Colorado, 2025

Heavy Snow and High Wind in Colorado, December 5 to 6, 2025

December 5 to 6, 2025 · NWS PUB · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Behind the previous system, a fast-moving shortwave moved over the region. This allowed for another brief period of snow over the higher terrain, with widespread gusty winds, particularly over and near gap flow areas.

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 PUB wrote it up.

Behind the previous system, a fast-moving shortwave moved over the region. This allowed for another brief period of snow over the higher terrain, with widespread gusty winds, particularly over and near gap flow areas.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Leadville Vicinity / Lake County Below 11000 Ft

When
December 5, 11:00 PM MST to December 6, 11:00 PM MST
Where
Leadville Vicinity / Lake County Below 11000 Ft forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
39.202, -106.345 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There was 7.9 inches of snow measured.

High Wind, Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft

When
December 6, 7:23 AM MST
Where
Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Measured
66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
37.992, -105.637 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There was a measured 76 mph gust near Westcliffe.

High Wind, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft

When
December 6, 7:55 AM MST
Where
Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 7500 & 11000 Ft forecast zone
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
37.426, -104.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There was a measured 75 mph gust near Weston.

High Wind, Walsenburg Vicinity / Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Ft

When
December 6, 8:55 AM MST
Where
Walsenburg Vicinity / Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500 Ft forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
37.685, -104.961 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A measured gust of 61 mph was reported near Walsenburg.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Colorado in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, December 2025

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: 1307530, 1307525, 1307522, 1307512.