Winter Weather in West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

Generally 5 to 12 inches of snow fell across the area with 8.5 inches of snow reported at Crested Butte 6.2N. Winds gusted 45 to 64 mph in the higher elevations with a peak wind gust of 64 mph at Monarch Pass.

A jet streak and shortwave trough pushed through the northern and central portions of the area, bringing moderate snowfall to the northern and central Colorado mountains as well as the Eastern Uinta Mountains of northeast Utah. The strong southwest flow also led to windy conditions at the higher elevations resulting in blowing snow as well. Temperatures stayed warm with this system, keeping better snow accumulations mainly confined to areas above 9000 feet.