Extratropical Cyclones Forming East of the Rocky Mountains

Online 10.3: An Upper-Level Cyclone Crosses the Rockies Surface Temperature: Animations of surface temperature show that in Colorado, temperatures were below freezing during the "Colorado Holiday Blizzard II." This ensured that any precipitation that fell remained in the form of snow. Cold temperatures coupled with wind causes low wind chill temperatures. Along the Plains, on the order of 3500 cows perished due to the extreme cold and severe weather conditions.