Winter Weather — Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

2023-03-24 · Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin, Colorado

Event narrative

A snow squall impacted the Montrose area, reducing visibilities to less than one quarter of a mile for around 30 minutes as it moved through. The Montrose Regional Airport reported wind gusts up to 33 mph with the squall.

Wider weather episode

Broad troughing overhead combined with cold air aloft and a strong March sun angle resulted in convectively driven scattered showers across the Western Slope. Stronger snow bands and subsequent snow squalls developed across some of the northern and central valleys, with visibilities dropping to less than one quarter of a mile in heavy snow and strong winds across portions of the Central Yampa River Basin and the Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River Basin.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1078175. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.