West Elk and Sawatch Mountains County, Colorado
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1996 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
0
Tornado reports
0
Hail reports
0
Floods since 1996
848
All events
11
Deaths
$12.1M
Property damage
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Avalanche danger on the day of the accident was rated at Moderate to Considerable. A group of backcountry skiers planned to ski a steep basin on the east end of Ohio Peak, known locally as The Playground. The group triggered several small avalanches remotely over the course of th…
An avalanche caught three backcountry recreationists (two skiers, one splitboarder) in the upper Rapid Creek, southwest of the town of Marble, Colorado. Two members of the group were caught up in the avalanche and one was completely buried in over 4 feet of snow and debris. One m…
A group of backcountry snowshoers accidentally triggered an avalanche while hiking to a private backcountry home in the Yule Creek area of West-Central Colorado. Three of the hikers and two dogs were caught in the avalanche with one hiker and the two dogs buried. Two others were …
The avalanche began as a wet-loose avalanche triggered by a backcountry skier. The wet-loose avalanche was only a few inches deep, and spread to 150 feet wide at the widest point. The avalanche carried the skier downhill and over a cliff, triggering a second wet-loose avalanche t…
Two people were clearing snow from a low-angled roof south of Crested Butte when the snow avalanched. Both individuals were caught and buried for around 10 minutes until someone noticed the avalanche. After emergency services arrived, the first person was dug out and survived. Th…
A pair of back country skiers were skinning up a steep mountain after a recent winter storm brought 1 to 2 feet of new snow to the area. The new snow fell on top of an unstable snow pack from earlier winter storms. The skiers were apparently together in the middle of the slope wh…
The last in a group of 4 skiers triggered a shallow avalanche along a slope favorable for releases due to a weakened snow pack. This shallow slide triggered a larger avalanche that broke to the surface. This larger avalanche carried the skier approximately 250 vertical feet down …
Sometime during the afternoon, a 36 year old male snowboarder was caught and killed in an avalanche approximately 2 miles northwest of Crested Butte. The soft slab avalanche occurred in an area known as Happy Chutes. The avalanche ran about 1,500 vertical feet, carrying the victi…
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
The Lowline Fire started in late July from lightning in the Gunnison National Forest, 11 miles southwest of Crested Butte, Colorado. The fire grew to 1,999 acres before it was contained in early December.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 3 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 9 inches at Porphyry Creek. Wind gusts were in the 45 to 50 mph range at elevations above 11,900 feet with a peak wind gust of 54 mph at Monarch Pass.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Generally 10 to 20 inches of snow fell across the area with 19.5 inches of snow reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N. Winds gusted in the 45 to 50 mph range with a peak wind gust of 57 mph at Irwin Guides.
Drought Drought
At the beginning of the month of April, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Exceptional (D4) Drought as covering approximately 25% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, with 60% of the zone under Extreme (D3) Drought conditions, 10% under Severe (D2) Droug…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Generally 10 to 20 inches of snow fell across the area with 19.5 inches of snow reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N. Winds gusted in the 45 to 50 mph range with a peak wind gust of 57 mph at Irwin Guides.
High Wind High Wind
The peak wind gust of 109 mph was recorded at the Carbonate Hill mesonet station at 5:00 AM MDT. In addition, the KMYP AWOS site on Monarch Pass, CO recorded a wind gust to 101 mph at 3:15 AM MDT, with a gust to 87 mph at 8:15 AM MDT. Other, sub-75 mph wind gusts throughout the r…
High Wind High Wind
At 2:35 PM MDT, the KMYP AWOS located on Monarch Pass, CO recorded a wind gust to 79 mph. The only other gust recorded in the region was at the Carbonate Hill mesonet site, where a gust to 56 mph was recorded at 1:00 PM MDT. The KMYP AWOS is the highest elevation wind sensor in t…
High Wind High Wind
At 8:15 AM MDT, the KMYP AWOS station on Monarch Pass, CO recorded a wind gust to 78 mph. The only other gust recorded in this zone was at the Carbonate Hill mesonet site, with a gust to 46 mph at 11:00 AM MDT. The KMYP AWOS is the highest elevation wind sensor in this region. No…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area.
Drought Drought
At the beginning of the month of March the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering approximately 2% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. Approximately 48% of the zone was under Severe (D2) Drought conditions, with the remaining 50…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 7 inches reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N and 9 inches reported at McClure Pass. Winds gusted in the 45 to 55 mph range with a peak wind gust of 58 mph at Cinnamon Mountain.
High Wind High Wind
The peak gust to 87 mph was recorded at the KMYP AWOS on Monarch Pass at 3:15 AM MST 2/17. Additional gusts recorded at this sensor were to 72 mph at 5:55 AM MST 2/17, and to 86 mph at 11:55 AM MST 2/17. Gusts at other sensors across the region ranged from 45 mph to 71 mph during…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Generally 10 to 25 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 46 inches at Schofield Pass. 20 inches of snow was reported at McClure Pass. Wind gusts were in the 45 to 70 mph range on average with a peak wind gust of 87 mph at Monarch Pass.
