A rare March heat wave is ongoing with much above-normal temperatures over the Southwest U.S. through this weekend. Periods of critical fire weather will persist from the central Rockies to the central and southern Plains through the weekend as gusty winds and low relative humidity continue. A Kona low will continue to bring several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall to Hawaii through Sunday. Read More >
Overview
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A large, prolonged winter storm produced heavy snow across the higher terrain of western Colorado and eastern Utah from November 27-November 29 and led to many lower valley locations seeing their first measurable snowfall of the season! Portions of the northern, central, and southern Colorado mountains received anywhere from 10 to 20 inches with over 2 feet of snow measured in some areas. In addition to snow, an upper level jet measuring 150 kts resided over the area and generated gusty winds, generally for areas south of I-70. These winds created blizzard-like conditions for drivers in the San Juan Mountains early Sunday morning. |
 Storm Total Snowfall November 27-29, 2016 |
Snow
Snow began late Saturday night (November 26) as the strong upper level jet moved into the Four Corners Region and brought the first round of precipitation along with it. Heavy snow first hit the San Juan Mountains before upper level flow shifted to the northwest on Sunday afternoon (November 27) where snowfall then favored the northern and central mountains. Another disturbance moved into the area on Monday (November 28) which brought another round of snow to northern and central Colorado, and then yet another wave moved in Monday night. While many breaks occurred over the three-day period, lingering moisture and favorable orographics generated the continuation of showers.
As for the valleys, the first round of snow fell on Monday afternoon. Not much accumulation occurred until a heavier band set up over the Grand Valley Monday night when half an inch to over an inch fell!
Photos & Video:
Snow Across the Area
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| Heavy Snow Falling in Silverton,CO: 11-27-16 (CDOT) |
Purgatory Ski Area: 11-27-16 (Purgatory Ski Resort) |
Snow at the Grand Junction NWS Office: 11-28-16 (NWS) |
8 inches fresh snow in Spring Valley: 11-28-16 (Rick Walter) |
Storm Reports
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Grand Junction CO 114 PM MST Sun Nov 27 2016 Along with the snowfall from this storm, strong winds gusts were observed at several sites throughout the mountains and some lower elevations. ...Wind Reports... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon 2 WSW Red Mtn 97 MPH 0500 AM 11/27 37.88N/107.74W 2 SSW Telluride 74 MPH 0300 AM 11/27 37.90N/107.82W Kendall Mountain 73 MPH 0500 AM 11/27 37.79N/107.64W 1 ESE Red Mtn 67 MPH 0200 AM 11/27 37.89N/107.68W 9 NNW La Sal 63 MPH 0200 AM 11/27 38.46N/109.25W Big Bear Park - 2 ENE Tacoma 58 MPH 0555 AM 11/27 37.50N/107.73W 2 SE Silverton 57 MPH 0200 AM 11/27 37.79N/107.64W Douglas Pass - 26 N Mack 57 MPH 0630 AM 11/27 39.60N/108.81W 1 WNW Red Mtn 54 MPH 0900 AM 11/27 37.91N/107.73W 4 E Camp Bird 53 MPH 0200 AM 11/27 37.96N/107.65W Cottonwood Basin - 6 E Escal 51 MPH 0648 AM 11/27 38.57N/108.28W Pagosa Springs 50 MPH 0500 AM 11/27 37.27N/107.02W Jay - 3 NNW Hotchkiss 50 MPH 0652 