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Critical Fire Weather Concerns; Storm Tracking Across the Plains

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.

Map of snowfall from January 8 through January 10, 2017
Preliminary Storm Total  Snowfall from Sunday, January 8th through Tuesday, January 10th, 2017
Photo of a ruler in the snow Deep snow at the Crested Butte Ski Resort Image of Tower SNOTEL near Steamboat Springs
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 )
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