Winter, 2013-14

Observations of Major Winter Storms and Interesting Weather Phenomena


First Measurable Snow, Pagosa Springs, CO, October 10 - The start of the snow season comes early to Pagosa Springs, as a convective band produces 3 inches of snow and some colorful scenes, as the snow clings to trees and vegitation nearing peak fall color.

Sunlit Snowstorm over the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, November 5 - The low angle of the setting sun brilliantly illuminates snow falling from a storm over Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

Lenticular and Mountain Wave Clouds at Sunset, Santa Fe, NM, December 3 - A pretty display of lenticular and mountain wave clouds over the mountains of northern New Mexico.

A Blizzard of Tumbleweeds, La Cienega, NM, December 4 - An unusual "blizzard of tumbleweeds" interferes with traffic on I-25 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, with the weeds blown into huge drifts that bury side roads.

Groundhog Day Snow Ghosts at the Wolf Creek Ski Area, Colorado - Riming of trees along with snow produces the beautiful phenomenon of "snow ghosts" at the Wolf Creek Ski Area.

February 28-March 3 Coast-to-Coast Storm, as Experienced in Southwest Colorado - A massive winter storm system that created havoc from coast to coast causes serious power problems in Archuleta County, Colorado - but also provides some fine photo opportunities.

Mountain Snow Squalls near the NM-CO State Line, April 6 - Strong snow squalls and snow showers form over the San Juan Mountains between Pagosa Springs, CO and Chama, NM. Even some thundersnow, which I missed, but I did get a few nice pics.

Sun Halo and Lenticular Clouds, Loveland Ski Area, CO, April 24 - I get pictuers of a nice sun halo and of lenticular clouds while skiing at Loveland.

A Stormy, Wintry May in the Southern Rockies" - An unusually wet, wintry, and stormy May brings repeated episodes of snow and even thundersnow to the southern Rockies. I am able to document this unusual weather on multiple days, even getting some video of thunder with snow falling.



This page last updated May 26, 2014.

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