Snow Reports from Monday/Tuesday's Snowfall
(posted by Keno on Tuesday, March 26, at 750 am/ Updated Tuesday afternoon)

Here is the totals that have come in from Sunday into Monday's snowstorm. At the Crestone/Baca Weather Station in Chalet 1, at 8,085 feet, we saw a 2 day total (March 24, and 25) of 14.1", along with 1.35" of melted down snow. Both totals were records for the date (see below). For all other locations, please note that other than for the first report following this, the rest were sent in before last night's early evening snow squall hit. I'll add those totals after I get reports in for that brief but interesting event. So, also in Chalet 1, on Arrowhead Way at around 8,200 ft., two day total was 13.7". Then, another reading from Chalet 1, on lower Panorama and Chaparral, at 7,970 feet elevation, 10 inches fell. The last report from Chalet 1, from the east end of the Baca at 8,600 feet, 14.5" (updated and now counting the late day snow squall). In Chalet 2, near Wagon Wheel, South of Spanish Creek, 11.0" as of Monday morning; Then down into the Grants, first report from Camino Real and Willow Trail, at 7,681 feet, Sunday's total came out to 9.0" of snow; and also in the Grants, on Brook Trout Rd, west of Wagon Wheel, at 7,800 feet, they saw 10.0" of snow (updated). Next, we move north, but still in the valley off T Road, at the Baca Ranchettes, elevation 7,732 feet, the snow is reported for Sunday's snow and measured 8.0". Then last but not least, comes in from our newest spotter - from the town of Crestone! I get excited noting this since it's been at least 3 years since we had a spotter in town, and our new friend will be reporting almost from where our old spotter was located, by the town's southern line by Birch St., near the welcome sign in town, at 7,907 feet? I think that's what the sign states? Anyway, they saw 10.0 from Sunday's storm.

So, that will do it, other than one last report from my daughter's place, far south of here, and over an hour away driving, southeast of the town of Fort Garland, where they saw 10.2", but she told me it was still snowing when she called yesterday morning, so I bet they had more later in the day when the snow stopped falling. Note: Updates from Monday afternoon snow will be shown above and noted.... Okay, I might as well add this update from my kid near Ft Garland (8 miles southeast), as of 130 this afternoon (Tuesday), they had an inch overnight and their 2 day total was 12.2".

I thank all of our spotters for their work in reporting their snow totals!

NWS Forecasts for our area are often incorrect for when snow is forecasted, here's why
(posted by Keno on Tuesday, March 26, at 600 am)

The snowstorm that hit our area has now ended and moved off to the east of here. It was an interesting storm in many way, mainly since the NWS got the forecast wrong for our area, thanks to an old and incorrect system that our government has had in place for our area for decades now. The problem is, when it comes to forecasting, the NWS must follow the old guidelines set up by the government, even if they know a incorrect forecast might occur. During the snow season, this happens often. The greater Crestone area is one of only two areas in Colorado affected by this problem (San Luis, south of here, is the other, since our two areas are the only towns in Colorado that are in the foothills on the west side of the San de Cristo mountains). Since I have enough experience in meteorology and I been working for them as a volunteer for a few decades, they allow me to change our forecast while being allowed to claim it's still a NWS forecast.

So, where exactly is the problem? Those guidelines noted above, state that the forecast for this area only applies for over 8,500 feet, and the greater Crestone area averages 8,100 feet. Because of that, our entire location is placed in the official forecast for the San Luis Valley, which, other than for the Grants and areas off T Road, is not where most of us live or are located. Even the NWS, officially lists our weather station as being in the foothills of the San del Cristo mountains, and of course, it is. The weather we see here in the foothills isn't the same as the weather that the valley sees whenever precipitation falls, or when the winds blow. But the NWS's satellite office in Pueblo (our local office), isn't allowed to officially change the forecast location maps set by the government, and what they issue is really only for the valley. For Sunday's storm, they issued 1 to 8 inches of snow to fall, and didn't issue any warnings or advisories for our area under 8,500 feet. But because I have permission to do so (I would do it anyway, if I didn't), I knew we would see more than just an inch - in all areas, including the Grants, and noted that in my  forecast before the storm hit, calling for up to a foot of snow in all of the foothills, and having all areas above 8,000 feet, included in the Winter Storm Warning area. While I also knew that the Grants (and T Road) should have at the least had a Winter Weather Adversary issued, I will only alter weather bulletins, but I don't issue them, since I don't have permission to do so. That's the NWS's job, but by going by the guidelines they must follow, they still could have and should have issued a weather warning for the Grants and all other locations in our greater area.

