Winter Storm — Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado

1999-12-03 to 1999-12-04 · Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Colorado

Event narrative

An intense winter storm moved from northwest New Mexico the morning of December 3rd into the Texas Panhandle by the morning of December 4th. It produced some incredible snow totals. In addition to the snow, north to northeast winds, gusting over 30 mph, caused low visibility and very hazardous driving conditions. One of the incredible snow totals occurred at Cuchara in southwest Huerfano county where 61 inches of snow was noted from 9:00 a.m. on December 3rd to noon on December 4th. Four to 5 feet of snow fell at the Cuchara Ski Resort in approximately 24 hours. Elsewhere in Huerfano county, 40 inches of snow was reported around Red Wing, and 13 inches of the white stuff accumulated at Walsenburg. In extreme southwest Pueblo county, Rye was graced with up to 34 inches of snow while Beulah tallied 16 inches of snow. In Las Animas county, a site 18 miles west-southwest of Aguilar reported 28 inches of snow. Twelve inches of snow was observed at Aguilar...7 inches was noted 4 miles north of Tobe...5 inches fell at Trinidad and 4 inches was measured at Kim. In Custer county, 12 to 24 inches of snow occurred in the vicinity of Westcliffe with 16 inches covering Rosita. In Costilla county, 14 inches of snow was noted 4 miles east of Fort Garland. In Fremont county, 5 inches of snow accumulated at Coaldale. In Teller county, 20 inches of snow graced the community of Woodland Park while 9 inches was measured at Divide. In El Paso county, 12 inches of snow was measured at Monument...up to 11 inches in the Black Forest region...6 inches at the Air Force Academy and 4 to 6 inches in the western sections of Colorado Springs. In Otero county, 10 inches of snow graced Timpas. In southwest Bent county, 8 inches of snow was measured. In extreme southwest Prowers county, 5 inches of snow was noted. Finally, in Baca county...5 inches of snow occurred 20 miles northwest of Springfield, while at Springfield, 4 inches was noted.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5724189. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.