AM 11/27 38.85N/107.74W 3 NW Montrose 49 MPH 0520 AM 11/27 38.51N/107.90W Montrose Regional Arpt 49 MPH 0520 AM 11/27 38.51N/107.89W Nucla - Hopkins Field Ap 48 MPH 0535 AM 11/27 38.24N/108.56W Sunlight Mountain 48 MPH 0852 AM 11/27 39.43N/107.38W Nucla - Hopkins Field Ap 48 MPH 0535 AM 11/27 38.24N/108.56W 2 NNE Naturita 46 MPH 0255 AM 11/27 38.24N/108.56W Bryson Canyon - 19 W Mack 46 MPH 0448 AM 11/27 39.28N/109.22W The Crown - 2 SSW Emma 46 MPH 0749 AM 11/27 39.35N/107.09W Dead Horse - 13 ENE Buford 46 MPH 0457 AM 11/27 40.08N/107.37W Huntsman Mesa - 3 NNE Powder 46 MPH 0748 AM 11/27 38.33N/107.09W Pine Ridge - 6 NW Cameo 46 MPH 0334 AM 11/27 39.24N/108.38W Stevens Fld Arpt 46 MPH 0555 AM 11/27 37.29N/107.06W 8 NNW Iola 46 MPH 0819 AM 11/27 38.54N/107.15W Durango - La Plata Cnty Arpt 45 MPH 0513 AM 11/27 37.14N/107.76W Craig - Moffat County Arpt 44 MPH 0445 AM 11/27 40.50N/107.52W Big Indian Valley - 8 ESE La 43 MPH 0520 AM 11/27 38.22N/109.28W Cortez Municipal Arpt 43 MPH 1024 PM 11/26 37.30N/108.63W Nucla - 1 NNE Naturita 43 MPH 0258 AM 11/27 38.23N/108.56W Maeser 42 MPH 0600 AM 11/27 40.46N/109.57W Canyonlands Field Arpt 41 MPH 0432 AM 11/27 38.76N/109.75W Pinto - 18 SE Massadona 41 MPH 0123 AM 11/27 40.02N/108.40W Telluride Regional Arpt 41 MPH 0615 AM 11/27 37.95N/107.91W Jacks Canyon - 15 NW Escalan 40 MPH 0550 AM 11/27 38.75N/108.58W 3 WSW Verdure 40 MPH 0500 AM 11/27 37.76N/109.40W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official. $$ NWS Grand Junction CO IRIS System
The following are storm total snow reports from across eastern Utah and western Colorado. The period of snowfall ended at the times noted with each report. Snow began falling Saturday night as the large winter storm made its way into the region. ...Snowfall Reports... Location Amount Time/Date Elevation (ft.) ...Colorado... ...Archuleta County... Pagosa Springs 1.6 SSW 7.9 in 0800 AM 11/29 7401 Pagosa Springs 4.2 W 5.8 in 0700 AM 11/29 7640 ...Delta County... Cedaredge 10.5 NNW 28.5 in 0800 AM 11/29 10399 Park Reservoir* 15.4 in 1000 AM 11/29 9960 Skyway 6 ESE 16.5 in 1047 AM 11/29 Paonia 2.1 SSE 2.6 in 0700 AM 11/29 6100 Hotchkiss 5.1 WNW 2.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6311 Hotchkiss 7.1 WNW 2.6 in 0700 AM 11/29 6600 Hotchkiss 4.7 W 2.0 in 0734 AM 11/29 5735 Ragged Mtn 12 W 2.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 9840 Eckert 1.1 SW 0.9 in 0700 AM 11/29 5485 ...Dolores County... Black Mesa* 29.4 in 1100 AM 11/29 11580 El Diente Peak* 18.2 in 1000 AM 11/29 10200 Lizard Head Pass* 15.4 in 0200 PM 11/29 10200 Scotch Creek* 9.8 in 0200 PM 11/29 9100 Dove Creek 12.4 SSW 2.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 6604 ...Eagle County... McCoy Park* 9.6 in 1100 AM 11/29 Vail Mountain* 9.6 in 0100 PM 11/29 Vail 0.9 WNW 7.1 in 0700 AM 11/29 8172 Basalt 5.8 E 5.6 in 0700 AM 11/29 7164 Vail 1 SW 4.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 10300 Eagle-vail 3 WSW 3.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 9480 Tennessee Pass 2 E 3.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 11400 Vail Pass 3 NNW 2.9 in 1200 PM 11/29 10249 El Jebel 2.9 in 0700 AM 11/29 6427 Gypsum 1.9 SSW 0.9 in 0700 AM 11/29 6531 ...Garfield County... Cattle Creek 4 N 8.0 in 0214 PM 11/28 Vail 0.9 WNW 7.1 in 0700 AM 11/29 8172 Cattle Creek 3 E 6.7 in 0700 AM 11/29 6521 Cattle Creek 2 WNW 5.