Two new records set on Sunday
(posted by Keno at 502 am on Tuesday, March 26, 2024)

Two new weather records for the date were reached at the Crestone/Baca Weather Center on Sunday, March 24. The first record broken was for total precipitation received, when 1.25 inches was recorded. The old record was 0.75 of an inch, set in 2007. Then a new snow total was also reached for this date, at 12.2 inches, breaking the old record, also set in 2007, of 7.4 inches. Most of the snow fell on Sunday night, with the most falling between 11 pm and midnight, but because of Daylight Saving Time (DST), this, going by that ridiculous time change, actually fell on the next day, on Monday, March 25. However, the NWS isn't on DST, and only observes weather events and records in Standard Time (which is actually the correct time and the correct way to do it). This is only one reason why I hate DST, as it's like living in two time zones for half a year when your a weather keeper. That, and my automatic station changes over at the wrong midnight hour, which means I must deal with that issue everyday for half a year. Very often, the low temperature for the date will be set at midnight, or in the case when it's snowing or raining, then I have to deal with that problem. So, sorry for the bitch, but I do work for the NWS as a volunteer, 365 days a year, and while I'm mainly retire from most other work, as an old man I guess I'm getting a bit grumpy when it comes to things that make no sense, takes place, and DST takes place every day for half a year! Oh well, so goes life I guess.

Snow Reports from Thursday's & Friday's Snowfall
(posted by Keno at 325 am on March 15, 2024)

As I type this snow report up, a new round of snow from the same storm that hit yesterday (Thursday) has reentered our area, so this is a long, ongoing event that isn't over yet, and all of this was noted in the forecast to happen. While we didn't see as much snow as was first forecasted, we did see the least amount of snow that was, so while I feel we forecasters didn't get the totals correct for Thursday (in this area, anyway) in reality, we actually did if you only count the lower amounts noted in the forecast. So, here's the totals as of Thursday nite, and any new totals that fall on Friday will be added in to these totals since again, this is the same exact storm that hit yesterday, and at this time, the storm is still to our west, as it has stalled out.

First, at the Crestone Weather Center, located one block from the Baca Firehouse in Chalet 1,  at 8,085 feet, at total of 6.0" of snow fell, with 0.37 of an inch in melted down water. Then also in Chalet 1 at the east end of the Baca at 8,600 feet: 7.5". Then also in Chalet 1 on Arrowhead Way at around 8,200 ft: 6.7". Then last but not least from Chalet 1, at  Panorama and Chaparral, (around  7,800 ft): 4.0", however, that reading was taken at 8am when it was still snowing, so chances are more fell after the reading was taken. Next, out off T Road at the  Ranchettes, elevation 7,732 ft, 5.0". Then our finial local report in was taken out in the Grants off Camino Real and Willow Trail at 7,681 feet, where 5.3" fell.

Now, one special report from well south of here at the bottom of La Veta Pass (east of Fort Garland), at around 8,200 feet. I usually don't report here on my daughter's readings since the location where she and her family lives is over an hour away from here (south, of course), but at their place, they saw 6.8" fall.

Two new, late reports to add, that came in this (Friday) morning for Thursday: From Chalet 2, near Two Trees at 8,000 feet: 7.2"; and then from the Grants, on Brook Trout Rd west of Wagon Wheel at 7,200ft: 6.4" counting 0.1" that was recorded this morning. For that matter, I might as well update my own report from the Crestone Weather Station, as here we also saw another 0.1" this morning (so far), and along with yesterday's total, that makes for here at the station, seeing one of the least snow amounts from this snow event so far (at 6.1" now).

Friday's Snowfall Reports
(posted by Keno at 105 am on March 16)

Day 2 of this snow event, with the snow totals from Friday (plus with the storm still to our west, we should see more snow from this one until it passes our area): Only a few reports have come in so far for day 2: First from the Crestone Weather Center, in Chalet 1,  at 8,085 feet, 0.7" of new snow, with a 2 day total of 6.7", while the snowpack is down to 2.5", thanks to a sunny afternoon on Friday. Liquid precip Friday was 0.06" with a grand 2 day total of 0.43". Then in Chalet 1 at our highest location in the Baca, at 8,600 feet: 0.8" and a 2 day total of 8.3", with 0.31" of melted down snow. Over in the Grants, off Camino Real and Willow Trail at 7,681 feet, 0.5" new, plus a 2 day total of 5.8". Plus also in the Grants, at Brook Trout Rd west of Wagon Wheel at 7,200ft: 0.6" new with a grand 2 day total there of 6.9". Plus, since I noted the report above from my daughter's place at the bottom of La Vetta Pass, they ended up with a 2 day total there of 7.2". When I get some more reports in from Friday's snow, I'll update what I receive here at that time. But overall, yes, we saw a lot less snow here than what so many other areas in Colorado saw, with 2 to 4 feet of snow reported in many locations, mainly north of here, when the southern part of the state was suppose to see more. But it just didn't work out that way - for the most part.

I thank all of our spotters for their time in getting their reports in to me!

Keno