A Pacific trough and associated cold front dropped into the region from the Northern Rockies. This cold front brought a strong band of showers to areas north of I-70 with marginal instability fueling snow squalls which led to hazardous travel.
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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.
A Pacific trough and associated cold front dropped into the region from the Northern Rockies. This cold front brought a strong band of showers to areas north of I-70 with marginal instability fueling snow squalls which led to hazardous travel. By the time this system exited the area it had produced moderate snow over portions of the northwest and west-central Colorado mountains. Winds gusted from 60 to 75 mph across the higher peaks at times.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Generally 4 to 10 inches of snow fell across the area with up to 15 inches estimated at the Tower SNOTEL site. Winds gusted from 40 to 60 mph as robust snow squalls rolled through the area between 1700 and 1900 MST on the evening of the 22nd.
Generally 3 to 7 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted from 50 to 74 mph as robust snow squalls rolled through the area between 1800 and 2000 MST on the evening of the 22nd. A trained spotter recorded visibility of less than 1/4 mile for 30 minutes and a peak wind gust of 49 MPH with a squall northwest of Avon. These snow squalls led to white-out conditions and resulted in the closure of Interstate 70 for a short period. At least 10 to 20 wrecks and slide offs were reported along the I-70 corridor between Gypsum, Wolcott and Vail Pass.
A snow squall moved through the area with the automated sensor at the Meeker Coulter Field Airport recording visibility of less than 1/4 mile for 10 minutes and a peak wind gust of 51 MPH.
Generally 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across the area. Winds gusted from 40 to 75 mph as robust snow squalls rolled through the area between 1800 and 2000 MST on the evening of the 22nd.
A snow squall moved through the area and produced white-out conditions as visibility dropped to less than 1/4 mile for 15 minutes while winds gusted from 50 to 60 mph.
A snow squall moved through the area with the automated sensor at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport recording visibility of less than 1/4 mile for 10 minutes and a peak wind gust of 45 MPH.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2020
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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 925786, 925787, 925791, 925788, 925790, 925789.