A storm system affected southwest Colorado, generating heavy snow across portions of the eastern San Juan Mountains. Near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass 10 inches of snow fell.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A storm system affected southwest Colorado, generating heavy snow across portions of the eastern San Juan Mountains. Near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass 10 inches of snow fell.
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 18, 3:32 PM MST, 9 hours 28 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 332 PM MST MON JAN 18 2010 .SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT AND TUESDAY) CURRENTLY...SNOW HAS BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS...AS RADAR/OBS/WEB CAMS REVEAL ONLY A FEW FLURRIES AT WOLF CREEK PASS SO FAR THIS AFTERNOON. FINALLY SEEING SOME PRECIP SOUTH AND WEST OF THE AREA IN NORTHWEST NM AND NORTHEAST AZ...WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW AT GALLUP NM SINCE 21Z. FARTHER EAST...HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS AND RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS HAVE KEPT MAX TEMPS FROM WARMING TOO QUICKLY...THOUGH MOST LOCATIONS ALONG/EAST OF I-25 HAVE MADE IT INTO THE UPPER 40S TO MID 50S AS OF 22Z. TONIGHT...MODELS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT FIRST MAJOR PIECE OF ENERGY TO EJECT FROM THE WESTERN TROUGH WILL REACH THE 4 CORNERS BY SUNRISE...WITH SNOW BECOMING WIDESPREAD AND HEAVY OVER THE SAN JUANS AFTER 09Z. THUS CURRENT TIMING OF WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH STARTS AT MIDNIGHT...LOOKS FINE. FARTHER NORTH...LA GARITAS AND SAWATCH RANGE WILL SEE ACCUMULATING SNOW BY MORNING...BUT AMOUNTS LOOK TOO LOW FOR HIGHLIGHTS AT THIS POINT. FORECAST MAY BE A LITTLE TOO QUICK TO SPREAD SNOW TO THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS...AS NAM AND GFS BOTH KEEP MOST QPF ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH 12Z. WILL KEEP JUST SOME LOW POPS IN PLACE FROM THE SAN LUIS VALLEY EASTWARD INTO THE SANGRES FOR NOW...COUNTING ON A FEW SNOW SHOWERS TO SPILL OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE BY SUNRISE. CLOUDS SHOULD KEEP MIN TEMPS FAIRLY WARM...WITH READINGS IN THE 20S OVER THE PLAINS...TEENS AND 20S MOUNTAINS AND HIGH VALLEYS. TUESDAY...STILL APPEARS WINDOW FOR HEAVIEST SNOW OVER THE SAN JUANS WILL BE FROM 12Z-18Z AS DYNAMIC UPWARD MOTION AND STRONGEST SOUTHWEST OROGRAPHIC FLOW COMBINE TO PRODUCE 1-2 INCH PER HOUR SNOWFALL RATES OVER THE WEST FACING SLOPES. GIVEN RATHER STRONG FLOW AT THE MID LEVELS AND ALOFT...PORTIONS OF THE UPPER RIO GRANDE VALLEY (SOUTH FORK AND CREEDE) MAY BE SHADOWED ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE HEAVY SNOW...THOUGH A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS LIKELY. WON'T HOIST AN ADVISORY HERE YET...THOUGH AREA NEEDS TO BE WATCHED CLOSELY. UPPER TROUGH LIFTS INTO THE PLAINS AFTER 18Z AND MID LEVEL FLOW BECOMES MORE WESTERLY...WHICH SHOULD REDUCE SNOW INTENSITY OVER THE SAN JUANS WHILE SNOW COULD BRIEFLY BECOME HEAVY OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. STILL NOT ENOUGH ACCUMULATION FOR A HIGHLIGHT OVER THE SAWATCH...AS BEST LIFT AND MOISTURE MOVE QUICKLY EAST BY 00Z. OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS...KEPT THE LOW POPS FOR SCATTERED RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS GOING THROUGH THE DAY...THOUGH AMOUNTS WILL BE VERY LIGHT AS STRONG WESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES. SUSPECT ANY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE HIGHER PEAKS OF THE SANGRES AND PIKES PEAK. ON THE PLAINS...DOWNSLOPE FLOW SHOULD KEEP THINGS DRY...THOUGH DID ADD SOME LOW POPS TO PALMER DIVIDE FOR THE AFTERNOON AS WEAK FRONTAL SURGE AND PASSING UPPER TROUGH COULD PRODUCE A FEW SHOWERS. FOR TEMPS...ANOTHER MILD DAY EXPECTED ON THE PLAINS WITH DOWNSLOPE FLOW...WHILE MOUNTAINS ESPECIALLY WESTERN ZONES...BEGIN TO COOL AS COOLER AIR ALOFT PUSHES EAST. --PETERSEN .LONG TERM... (TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) LONG TERM CONCERNS REMAIN SNOW TOTALS ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTDVD WITH MAINLY WARM AND BREEZY WEATHER EXPECTED ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS AS SEVERAL DISTURBANCES MOVE ACROSS THE AREA IN MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. TUESDAY NIGHT NIGHT-WEDNESDAY NIGHT...LATEST MODEL RUNS IN AGREEMENT WITH SHORT WAVE LIFTING OUT ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST COLORADO TUESDAY EVENING AND INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS THROUGH THE DAY WEDNESDAY. MODELS ARE NOW INDICATING ANOTHER POTENT WAVE EJECTING ACROSS THE DESERT SW TUESDAY NIGHT THOUGH ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ITS STRENGTH...LOCATION AND TIMING AS IT MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO THROUGH THE DAY WEDNESDAY AND OUT ACROSS THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT...WITH THE ECMWF THE STRONGEST OF THE SOLUTIONS AS IT DEVELOPS A CLOSED LOW ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. AT ANY RATE...WITH WESTERLY FLOW AND SUBSIDENCE