Highs winds struck parts of the eastern mountains and I-25 corridor in advance of a major winter storm. Two semi-trailers were overturned on I-25 on the north side of Colorado Springs, but there were no injuries.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 PUB wrote it up.
Highs winds struck parts of the eastern mountains and I-25 corridor in advance of a major winter storm. Two semi-trailers were overturned on I-25 on the north side of Colorado Springs, but there were no injuries. Three semi-trailers were overturned south of Walsenburg in Huerfano County and in northern Las Animas County, north of Trinidad. No injuries occurred. There was some minor damage in Walsenburg, mainly to signs and the side of a building, where some bricks were dislodged. In Colorado Springs, a power line blew down on the west side, starting a blaze which destroyed a business. Damage estimates with this non-severe wind in west-central Colorado Springs was $1 million.
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 Pueblo, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 5, 4:46 AM MST, 14 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 446 AM MST SAT JAN 5 2008 .SHORT TERM... (TODAY AND TONIGHT) SHORT TERM CONCERNS REMAIN SNOW ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL DVD ALONG WITH WIND AND TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE EASTERN MTS AND PLAINS. CURRENT WATER VAPOR IMAGERY AND RUC UPPER AIR ANALYSIS INDICATING INCREASING SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE STATE AS BROAD UPPER TROUGH CONTINUES TO DIG ACROSS THE WEST COAST WITH DEEP MOISTURE PLUME MOVING ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND INTO CENTRAL COLORADO ATTM. AT THE SFC...LEE TROUGH CONTINUES TO DEEPEN ACROSS THE I-25 CORRIDOR WITH REGIONAL RADARS INDICATING WIND SIGNATURES ACROSS THE EASTERN MTS ATTM. TODAY AND TONIGHT...NAM 00Z AND 06Z RUNS STILL INDICATING THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONG MT WAVE DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE RAMPART RANGE WITH A MOUNTAIN TOP STABLE LAYER...GOOD TEMPERATURE PROFILE AND WEAK REVERSE WIND SHEAR. RUC13 X-SECTIONS ALSO INDICATING DECENT MT WAVE PROFILE AS WELL...AND WITH AF ACADEMY WIND SENSORS AND A SPOTTER INDICATING GUSTS BETWEEN 55-65 MPH WEST OF I-25...WILL GO AHEAD AND ISSUE A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE LOWER EAST SLOPES OF THE RAMPART RANGE THROUGH 18Z. HAVE NOT ISSUED FOR TELLER COUNTY OR THE REST OF THE SOUTHEAST MTS WITH HIGHER CRITERIA...THOUGH STILL EXPECTING WESTERLY WINDS OF 20-35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH THROUGH THE DAY. SHOULD SEE GUSTY WINDS OF 15 TO 35 MPH CONTINUING TO MIX DOWN ACROSS THE REST OF THE EASTERN PLAINS OWNING TO ANOTHER DAY OF WELL ABOVE SEASONAL TEMPERATURES...THOUGH WILL BE TEMPERED BY INCREASING CLOUDS. COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS ACROSS THE EASTERN MTS TONIGHT THOUGH WITH DOWNSLOPE FLOW NOT EXPECTING MUCH ACROSS THE REST OF THE PLAINS. HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH WITH CURRENT WINTER STORM WARNINGS ACROSS THE SW AND CENTRAL MTS...AS MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH DEEP AND MOIST WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW PERSISTING THROUGH THE PERIOD. SHOULD CONTINUE TO SNOW..HEAVY AT TIMES ACROSS THE SAN JUAN MTS INTO TONIGHT. ACROSS THE CENTRAL MTS...LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW LOOKS TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAY...AND INCREASES TONIGHT AS FLOW BECOMES MORE WESTERLY ALONG WITH INCREASING LAPSE RATES. CURRENT SNOW GRIDS REMAIN ON TARGET WITH BETWEEN 10 AND 20 INCHES EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT...ALONG WITH WESTERLY WINDS OF 25 TO 45 MPH MAKING FOR VERY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL ACROSS THE MTS. -MW .LONG TERM... (SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY) ...SNOW MACHINE CONTINUES FOR CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH MONDAY... WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE AS UPPER TROF APPROACHES FROM THE WEST WITH OCCASIONAL HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ALONG DIVIDE LIKELY THROUGH MONDAY. TROF AT 700MB OVERHEAD ON MONDAY THEN SHIFTING EAST TUESDAY. SHOULD SEE A LULL IN THE SNOW ACTIVITY BEHIND THE 700MB TROF. SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS OVER EASTERN COLO OR WRN KS WITH SURFACE COLD FRONT PUSHING ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS MONDAY. SOME LIGHT PRECIP OVER EASTERN PLAINS ASSOCIATED WITH BOUNDARY BUT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY QUICK SHOT AS MID/UPPER LOW MOVE INTO CENTRAL PLAINS. NEXT SYSTEM RIPPLES ACROSS AT MIDWEEK FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER ONE AT THE END OF THE WEEK. BEST CHANCE FOR SNOW ALONG CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH NOT MUCH MOISTURE AVAILABLE WHEN SYSTEMS TRACK OVER EASTERN PLAINS. ECMWF IS A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE MID WEEK SYSTEM BUT SEEMS TO HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON THE QPF ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS. USED ECMWF TIMING AND AREAL COVERAGE FOR POPS MONDAY NIGHT-EARLY TUESDAY THEN KEPT WITH EARLIER FORECAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. LEFT TEMP AND DEW POINT FORECASTS ALONE. -FORTUNE- && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR TAF SITES TONIGHT...WITH SNOW SHOWERS ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTDVD. LLWS WILL CONTINUE FOR THE COS AREA THROUGH THE LATE MORNING WHEN WESTERLY WINDS WILL MIX DOWN TO THE SFC. