An upper level trough over the western states was reinforced by a moist Pacific weather system which produced significant to heavy snow across eastern Utah.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 GJT wrote it up.
An upper level trough over the western states was reinforced by a moist Pacific weather system which produced significant to heavy snow across eastern Utah.
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 Grand Junction, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 24, 3:52 AM MST, 5 hours 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
352 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 352 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
ANOTHER PACIFIC SHORTWAVE WILL DROP INTO THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN
TODAY AND WILL CARVE OUT A LONG WAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WESTERN
CONUS. MOISTURE AND ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TROUGH WILL BRING
AN ACTIVE CHRISTMAS PERIOD TO THE AREA AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE
GREAT BASIN CHRISTMAS EVE AND THEN BEGINS TO SPLIT AS IT STRETCHES
SOUTHWARD ON CHRISTMAS DAY. AS THIS STRETCHING OCCURS...MODELS
INDICATE THAT THE TROUGH AXIS WILL GENERALLY BE POSITIONED ALONG
OUR WESTERN BORDER. THE UPPER JET WILL WRAP AROUND THE BASE OF THE
TROUGH AND ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN EDGE TODAY. THEN AS THE JET
STRENGTHENS IT WILL STRETCH FROM OUR SOUTHWEST CORNER TO AROUND
THE ELK OR WEST ELK MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. THE JET AND TIGHT GRADIENT
THEN SAG SOUTHWARD ON FRI AS THE TROUGH BEGINS TO SPLIT
SOUTHWARD...AND THE TROUGH AXIS LINES UP ALONG OUR WESTERN EDGE.
THE PREVIOUS FORECAST PACKAGE HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON THE DETAILS OF
THIS STORM...AND HAVE GENERALLY ONLY TWEAKED THE FORECAST. AFTER
A LULL IN THE ACTION EXTENDING FROM LATE LAST EVENING THROUGH
THIS MORNING...MOISTURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE SOUTH THROUGH
THE DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE A NOTCH COLDER THAN WE SAW WITH THE
PREVIOUS STORM SO...EXCEPT FOR THE LOWEST VALLEYS OF SOUTHEAST
UTAH...PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AS SNOW. SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL
INCREASE OVER THE SOUTH...SO OROGRAPHIC SHOWERS WILL BEGIN OVER
THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS IN THE AFTERNOON AND INTENSIFY IN THE
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. ELSEWHERE...THE NAM SHOWED A BROAD BAND OF
SNOW SETTING UP FROM ROUGHLY THE MOAB AREA EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS
EAGLE COUNTY. THIS AREA CONTINUES TO BE UNDER THE GUN THROUGH
CHRISTMAS DAY AS CONVERGENCE UNDER THE TROUGH SHIFTS EAST OVER
THIS AREA. THE ZONES ALREADY COVERED BY WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES
HAVE SLOPES THAT ARE FAVORED IN SOUTHWEST FLOW. HOWEVER...WILL
KEEP THE WATCHES FOR THE CENTRAL VALLEYS AND NORTH-NORTHWEST
FAVORED MOUNTAIN ZONES FOR NOW. MODELS OFTEN HIGHLIGHT THESE
VALLEYS WITHOUT VERIFYING BUT IF THE CONVERGENCE ZONE SETS UP
DIFFERENTLY THAN ADVERTISED...OR IF THE LOW SPLITS OFF SOONER OR
FARTHER WEST...THESE DIFFERENCES COULD HAVE BIG RAMIFICATIONS ON
OUR WEATHER.
.LONG TERM...(FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 352 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
AS IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS...SNOW WILL DECREASE BENEATH A COL
FORMING BETWEEN AN INCIPIENT CLOSED LOW OVER ARIZONA AND THE
NORTHERN STREAM ON FRIDAY NIGHT. SNOW SHOULD DIMINISH ON SATURDAY
AS THE SOUTHERN LOW DRIFTS SOUTHEASTWARD TO THE ARIZONA/NEW/OLD
MEXICO TRIPLE POINT...THOUGH ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS MAY LINGER
OVER THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE SAN JUANS.
MODELS SHOW A REX BLOCK FORMING OVER THE REGION SUNDAY AS HIGH
PRESSURE BUILDS TO THE NORTH WHILE THE CLOSED LOW MAKES LITTLE
PROGRESS EASTWARD. QUIET CONDITIONS PERSIST SUNDAY AS A DRY...
COLD AIRMASS SETTLES OVER THE AREA. ANOTHER PACIFIC STORM MOVES
OVER THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN MONDAY CAUSING THE LOW TO THE SOUTH
TO EJECT OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. GFS INDICATED THE POTENTIAL
FOR SCATTERED LIGHT SHOWERS ALONG THE DIVIDE WHILE THE ECMWF
MAINTAINED DRY CONDITIONS. MODELS WERE SIMILAR IN SHIFTING THE
TROUGH EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY THAN OVER THE PLAINS
WEDNESDAY. MUCH OF THE ENERGY PASSES SOUTH OF THE AREA SO AT THIS
POINT IT DOESN/T APPEAR THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON THE
AREA. IN FACT...THE ECMWF MAINTAINED DRY CONDITIONS AS THE TROUGH
AXIS PASSES OVER THE REGION WHILE THE GFS GENERATED SOME LIGHT
QPF OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS.
