A strong and cold Pacific storm system dropped down into the Great Basin and then tracked through the Rocky Mountain region, pushing a strong cold front that spread snowfall from northwest to southeast across the area. This was an early season storm, and was the first significant winter storm for many locations, including some of the lower valleys of western Colorado. Gusty winds also accompanied the cold front and generated areas of blowing and drifting snow which caused hazardous travel conditions, especially over the mountain passes.

Winter Storm in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 16:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 12 inches occurred across the area while wind gusts up to 30 mph caused areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 10:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals across the area ranged from 9 to 22 inches, with locally higher amounts of up to 26 inches measured at Schofield Pass. Wind gusts up to 30 mph caused areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 09:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: SNOTEL

Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches occurred across the area. Locally higher amounts included 16 inches at the Bison Lake SNOTEL site.

Winter Weather in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 12:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 2 to 6 inches occurred over the area while wind gusts up to 30 mph produced localized blowing an drifting snow.

Winter Storm in UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 21:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 15 inches occurred across the area.

Winter Storm in DEBEQUE TO SILT CORRIDOR, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 17:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals across the area ranged from 5 to 11 inches.

Blizzard in LOWER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 28-OCT-09 02:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 2 to 6 inches occurred across the area with wind gusts up to 55 mph producing widespread blizzard conditions. Snow drifts in some areas were up to 2 feet deep.

Winter Weather in FOUR CORNERS / UPPER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 20:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches occurred. Wind gusts up to 35 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 28-OCT-09 03:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall amounts across the area ranged from 2 to 3 inches.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 13:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 3 to 6 inches occurred across the area, with locally higher amounts of up to 8 inches reported in Meeker. Winds gusted up to 50 mph causing localized blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 10:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 12 to 20 inches occurred over the area.

Winter Storm in ANIMAS RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 22:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 03:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 3 to 9 inches occurred over the area while wind gusts of up to 40 mph causing areas of blowing and drifting snow. Being the first winter storm of the season, hazardous travel conditions resulted in numerous vehicle accidents.

Winter Weather in GRAND VALLEY, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 21:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 08:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This was the first winter storm of the season to affect the Grand Valley. Snowfall amounts across the area ranged from 1 to 3 inches. With this being an early season storm, it caused hazardous travel conditions with a number of vehicle accidents reported. Approximately 1500 customers in the Grand Valley experienced power outages due to heavy snow laden tree branches dropping down onto power lines. The cold temperatures also caused a main waterline break in one section of the city.

Winter Storm in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 14:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 22:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 6 to 13 inches occurred across the area with locally higher amounts of up to 16 inches reported at the Lone Cone SNOTEL site. Winds gusted up to 35 mph producing blowing and drifting snow.  Hazardous travel conditions occurred especially over the major mountain passes.

Winter Storm in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 14:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 23:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 13 inches occurred across the area while wind gusts up to 50 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. This made travel conditions very hazardous, especially over the major mountain passes.

Winter Storm in PARADOX VALLEY / LOWER DOLORES RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 19:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall totals ranged from 6 to 11 inches across the area with locally higher amounts reported, including 13 inches at an official cooperative observers climate site two miles north of the town of Paradox. Wind gusts up to 30 mph caused localized blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 17:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 20:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The western portion of the area received 5 to 9 inches of snow with locally higher amounts of up to 14 inches reported just east of the town of New Castle. Eastern portions of the area received generally 3 inches of snow or less.  Some areas experienced power outages due to heavy snow laden tree branches weighing down on power lines.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL GUNNISON AND UNCOMPAHGRE RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 19:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This was the first winter storm of the season to affect the Central Gunnison and Uncompahgre River basins. Snowfall of 3 to 8 inches occurred across the area, with wind gusts up to 30 mph causing blowing and drifting snow. Several power outages were caused by heavy snow laden tree branches falling on top of power lines, forcing them all the way to the ground in some areas. A few hundred customers experienced power outages in the towns of Montrose and Paonia, with some of the outages lasting up to 4 and a half hours.

Winter Storm in ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 17:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 10 inches occurred above the 7,000 foot level, with 2 to 5 inches below. Winds gusted up to 40 mph causing blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 30-OCT-09 00:00:00 to 30-OCT-09 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 4 to 9 inches occurred over the area while wind gusts up to 30 mph produced areas if blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 12:00:00 to 29-OCT-09 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 6 to 12 inches occurred across the area. Winds gusted up to 60 mph, with locally stronger gusts of up to 70 mph reported at Steamboat Springs Ski Area. This caused significant blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 27-OCT-09 17:00:00 to 28-OCT-09 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 2 to 3 inches occurred across the area while wind gusts up to 45 mph produced blowing and drifting snow.