Winter Storm — West Jackson & West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet, Colorado

2021-12-23 to 2021-12-25 · West Jackson & West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet, Colorado

Event narrative

Storm totals included 29.9 inches near Mount Zirkel and 19.6 inches near Rabbit Ears Pass.

Wider weather episode

A winter storm produced the first significant snowfall in the northern mountains of Colorado, just in time for Christmas. Storm totals generally ranged from 1 to 2.5 feet. The heaviest snowfall occurred in mountains north of the I-70 corridor. Tragedy struck on Christmas Eve when a backcountry skier was buried in an avalanche near Cameron Pass.

Some of the more impressive 2-day storm totals from this event included: 29.9 inches near Mount Zirkel, 27.6 inches at Bear Lake and near Cameron Pass, 26.4 inches near Mt Audubon, 25.3 inches near Long's Peak, 24.2 inches near Trail Ridge, 24.1 inches near Gould, 21.8 inches near Arapahoe Peak and Spicer, 19.6 inches near Rabbit Ears Pass.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 992513. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.