Colorado, 2010Winter Weather in Colorado, December 15 to 17, 2010
December 15 to 17, 2010 · NWS GJT · 9 events in 9 counties and zones
A moist westerly flow with embedded disturbances produced significant snowfall in many mountain areas of western Colorado, as well as some lower elevation areas in southwest Colorado.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
- 9
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 moist westerly flow with embedded disturbances produced significant snowfall in many mountain areas of western Colorado, as well as some lower elevation areas in southwest Colorado.
Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 6:00 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 accumulations of 6 to 12 inches were measured. Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 7:00 PM MST
- Where
- Flattop Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 12 inches were measured. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys
- When
- December 15, 5:00 AM MST to December 16, 3:00 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 accumulations of 4 to 10 inches were measured. Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, 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)
Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 10 inches were measured. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, Southwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- December 15, 6:00 AM MST to December 17, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- Southwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 37.594, -107.912 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 5 to 12 inches were measured, along with locally heavier amounts such as 17 inches at Silverton Mountain Ski Area. Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, Upper Yampa River Basin
- When
- December 15, 7:00 AM MST to 4:00 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)
Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 7 inches were measured.
Winter Weather, Northwestern San Juan Mountains
- When
- December 15, 1:00 PM MST to December 17, 12:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northwestern San Juan Mountains forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 38.210, -107.755 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were measured. Wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather, San Juan River Basin
- When
- December 16, 12:00 AM MST to December 17, 9:00 AM MST
- Where
- San Juan River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 37.194, -107.048 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 4 to 6 inches were measured.
Winter Weather, Animas River Basin
- When
- December 16, 2:00 AM MST to December 17, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Animas River Basin forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 37.287, -107.843 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches were measured in most areas.
- 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.
- Winter Weather in Mississippi, December 15, 20103 deaths · 18 injured · 15 events
- Winter Weather in Alabama, December 15, 20103 deaths · 4 injured · 26 events
- Winter Weather in Nebraska, December 15 to 16, 20102 deaths · 1 event
- Winter Storm in Indiana, December 15 to 16, 201024 injured · 9 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 15 to 17, 20101 death · 3 events
- Winter Weather in Kansas, December 15, 20101 death · 1 event
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Kentucky, December 15 to 17, 2010$100,000 · 87 events
- Winter Weather in Missouri, December 15, 20108 injured · 10 events
- Winter Weather in Nebraska, December 15, 20108 injured · 9 events
- Winter Weather in Georgia, December 15 to 16, 20104 injured · 30 events
- Winter Weather in Illinois, December 15 to 16, 20105 injured · 18 events
- Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Tennessee, December 15, 20102 injured · 18 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 270889, 270890, 270891, 270892, 270894, 270895, 270893, 270897, 270896.