DEVELOPING BEHIND FIRST WAVE...SHOULD SEE SNOW WINDING DOWN ACROSS THE SW MTS EARLY TUESDAY EVENING WITH LATER SHIFTS POSSIBLY NEEDING TO CANCEL CURRENT WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE EASTERN SAN JUANS PRIOR TO THE 07Z WED ENDING TIME. HAVE KEPT HIGH POPS ACROSS THE CENTRAL MTS TUESDAY EVENING AND DIMINISHING WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH GENERALLY LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF A COUPLE OF INCHES. HAVE ALSO KEPT ISOLATED TO LOW END SCATTERED ACROSS THE EASTERN MTS AND EASTERN PLAINS MAINLY NORTH OF HIGHWAY 50 WITH ANY ACCUMULATIONS OF UNDER AN INCH. WITH INCREASING SW FLOW AHEAD OF NEXT SYSTEM...SHOULD SEE PRECIP RAMPING UP AGAIN ACROSS THE SW MTS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND COULD SEE LOW END ADVISORY AMOUNTS THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON. WITH MODEL DIFFERENCES ON MOVEMENT OF THIS WAVE...HAVE GONE WITH IDEA OF BROAD UPPER TROUGH MOVING ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH ISOLATED TO SCATTERED POPS ACROSS THE REST OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND EASTERN PLAINS. TEMPS ON WEDNESDAY A CHALLENGE AS WELL...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS...WITH POSSIBLE STRATUS DEVELOPING BEHIND PASSING WAVE TUESDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH A STRONGER NORTHERLY SURGE/COLD FRONT MOVING ACROSS THE PLAINS WEDNESDAY MORNING IF THE STRONG EC SOLUTION IS CLOSER TO THE TRUTH. THURSDAY-SATURDAY...MODELS REMAIN IN DECENT AGREEMENT OF STRONG SUB TROPICAL JET CORE TRANSLATING ACROSS THE DESERT SW THURSDAY WHICH THEN CONTINUES ACROSS THE ROCKIES WITH A BROAD TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE STATE AND A DEVELOPING CLOSED LOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON. ABUNDANT PAC MOISTURE PROGGED WITH THIS SYSTEM AND ALONG WITH STRONG OROGRAPHICS AND UPPER SUPPORT...HAVE CONTINUED TO INCREASE POPS ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN ALONG AND WEST OF THE CONTDVD THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...WITH SEVERAL MORE FEET OF SNOW POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MTS. WARMING AND STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS ON FRIDAY WILL ALLOW FOR WELL ABOVE SEASONAL TEMPS WITH HIGHS POSSIBLE INTO THE UPPER 60S WITH TEMPS COOLING BACK TO AT OR BELOW NORMALS ON SATURDAY BEHIND SYSTEM WITH GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS LIKELY CREATING A RAW DAY. HAVE KEPT CURRENT SLIGHT POPS ACROSS THE PLAINS THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY WITH TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. SUNDAY-MONDAY...MODERATE TO STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ON SUNDAY MODERATES AND BECOMES MORE WESTERLY ON MONDAY WITH SHORT LIVED RIDGING ACROSS THE AREA. HAVE KEPT A DRY FORECAST...SAVE CENTRAL MTS...WITH TEMPS AROUND SEASONAL AVERAGES THROUGH THE PERIOD. -MW && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS TO PERSIST FOR THE NEXT 24H FOR ALL TAF SITES. OVER THE MOUNTAINS...HIGHER PEAKS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ALREADY OBSCURED...AND EXPECT CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY TO LOWER TO PASS LEVEL OR LOWER OVERNIGHT AS SNOW SPREADS EASTWARD. EASTERN MOUNTAINS MAY BEGIN TO SEE SOME PARTIAL OBSCURATION AFTER SUNRISE TUESDAY...AS SNOW SHOWERS SPREAD EASTWARD. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO MIDNIGHT MST TUESDAY NIGHT FOR COZ068. && 10/23
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 510 PM MST MON JAN 18 2010 COZ058>089-093>099-200015- 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- 510 PM MST MON JAN 18 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SNOWFALL WILL INCREASE OVER THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS TONIGHT...AND BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES BY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. THREE TO FIVE INCHES OF ACCUMULATION CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS BY TUESDAY MORNING. ELSEWHERE...ELEVATIONS ABOVE 10000 FEET CAN EXPECT LIGHT SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 2 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY EVENING...WITH SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS BY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...WILL BE 8 TO 16 INCHES. THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND THE LA GARITA MOUNTAINS WILL LIKELY SEE 1 TO 4 INCHES. ONLY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL THEN BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...BUT THEN THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THURSDAY AFTERNOON...WITH SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS AGAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...THEN DECREASING FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND THEN AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS TONIGHT...AND POSSIBLE FOR OTHER LOCATIONS ABOVE 10000 FEET TONIGHT. 50/77
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, January 2010
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: 210741.