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 5942 Glenwood Springs .64 S 5.3 in 0700 AM 11/29 5824 Cattle Creek 3 W 5.3 in 0700 AM 11/29 6914 Carbondale 3.6 in 0600 AM 11/29 6171 Carbondale 5.7 E 2.9 in 0700 AM 11/29 6427 Rifle 3 ENE 1.2 in 0700 AM 11/29 5436 Rifle 3.2 ENE 1.2 in 0700 AM 11/29 5472 Wolcott 2.3 N 1.1 in 0700 AM 11/29 7224 ...Gunnison County... Schofield Pass* 29.4 in 0200 PM 11/29 10700 McClure Pass* 25.2 in 1100 AM 11/29 9500 Crested Butte 6.2 N 20.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 9606 Gothic 20.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 9469 Cimarron 11.2 S 16.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 8356 Somerset 12.5 N 14.8 in 0200 PM 11/30 7047 Marble 0.5 NNW 14.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 8415 Crested Butte 11.3 in 0730 AM 11/29 8860 Pitkin 1.1 SW 8.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 9139 Powderhorn 4 NNE 8.3 in 0800 AM 11/29 9065 Taylor Park 6.2 in 0600 PM 11/28 9179 Colona 11 E 5.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 Gunnison 3 WSW 4.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 7602 Gunnison 6.6 N 3.6 in 0700 AM 11/29 7941 ...La Plata County... Vallecito* 15.4 in 1000 AM 11/29 10880 Kline 4 NW 5.5 in 1057 AM 11/29 Bayfield 7.0 N 5.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 8200 Rockwood 7 N 4.7 in 0700 AM 11/29 Arboles 5 WNW 4.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 6545 Ignacio 3.7 in 0700 AM 11/29 6562 Redmesa 3 WNW 3.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 Redmesa 4.2 NW 3.0 in 0730 AM 11/29 6771 Durango 4.8 WSW 2.7 in 0700 AM 11/29 7430 Falfa 2 SW 1.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6795 Durango 0.8 SSW 1.4 in 0700 AM 11/29 6624 Durango 7.1 N 0.6 in 0800 AM 11/29 6575 ...Mesa County... Skyway 3 E 14.1 in 1200 PM 11/29 10628 Collbran 6.5 in 0800 AM 11/29 5987 Collbran 4.6 SSE 6.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 7044 Collbran 0.2 ESE 5.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6043 Plateau City 3 E 4.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 Collbran 4.1 in 0700 AM 11/29 Glade Park 17 W 2.4 in 0800 AM 11/29 6385 Redlands 2.0 in 1236 AM 11/29 4624 Grand Junction 4.0 W 2.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 4630 Grand Junction 0.6 WSW 1.5 in 0800 AM 11/29 4627 Grand Junction 4.1 W 1.4 in 0700 AM 11/29 4630 Redlands 1.4 in 1235 AM 11/29 4632 East Junction Ham 1.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 4625 Redlands 1 E 1.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 4653 Grand Junction Ham 1.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 4715 Fruita 1.1 NNW 1.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 4517 Wfo Grand Junction 0.4 in 1200 AM 11/29 4832 ...Montezuma County... Mancos 4 WNW 9.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 Dolores 4.8 ENE 8.8 in 0700 AM 11/29 Cortez 11nw 2.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6598 Cortez 1.2 SW 2.3 in 0700 AM 11/29 6165 Cortez 2.1 in 0800 AM 11/29 6189 ...Montrose County... Columbine Pass* 14.0 in 0200 PM 11/27 Colona 6 NW 4.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 Montrose 2.9 ESE 3.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6043 Montrose 2 E 2.