A weather system produced heavy snow and gusty winds near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County), where 19 inches of snow was recorded.
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The episode as NWS PUB wrote it up.
A weather system produced heavy snow and gusty winds near the summit of Wolf Creek Pass (Mineral County), where 19 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 24, 10:30 AM MST, 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 1030 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 343 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 CURRENTLY...BRISK WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WAS IN PLACE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING...AS AN UPPER SHORTWAVE WAS EXITING THE REGION TO THE EAST. SNOW HAS PRETTY MUCH ENDED ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN FOR THE TIME BEING...BUT BRISK W-NW SFC WINDS WERE BEING REPORTED IN SOME OF THE WIND-PRONE AREAS LEE OF THE EASTERN MTS. TEMPS HAVE COOLED INTO THE TEENS AND 20S FOR MUCH OF THE AREA THIS MORN AS OF 4 AM...AND INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS FOR THE SLV. TODAY AND TONIGHT...THINGS REMAIN FAIRLY CALM SAVE FOR OCNL GUSTY WEST WINDS THROUGH THE MORNING FOR THE FORECAST AREA. MEANWHILE...THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE AREA WILL DROP OUT OF THE PAC NW THIS MORNING...AND PUSH INTO THE GREAT BASIN THROUGH THE DAY. AS THE SYSTEM APPROACHES...THE FLOW ALOFT WILL SHIFT TO A SW DIRECTION DRAWING MOISTURE UP INTO WESTERN CO. MODELS AGREE ON STARTING SNOW ACROSS THE SW MTS AROUND 18Z TODAY...THEN SPREAD ALONG THE CONTDVD THROUGH THE AFTN. BY MID-AFTN SNOW SPREADS ACROSS THE SLV AND TO ALL OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN...THOUGH THE I25 CORRIDOR AND E PLAINS SHOULD REMAIN PCPN-FREE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM. SIGNIFICANT NEW SNOWFALL IS FORECAST FOR THE MTS TODAY THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT...AND A NUMBER OF HIGHLIGHTS HAVE BEEN HOISTED FOR THE MUCH OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN. OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS...THE FOCUS AREA FOR SNOW WILL BE THE SW MTS WHERE NEW SNOW AMOUNTS OF 7 TO 10 INCHES ARE EXPECTED. THE REMAINDER OF THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS MAY SEE ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 6 INCHES OF NEW SNOW. AS FOR TEMPS...COOLER TEMPS FOR THE MTS AND HIGH VALLEYS AS READINGS WILL STRUGGLE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE 20S. FOR THE PLAINS...EXPECT PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES...OCCASIONALLY BRISK W-SW WINDS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I25 CORRIDOR...AND TEMPS WARMING INTO THE 40S THIS AFTN. MOORE .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 343 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 ...SNOW ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING... ...SOUTHERN STORM TRACK STILL HOLDING FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND STORM... STILL LOOKS LIKE GREATEST IMPACT FROM OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM WILL BE ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM TAKES SHAPE ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN. STRONG SOUTHWEST FLOW AND AN EJECTING SHORTWAVE OUT OF THE BASE OF THE DEVELOPING CLOSED LOW WILL BRING ANOTHER UPSWING IN SNOW FOR THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS FRIDAY MORNING. SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL PROVIDE THE BEST OROGRAPHICS FOR THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS...AND CURRENT WINTER STORM WARNING HIGHLIGHT STILL LOOKS ON TARGET FOR THIS REGION. REMAINDER OF THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE CONTDVD WILL SEE A LESS FAVORABLE OROGRAPHICS...AND ADVISORIES LOOK GOOD FOR THOSE AREAS. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL CAUSE EXTENSIVE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...PARTICULARLY ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN PASSES. SNOW SHOULD SPILL OVER INTO THE SANGRES...AND EVENTUALLY THE PALMER DIVIDE REGION THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY. PEAKS OF THE NORTHERN SANGRES SHOULD SEE ADVISORY AMOUNTS WHILE LIGHTER AMOUNTS EXPECTED ELSEWHERE. MEANWHILE...MODELS IN BETTER AGREEMENT KEEPING THE COLD FRONT TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA THROUGH FRI AFTERNOON WITH STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS SPREADING ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS. H7 TEMPS WILL START FALLING LATE IN THE DAY AS UPPER TROF EDGES IN FROM THE WEST...BUT DEEP MIXING WILL OFFSET THIS SOME...ALLOWING TEMPS TO WARM INTO THE 50S ACROSS THE LOWER ARKANSAS RIVER. UPPER TROF CLOSES OFF AND DROPS SOUTHWARD INTO AZ FRIDAY NIGHT AS JET ENERGY DIGS DOWN ITS WESTERN SIDE. FRONT DROPS THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH SNOW SPREADING INTO THE PIKES PEAK REGION/PALMER DIVIDE AND STRATUS DEVELOPING ALONG THE NORTHERN SLOPES OF THE RATON REGION AS NORTHERLY UPSLOPE FLOW STARTS OUT RATHER SHALLOW. NORTHERLY FLOW DEEPENS SATURDAY MORNING AND MID LEVEL FLOW SHIFTS MORE NORTHEASTERLY BRINGING UPSLOPE TO THE SOUTHERN SANGRES/WETS AND I-25 CORRIDOR. THIS SHOULD BRING SNOW TO THE SOUTHEAST MTS...AND EASTERN SLOPES OF THE EASTERN SAN JUAN RANGE BY AFTERNOON AS H7 WINDS SHIFT AROUND FROM THE EAST TO NORTHEAST PROVIDING SOME UPSLOPE TO THESE REGIONS. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE UPPER LOW ON A SOUTHEAST TRAJECTORY TOWARDS NRN OLD MEXICO BY SAT AFTERNOON. BEST FORCING IS SOUTH OF THE AREA...AND SNOWFALL DOES NOT LOOK PARTICULARLY HEAVY FOR SOUTHERN CO DURING THIS PERIOD. HOWEVER DROPPING TEMPERATURES AND BLUSTERY NORTH WINDS WILL CERTAINLY MAKE FOR A RAW WINTER DAY ACROSS THE REGION. WITH A GOOD PORTION OF THE SOUNDINGS WITHIN THE FAVORABLE DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE WON'T BE TOO DIFFICULT TO ACCUMULATION A COUPLE INCHES OF FLUFFY DRY SNOW FOR THE SOUTHEAST MTS/PALMER DIVIDE REGION THROUGH THE DAY. THIS WILL CARRY ON INTO SUNDAY AS THE UPPER LOW TREKS ACROSS NORTHERN OLD MEXICO. NAM12 IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE WITH THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF OF THE DEFORMATION BAND SNOWFALL...AND LOOKS A BIT OVERDONE. GFS AND ECMWF LOOK MORE REASONABLE THROUGH SUNDAY WITH THE SOUTHERN TIER COUNTIES SEEING THE BEST CHANCE FOR A COUPLE INCHES OF SNOW. WINDS WILL REMAIN QUITE STRONG SAT NIGHT INTO SUNDAY AS UPPER LOW DEEPENS TO THE SOUTH...AND BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL BE A CONCERN...THOUGH SNOWFALL AMOUNTS DON'T LOOK PARTICULARLY HEAVY AT THIS POINT GIVEN HOW FAR SOUTH THE UPPER LOW TRACK IS. HAVE PARED BACK BLOWING SNOW IN GRIDS TO LAS ANIMAS AND BACA COUNTIES...AND IF GFS IS CORRECT...THEN BACA COUNTY MAY NOT EVEN SEE MUCH SNOW. WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THIS SHAPES UP...BUT FOR NOW LOOKS LIKE HIGHEST IMPACT WILL BE JUST SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERN CWA BORDER. LONG RANGE MODELS IN BETTER AGREEMENT TONIGHT IN EJECTING THE UPPER LOW NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS...ON A MORE SOUTHERN TRACK. THERE ARE STILL SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES WITH ECMWF TRACK SLIGHTLY WEST AND FASTER THAN THE GFS AND CANADIAN. ECMWF HAS THE UPPER LOW TRACK PASSING JUST EAST OF OKC BY MID DAY MON...AS OPPOSED TO GFS AND CANADIAN WHICH KEEP TRACK ACROSS NORTHEAST TX/EXTREME SE OK. THE MORE WESTWARD TRACK OF ECMWF SUGGESTS SOME WRAP AROUND SNOW MAY STILL OCCUR ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...THOUGH SO FAR ON THE WESTERN FRINGES OF THE STORM...SNOW AMOUNTS LOOK LIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN COLD. NEXT TROF/UPPER LOW DROPS IN BEHIND THE DEPARTING SYSTEM ON TUESDAY. LATTER ONE IS NOT AS INTENSE AS THE PREVIOUS ONE...AND SEEMS TO LACK MOISTURE. HOWEVER BOTH GFS AND ECMWF HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF LIGHT SNOW FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS THE SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS...WHICH SEEMS PLAUSIBLE AT THIS POINT. DRIER WEATHER RETURNS FOR WEDNESDAY...THEN ANOTHER SYSTEM DROPS DOWN IN NW FOR FOR THURSDAY WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF LIGHT SNOW MAINLY FOR THE MOUNTAINS. -KT && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1027 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT ALL TAF SITES AND ACROSS MOST LOWER ELEVATIONS THE NEXT 24 HRS. AN APPROACHING WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW TO THE SW MTS THIS AFTERNOON...THEN TO ALL OF THE MTS BY EARLY THE EVENING. IFR TO LIFR CONDITIONS DUE TO FOG/SNOW/BLOWING SNOW SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS STARTING AT 21Z TODAY...AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 18Z FRI AND BEYOND. && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM MST FRIDAY FOR COZ058-060-061-063-066-067-073. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 11 PM MST FRIDAY FOR COZ068. && SHORT TERM...MOORE LONG TERM...KT AVIATION...PETERSEN
