A Pacific trough brought heavy snow accumulations and strong winds to many mountain areas, as well as significant snowfall to some lower elevation areas of western Colorado.

Winter Storm in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 05:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall accumulations of 10 to 17 inches were measured across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions.  Locally stronger wind gusts included 57 mph on Kendall Mountain.  Snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet deep occurred in the Red Mountain Pass area.

Winter Storm in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 06:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall accumulations of 12 to 18 inches were measured above the 8000 foot level.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions.  Locally stronger wind gusts included 78 mph on Mount Abrahms.  Snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet deep occurred in the Red Mountain Pass area.

Winter Weather in SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 14:00:00 to 18-MAR-12 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall accumulations around 3 inches were measured across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 13:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 12 inches were measured across the area, except for locally heavier accumulations on the southern portion of the Grand Mesa where 16 inches was measured at the Park Reservoir SNOTEL site.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions.  Locally stronger wind gusts included 61 mph at the Whitewater Creek climate station.

Winter Weather in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 13:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 12 inches were measured across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions.  Locally stronger wind gusts included 56 mph near Monarch Pass.

Winter Weather in ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 14:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall accumulations of around 5 inches were measured across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 14:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches were measured across most of the area.  Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.  I-70 was closed for a period of time due to vehicle accidents on the slick and snowpacked roadway.

Winter Weather in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 13:00:00 to 20-MAR-12 05:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 11 inches were measured across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 11 inches were measured above the 7500 foot level. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. Locally stronger wind gusts included 65 mph at the Cottonwood Basin RAWS site.

Winter Weather in FOUR CORNERS / UPPER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 12:00:00 to 18-MAR-12 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches were measured above the 6000 foot level. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 13:00:00 to 19-MAR-12 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches were measured across the wester portion of the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced areas of blowing snow.

Winter Weather in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 18-MAR-12 15:00:00 to 20-MAR-12 06:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.