NWS Pueblo, CO - March 2003 Page

Winter Storm - March 17-20, 2003

Snow Total Image

Estimated Total Snowfall - March 17-20, 2003

A large, slow moving, moist storm system set up over the southern Great Plains on Monday and brought persistent rain and snow to Southern Colorado from Monday Night through Wednesday night. Most of the accumulating snow fell above 6000 feet, which included the Central and Southeast mountains and high valleys, and the adjacent plains. Areas hardest hit by snow on the plains were the Northern half of El Paso County, and from Southern Pueblo County to the New Mexico state line. Snow amounts just north of Colorado Springs reached above 3 feet, while the official reading at the airport was just 1.7 inches. Many areas around Trinidad received over 1 foot of snow, and Huerfano county amounts close to the mountains ranged from 1 1/2 feet to nearly 4 feet. Sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting of snow, closing several highways and portions of the interstate. Drifts of 4 to 6 feet were reported across portions of Northern El Paso county.

But the greatest amounts of snow fell in and near the Wet Mountains, in Pueblo and Custer counties. Unstable, moist air flowed into the Wet Mountains from Monday night through Wednesday night. Snow amounts were around 5 feet in Custer County northeast of Westcliffe. But even higher amounts were measured and estimated on the east slopes of the Wet Mountains, on the Pueblo Custer county line between 8700 and 9000 feet. Just north of San Isabel Lake in Custer County on highway 165, a very accurate measurement of 74 inches was made. In that same area, an estimate of around 84 inches was logged on the shore of San Isabel Lake. Similar estimates of 6 feet were confirmed a few miles north of San Isabel Lake.

Many of the SNOTEL sites high in the southeast mountains reported between 2 and 4 feet of new snow, which equated to an increase of snow water equivalent (SWE) of anywhere from 1 to almost 5 inches.

Many, many thanks to all the NWS Pueblo spotters, amateur radio operators, and other citizens of southern Colorado for their reports during this event.

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Area	County	Snow in Inches
Black Forest	El Paso	30 to 36
Monument	El Paso	36 to 43
Chipita Park	El Paso	14.5
Northern Colorado Springs	El Paso	11 to 22
Southern Colorado Springs	El Paso	1 to 6
2 Miles South of Florrisant	Teller	24
Woodland Park	Teller	27 to 36
5 miles SE of Texas Creek	Fremont	32
12 miles NNE of Texas Creek	Fremont	16 to 20
2 miles S of Coaldale	Fremont	26
Howard	Fremont	11
Wellsville	Fremont	6 to 7
Penrose	Fremont	4.5
Canon City	Fremont	2
Rye	Pueblo	44
Colorado City	Pueblo	22 to 24
Beulah	Pueblo	20
Pueblo West	Pueblo	2 to 4
Pueblo Airport	Pueblo	1.3
San Isabel Lake	Custer	84 (estimated)
1 mile N of San Isabel	Custer	74
3 miles N of San Isabel	Custer	72
10 miles NE of Westcliffe	Custer	62
Rosita	Custer	43
Westcliffe area	Custer	29 to 32
Cuchara	Huerfano	45
La Veta	Huerfano	38
8 miles S of Walsenburg	Huerfano	34
5 miles S of La Veta	Huerfano	30
Walsenburg area	Huerfano	17 to 25
Stonewall	Las Animas	24
Trinidad	Las Animas	8 to 18
Leadville	Lake	10
6 miles W of Buena Vista	Chaffee	24 to 36
Monarch Pass	Chaffee	25
Buena Vista	Chaffee	15
6 miles W of Nathrop	Chaffee	14
Salida	Chaffee	10
Crestone	Saguache	20
6 miles W of Saguache	Saguache	2
Saguache	Saguache	1
Great Sand Dunes	Alamosa	26
Alamosa	Alamosa	3.6
5 miles SE of Ft Garland	Costilla	24
Blanca	Costilla	10
San Luis	Costilla	10
Del Norte	Rio Grande	2
Wolf Creek Pass	Mineral	9

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