Colorado, 2000Winter Storm in Colorado, December 15 to 16, 2000
December 15 to 16, 2000 · NWS GJT · 7 events in 7 counties and zones
A strong upper level jet stream brought high winds and heavy snow to the mountains of western Colorado. West to northwest winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts to over 60 mph created near-blizzard conditions with visibilities down to zero.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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.
A strong upper level jet stream brought high winds and heavy snow to the mountains of western Colorado. West to northwest winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts to over 60 mph created near-blizzard conditions with visibilities down to zero. Three major mountain passes were closed, including Rabbit Ears Pass, Vail Pass, and Red Mountain Pass. A wind gust to 85 mph was reported over Red Mountain Pass. Snowfall accumulations across the area varied from 5 to 10 inches, although 2 feet of new snow fell over the Steamboat Springs Ski Area and Rabbit Ears Pass.
Winter Storm, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Upper Yampa River Basin
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Upper Yampa River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Flattop Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- West Elk and Sawatch Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 38.643, -107.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Northwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Winter Storm, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 12:00 PM MST
- Where
- Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
- 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.
- High Wind in Oregon, December 15, 20001 death · $100,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm in Utah, December 15, 20001 death · 1 injured · $20,000 · 3 events
- Storm Surge in Washington, December 15, 20001 injured · $650,000 · 1 event
- High Wind in Oregon, December 15, 2000$200,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 events
- High Wind in Washington, December 15, 2000$60,000 · 55 kt wind · 2 events
- Blizzard in North Dakota, December 15 to 16, 200036 events
- High Wind in Idaho, December 15, 2000$30,000 · 55 kt wind · 3 events
- Ice Storm in Iowa, December 15 to 16, 200021 events
- Ice Storm in Missouri, December 15, 2000$10,000 · 15 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 15, 200014 events
- Ice Storm in Illinois, December 15 to 16, 200013 events
- Extreme Cold in Montana, December 15, 200013 events
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: 5168788, 5168789, 5168790, 5168791, 5168792, 5168793, 5168794.