Christmas blizzard hits Rocky Mountain states

December 27, 1982

Colorado's National Guard was mobilized Sunday to clear snowpacked roads and search for stranded motorists after the state's worst blizzard in 69 years.

Acting Gov. Nancy Dick declared a state of emergency after snowstorms in the Rocky Mountain states dumped up to 33 inches of snow on towns and left major highways impassable. The National Weather Service in Denver said it was the most snow to fall in the state since a five-day blizzard dumped 45.7 inches in December 1913.