A Pacific storm system brought abundant moisture and cold air to western Colorado resulting in widespread heavy snow and strong winds across the mountains and much of the lower valleys. Numerous travel restrictions were enacted on many mountain roads and highways.
Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS GJT wrote it up.
A Pacific storm system brought abundant moisture and cold air to western Colorado resulting in widespread heavy snow and strong winds across the mountains and much of the lower valleys. Numerous travel restrictions were enacted on many mountain roads and highways.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 15, 4:35 AM MST, 3 hours 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
435 AM MST MON DEC 15 2008
.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...
PART 2 OF COMPLEX STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED THIS WEEK. UPPER CLOSED
LOW CURRENTLY LOCATED OFF THE NORTHWEST WA/OR COAST BEGINS TO DROP
SOUTHWARD TODAY AND ENDS UP NEAR NRN CALIFORNIA BY THIS
EVENING. THIS HAS TWO MAIN EFFECTS IT BACKS THE FLOW ALOFT TO
THE SOUTHWEST WHICH BRINGS WARMER MOIST AIR OVER A COLD AIRMASS THAT
IS ALREADY IN PLACE. SECONDLY IT BRINGS A STRENGTHENING JET WITH A
COUPLED STRUCTURE TO NEAR THE 4 CORNERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THEN A
140 KT CORE OVER THE CWA TONIGHT. ADD EMBEDDED SHRT WVS...ISENTROPIC
UPGLIDE...LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE PROVIDED BY A SURFACE LOW...GENEROUS
OROGRAPHIC FORCING ALONG WITH A TIGHT THERMAL GRADIENT AND YOU HAVE A
POTENT WINTER STORM.
LOW CONTINUES ITS SLOW SOUTHWARD MOVEMENT TUESDAY AND OPENS...BUT
SENSIBLE WEATHER AND FORCING REMAIN SIMILAR AS WINTER STORM CONTINUES
THROUGH THIS SHORT TERM PERIOD. THE MOST FAVORED LOCATIONS FOR THE
HEAVIEST SNOW SEEMS LIKE IT WILL GENERALLY BE SOUTH OF THE I-70
CORRIDOR. WITH THAT SAID MICROPHYSICS WILL FAVOR THE NORTH WITH GOOD
SNOW PRODUCTION POTENTIAL WITH MTN TOP TEMPS -10 TO -12 C. BASED ON
NEW MODEL DATA AND CONSULTATION WITH THE LONG TERM FORECASTER FEEL
THIS EVENT WILL LAST LONGER WITH NO REAL BREAK UNTIL AROUND 12
THURSDAY. AS A RESULT WILL EXTEND WARNINGS AND FINE TUNE SNOW
AMOUNTS.
DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE GRAND VALLEY WILL PICK UP AS MUCH SNOW
WITH THIS STORM AS THE ONE THAT JUST MOVED THROUGH. SOUTHWESTERLY
COMPONENT IS NOT THE PREFERRED DIRECTION FOR THE VALLEY. ALTHOUGH
STRONG DYNAMIC FORCING AND DEEP MOISTURE CAN OVERCOME THIS AND WILL
KEEP MENTION OF ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL IN THE FORECAST FOR MONDAY
NIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY...WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
NOT MUCH CHANGE TO THE LONG TERM FORECAST AS THE STORM TRACK REMAINS
FAVORABLE FOR WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL ACROSS MUCH OF THE
AREA. AS A RESULT...EXISTING ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS FOR THE CENTRAL
AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS WERE EXTENDED THROUGH WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AS A FETCH OF MOISTURE UNDERNEATH A STRONG UPPER JET REMAINS
OVER THE AREA AND SHORTWAVE ENERGY TRAVERSES THE AREA. BOTTOM
LINE...BIG SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AND SOME VALLEYS
OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH MUCH LOWER
AMOUNTS...ALTHOUGH STILL SIGNIFICANT...OVER THE HIGH TERRAIN ALONG
AND NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE AREA
LATE IN THE WEEK AND OVER THE WEEKEND BUT IT DOES NOT LOOK NEARLY AS
STRONG AND MOIST AS THE MID WEEK STORM. BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO
CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
&&
.AVIATION...
