Colorado, 2008

Winter Weather in Colorado, December 19 to 20, 2008

December 19 to 20, 2008 · NWS GJT · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A low pressure system moved across western Colorado and produced significant snowfall across the northern and central mountains.

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 GJT wrote it up.

A low pressure system moved across western Colorado and produced significant snowfall across the northern and central mountains.

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 weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
December 19, 10:00 AM MST to December 20, 2:00 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)

Snowfall of 5 to 7 inches occurred while wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
December 19, 10:00 AM MST to December 20, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread snowfall of 5 to 12 inches occurred with a locally higher amount of 18 inches at Bison Lake. Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
December 19, 12:00 PM MST to December 20, 2:00 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)

Snowfall of 5 to 10 inches occurred while wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Grand and Battlement Mesas

When
December 19, 1:00 PM MST to December 20, 1:00 PM MST
Where
Grand and Battlement Mesas forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.159, -108.078 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall of 4 to 6 inches occurred across the north half of the Grand Mesa while amounts of 2 to 3 inches occurred across the south half. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains

When
December 19, 1:00 PM MST to December 20, 1:00 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)

Snowfall of 3 to 8 inches occurred across the area while wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2008

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: 144540, 144544, 144541, 144542, 144543.