A fast moving upper level storm system, along with a deep low pressure system over Nebraska and high pressure building over Utah, combined to create a powerful windstorm across Northeast and North Central Colorado.  In the mountains and foothills, several locations recorded wind gusts in excess of 100 mph.  Numerous trees were knocked down throughout Arapahoe National Forest.  One man was killed when he was impaled by a falling tree limb while driving along U.S. Highway 36, north of Boulder.  High winds blew several vehicles off Interstate 76 near Sterling, forcing the closure of the interstate to high profile vehicles.  One driver was injured when his semi trailer was blown off the interstate and rolled onto its side.  Visibilities over the northeast corner of the state were also reduced significantly by a combination of blowing dust and blowing snow.  The high winds also forced the closure of Interstate 25 at the Wyoming border.  Downed power lines also sparked several small grassfires.  The strong winds produced extensive damage to fences and some roofs, and also knocked down trees resulting in power outages to approximately 19,000 residents.  In Fort Collins, a large light pole in Hughes Stadium at Colorado State University, crashed onto the upper press box level and slid into the stadium seating area.  The pole damaged the roof and a fire sprinkler pole.
In the North Central Mountains and Front Range Foothills, peak wind gusts included:  126 mph, 7 miles south of Frisco; 111 mph, 3 miles south-southeast of Pinecliffe; 101 mph, 1 mile west of Lyons; 94 mph atop Berthoud Pass; 90 mph, 9 miles east of Dillon; 86 mph, 7 miles south-southwest of Frisco and 3 miles south of Golden; 84 mph, 4 miles northwest of Boulder; 81 mph in Boulder; 80 mph, 9 miles south of Fraser and 11 miles north of Kremmling; 79 mph at Kenosha Pass, NCAR Mesa Lab and the junction of U.S. Highways 72 and 93; 77 mph at Fairplay and National Wind Technology Center; 76 mph, 3 miles north-northwest of Morrison.
Peak wind gusts for the rest of the Urban Corridor and Northeast Plains of Colorado included:  80 mph, 4 miles east-northeast of Eaton, 3 mile east of Cedar Point; 79 mph, 3 miles north-northwest of Cornish; 77 mph, 2 miles north-northwest of New Raymer; 75 mph at Akron and north Longmont; 74 mph at Limon and 10 miles northeast of Pawnee Buttes; 73 mph, 4 miles east of Loveland, Sterling Airport and Woodrow; 72 mph at Briggsdale; 71 mph at the Natural Fort Rest Area; 70 mph at Haxtun, 7 miles north of Rockport and Sterling; 67 mph at Greeley Airport and 3 miles northeast of Loveland, 10 miles east of Parker and 5 miles northwest of Woodlin School; 65 mph at Crook;  64 mph at Buckley AFB and Lakewood; 63 mph, at Eaton, 4 miles east of Fort Collins, Holyoke, 4 miles east-northeast of Severance and Wellington; 62 mph, 6 miles east of Berthoud; 61 mph at Wiggins; 60 mph at Bennett and Front Range Airport in Watkins; 59 mph at Denver International Airport and Deer Trail; 58 mph, 2 miles west of Keenesburg, Rocky Mountain Regional Airport in Broomfield and 2 miles north-northwest of Louisville; 57 mph in Fort Collins.

High Wind in S & E JACKSON / LARIMER / N & NE GRAND / NW BOULDER COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in S & SE GRAND / W CENTRAL & SW BOULDER / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / SUMMIT / N & W PARK COUNTIES ABOVE 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 109.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in LARIMER & BOULDER COUNTIES BETWEEN 6000 & 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 101.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in JEFFERSON & W DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET / GILPIN / CLEAR CREEK / NE PARK COUNTIES BELOW 9000 FEET, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 96.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in LARIMER COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / NW WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BOULDER & JEFFERSON COUNTIES BELOW 6000 FEET / W BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

A driver was killed when he was impaled in the chest by a falling branch.  The branch. about 3 feet in length and 3 inches in diameter, flew through into the windshield and fatally wounded him.

High Wind in N DOUGLAS COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / DENVER / W ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES / E BROOMFIELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in ELBERT / C & E DOUGLAS COUNTIES ABOVE 6000 FEET, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in C & S WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in C & E ADAMS & ARAPAHOE COUNTIES, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in NE WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 61.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in MORGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

The driver of a Freghtliner truck and trailer was injured when his truck was blown off  Interstate 76 at mile point 123.  The vehicle came to rest on its side.  Several other accidents were also reported.  The dangerous winds forced the closure of I-76 for high profile vehicles until they subsided.

High Wind in WASHINGTON COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 65.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

High Wind in SEDGWICK COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in PHILLIPS COUNTY, COLORADO
From 31-DEC-11 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-11 16:49:00 (MST-7)
Magnitude: 69.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet