A strong storm system centered over northern Colorado generated blizzard conditions across the higher terrain of Lake and Chaffee Counties.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
A strong storm system centered over northern Colorado generated blizzard conditions across the higher terrain of Lake and Chaffee Counties.
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 Nov 12, 3:09 PM MST, 4 hours 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 309 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011 .SHORT TERM... (TONIGHT AND SUNDAY) HIGH WINDS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ACROSS THE EASTERN MTS WITH STRONGEST MTN WAVE ACTIVITY UP ACROSS THE PIKES PEAK REGION THIS MORNING. WINDS NEAR THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY HAVE BEEN GUSTING TO NEAR 80 MPH AT TIMES. HIGH WINDS HAVE SINCE BEEN SPREADING SOUTHWARD WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 70 MPH STARTING TO BE REPORTED TO THE LEE OF THE WETS AND IN THE WIND CORRIDOR BETWEEN WALSENBURG AND TRINIDAD. SO HIGH WIND WARNING IS VERIFYING WELL. MEANWHILE...UPPER TROF MAKING PROGRESS INTO NORTHWEST CO...WITH SNOW STARTING TO SPREAD INTO THE CONTDVD REGION OF LAKE AND CHAFFEE COUNTY. THIS HAS BEEN SLOWER TO MOVE IN TODAY THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT...AS WEB CAMS AT MYP AND LXV HAVE SHOWN PARTLY SUNNY SKIES THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY. HOWEVER THIS WILL BE RAPIDLY CHANGING AS POTENT UPPER TROF GLANCES BY TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. BEST WINDOW FOR SNOWFALL WILL BE BETWEEN 5 PM AND MIDNIGHT...HOWEVER WITH MTN TOP WINDS IN THE 50-60 KT RANGE...CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW WILL CONTINUE WITH NORTHWEST FLOW AND SHALLOW MOISTURE KEEPING AT LEAST SOME RESIDUAL OROGRAPHIC SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY. RAPIDLY DETERIORATING TRAVEL CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH EARLY EVENING ONCE SNOW MOVES IN...WITH WHITE OUT CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS MOUNTAIN PASSES SUCH AS MONARCH...FREMONT...AND TENNESSEE. CURRENT BLIZZARD WARNING LOOK ON TARGET FOR THESE AREAS. IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER FOR SNOW TO GET GOING ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MTS...WITH BRUNT OF MAIN ACTIVITY PROBABLY HOLDING OFF UNTIL TOMORROW AFTERNOON AS UPPER JET ASSOC WITH THE SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEM TRANSLATES IN. STILL LOOKING AT LESSER SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FOR THOSE AREAS...AND CURRENT WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY STILL LOOKS GOOD. THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO BE MORE OF A WIND MAKER FOR THE SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT I-25 CORRIDOR AS AREA STAYS IN THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN THE TWO UPPER LEVEL JET CORES ASSOC WITH THE NRN AND SRN STREAM SYSTEMS. MODEL CROSS-SECTIONS AND SOUNDINGS SHOW IMPRESSIVE INVERSE SHEAR...WITH MTN TOP STABLE LAYER WELL DEFINED THROUGH AT LEAST 12Z...AND EVEN THROUGH 15Z FOR THE SRN I-25 CORRIDOR. WILL BE EXTENDING THE HIGH WIND WARNING THROUGH 18Z FOR THE SE MTS/I-25 CORRIDOR. SUSPECT THAT NRN AREAS MAY BE ABLE TO BE TAKEN DOWN BY AROUND 15Z TOMORROW AS SRN AREAS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE STRONG POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS. GUSTS TO 70-80 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AND NEAR THE MTS TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...WITH GUSTS TO 60 TO 65 MPH ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. AFTER 18Z...MTN WAVE BREAKS DOWN AND WHILE IT WILL REMAIN WINDY...THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS SHOULD ABATE. COOLING ALOFT ON SUNDAY WILL DECREASE HIGH TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES...WHICH SHOULD KEEP HUMIDITY VALUES AROUND OR ABOVE 20 PERCENT ACROSS THE PLAINS. THUS NO FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS APPEAR TO BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. -KT .LONG TERM... (SUNDAY NIGHT-SATURDAY) SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY...BROAD UPPER TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE ROCKIES SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONTINUES TO LIFT OUT INTO THE HIGH PLAINS SUNDAY NIGHT WITH MODERATE WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW PROGGED ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY ON MONDAY. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL ACROSS THE CONTDVD SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL DIMINISH SUNDAY EVENING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SAN JUAN AND LA GARITA MTS...WITH GENERALLY LIGHT OROGRAPHIC SNOWFALL CONTINUING ACROSS THE EASTERN SAWATCH RANGE THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. CURRENT WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS END AT 01Z MON...THOUGH WILL LET LATER SHIFTS EXTEND IF NEEDED. NORTHWEST FLOW WILL KEEP LEE TROUGH IN PLACE ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS WITH BREEZY WESTERLY WINDS LEADING TO POSSIBLE RED FLAG CONDITIONS ACROSS THE PLAINS ON MONDAY. HOWEVER...WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY HIGHLIGHTS AT THIS TIME AS NOT CONFIDENT WILL SEE SUCH CONDITIONS FOR THE 3 HOUR CRITERIA. AT ANY RATE...SHOULD SEE HIGHS AT OR ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS WITH CONTINUED DOWNSLOPE FLOW. MONDAY NIGHT-TUESDAY NIGHT...LATEST MODELS INDICATING INCREASING NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA AS ANOTHER SHORT WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES MONDAY NIGHT AND INTO THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS THROUGH THE DAY TUESDAY. MODELS INDICATING SOME INCREASE IN AVAILABLE MOISTURE AND WITH THE INCREASING OROGRAPHICS...HAVE INCREASED POPS OVER THE EASTERN SAWATCH RANGE THROUGH THIS PERIOD. PASSING WAVE SENDS A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE EASTERN PLAINS LATE TUESDAY MORNING/AFTERNOON WITH MODELS EVEN PRINTING OUT SOME QPF ACROSS THE PLAINS. HOWEVER...SOUNDINGS INDICATING ONLY A VERY SHALLOW LAYER OF MOISTURE TO WORK WITH AND HAVE KEPT THE FORECAST DRY AT THIS TIME. WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY...WARMER AND WEAKER WESTERLY FLOW PROGGED ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK AS JET STREAM PROGGED TO LIFT OUT ACROSS THE NORTHERN TIER OF STATE. LATEST MODELS ARE INDICATING INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW DEVELOPING ACROSS THE AREA ON SATURDAY AS AN EASTERN PACIFIC SYSTEM DIGS INTO THE GREAT BASIN. SHOULD SEE DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH FRIDAY WITH SLIGHT CHANCES OF SNOWFALL RETURNING TO THE CONTDVD ON SATURDAY. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO REMAIN AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES THROUGH THIS PERIOD. -MW && .AVIATION... STRONG MTN WAVE INDUCED WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST MTS/ADJACENT PLAINS THROUGH TONIGHT WITH POCKETS OF WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 60 KTS AT TIMES. BOTH KCOS AND KPUB TAF SITES WILL SEE POTENTIAL FOR LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY AT KCOS LATER THIS EVENING AS SFC WINDS DECOUPLE THEN SHIFT OUT OF THE EAST BENEATH STRONG WEST WINDS 40-50 KTS AROUND 8000 FT MSL. KALS WILL SEE SOME GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS GUST TO AROUND 30 KTS THROUGH THE LATE AFTERNOON...BEFORE WINDS STAY OUT OF THE WEST AND GUST TO AROUND 25 KTS THROUGH THE NIGHT. CIGS AND VIS WILL STAY IN THE VFR CATEGORY FOR ALL 3 TAF SITES TONIGHT AND SUNDAY WITH LESS WIND EXPECTED FOR THE KCOS AND KPUB TAF SITES. MEANWHILE...WIDESPREAD MTN OBSCURATIONS WILL SPREAD INTO THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH IFR TO LIFR CIGS/VIS IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CONTINUING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND THROUGH THE DAY SUNDAY. -KT && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM MST SUNDAY FOR COZ059-066-068. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 11 AM MST SUNDAY FOR COZ072>075-078>088. BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 6 PM MST SUNDAY FOR COZ058-060-061. && 31/23
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 350 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011 COZ058>089-093>099-132300- 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- 350 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT VERY STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS THE REGION. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND THE EASTERN PLAINS ADJACENT TO THE MOUNTAINS. IN THE MOUNTAINS...WIND GUSTS TO 80 MPH ARE LIKELY...WHILE ALONG THE INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. THE STRONGEST WINDS...GUSTING TO 70 MPH...WILL OCCUR TONIGHT. INTENSE SNOWFALL COMBINED WITH THE WINDS WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW IS LIKELY THROUGH TONIGHT. SNOWFALL WILL ALSO OCCUR OVER THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS. WHILE ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH TONIGHT ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY...THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND STRONG WINDS COULD RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS AT TIMES THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HEAVY WIND-DRIVEN SNOWS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE ON SUNDAY. NORTH OF MONARCH PASS...A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT AS WINDS GUST IN THE 55-75 MPH RANGE...RESULTING IN WHITE OUT CONDITIONS. