Colorado, 1997

Winter Storm in Colorado, December 8 to 10, 1997

December 8 to 10, 1997 · NWS BOU · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A persistent light to moderate snowfall combined with gusty northerly winds to produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. The hardest hit areas were south of Interstate 70, in and near Monument Ridge.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.

A persistent light to moderate snowfall combined with gusty northerly winds to produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. The hardest hit areas were south of Interstate 70, in and near Monument Ridge. Northerly winds 20 to 35 mph with stronger gusts to 45 mph caused near whiteout conditions. The strong winds stirred up 2 to 4 foot snowdrifts and dropped wind chill temperatures well below zero. Numerous accidents were reported. Sections of Interstates 25 and 70 were closed, along with several other roads and highways as travel, became impossible in the blowing snow. A handful of people were stranded during the snowstorm. Snowfall totals included: 22 inches at Conifer, 16 inches 3 miles south of Elbert, 13 inches at Castle Rock, 12 inches at Parker, 10 inches at Strasburg, with 8 inches reported at Kiowa and in southeast Aurora.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Denver Metropolitan Area

When
December 8, 9:00 PM MST to December 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Denver Metropolitan Area forecast zone
Coordinates
39.714, -104.707 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern Adams and Eastern Arapahoe Counties

When
December 8, 9:00 PM MST to December 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Adams and Eastern Arapahoe Counties forecast zone
Coordinates
39.762, -104.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern Douglas and Western Elbert Counties/Castle Rock and Vicinity

When
December 8, 9:00 PM MST to December 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Douglas and Western Elbert Counties/Castle Rock and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
39.422, -104.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eastern Elbert and Northern Lincoln Counties/Limon and Vicinity

When
December 8, 9:00 PM MST to December 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Eastern Elbert and Northern Lincoln Counties/Limon and Vicinity forecast zone
Coordinates
39.138, -103.825 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin

When
December 8, 9:00 PM MST to December 10, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Southern Front Range Foothills/Clear Creek Basin forecast zone
Coordinates
39.516, -105.413 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5620069, 5620070, 5620071, 5620072, 5620073.