LOCALIZED MVFR TO IFR VSBY DUE TO FOG POSSIBLE IN SOME VALLEYS
UNTIL ABOUT 16Z THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE VFR TO PREVAIL THROUGH THE
MORNING. DETERIORATING CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AS ANOTHER STORM
MOVES QUICKLY INTO THE REGION. EXPECT INCREASING MVFR TO IFR CIGS AND
VSBY IN SNOW THIS AFTERNOON SPREADING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST
AND BECOMING WIDESPREAD. CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT THROUGH
TUESDAY. SW COLORADO SHOULD SEE THE WORST CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY
THE SW SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS AND THE DRO AREA. SNOW WILL RESULT IN
PERIODS OF MVFR TO IFR FOR MTJ...GJT...RIL...EGE...AND HDN...
ESPECIALLY AFTER 00Z TUE.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.CO...WINTER STORM WARNING MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY
MORNING FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHWEST
VALLEYS AND UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY...INCLUDING ZONES
9/12/14/17/18/19/21/22/23.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY
THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE PARADOX AND LOWER DOLORES RIVER
VALLEYS...FOR ZONE 20.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY FOR THE
NORTHERN MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING ZONES 3/4/10/13.
.UT...WINTER STORM WARNING MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR THE LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS...ZONE 28.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY FOR THE
TAVAPUTS PLATEAU...ZONE 25.
SHORT TERM.....MC
LONG TERM......TAL
AVIATION.......TGJTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 545 AM MST MON DEC 15 2008 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-161245- ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES- CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN- CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN- CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN-DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR- EASTERN UINTA BASIN-EASTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS- ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS-FLAT TOPS- FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER- GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS- GRAND VALLEY-LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN- NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER- ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH- SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-TAVAPUTS PLATEAU- UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY- UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS- 545 AM MST MON DEC 15 2008 ...NUMEROUS WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE FROM THE SOUTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON AS ANOTHER STRONG WINTER STORM MOVES TOWARD THE REGION TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS WILL BRING MORE HEAVY SNOW TO MUCH OF THE MOUNTAINS ACROSS SOUTHEAST UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO...AND VALLEYS ACROSS SOUTHWEST COLORADO. PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/GJT FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THIS WINTER STORM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY A NUMBER OF DISTURBANCES WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL THROUGH THE REGION TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BRING SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS AND A CHANCE OF SNOW TO THE VALLEYS. PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR ACROSS MUCH OF THE MOUNTAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH. TRAVEL INTO THE HIGH COUNTRY WILL BE HAZARDOUS...WITH PERIODS OF WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES AND VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. TRAVELERS MAY ENCOUNTER ICY AND SNOWPACKED ROADS AT TIMES EVEN IN THE VALLEYS OF EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT...THOUGH SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AMOUNTS. TGJT
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 winter storm, 7 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall of 10 to 18 inches occurred while wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
One to two feet of snow blanketed the area while wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall of 10 to 17 inches occurred while wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
One to two feet of snow blanketed the area while wind gusts of 25 to 50 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
One to three feet of snow blanketed the area while wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall ranging from 17 to 40 inches blanketed the area while frequent wind gusts of 30 to 60 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. Locally heavier snowfall included 44 inches at Silverton Mountain Ski Area. A peak wind gust of 80 mph was recorded at Eagle Mountain.
One to two feet of snow blanketed the area while frequent wind gusts of 35 to 60 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. A peak wind gust of 77 mph was recorded at Mount Abrahms.
Snowfall ranging from 11 to 18 inches blanketed the area while wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. The majority of the snowfall occurred during the first 24 hours of the event.
Snowfall ranging from 12 to 27 inches blanketed the area while wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall of 12 to 14 inches occurred while wind gusts of 30 to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
One to two feet of snow blanketed the area above 8000 feet while wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall ranging from 6 to 16 inches blanketed the area while wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. Locally heavier accumulations included 19 inches at a location 3 miles west of Dolores. About half of the snowfall occurred during the first 24 hours of the event.
Widespread snowfall of 2 to 6 inches occurred.
Widespread snowfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred. Locally higher amounts included 11 inches around Gypsum. Wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall ranging from 6 to 12 inches blanketed the area.
Snowfall of 3 to 5 inches occurred.
Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches occurred while wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. Locally heavier amounts include 6 to 8 inches around Craig.
Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches occurred.
Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred while wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred while wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2008
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: 141132, 141134, 141133, 141106, 141107, 141110, 141109, 141112, 141113, 141131, 141108, 141111, 141144, 141143, 141114, 141138, 141141, 141142, 141139, 141140.