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO 633 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 COZ058>089-093>099-251345- 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- 633 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL...SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AN APPROACHING WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF MOUNTAIN SNOW BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON...AND LASTING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING. THE FOCUS FOR SNOWFALL WILL INITIALLY BE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS...THEN SPREAD TO ALL OF THE MOUNTAINS INTO THE EVENING. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS CAN BE EXPECTED FOR LOCATIONS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. IN ADDITION...STRONG WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST TO AROUND 50 MPH AT TIMES TODAY ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS...AND IN WIND PRONE AREAS NEAR THE WET MOUNTAINS AND SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...AND GREATLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MODERATE TO HEAVY WIND DRIVEN SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED FOR THE EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS WHERE 10 TO 15 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. THEN REMAINDER OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND CREST OF THE NORTHERN SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS WILL SEE AROUND 4 TO 8 INCHES WITH LOCALLY UP TO A FOOT OF SNOW POSSIBLE. COMPUTER MODEL SIMULATIONS SUGGEST THE STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN OLD MEXICO OVER THE WEEKEND BEFORE LIFTING NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. THIS WOULD KEEP THE FOCUS FOR HEAVY SNOW JUST SOUTH OF COLORADO THROUGH THE PERIOD. HOWEVER SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST MOUNTAINS...PALMER DIVIDE...RATON RIDGE AND EXTREME SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS. STRONG NORTH WINDS AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED WITH A BLUSTERY COLD PERIOD IN STORE FOR MOST AREAS OVER THE WEEKEND. FURTHER CHANGES IN THE STORM TRACK WILL STILL BE POSSIBLE WHICH COULD MEAN MORE OR LESS SNOW FOR SOUTHERN COLORADO...SO KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST FORECASTS OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND...ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TRAVEL PLANS. ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM MAY BRING SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT SNOW TO THE REGION ON TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MEET REPORTING CRITERIA FOR SPOTTERS WILL BE LIKELY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS THROUGH TONIGHT. 27/31
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
736 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1200 AM SNOW 2 NE LEADVILLE 39.27N 106.27W
12/24/2015 M8.1 INCH LAKE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
TOTAL OVER THE PAST 48 HOURS. 3.7 INCHES FELL IN THE
PAST 24 HOURS.
&&
MNPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
841 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW MAYSVILLE 38.54N 106.22W
12/24/2015 M2.0 INCH CHAFFEE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
0758 AM SNOW 1 NNW MONARCH PASS 38.51N 106.33W
12/24/2015 M8.0 INCH CHAFFEE CO TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED BY MONARCH SKI PATROL IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
0823 AM SNOW 1 SSE WOLF CREEK PASS 37.47N 106.79W
12/24/2015 M8.0 INCH MINERAL CO TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED BY WOLF CREEK SKI PATROL IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
&&
MNThe 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 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2015
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: 606992.