Storm Summary Number 3 for Rockies and Four Corners Storm
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1100 AM EDT Fri Mar 15 2024

...Heavy snow tapers off over the Front Range of Colorado as
winter storm shifts southwestward over the Four Corners Region... 

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for higher elevation/mountain
range regions of southern Utah, southern Colorado, and northern
New Mexico.

Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for higher
elevation/mountain range regions of southern Utah, southern
Colorado, northern New Mexico, and northern Arizona.

High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are in effect across
portions of Utah, southern Colorado, northern Arizona, and
northern New Mexico.

For a detailed graphical depiction of the latest watches, warnings
and advisories, please see www.weather.gov

At 1000 AM EDT...A cold front has pushed southward through the
Four Corners region to near the Mexican border, bringing in a
colder air mass with surface observations showing most
temperatures around or below freezing. Moisture and upslope flow
has come down along the Colorado Front Range as the front moves
further away from the region, with NWS radar only indicating some
light lingering snow showers in the region. However, as a
deepening upper-level closed low begins to settle further
southward over the Southwest, NWS Radar shows more widespread
light to moderate precipitation picking up around the Four Corners
region, with snow for higher elevation terrain/mountain ranges and
a mix of rain and snow for lower elevation/valley locations.
Although some wind-related warnings and advisories are in effect
in the region, surface observations showed most winds currently in
the 5-10 mph range. The highest winds are occurring over portions
of central New Mexico, reaching upwards of 25-35 mph. 

...Selected preliminary Storm Total Snowfall in inches from 700 AM
EDT Wed Mar 13 through 1100 AM EDT Fri Mar 15...

...COLORADO...
NEDERLAND 4 ENE                      53.0                    
ELDORA 1 WSW                         46.0                    
GENESEE 1 NNW                        45.7                    
ASPEN SPRINGS 1 W                    45.5                    
ECHO LAKE 1 NNE                      41.0                    
ASPEN PARK                           36.0                    
HILLSIDE 6 ESE                       36.0                    
ROLLINSVILLE                         36.0                    
BRAINARD LAKE 3 SE                   34.0                    
WARD                                 33.0                    
AIR FORCE ACADEMY 3 NNE              26.0                    
COLORADO SPRINGS 2 NW                21.8                    
CASTLE ROCK 3 NNW                    21.0                    
BOULDER 2 SSW                        20.5                    
DENVER 4 E                           11.0                    

...NEW MEXICO...
CHUPADERO 7 E                         6.0                    
SANDIA PARK 4 NW                      6.0                    
TRES RITOS                            5.0                    
QUEMADO                               4.5                    
VERMEJO PARK                          4.0                    
CHAMA                                 2.7                    
JEMEZ SPRINGS                         2.0                    
AZTEC                                 1.0                    

...WYOMING...
ALBANY                               21.0                    
LANDER                               17.1                    
CENTENNIAL 1 SE                      16.0                    
ROCK SPRINGS                         14.0                    
CASPER                               11.0                    
RAWLINS                               9.6                    
GREEN RIVER                           8.8                    
ELK MOUNTAIN                          8.5                    
LARAMIE 1 E                           7.5                    
CHEYENNE 1 N                          5.8                    

...Selected preliminary Peak Wind gusts in miles per hour earlier
in the event...

...COLORADO...
BERTHOUD PASS                          63                    
RED CLIFF PASS                         49                    

...WYOMING...
COW CREEK                              57                    
PINE BUTTE                             57                    
ROCK SPRINGS                           55                    
CHEYENNE AIRPORT                       40                    
RAWLINS AIRPORT                        38                    


As snow comes to an end along the Colorado Front Range, part two
of the winter storm will pick up as the threat for heavy snow
shifts southwestward more broadly over the Four Corners Region. A
closed upper-level low settling southward offset just to the west
of the region will provide the support for continuing
precipitation chances through the weekend, with snowfall for
higher elevation terrain/mountain ranges, and a mix of rain and
snow for lower elevations. Some thunderstorms will also be
possible. There are moderate to high probabilities (50-80%) of
snow totals through the weekend between 8-12", with locally higher
amounts upwards of 2 feet possible. Heavy snowfall rates up to
2"/hr and gusty winds will bring some blowing snow and reduced
visibility, particularly for mountain passes, leading to difficult
to impossible travel conditions at times. The snow is expected to
linger longest over portions of southern Colorado/northern New
Mexico through Monday, tapering off Sunday for Utah and Arizona.

The next Storm Summary will be issued by the Weather Prediction
Center at 1100 PM EDT. Please refer to your local National Weather
Service office for additional information on this event.

Putnam