Colorado, 2023Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 9 to 11, 2023
January 9 to 11, 2023 · NWS GJT · 9 events in 8 counties and zones
Another atmospheric river event impacted the Western Slope with ample moisture and various shortwave troughs in the flow resulting in moderate to heavy snow for most mountain ranges. Winds gusted up to 50 mph at times.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
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.
Another atmospheric river event impacted the Western Slope with ample moisture and various shortwave troughs in the flow resulting in moderate to heavy snow for most mountain ranges. Winds gusted up to 50 mph at times.
Winter Storm, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- January 9, 11:00 AM MST to January 11, 5:00 PM 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 18 to 26 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts in excess of 3 feet estimated at the Tower SNOTEL site. Winds gusted to 50 mph at times.
Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains
- When
- January 9, 4:00 PM MST to January 11, 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 29 inches estimated at the Bison Lake SNOTEL site. Winds gusted to almost 50 mph at times.
Winter Weather, Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus
- When
- January 9, 6:00 PM MST to January 11, 1:00 PM MST
- Where
- Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 39.532, -108.196 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 4 to 6 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted to almost 50 mph at times.
Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas
- When
- January 9, 6:00 PM MST to January 11, 1:00 PM 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 8 to 16 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 27 inches estimated at the Taylor Park SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide
- When
- January 9, 6:00 PM MST to January 11, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Uncompahgre Plateau and Dallas Divide forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 38.488, -108.155 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
An average 2 feet of snow fell at the Columbine Pass SNOTEL site. Winds gusted to almost 50 mph at times.
Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- January 9, 8:00 PM MST to January 11, 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area.
Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- January 9, 8:00 PM MST to January 11, 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- SNOTEL
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Generally 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area.
Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- January 10, 10:00 PM MST to January 11, 5:00 PM 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 up to 26 inches estimated at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site.
Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- January 10, 10:00 PM MST to January 11, 2:00 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 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 14 inches estimated at the Black Mesa SNOTEL site.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- 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.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in California, January 9 to 10, 20232 deaths · 1 injured · 82 kt wind · 32 events
- Strong Wind in Washington, January 9, 20231 death · 1 event
- Avalanche in Nevada, January 9, 20231 death · 1 event
- Avalanche and Flood in California, January 9 to 10, 2023$501,000 · 6 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, January 9 to 11, 202363 kt wind · 29 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Utah, January 9 to 11, 202359 kt wind · 15 events
- Flooding and High Wind in California, January 9 to 10, 202367 kt wind · 15 events
- Debris Flow and Heavy Snow in Nevada, January 9 to 11, 202365 kt wind · 7 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Wyoming, January 9 to 12, 202362 kt wind · 6 events
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Oregon, January 9, 2023$1,000 · 75 kt wind · 4 events
- High Wind in Washington, January 9, 202367 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Oregon, January 9, 202361 kt wind · 1 event
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: 1064965, 1064972, 1064964, 1064966, 1064974, 1064967, 1064968, 1064970, 1064975.