Winter Weather in Southwestern San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Generally 5 to 13 inches of snow fell across the area with locally higher amounts up to 18 inches at El Diente Peak. Winds generally gusted in the 45 to 70 mph range at elevations above 10,000 feet with a peak wind gust of 78 mph at Kendall Mountain. There was a reported gust of 112 mph at Eagle on March 18 at 11:00 but it seems suspect based on surrounding reports.

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.