up to 50 mph at times.
Generally 5 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area.
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 18 inches reported.
Generally 5 to 9 inches of snow fell across the area.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 16 inches estimated at the Bison Lake SNOTEL site. Winds gusted up to 55 mph at times.
An estimated 5 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted up to 50 mph at times.
A snow squall impacted the Grand Valley, reducing visibilities to less than one quarter of a mile for around 15 minutes as it moved through. Winds gusted to 48 mph at the Grand Junction Regional Airport.
A snow squall impacted the Steamboat Springs area, reducing visibilities to less than one quarter of a mile for around 10 minutes as it moved through. Winds gusted to near 40 mph with the squall.
A snow squall impacted portions of the I-70 corridor, reducing visibilities to less than one quarter of a mile for around 15 minutes as it moved through. Winds gusted to 50 mph at the Rifle Garfield County Airport.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2023
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: 1075013, 1075020, 1075016, 1075018, 1075017, 1075019, 1075015, 1075022, 1075024, 1075025.