Colorado, 2013

Winter Weather in Colorado, December 31, 2013

December 31, 2013 · NWS GJT · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Embedded disturbances in a northwest flow aloft produced significant snowfall in the mountains of northwest Colorado.

Where it happened

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.

  • 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
3

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.

Embedded disturbances in a northwest flow aloft produced significant snowfall in the mountains of northwest Colorado.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
December 31, 4:00 AM MST to 11:59 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 amounts of 8 to 12 inches were measured across the area. Locally higher amounts included 13 inches at the Steamboat Springs Ski Area and 20 inches at the Tower SNOTEL site. Wind gusts of 25 to 50 mph produced extensive blowing and drifting snow with localized blizzard conditions. The storm continued into January 1, 2014.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
December 31, 5:00 AM MST to 11:59 PM MST
Where
Flattop Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
SNOTEL
Coordinates
40.062, -107.603 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow. The storm continued into January 1, 2014.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
December 31, 10:00 AM MST to 11:59 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 amounts of 4 to 8 inches were measured across the area. The storm continued into January 1, 2014.

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 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2013

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: 517414, 517415, 517416.