Combination of strong winds, dry conditions and above normal temperatures will result in elevated to critical fire weather concerns for the Southern Plains and portions of Southern California. This is part of a storm system that is tracking across the central Plains with occasional snow showers and heavier snow from the Rockies through the Central/Northern Plains. Read More >
Overview
The second major winter storm of 2017 arrived late in the weekend, January 8th, and continued through Tuesday, January 10th. Heavy snow fell over the mountains with snow changing over to rain in several of the valleys as warmer temperatures moved into the area. However, some of the valleys saw strong inversions early on in the storm, before most areas mixed out on Monday, January 9th. Even Telluride, Colorado, elevation 9070 feet, received rain late Sunday and again on Monday! The abundance of rain and snow fell as a result of a very warm and moist atmospheric river, also known as the "Pineapple Express", stretching from Hawaii all the way to Colorado. Several waves of energy also passed through the area, enhancing the heavy precipitation. Snowfall amounts varied from 1 to 2 feet for the higher mountains with up to 4 feet of snow near Crested Butte! This resulted in a very rare closure for the ski resort on Monday. One other event, was an anomalous Ice Storm that severely impacted travel, commerce and educational institutes across the cities of Grand Junction and Durango. You can find a detailed overview of the ice storm here. |
Snowfall in Gunnison ( Kellie Roberts ) |
Depth of Snow when the Crested Butte Ski Resort Closed! ( Crested Butte Ski Resort ) |
Near 8 FEET of snow at the Tower SNOTEL near Steamboat Springs. ( Art Judson ) |
Photos & Video:
Snowfall pictures during the Storm, Hazardous Travel Conditions, and update on the Snowpack
Travel over Rabbit Ears Pass ( CDOT ) |
Deep Snow in Gunnison ( Desiree Bartelli ) |
Highway 62 near Basalt ( ColoradoWebCam.net ) |
Heavy Snow Falling at Vail Pass ( CDOT ) |
Utah Snowpack - Jan 7, 2017 ( before the storm ) ( Credit: USDA/NRCS ) |
Utah Snowpack - Jan 15, 2017 ( after the storm ) ( Credit: USDA/NRCS ) |
Colorado Snowpack - Jan 7, 2017 ( before the storm ) ( Credit: USDA/NRCS ) |
Colorado Snowpack - Jan 15, 2017 ( after the storm ) ( Credit: USDA/NRCS ) |
Storm Reports
Snow continued for the Colorado mountains though it became lighter and will remain so through Wednesday. The following amounts are preliminary and since snow began. Northwest Colorado Mountains: Elkhead and Park Ranges........18 to 24 inches. Tower reports 48 inches. Flat Tops......................12 to 24 inches. West Central Colorado Mountains: Grand Mesa.....................18 to 30 inches. Gore and Elk Ranges............12 to 36 inches. West Elk and Sawatch Ranges....24 to 48 inches. Southwest Colorado Mountains: Uncomphagre Plateau............24 to 36 inches. Northwest San Juan Mountains...18 to 24 inches. Southwest San Juan Mountains...12 to 24 inches. ...Snowfall Reports... Location Amount Time/Date Elevation (ft.) Crested Butte 6.2 N 19.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 9606 Gothic 19.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 9469 Pitkin 1.1 SW 17.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 9139 Cedaredge 10.5 NNW 11.3 in 0800 AM 01/10 10399 Vail 0.9 WNW 10.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 8172 Vail 2.6 E 9.