Drought Drought
With the 2/11 US Drought Monitor update, Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains were analyzed as having developed Extreme (D3) Drought over roughly 2% of the zone. Severe (D2) Drought covered 48% of the zone, with the remaining 50% under Moderate (D1) Drought conditio…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 12 inches reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N. Winds gusted in the 45 to 50 mph range at the onset of the event with a peak wind gust of 49 mph at Irwin Guides Ridge Top.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area. 10 inches of snow was reported at Crested Butte 6.2N and McClure Pass.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 8.5 inches of snow reported at Crested Butte 6.2N. Winds gusted 45 to 64 mph in the higher elevations with a peak wind gust of 64 mph at Monarch Pass.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with 6.5 inches reported at Crested Butte 6.2N. A peak wind gust of 61 mph occurred at Monarch Pass.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 4 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 13.2 inches at Schofield Pass. 8 inches of snow was reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N.
High Wind High Wind
The KMYP AWOS at Monarch Pass recorded a gust to 83 mph at 8:15 PM MST, with additional gusts between 65-75 mph recorded in the hour leading up to the peak gust. Widespread gusts of 50-60 mph were recorded across the zone throughout the day. No reports of injuries, fatalities, or…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 6 to 13 inches of snow fell across the area with 13 inches of snow reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area with 9 inches reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 12 inches at Schofield Pass. Winds gusted in the 45 to 53 mph range at elevations above 11,900 feet with a peak wind gust of 53 mph at Cinnamon Mountain.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 6 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 12 inches at Schofield Pass. Winds gusted in the 45 to 53 mph range at elevations above 11,900 feet with a peak wind gust of 53 mph at Cinnamon Mountain.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 5 to 11 inches of snow fell across the area with 11 inches at Schofield Pass. 8.3 inches of snow was reported at Crested Butte 6.2 N. Winds gusted in the 45 to 50 mph range at elevations above 11,900 feet with a peak wind gust of 53 mph at Irwin Ski.
Drought Drought
The US Drought Monitor removed the last area of Extreme (D3) Drought from Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains on October 14th, 2025. Extreme (D3) Drought did not reoccur for a month. Therefore this will be the last entry for this zone until such time as Extreme (D3…
High Wind High Wind
At approximately 3:35 PM MDT on the 4th, the Monarch Pass AWOS recorded a gust to 79 mph. This was the peak gust of the day, but other high elevation gusts reached or exceeded 75 throughout the day. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received in association with …
Drought Drought
At the beginning of the month of October, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought as covering roughly 20% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. Severe (D2) Drought covered 60% of the zone, while the remaining 20% was under Moderate (D1) Dr…
Drought Drought
At the beginning of the month of September, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Exceptional (D4) Drought that covered roughly 20% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, with the remaining 80% of the zone seeing Extreme (D3) Drought conditions. With the 9/3 …
Drought Drought
At the beginning of the month of August, the US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought conditions as covering roughly 75% of Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. With the 8/13/25 US Drought Monitor update, the extent of the drought remained unchan…
Drought Drought
The US Drought Monitor analyzed an area of Extreme (D3) Drought in Colorado Zone 012 - West Elk and Sawatch Mountains. With the continued hot and dry conditions during the month of July, this zone saw a significant expansion in areal coverage with the July 16th Drought Monitor up…
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) Drought conditions have only been analyzed along the far northwestern portion of the zone. However, that area remained largely unchanged during the month of June.
Drought Drought
Beginning on May 27th, the US Drought Monitor expanded an area of Extreme (D3) Drought conditions into the far western portion of the West Elk and Sawatch Mountains (CO Zone 012). This area covers less than 10% of the zone, and remained unchanged from the 27th through the end of …
Per the CAIC forecast for the day of the incident, the overall avalanche threat in the area of the incident was rated as Moderate (2/5), with Low (1/5) being the lowest threat and Extreme (5/5) being the highest. The breakdown at different elevation bands gave Moderate (2/5) thre…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Generally 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area. Wind gusts were in the 40 to 65 mph range at elevations above 11,900 feet with a peak wind gust of 67 mph at Cinnamon Mountain at 4/17 22:15.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 28 | 0 |
| 2023 | 36 | 0 |
| 2022 | 22 | 0 |
| 2021 | 22 | 0 |
| 2020 | 23 | 0 |
| 2019 | 29 | 0 |
| 2018 | 33 | 0 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 |
| 2016 | 22 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 32 | 0 |
| 2013 | 40 | 0 |
| 2012 | 36 | 0 |
| 2011 | 49 | 0 |
| 2010 | 40 | 0 |
| 2009 | 32 | 0 |
| 2008 | 43 | 0 |
| 2007 | 35 | 0 |
| 2006 | 43 | 0 |
| 2005 | 45 | 0 |
| 2004 | 39 | 0 |
| 2003 | 39 | 0 |
| 2002 | 27 | 0 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2000 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in West Elk and Sawatch Mountains County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.