Winter Storm in Northwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Generally 9 to 15 inches of snow fell across the area with 9.2 measured at Ouray and 15 inches measured at the Monument site in the Uncompahgre Gorge along Highway 550. Winds generally gusted in the 45 to 55 mph range at elevations above 11,800 feet during the early portion of the storm with a peak wind gust of 57 mph at Mt Abrams.

A low pressure trough and associated cold front brought mild air ahead of it and much colder air behind it to result in light to moderate snowfall across most mountain areas of eastern Utah and western Colorado with rain changing over to snow in many lower valley locations even though accumulations remained light. Heavier snowfall seemed to favor the La Sal Mountains of southeast Utah as well as the northwest San Juans and Grand Mesa mainly due to the colder northerly flow behind the cold front. Winds were also fairly strong leading to blowing and drifting snow in some mountain areas.