A very strong Atmospheric River event brought prolonged period of heavy snowfall accumulations to southeast Utah and much of western Colorado in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, resulting in upwards of 2 to 3 feet of snow for many mountain areas with locally higher amounts above 40 inches. Some higher valley locations, in particular the Gunnison Basin and Upper Yampa River Basin, received…
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.
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 very strong Atmospheric River event brought prolonged period of heavy snowfall accumulations to southeast Utah and much of western Colorado in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, resulting in upwards of 2 to 3 feet of snow for many mountain areas with locally higher amounts above 40 inches. Some higher valley locations, in particular the Gunnison Basin and Upper Yampa River Basin, received over a foot of snow. Some areas along Interstate 70 also received moderate to heavy snowfall, including valley locations. Travel was significantly impacted during this event in the days leading up to Thanksgiving with road closures. Some lower valleys received over an inch of rain as well with light snow accumulations once the rain changed over to snow.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 25 to 35 inches of snow fell over the La Sal Mountains with 13 to 15 inches of snow over the Abajo Mountains. 5 inches of snow was reported at Monticello 0.4 SW. Winds generally gusted in the 15 to 35 mph range with a peak gust of 44 mph at La Sal.
Generally 7 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area with 7.2 at East Willow Creek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, November 2024
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: 1224477, 1224476.