A very strong, moist, and unseasonably cold winter storm struck the central intermountain region.  Heavy snowfall occurred in most areas across eastern Utah and western Colorado.  Additionally, strong winds in the southern portions of eastern Utah and western Colorado produced blizzard conditions. Some of the coldest temperatures so far this season followed closely behind this storm system. A few days later, several problems with freezing water pipelines resulted region-wide.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 8 inches occurred across most of the area. Wind gusts up to 40 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in PARADOX VALLEY / LOWER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 07:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 inches across western portions of the area to around 3 to 4 inches in eastern areas. Wind gusts up to 30 mph caused blowing and drifting snow. The heavy snow caused an extensive power outage in the Bedrock area.

Winter Storm in LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches occurred across the area.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches occurred across the area.

Winter Weather in UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 6 inches occurred across the area with locally higher amounts, including 14 inches near Clark.

Winter Storm in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts of 12 to 14 inches were reported across northern portion of the area, while the southern portion received amounts ranging from 5 to 10 inches. In addition, win gusts up to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall of around 12 inches occurred across northern portions of the area, and southern portions of the area received amounts ranging from 14 to 23 inches. Wind gusts up to 35 mph caused blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in FOUR CORNERS / UPPER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snowfall occurred across the area with total snowfall amounts ranging from 6 to 20 inches, except for southwestern portions of Montezuma county which received lesser amounts. Strong winds with gusts up to 55 mph produced localized blizzard conditions with snow drifts of up to 4 feet deep in some areas. The heavy snow prompted school closures in the towns of Dolores, Cortez, and Dove Creek.

Winter Storm in ANIMAS RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow and strong winds brought localized blizzard conditions to the area. Total snowfall amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches with locally higher amounts, including 25 inches 7 miles north of the town of Bayfield. Winds gusted up to 55 mph producing snow drifts up to 4 feet deep in some areas. The heavy snow caused several power outages resulting in 1400 customers without power. The storm also caused local business and school closures throughout La Plata County.

Winter Storm in GRAND VALLEY, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts across the area ranged from 6 to 10 inches, including locally higher amounts up to 10 to 14 inches near the Whitewater area. Wind gusts up to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 9 to 15 inches occurred across the area. Wind gusts up to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow and localized blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 6 to 18 inches occurred across the area with the heaviest amounts reported in the Glenwood Springs area.

Winter Storm in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 09:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow occurred across the area. Snowfall amounts ranged from 12 to 19 inches in western portions of the area to 1 to 4 inches in eastern portions. Strong winds gusted up to 40 mph producing blowing and drifting snow and causing localized blizzard conditions.

Blizzard in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Strong winds and heavy snowfall combined to produce widespread blizzard conditions.  Measured snowfall accumulations in wind protected areas ranged from 12 to 25 inches.  Snow drifts up to 8 feet deep were reported.  US Highway 550 was closed from late on December 7th, with sections of the highway remaining closed through 9:30 AM MST on December 9th.  Chain laws and other travel restrictions were imposed on other roads in the northwest San Juan Mountains.

Winter Storm in ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 06:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts across the area ranged from 17 to 22 inches with wind gusts up to 35 mph producing blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 07:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts of 12 to 22 inches were reported across the western portion of the area, while the eastern portion received amounts ranging from 6 to 10 inches. In addition, wind gusts up to 30 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.

Blizzard in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 00:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow and very strong winds caused widespread blizzard conditions across the area. Total snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 4 feet with snow drifts up to 10 feet deep in some locations. Winds gusted up to 75 mph with locally higher gusts up to 91 mph reported on Eagle Mountain. Dangerous travel conditions resulted in the closure of Highway 550 over Molas and Coal Bank passes, as well as road closures in other areas.

Blizzard in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 06-DEC-09 22:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow and strong winds produced widespread blizzard conditions across the area. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 4 feet. Winds gusted up to 50 mph causing extreme blowing and drifting snow with snow drifts of up to 8 feet deep in some areas. Adverse travel conditions resulted in periodic closures of Highway 65 on the Grand Mesa.

Blizzard in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 02:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow and strong winds produced widespread blizzard conditions with total snowfall amounts ranging from 2 to 4 feet. Strong wind gusts up to 60 mph produced extreme blowing and drifting snow with snow drifts up to 8 feet deep in some places. Very hazardous travel conditions resulted in road closures at times.

Blizzard in UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 04:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snow and strong winds produced widespread blizzard conditions with total snowfall amounts ranging from 10 to 25 inches. Wind gusts up to 50 mph produced extreme blowing and drifting snow with drifts ranging from 4 to 6 feet in some areas. Dangerous travel conditions caused periods of road closures.

Winter Storm in SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 07-DEC-09 03:00:00 to 08-DEC-09 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy snowfall occurred across the area with amounts ranging from 1 to 2 feet. Wind gusts up to 35 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. The heavy snow caused isolated power outages in the Pagosa Springs area as well as many office and school closures across Archuleta County.