Heavy Snow in Colorado

Events

3,215

Deaths

4

Injuries

2

Damage

$36,000

• Dust Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 12 to 15, 20211 death · 93 kt wind · 146 eventsA potent upper level system and surface low approached the region late in the day on the 14th, and then lifted across Colorado during the day on the 15th.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 20 to 21, 19961 death · 2 injured · 8 events12-24 inches of snow fell over the central and northern mountains. 6-8 inches were common in the southwest mountains. There were numerous vehicle accidents, including a 20 car/truck pile up on I-70 near Vail.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, November 25 to 26, 20191 death · 15 eventsA strong midlevel Pacific trough and associated cold front progressed across western Colorado. As a result, moderate to heavy snow fell across the mountains as well as some valley locations.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, April 2, 19981 death · 10 eventsA strong upper level system brought a quick blast of snow to south central and southeast Colorado.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 24 to 25, 19971 death · 7 eventsAn upper level low pressure system combined with upslope northerly winds at the surface to produce widespread snow across the southeast mountains and adjoining plains starting the morning of the 24th and lasting into Christmas morning.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, April 14 to 16, 20201 death · 6 eventsA bitterly cold Pacific trough and associated cold front pushed through western Colorado. Favorable orographics and jet support aloft resulted in moderate to heavy snow across the northern and central Colorado mountains.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 18, 19981 death · 4 eventsAn upper level disturbance brought a blast of snow from the Palmer Divide north of Colorado Springs to the southeast mountains and foothills.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, March 12 to 15, 202453 eventsAn upper trough dug down through the Four Corners Region around the middle of March, bringing another winter storm system to southeast Colorado. This brought widespread heavy snow and rain to a large portion of the forecast area.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, November 5 to 9, 202451 eventsThe broad upper trough continued to deepen over the Four Corners Region, with gusty winds and moist upslope flow continuing moderate to heavy snowfall across most of our forecast area.
• Heavy Snow and Damaging Winds in Colorado, October 10 to 11, 2013$50,000 · 65 kt wind · 13 eventsA strong weather disturbance caused moderate to heavy mountain snow accumulations, mainly across and near the Continental Divide. The eastern San Juan mountains tallied over 8 inches of snow.
• Flash Flood and Heavy Snow in Colorado, May 10 to 17, 20231 in hail · 38 eventsA closed low propagated from SW CONUS and rapidly intensified over the southeast Colorado plains. A combination of strong lift due to the rapidly intensifying cyclone and orographic lift created heavy snow over the mountains.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 5 to 8, 20193 injured · 13 eventsAn upper level trough moved into western Colorado from the west and pulled in a tap of subtropical moisture with it from the southwest. This resulted in moderate to heavy snow showers at times for much of the valleys and mountains.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 1 to 4, 202437 eventsA closed low and associated upper level trough moved from the Pacific Northwest into Colorado. At the same time, good moisture transport from the West Coast provided moisture and resulted in impactful snowfall for southeast Colorado.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 10 to 11, 202428 eventsAn upper trough moved into the area and combined with a good tap of moisture from the southwest to cause snowfall across the area.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 20 to 24, 202227 eventsA series of shortwave disturbances dropped into the Great Basin from the Pacific Northwest. This, paired with above normal precipitable water and jet support aloft, resulted in a prolonged period of moderate to heavy snow for Western Colorado.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 6 to 9, 2007$15,000 · 17 eventsA prolonged period of moist southwest to west flow ahead of a low pressure system resulted in heavy snow and strong winds across the mountains and high plateaus of western Colorado. Much of the lower elevations received significant snowfall as well.
• Tornado and Heavy Snow in Colorado, March 24 to 26, 202454 kt wind · 25 eventsDuring late March, yet another deep upper level trough dug in across the western US. This, along with a strong southwesterly flow from the subtropical jet, brought in sufficient moisture and synoptic/orographic lift for another round of snowfall for parts of SE Colorado.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Colorado, January 7 to 11, 202470 kt wind · 25 eventsThe closed low dug down in a deep trough across the Rocky Mountains and SE Colorado. This brough more widespread heavy snow and strong winds to our forecast area.
• Flash Flooding and Heavy Snow in Colorado, May 17 to 18, 20211.5 in hail · 24 eventsA large upper level system moved across the region during this time, providing widespread precipitation to much of southern Colorado. While a few severe reports consisting of large hail were observed, the main hazards were heavy rainfall with flash flooding.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 3 to 6, 202424 eventsA closed upper low moved through the Four Corners Region and into our forecast area, bringing widespread snow.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, April 23 to 24, 2003$30,000 · 1 eventA strong storm system moved across western Colorado and produced heavy snow across the upper Yampa River Basin. Spotters reported widespread snowfall amounts from 6 to 12 inches with locally higher accumulations up to 20 inches.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Colorado, November 7 to 8, 202066 kt wind · 23 eventsAn upper level system moved across southern Colorado and brought increased snow chances and damaging winds to the eastern mountains and adjacent lower elevations during the early morning hours on the 8th.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 15 to 16, 202323 eventsRemnants of an AR combined with a strong cold front delivered heavy snow across the majority of Pueblo's CWA.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, December 13 to 15, 202323 eventsA closed low pressure system propagated from the Pacific Northwest down through northern New Mexico providing an efficient flow regime for snowfall over the eastern mountains and over the plains.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Colorado, February 26 to 28, 202457 kt wind · 23 eventsStrong winds mixed down to the surface from a maximum within the subtropical jet. This resulted in strong, gusty winds across our forecast area. Shortly after, an upper-level trough moved down from the Pacific Northwest.

Heavy Snow everywhereEvery kind of event in Colorado

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 2026-09-24.