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 5806 Montrose 1.2 ESE 2.4 in 0700 AM 11/29 5830 Montrose 5.6 SW 1.8 in 0800 AM 11/29 6392 Montrose 4.0 NW 1.0 in 0800 AM 11/29 5729 Escalante Forks 11 S 1.0 in 0900 AM 11/29 9400 Paradox 0.2 in 0600 AM 11/29 5594 ...Ouray County... Red Mountain Pass 21.0 in 0800 AM 11/29 11200 Camp Bird 4 E 20.0 in 0800 AM 11/29 9438 Ouray 14.9 in 0724 AM 11/29 7728 Ouray Spotter 14.9 in 0724 AM 11/29 7727 Ouray 10.0 in 0900 AM 11/29 7801 Ridgway 3 NNW 8.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 Red Mtn 2 NE 7.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 9800 Ridgway 3 NNW 5.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 Red Mtn 1.3 in 1200 PM 11/29 11050 Camp Bird 3 E 1.1 in 1200 PM 11/29 9543 ...Pitkin County... Independence Pass* 14.4 in 0100 PM 11/29 10600 Mt Massive 8 NW* (Ivanhoe) 12.8 in 1100 AM 11/29 10400 Meridith 6 ESE* (Kiln) 11.2 in 1200 PM 11/29 9600 ...Rio Blanco County... Buford 17 ENE* (Ripple Crk) 25.2 in 1200 PM 11/29 10340 ...Routt County... Steamboat Springs 9 ENE 19.5 in 0652 PM 11/28 Rabbit Ears Pass* 14.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 9400 Steamboat Springs 1.9 E 10.1 in 0600 AM 11/29 7200 Steamboat Springs 1.5 WNW 9.5 in 0700 AM 11/29 6778 Steamboat Springs 9.0 in 0730 AM 11/29 6636 28 E Savery Wy - Whiskey Par 9.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 8950 Steamboat Springs 2 N 8.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 Hahns Peak 6 W 7.9 in 1200 PM 11/29 9419 Steamboat Springs 0.7 ESE 7.9 in 0700 AM 11/29 7049 Steamboat Springs 0.1 NNE 7.1 in 0700 AM 11/29 6743 Milner 4 NE 6.4 in 0800 AM 11/29 Phippsburg 4 ENE 6.3 in 0700 AM 11/29 Steamboat Springs 1.2 SE 5.5 in 0545 AM 11/29 7075 Steamboat Springs 4 NE 5.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 8400 Toponas 4 W 4.7 in 0700 AM 11/29 8496 Hahns Peak 3 NW 4.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 8700 Mt Zirkel 4 WSW 4.0 in 0800 AM 11/29 9320 Rabbit Ears Pass 6 W 2.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 9400 Yampa 8 SW 2.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 9080 Toponas 6 E 2.0 in 0600 AM 11/29 8880 ...San Juan County... Elk Park 7 W* (Cascade #2) 18.2 in 1000 AM 11/29 8920 Elk Park 8 ENE* (Beartown) 19.6 in 1100 AM 11/29 11600 Elk Park 7 WSW* (Cascade) 19.6 in 1200 PM 11/29 8880 Mineral Creek* 16.8 in 1200 PM 11/29 10040 Coal Bank Pass 16.5 in 0800 AM 11/29 10600 Molas Pass 15.5 in 0800 AM 11/29 10500 ...San Miguel County... 7 NE Sawpit 24.5 in 1120 AM 11/29 9461 Lone Cone* 22.4 in 0500 PM 11/29 9600 ...Utah... ...Daggett County... 8 SSW Mckinnon 2.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 9145 ...Grand County... 35 W Mack 2.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 8301 ...San Juan County... 9 E Grand Cnty Arpt 5.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 9560 7 WNW Verdure 2.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 8968 Monticello No. 2 2.0 in 0700 AM 11/29 7083 9 E Grand Cnty Arpt 1.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 8825 ...Uintah County... 19 S Naples 2.8 in 0110 PM 11/29 5148 16 N Maeser 1.0 in 1200 PM 11/29 8724 9 NNE Whiterocks 1.0 in 1000 AM 11/29 9510 Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official. *These are estimated snow amounts based off of automated SNOTEL sensors. A 14:1 snow to water equivalence was used for these amounts. $$ NWS Grand Junction CO IRIS System
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