High Wind in Central Colorado River Basin, Colorado

The Colorado Department of Highways RWIS site 0.1 mi W of No Name Tunnel recorded a gust to 60 mph at 9:40 PM MST. Additional gusts across the region ranged from 45 mph to 55 mph, with the highest gust recorded at an ASOS or AWOS being 46 mph at KEGE AWOS at Eagle County Regional Airport. No reports of injuries, fatalities, or damages were received.

A strong winter storm approached eastern Utah and western Colorado from the west, bringing a shot of colder air along with it. Ahead of this system, high pressure had brought a much warmer airmass. Between these two systems, and along and ahead of the approaching cold front, the surface pressure gradient began to tighten. Deep mixing ahead of the front also helped to bring down higher momentum air from the strong, 170 knot upper level jet. All together, this resulted in widespread strong, gusty winds across much of eastern Utah and western Colorado.