An upper level storm system produced in excess of 8 inches of snow across the higher elevations of the eastern San Juan Mountains. At the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County), 18 inches of snow was recorded.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
An upper level storm system produced in excess of 8 inches of snow across the higher elevations of the eastern San Juan Mountains. At the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County), 18 inches of snow was recorded.
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 Dec 7, 2:53 PM MST, 7 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 253 PM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 251 PM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 UPPER TROUGH OVER THE GREAT BASIN THIS AFTERNOON WITH INCREASING SOUTHWEST FLOW PRODUCING SNOW ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. WEB CAMS SUGGEST MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW NEAR WOLF CREEK PASS...BUT ONLY LIGHT SNOW FARTHER NORTH ACROSS MONARCH AND INDEPENDENCE PASS AREAS. REMAINDER OF THE MOUNTAINS AND WESTERN VALLEYS HAVE YET TO SEE MUCH IF ANY SNOW...THOUGH CLOUDS AND WINDS WERE INCREASING MANY LOCATIONS BY MID-AFTERNOON. PERSISTENT AREA OF STRATUS AND LIGHT SNOW OVER THE EASTERN PLAINS HAS SHRUNK CONSIDERABLY THIS AFTERNOON...AND AREAS FROM TRINIDAD NORTHEAST TO LA JUNTA HAVE CLEARED OUT AND WARMED INTO THE 20S...WHILE AREAS AROUND PUEBLO AND COLORADO SPRINGS HAVE STAYED CLOUDY WITH TEMPS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS. TONIGHT...UPPER TROUGH MOVES EASTWARD INTO COLORADO BY LATE EVENING...REACHING THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. WINTER HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE LOOK ON TRACK...AS HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL OVER THE EASTERN SAN JUANS AROUND WOLF CREEK PASS THE FIRST HALF OF THE NIGHT...THEN SHIFT INTO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS BY SUNDAY MORNING AS MID LEVEL FLOW BECOMES MORE WESTERLY. REMAINING MOUNTAINS...ESPECIALLY THE SANGRES...WILL SEE A PERIOD OF SNOW OVERNIGHT AS TROUGH APPROACHES...THOUGH AMOUNTS WILL BE RELATIVELY LIGHT. WESTERN VALLEYS WILL SEE SOME SNOW SHOWERS...BUT ONLY SPOTTY AND LIGHT ACCUMS. EASTERN PLAINS/I-25 CORRIDOR MAY SEE SOME BRIEF LIGHT SNOW REDEVELOP THIS EVENING AS SHALLOW AREA OF MID LEVEL MOISTURE MOVES ACROSS...THOUGH ANY SNOW ACCUMS WILL BE VERY LIGHT. UNDER PATCHY CLOUDS AND WITH WINDS INCREASING...LOW TEMPS WILL BE ALL OVER THE MAP...AND MANY LOCATIONS MAY SEE STEADY OR SLOWLY RISING READINGS THROUGH THE NIGHT. ON SUNDAY...UPPER TROUGH MOVES QUICKLY INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...WHICH PUSHES A COLD FRONT SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA BY MID-AFTERNOON. SNOW SHOULD FADE AWAY OVER THE MOUNTAINS BY LATE MORNING...THOUGH A FEW SNOW SHOWERS/FLURRIES WILL LINGER OVER THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS NORTH OF MONARCH PASS. SWITCH TO NORTHERLY WINDS WILL LIKELY HELP SCOUR OUT STRATUS FROM THE EASTERN PLAIN...ESPECIALLY BY LATE AFTERNOON. EXPECT SLIGHTLY WARMER MAX TEMPS MANY AREAS SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH BETTER MIXING AND GRADUAL DISSIPATION OF LOWER CLOUD LAYERS. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 251 PM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 SUN NIGHT...WITH THE UPR TROF MOVING EAST OF THE AREA...PCPN CHANCES DECREASE OR END IN MOST AREAS...BUT SOME LINGERING LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAIN AREAS...ESPECIALLY THE CENTRAL MTS...WITH SOME FLURRIES PROBABLY CONTINUING IN LOCATIONS ADJACENT TO THE ERN MTS AS WELL. AT THIS TIME...WITH THE EXPECTED DECREASE IN PCPN...WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS MAY NOT BE NEEDED AS LONG AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT OVER THE SAWATCH AND MOSQUITO RANGES. HOWEVER WILL NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE HIGHLIGHT DURATION YET. MON A NEW UPR TROF WL MOVE SOUTHEASTWARD OVER THE STATE. FORECAST MODELS SHOW LITTLE IN THE WAY OF PCPN ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM...BUT THERE COULD BE SOME LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS...ESPECIALLY OVR THE MOUNTAINS. TEMPS WL STILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL ACRS THE FORECAST AREA...WITH HIGHS MOSTLY IN THE TEENS AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS AND SINGLE DIGITS AT THE HYR ELEVATIONS. DRY WEST TO NW FLOW ALOFT IS EXPECTED FOR TUE. TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO WARM THIS DAY...BUT WL STILL BE BELOW NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S OVER THE SERN PLAINS AND IN THE 20S OVER THE HIGH VALLEYS. TUE NIGHT A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROF MOVE THRU THE AREA AND A COLD FRONT MOVES INTO THE SERN PLAINS. THEN ANOTHER UPR DISTURBANCE MOVES OVR THE AREA DURING THE DAY WED. THE WEATHER STILL LOOKS DRY...BUT TEMPS ON WED WL REMAIN COOL AS A RESULT OF THESE PASSING SYSTEMS. HIGHS WED WL LIKELY BE AROUND FREEZING OVR THE SERN PLAINS AND MOSTLY IN THE 20S OVER THE HIGH VALLEYS. THU SOME WEAK UPR RIDGING OCCURS OVR THE AREA AND WARMER TEMPS MOVE OVR THE AREA. SO THE WEATHER SHOULD BE DRY AND TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO WARM INTO THE 40S OVR THE SERN PLAINS...WITH 20S AND 30S OVR THE HIGH VALLEYS. LATE FRI A NEW UPR TROF MOVES OVER THE STATE FROM THE NW AND COULD BRING SOME LIGHT PCPN TO THE MTS. SAT...DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AS AN UPR RIDGE BUILDS INTO THE AREA. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 251 PM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 FOR KALS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS 15-25 KTS UNTIL 02Z. SCATTERED -SHSN WILL SPREAD IN DURING THE EVENING WITH SOME BRIEF MVFR CIGS/VIS POSSIBLE. ON SUNDAY...VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS AGAIN GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. AT KCOS AND KPUB...PREVAILING MVFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT WITH PERIODS OF IFR CIGS/VIS 00Z-08Z DUE TO -SN. -SN THREAT LESSENS LATE TONIGHT ALTHOUGH MVFR CIGS WILL CONTINUE. ON SUNDAY...EXPECT MVFR CIGS TO GRADUALLY LIFT AND BECOME VFR BY 18Z AS WINDS BECOME NORTHWEST AND INCREASE. MTS ALONG THE CONTDVD WILL CONTINUE TO BE OBSCURED WITH IFR TO LIFR CIGS/VIS IN +SN BLSN OVERNIGHT...BEFORE SOME IMPROVEMENT SOUTHERN AREAS SUNDAY MORNING. EASTERN MTS WILL BECOME OBSCURED WITH LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY. ALL MOUNTAINS SHOULD SEE IMPROVING CIGS/VIS AFTER 18Z SUN. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY FOR COZ066-067. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 5 PM MST SUNDAY FOR COZ068. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM MST MONDAY FOR COZ058>061. && SHORT TERM...PETERSEN LONG TERM...28 AVIATION...PETERSEN
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 635 AM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 COZ058>089-093>099-081345- 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- 635 AM MST SAT DEC 7 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO COLORADO TONIGHT SPREADING ANOTHER ROUND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW INTO THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WILL FALL ACROSS THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES ACROSS THE EASTERN SAWATCH AND WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGES...CENTRAL LAKE COUNTY...THE LA GARITA MOUNTAINS AND THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. IN ADDITION...STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 50 MPH WILL CAUSE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND MOUNTAIN PASSES...ALONG WITH BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS FROM 20 TO 40 BELOW ZERO AT TIMES. SNOW WILL ALSO SPREAD ACROSS THE VALLEYS AND SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. LIGHTER ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 4 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED. ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS...SOME SPOTTY LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THIS MORNING...WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF LIGHT SNOW EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS WILL REMAIN LIGHT AND GENERALLY UNDER 1 INCH. IF YOU HAVE TRAVEL PLANS ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO BE PREPARED FOR BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES. COVER EXPOSED SKIN TO PREVENT FROST BITE. TRAVEL ACROSS THE HIGH COUNTRY TODAY...PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS DUE TO A COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL THROUGH THESE REGIONS...BE SURE TO TAKE ALONG A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY SNOW WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE SUNDAY MORNING AND WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SUNDAY MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS...WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 6 INCHES FOR THE SAN JUAN RANGE AND 2 TO 4 INCHES FOR THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. LIGHTER SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED OVER THE EASTERN MOUNTAINS AND PALMER DIVIDE ON SUNDAY WHERE AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE. EXPECT SNOW TO DECREASE IN COVERAGE BY SUNDAY EVENING AND DISSIPATE ALTOGETHER BY MONDAY MORNING EXCEPT FOR THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS WHERE SNOW MAY HANG ON UNTIL MONDAY AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN BITTERLY COLD SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH AFTERNOON HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE TEENS TO LOWER 20S AND OVERNIGHT LOWS BELOW ZERO. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW ZERO. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO TODAY AND TONIGHT. 31/88
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 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2013
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: 483008.