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 11 AM MST THIS MORNING FOR COZ084-085. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 PM MST MONDAY FOR COZ058-060-066- 068. && 23/21
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 555 AM MST FRI JAN 4 2008 COZ058>089-093>099-051300- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FT- LEADVILLE VICINITY/LAKE COUNTY BELOW 11000 FT- EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- WESTERN CHAFFEE COUNTY BETWEEN 9000 AND 11000 FT- CENTRAL CHAFFEE COUNTY BELOW 9000 FT- WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST CHAFFEE COUNTY ABOVE 9000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY WEST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- SAGUACHE COUNTY EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BELOW 10000 FT- LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY/EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BELOW 10000 FT- EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- DEL NORTE VICINITY/NORTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- ALAMOSA VICINITY/CENTRAL SAN LUIS VALLEY BELOW 8500 FT- SOUTHERN SAN LUIS VALLEY- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 8500 AND 11000 FT- NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT- SOUTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FT- NORTHWESTERN FREMONT COUNTY ABOVE 8500 FT- WESTERN/CENTRAL FREMONT COUNTY BELOW 8500 FT- WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY BELOW 8500 FEET- WET MOUNTAINS BETWEEN 6300 AND 10000 FT- WET MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FT- TELLER COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE ABOVE 7500 FT/PIKES PEAK BETWEEN 7500 AND 11000 FT-PIKES PEAK ABOVE 11000 FT- CANON CITY VICINITY/EASTERN FREMONT COUNTY- NORTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/MONUMENT RIDGE/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7500 FT- COLORADO SPRINGS VICINITY/SOUTHERN EL PASO COUNTY/RAMPART RANGE BELOW 7400 FT-PUEBLO AND VICINITY/PUEBLO COUNTY BELOW 6300 FT- WALSENBURG VICINITY/UPPER HUERFANO RIVER BASIN BELOW 7500 FT- TRINIDAD VICINITY/WESTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY BELOW 7500 FT- CROWLEY COUNTY-LA JUNTA VICINITY/OTERO COUNTY- EASTERN LAS ANIMAS COUNTY-WESTERN KIOWA COUNTY- EASTERN KIOWA COUNTY-LAS ANIMAS VICINITY/BENT COUNTY- LAMAR VICINITY/PROWERS COUNTY-SPRINGFIELD VICINITY/BACA COUNTY- 555 AM MST FRI JAN 4 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT LIGHT ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS LATE TONIGHT...AS AVAILABLE MOISTURE INCREASES AHEAD OF STRONG WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM MOVING ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN REGION OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY SEVERAL BOUTS OF SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...ARE FORECAST FOR THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THE THREE DAY STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS COULD REACH 1 TO 4 FEET FOR MANY LOCATIONS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...ESPECIALLY THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS. BRISK TO WINDY CONDITIONS...INCLUDING WIND GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH...LOOK TO CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. THIS WOULD INCREASE THE THREAT OF DANGEROUS MOUNTAINOUS DRIVING...ESPECIALLY PASSES ABOVE 9500 FEET...SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE...BREEZY TO VERY WINDY CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. WIND GUSTS AROUND 65 MPH ARE FORECAST FOR THE WET AND SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING PIKES PEAK...HIGHER TERRAIN FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY FOR MINOR ACCUMULATING SNOW EAST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ACROSS THE VALLEYS AND SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS INCLUDING THE ADJACENT PLAINS SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS MAY BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS LATE TONIGHT.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
8 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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, January 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: 76484, 76476, 76477, 76478, 76479, 76480, 76482, 76483.