Colorado, 2024

Winter Weather in Colorado, May 11 to 12, 2024

May 11 to 12, 2024 · NWS GJT · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Wraparound moisture drove easterly flow into the upslope areas of the central Colorado mountains with banded precipitation forming on the northern side of a low pressure system as it was exiting to the east. This banded precipitation allowed for moderate to heavy snowfall rates to fall during the overnight hours across the southern portion of the Elk Mountains and northern portion of the West…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.

Wraparound moisture drove easterly flow into the upslope areas of the central Colorado mountains with banded precipitation forming on the northern side of a low pressure system as it was exiting to the east. This banded precipitation allowed for moderate to heavy snowfall rates to fall during the overnight hours across the southern portion of the Elk Mountains and northern portion of the West Elk Mountains and Sawatch Mountains. Given the late season nature of this event, this snowfall was significant but impacts remained minimal as roads remained wet with snow accumulating mainly at elevations above 11,000 feet.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 11, 4:01 PM MST, 1 hour 59 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 11, 4:01 PM MST, 1 hour 59 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, May 11, 2:03 AM MST, 15 hours 57 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 11, 3:07 PM MST, 2 hours 53 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
May 11, 6:00 PM MST to May 12, 5:00 AM 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 6 to 11 inches of snow fell across the southern half of the area at elevations above 11,000 feet. 6 to 8 inches of snow fell at the Snowmass and Aspen Ski Areas.

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
May 11, 7:00 PM MST to May 12, 9:00 AM 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 4 to 11 inches of snow fell across the northern half of the area at elevations above 11,000 feet. 10.5 inches of snow was measured at Crested Butte 6.2 N.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, May 2024

Sources

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: 1181317, 1181318.