An atmospheric river event impacted the Western Slope, bringing an abundance of Pacific moisture and a series of upper level disturbances. The first system moved through early in the week and brought moderate to heavy snow to the mountains and even some southern valleys.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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.
An atmospheric river event impacted the Western Slope, bringing an abundance of Pacific moisture and a series of upper level disturbances. The first system moved through early in the week and brought moderate to heavy snow to the mountains and even some southern valleys. Winds gusted up to 45 mph at times in some ranges.
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 19, 4:46 PM MST, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 314 AM MDT Sun Mar 19 2023 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-200915- 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- 314 AM MDT Sun Mar 19 2023 This hazardous weather outlook is for eastern Utah and western Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight High pressure today will give way to increasing shower activity this evening and through the overnight as a Pacific trough approaches the region. Valleys will see primarily rain while mountains see some accumulating snow. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Widespread showers are expected beginning Monday and continuing through at least Wednesday as this first and eventual second system push across the forecast area. Heavy mountain snow is expected, particularly across the favored southern slopes. Mostly rain will fall in the valleys before colder air moves in Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Unsettled weather will continue through the end of the week due to residual moisture and additional disturbances approaching from the Pacific Northwest. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 19 inches estimated at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site.
Generally 5 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 12 inches estimated at the Lone Cone SNOTEL site.
An estimated almost 2 feet of snow fell at the Columbine Pass SNOTEL site.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 11 inches estimated at the Tower SNOTEL site.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 11 inches reported.
Generally 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across the area.
Generally 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 7 inches reported.
Generally 5 to 9 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted to 45 mph at times.
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, March 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: 1078140, 1078145, 1078141, 1078142, 1078139, 1078147, 1078146, 1078143.