Winter, 2020-21

Observations of Major Winter Storms and Interesting Weather Phenomena


May 17, 2021, Rain, Snow, Graupel/Snow Pellets, and Hail, with Thunder and Lightning, Alamosa, CO - I encounter an unusual storm that produces rain, hail, graupel, and snow, sometimes all at once, along with thunder and lightning, in Alamosa, CO. One of the most unusual thunderstorms I ahve ever seen. Report includes photos and video, along with a couple pictures of an earlier storm west of Walsenburg, along with extensive descriptions of what I observed and the meteorology giving rise to it.

May 3, 2021, Thundersnow, west side of Wolf Creek Pass, CO - I catch thundersnow at the scenic overlook on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass and, later, some more in the valley below and a few miles southwest. Includes photos, videos, and a detailed account of my observations of this late season thundersnow storm.

April 28, 2021, Thundersnow and Late-Season Accumulating Snow, Santa Fe National Forest, NM - Although road limitations kept me from getting into the core of the storm, I get some great views of a thundersnow storm on the west slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, while experiencing light snow and frequent long, low rumbles of thunder. Includes many photos, a couple radar images, and a detailed account of the weather setup and my observations of the storm.

April 17, 2021, More Archuleta County, CO Thundersnow - Again I catch thundersnow in Archuleta County, CO as a series of long low rumbles of thunder occur with big snowflakes coming down along Cat Creek Road in the southwest part of the country. Includes a short video clip, a photo, and radar and lightning archive images.

March 16, 2021, Archuleta County, CO Thundersnow - I have a successful intercept of thundersnow just a few miles northwest of home. Also got pictures of another approaching thundersnow storm, but the thunder was over by the time I intercepted that second storm. Includes video of the thundersnow in the first storm and pictures of both storms.

March 12-14, 2021, Rocky Mountain Snowstorm - A record snowstorm impacts much of the Rocky Mountain region, producing widespread heavy snow in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado, and also very heavy snow in the New Mexico mountains. In Santa Fe, I get some nice photos of a convective shower of graupel and snow at sunset, which marked the beginning of the heavy snow in the New Mexico mountains.

September 8-10, 2020 Winter Storm in Southern Colorado - An unusually early winter storm delivers thundersnow, snow in my yard, and more than a foot of snow in the San Juan Mountains and other locations in Colorado. The thundersnow at Wolf Creek Ski Area and the snow in my yard were the earliest I have ever seen, and I got my first-ever capture with a lightning trigger of a lightning bolt associated with winter precipitation. Includes photos, video, and discussion of the weather setup and my observations over the three days that the storm affected southern Colorado.



This page last updated May 20, 2021.

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