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 8389 Yampa 5.1 S 7.5 in 0730 AM 01/10 8496 Avon 2N 6.8 in 0600 AM 01/10 8200 Bayfield 7.0 N 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 8200 Naples 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 5200 Steamboat Springs 1.9 E 4.6 in 0600 AM 01/10 7200 5 W Vallecito 4.6 in 0700 AM 01/10 8228 Vernal 4.5 in 0630 AM 01/10 5470 Vernal 0.8 S 4.5 in 0630 AM 01/10 5351 Steamboat Springs 0.7 ESE 3.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 7049 Gunnison Coop 3.0 in 0800 AM 01/10 7640 Steamboat Springs 1.5 WNW 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 6778 Steamboat Springs 2.5 N 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 7005 2 SSE Glenwood Springs 2.7 in 0700 AM 01/10 5947 Steamboat Springs 1.2 SE 2.7 in 0545 AM 01/10 7075 Gunnison 6.6 N 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 7941 Carbondale 4.6 NNE 2.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 6521 Doyleville 2.1 W 2.0 in 0827 AM 01/10 8134 Glenwood Springs 7.2 S 2.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 6914 Mesa 6S 2.0 in 0600 AM 01/10 7720 Pagosa Springs 2.5 W 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/10 7566 Glenwood Springs 1.7 NW 1.9 in 0700 AM 01/10 6050 Carbondale 5.7 E 1.8 in 0730 AM 01/10 6427 Pagosa Springs 1.6 SSW 1.7 in 0815 AM 01/10 7401 Glenwood Springs 5.3 SSE 1.6 in 0700 AM 01/10 5942 3 E Plateau City 1.6 in 0700 AM 01/10 7044 Bayfield 7N 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 7460 Carbondale 0.5 W 1.5 in 0500 AM 01/10 6171 Gypsum 1.9 SSW 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 6531 Jensen 0.4 WSW 1.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 4768 5 SW Colona 1.0 in 0900 AM 01/10 0 Gunnison 3wsw 1.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 7602 Gypsum 13.4 NW 1.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 7209 Mack 5 NW 1.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 4620 Montrose #2 1.0 in 0800 AM 01/10 5785 Montrose 8.1 WNW 1.0 in 0700 AM 01/10 5770 Rangely 1.0 in 0800 AM 01/10 5290 Powderhorn 4.4 NNE 0.9 in 0800 AM 01/10 9065 Shoshone 0.7 in 0730 AM 01/10 5930 Basalt 5.8 E 0.6 in 0700 AM 01/10 7164 Black Canyon of the Gunnison 0.6 in 0800 AM 01/10 8150 Ouray .23 NNW 0.6 in 0738 AM 01/10 7728 Ouray Spotter 0.6 in 0738 AM 01/10 7727 Cimarron 11.2 S 0.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 8356 Craig Coop 0.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 6440 17 W Glade Park 0.5 in 0800 AM 01/10 6385 Glenwood Springs .64 S 0.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 5824 Montrose 7.3 ENE 0.5 in 0700 AM 01/10 6914 Durango 4.8 WSW 0.4 in 0700 AM 01/10 7430 Montrose 2.9 ESE 0.4 in 0700 AM 01/10 6043 Collbran 0.2 ESE 0.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 6043 2 ESE Gypsum 0.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 6660 Gypsum 0.4 WNW 0.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 6345 Pagosa Springs 15.0 SSE 0.3 in 0700 AM 01/10 7408 Grand Junction 4.1 W 0.2 in 0700 AM 01/10 4630 Hesperus 9.8 SW 0.2 in 0640 AM 01/10 7035 Hotchkiss 7.1 WNW 0.2 in 0700 AM 01/10 6600 Ignacio Spotter 0.2 in 0700 AM 01/10 6562 Montrose 4.0 NW 0.2 in 0800 AM 01/10 5729 Paonia 2.1 SSE 0.2 in 0800 AM 01/10 6100 Ridgway 3.3 NNW 0.2 in 0700 AM 01/10 7623 Grand Junction Coop 0.1 in 0800 AM 01/10 4760 Montrose 1.6 E 0.1 in 0700 AM 01/10 5919 Montrose 2e 0.1 in 0700 AM 01/10 5806 Norwood 1.4 W 0.1 in 0845 AM 01/10 7100
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