A strong and complex winter storm brought widespread snow to many mountains and higher elevation valleys within western Colorado. Moisture involved with this storm was carried to the region by an atmospheric river.
The strong cold front with this storm moved very slowly southward across across western Colorado, while abundant moisture streamed northeast over the top of the cold air and resulted in a persistent band of heavy snowfall along and just south of the front. The cold front slowly sagged into the Interstate 70 Corridor early on February 28th, and then reached the southern border of Colorado Tuesday night, February 28th. Snowfall amounts exceeded 3 feet in a few mountain locations.

Winter Storm in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 26-FEB-17 22:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Widespread snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 inches were measured across the area.  Locally higher amounts included 36 inches at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL site.

Winter Storm in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 01:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Generally 8 to 20 inches of snow fell across the area.  Locally higher amounts included 23 inches at the Black Mesa SNOTEL site.  Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph resulted in areas of blowing and drifting snow.  Even stronger winds were measured on ridgetops with a peak gust of 70 mph on Eagle Mountain.

Winter Weather in CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 22:30:00 to 28-FEB-17 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches were measured across the area.

Winter Weather in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 19:30:00 to 28-FEB-17 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were measured across the area.

Winter Storm in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 01:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall amounts of 7 to 17 inches were measured across the area, with the heaviest amounts at the Elk River and Whiskey Park SNOTEL sites.  Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 04:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Generally 8 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area.  Locally higher amounts included 15 inches at the Bison Lake SNOTEL site.  Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 07:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Widespread snowfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches were measured across the Grand Mesa.  Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow over higher exposed locations.  Highway 65 on the Grand Mesa was closed for a few hours during the storm for avalanche control work.

Winter Weather in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 07:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Generally 6 to 13 inches of snow fell across the area.

Winter Storm in ANIMAS RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 18:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 16:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area.  Locally higher amounts included 9 inches just north of Bayfield.

Winter Weather in FOUR CORNERS / UPPER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 23:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Generally 1 to 6 inches of snow fell across the area. Locally higher amounts included 10 inches at Dolores.

Winter Storm in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 12:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Generally 8 to 20 inches of snow fell across the area.  Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow on the higher elevation roads going up to the mountain passes.  Even stronger winds were measured on ridgetops which included 59 mph at the top of Telluride Ski Area.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 15:00:00 to 28-FEB-17 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow fell across the Central Yampa River Basin with up to 10 inches measured in Craig and about 14 inches near Maybell.  Other locations in the area, including Meeker and Hayden, received lesser amounts of snow.

Winter Storm in SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-FEB-17 17:30:00 to 28-FEB-17 15:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

Widespread snowfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches were measured in the Pagosa Springs area.