High Wind in West Elk and Sawatch Mountains, Colorado

The peak wind gust of 109 mph was recorded at the Carbonate Hill mesonet station at 5:00 AM MDT. In addition, the KMYP AWOS site on Monarch Pass, CO recorded a wind gust to 101 mph at 3:15 AM MDT, with a gust to 87 mph at 8:15 AM MDT. Other, sub-75 mph wind gusts throughout the region ranged from 46 mph to 67 mph. The two peak gusts over 100 mph occurred at elevations above 10,000 feet, where impacts to infrastructure are limited. In addition, the peak wind gusts occurred in the middle of the night, limiting impacts to travelers over Monarch Pass. No reports of injuries, damages, or fatalities were received in association with this event.

A very strong Pacific system moved into the region, with a potent 170 knot jet streak aloft and a strong surface cold front. As a result, winds began to increase through the afternoon on the 14th, peaking with the cold frontal passage. Areas across northwest Colorado first saw impacts in the evening of the 14th, with the strong winds spreading southward through the early morning hours of the 15th. Highest wind gusts, up to around 100 mph, were confined to elevations above 10,000 feet, thus limiting impacts from the event.