Colorado, 2018

Winter Weather in Colorado, December 21 to 22, 2018

December 21 to 22, 2018 · NWS GJT · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A shortwave Pacific trough and associated cold front pushed across northwest and west-central Colorado and produced light to moderate snowfall over the higher terrain.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
4

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.

A shortwave Pacific trough and associated cold front pushed across northwest and west-central Colorado and produced light to moderate snowfall over the higher terrain.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Elkhead and Park Mountains

When
December 21, 6:00 AM MST to December 22, 12:00 PM MST
Where
Elkhead and Park Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
40.552, -107.599 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall totals ranged from 5 to 10 inches across the area. Locally high amounts included 14 inches at a location 4 miles east-southeast of Steamboat Springs. Wind gusts of 20 to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather, Upper Yampa River Basin

When
December 21, 7:00 PM MST to December 22, 7:00 AM MST
Where
Upper Yampa River Basin forecast zone
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
40.485, -106.991 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches across the area.

Winter Weather, Flattop Mountains

When
December 21, 7:00 PM MST to December 22, 2:00 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 totals generally ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the area.

Winter Weather, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys

When
December 21, 10:00 PM MST to December 22, 3:00 PM MST
Where
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
39.481, -107.172 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snowfall totals generally ranged from 4 to 8 inches across the area. Holiday travel was impacted along Interstate 70 including Vail Pass which was closed for a period of time due to slippery roads and related vehicle accidents.

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 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2018

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: 790703, 790704, 790707, 790706.