AS ALLUDED TO ABOVE...A COLDER AIR ARRIVES SATURDAY WITH 7H
READINGS OF -14 TO -16 DEG C INDICATED. CONSEQUENTLY...HIGHS WILL
BE MIRED IN THE 20S FOR THE VALLEYS WITH TEENS IN THE MOUNTAINS
SATURDAY. CLEARING SATURDAY NIGHT IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO LOWS WELL
BELOW ZERO ACROSS NORTHWEST COLORADO WITH SINGLE DIGIT HIGHS FOR
THIS AREA SUNDAY. IT WILL BE COLDER ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE REGION
SUNDAY BUT NOT AS MARKEDLY AS IN THE NORTH. THE LOW SUN ANGLE AND
AN EXTENSIVE BLANKET OF SNOW WILL SLOW WARMING EARLY NEXT WEEK
DESPITE RISING TEMPERATURES AT THE 7H LEVEL. VALLEY INVERSIONS
WILL BE PROMINENT ACROSS THE REGION WHILE THE SLOPES WILL SEE
SOME RELIEF FROM THE COLDER CONDITIONS.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY MORNING)
ISSUED AT 352 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015
AFTER A BREAK IN THE ACTION...EXPECT SNOWFALL TO REDEVELOP ACROSS
THE ABAJO AND LA SAL MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHEAST UTAH AND THE SAN JUAN
MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHWEST COLORADO AROUND MIDDAY. MODELS INDICATED
THAT SNOW WILL SPREAD PROGRESSIVELY NORTHWARD INTO THE CENTRAL
MOUNTAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON. SNOW BECOMES WIDESPREAD BY 00Z/FRI
WITH MOUNTAINS COMPLETELY OBSCURED DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE
NIGHT. STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL RESULT IN STRONG
TURBULENCE TO THE LEE OF MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND RIDGES.
THE CHANCES OF SNOW IMPACTING AIRPORT OPERATIONS IS LESS THAN 30
PERCENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND MAINLY SOUTH OF THE I-70 CORRIDOR.
THAT CHANGES AFTER SUNSET WHEN SNOW BECOMES NEARLY CERTAIN FOR THE
SOUTHERN AIRPORTS WITH A HIGH LIKELIHOOD FOR SNOWFALL IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEYS. THE NORTHERN AIRPORTS...KVEL...KCAG...KHDN AND
KSBS ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
&&
.GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CO...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM MST
SATURDAY FOR COZ003.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM MST
SATURDAY FOR COZ017>019.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING
FOR COZ004-006>008-010-023.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM MST SATURDAY
FOR COZ009-012-013.
UT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM MST
SATURDAY FOR UTZ025.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 AM MST
SATURDAY FOR UTZ028.
&&
SHORT TERM...EH
LONG TERM...NL
AVIATION...NLHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO 514 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 COZ001>014-017>023-UTZ022>025-027>029-251215- LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN- ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS- UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-GRAND VALLEY-DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR- CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS- GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS- CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN- WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-FLAT TOPS- UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY-UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE- NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- PARADOX VALLEY/LOWER DOLORES RIVER- FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN- SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-SOUTHEAST UTAH-EASTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS- EASTERN UINTA BASIN-TAVAPUTS PLATEAU-ARCHES/GRAND FLAT- LA SAL AND ABAJO MOUNTAINS-CANYONLANDS/NATURAL BRIDGES- 514 AM MST THU DEC 24 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT AREAS OF SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS AROUND MIDDAY...SPREADING NORTHWARD DURING THE AFTERNOON. SNOW BECOMES WIDESPREAD TONIGHT BRINGING SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW TO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS BY CHRISTMAS MORNING. LOWER ELEVATIONS ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-70 CORRIDOR FACE A GOOD CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY CHANCES FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS ARE GOOD ACROSS THE REGION AS SNOW WILL REMAIN WIDESPREAD CHRISTMAS DAY. SNOW BECOMES MORE SCATTERED IN COVERAGE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH DRY CONDITIONS RETURNING SUNDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE EARLY PART OF THE COMING WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter weather, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall amounts of 15 to 28 inches were measured across the area. Wind gust of 25 to 50 mph produced widespread blowing and drifting snow, with localized blizzard conditions.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall amounts of around 3 inches were measured across about half of the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 25 mph produced some areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches were measured across the area.
Snowfall amounts of 6 to 10 inches were measured across the area. Wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Utah in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Utah, 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: 613167, 613172, 613170, 613169, 613173.