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL ALSO RESULT IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OVER THE LA GARITAS AND SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS. AN ADDITIONAL 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY EVENING. OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS...ONLY SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED ON SUNDAY...BUT STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE FOR MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR THROUGH THE MORNING. GUSTS OVER THE RIDGES AND EXPOSED AREAS COULD EXCEED 75 MPH AT TIMES. A FEW GUSTS IN THE 50 TO 60 MPH RANGE MAY ALSO OCCUR ALONG THE SOUTHERN INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR BEFORE WINDS SUBSIDE SOME THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SNOW AND WIND SHOULD DIMINISH SUNDAY EVENING. LIGHT SNOW MAY CONTINUE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF LAKE AND CHAFFEE COUNTIES THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BUT ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE SPOTTY AND LIGHT...GENERALLY LESS THAN TWO INCHES. THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM IS NOT EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS UNTIL FRIDAY AT THE EARLIEST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY TONIGHT ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND INTERSTATE 25 CORRIDOR. 31/23
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
232 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1116 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.94N 104.88W
11/12/2011 M86 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CW5171
&&
KTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
312 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 NNW WALSENBURG 37.75N 104.84W
11/12/2011 M58 MPH HUERFANO CO MESONET
0125 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 S COLORADO CITY 37.86N 104.83W
11/12/2011 M68 MPH HUERFANO CO MESONET
0158 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ESE WETMORE 38.21N 105.00W
11/12/2011 M69 MPH PUEBLO CO MESONET
0212 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNW COLORADO CITY 37.98N 104.87W
11/12/2011 M71 MPH PUEBLO CO MESONET
&&
JKHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
313 PM MST SAT NOV 12 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 11 W COLORADO SPRINGS 38.83N 105.03W
11/12/2011 M81.00 MPH EL PASO CO AWOS
WIND SENSOR ON TOP OF PIKES PEAK
0614 AM NON-TSTM WND GST PIKES PEAK 38.84N 105.04W
11/12/2011 M85.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
0647 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.96N 104.89W
11/12/2011 M60.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
WIND SENSOR AT US AIR FORCE COMMUNITY CENTER
0659 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 39.00N 104.89W
11/12/2011 M63.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
WIND MEASURED IN CADET AREA AT US AIR FORCE ACADEMY
0704 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 E FALCON 38.93N 104.51W
11/12/2011 M61.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MEASURED AT STATION D5050
0843 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 E AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.98N 104.82W
11/12/2011 M58.00 MPH EL PASO CO AWOS
AFF SENSOR
0854 AM NON-TSTM WND GST AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.98N 104.86W
11/12/2011 M68.00 MPH EL PASO CO ASOS
SUSTAINED WIND 50 MPH GUSTING TO 68 MPH
0856 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 39.01N 104.90W
11/12/2011 M70.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
0924 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.94N 104.88W
11/12/2011 M73.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CW5171
0940 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 S AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.94N 104.86W
11/12/2011 M60.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION D3529
1102 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 W AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.98N 104.93W
11/12/2011 M78.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
RAMPART SENSOR.
1116 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 SSW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.94N 104.88W
11/12/2011 M86.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
MESONET STATION CW5171
1254 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW AIR FORCE ACADEMY 38.96N 104.89W
11/12/2011 M77.00 MPH EL PASO CO MESONET
WIND SENSOR AT THE US AIR FORCE COMMUNITY CENTER.
1256 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 9 NNW WALSENBURG 37.75N 104.84W
11/12/2011 M58.00 MPH HUERFANO CO MESONET
0125 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 S COLORADO CITY 37.86N 104.83W
11/12/2011 M68.00 MPH HUERFANO CO MESONET
0158 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 5 ESE WETMORE 38.21N 105.00W
11/12/2011 M69.00 MPH PUEBLO CO MESONET
0212 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNW COLORADO CITY 37.98N 104.87W
11/12/2011 M71.00 MPH PUEBLO CO MESONET
&&
JKHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, November 2011
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: 353372, 353374, 353375.