A Pacific trough extending from an upper low in southern Canada brushed the region with significant snowfall.

Winter Storm in ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 14:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 12 inches occurred across the area.  Locally heavier amounts included 30 inches at the Tower SNOTEL site.  Wind gusts of 30 to 55 mph produced local blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 02:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 04:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 4 to 8 inches occurred across the area.  Wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph produced local blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 18:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 13:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 12 inches occurred across this zone.  Locally higher amounts included 16 inches in the Fremont Pass area.  Wind gusts of 30 to 55 mph produced local blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 21:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 21:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 8 to 12 inches blanketed the area.  Locally heavier amounts included 23 inches at Gothic and 24 inches at the Schofield Pass SNOTEL.  Wind gusts of 25 to 40 mph produced many areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in FLATTOP MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 13:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 14:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Snowfall of 10 to 16 inches occurred across the area.  Locally heavier amounts up to two feet were measured at the Bison Lake SNOTEL and in a search and rescue staging area.  About two dozen hunters were stranded, with some of them having to be air lifted from the mountain.  The situation was complicated by wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph which produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.  This event was covered in national news programs.

Winter Storm in NORTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 20:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 16:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall of 5 to 12 inches occurred across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph with areas of stronger winds, including 74 mph at Huntsman Mesa RAWS, produced local blizzard conditions.

Winter Weather in CENTRAL COLORADO RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 06:00:00 to 25-OCT-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Widespread snowfall of 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts up to 5 inches occurred across the zone.

Winter Weather in UPPER GUNNISON RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 09:00:00 to 25-OCT-10 15:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Widespread snowfall of 1 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches occurred across the zone.  Numerous vehicle accidents occurred in the Blue Mesa and Cerro Summit areas of Highway 50.

Winter Storm in CENTRAL YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 04:00:00 to 25-OCT-10 09:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

This short-lived snowfall event produced 2 to 4 inches of snowfall.  Wind gust of 40 to 60 mph produced local blizzard conditions.

Winter Storm in UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 04:00:00 to 25-OCT-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 5 to 8 inches occurred across the zone. Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Weather in ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 03:00:00 to 25-OCT-10 10:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Although only a couple of inches of snow fell, wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph produced extensive blowing snow.  A peak gust of 60 mph was measured on Douglas Pass.

Winter Storm in SOUTHWESTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, COLORADO
From 24-OCT-10 22:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 12:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall of 4 to 12 inches occurred across the area.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph produced areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE, COLORADO
From 25-OCT-10 08:00:00 to 26-OCT-10 11:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Snowfall of 3 to 7 inches occurred.  Wind gusts of 25 to 45 mph with areas of stronger gusts, including 61 mph measured at Cottonwood Basin RAWS, produced local blizzard conditions.