GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – Tuesday and Wednesday are First Alert Weather days for the mountains. Heavy snow and gusty winds can cause travel disruptions.
Winter Storm Warnings
Winter Storm Warnings are in effect from 11 PM this evening to 5 AM Thursday for the Elkhead Mountains, Park Mountains, Grand and Battlement Mesas, West Elk Mountains, Sawatch Mountains, Flat Tops, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys, Uncompahgre Plateau, Dallas Divide, Northwest San Juan Mountains, and Southwest San Juan Mountains. Snow accumulations of 6-20 are possible with locally higher amounts. Winds gusts of 60-70 mph are also possible.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM Wednesday for the Eastern Sawatch Mountains above 11,000 feet and Eastern San Juan Mountains above 10,000 feet. Snow accumulations of 8-14 inches with locally higher amounts around 2 feet are possible and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Rabbit Ears pass has a Winter Storm Warning from 2 AM Tuesday to 5 AM Thursday for snow accumulations of 10-20 inches and wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Winter Weather Advisories
Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from 11 PM this evening to 5 AM Thursday for the Roan and Tavaputs Plateaus, Upper Yampa River Basin, San Juan River Basin, Eastern Uinta Mountains, and La Sal and Abajo Mountains. Snow accumulations of 4-12 inches are possible with locally higher amounts. Winds can gust up to 65 mph in some spots.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM Wednesday for the La Garita Mountains above 10,000 feet, Central Lake County below 11,000 feet, Western Chaffee County between 9,000 and 11,000 feet, Western Mosquito Range above 11,000 feet, and upper Rio Grande Valley and the Eastern San Juan Mountains below 10,000 feet. Snow accumulations of 4-12 inches are possible with wind gusts up to 75 mph.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 2 AM Tuesday to 11 PM Wednesday for Rocky Mountain National Park, Medicine Bow Range, The Mountains of Summit County, Mosquito Range, and Indian Peaks. Snow accumulations of 3-10 inches are possible with locally higher amounts up to 12 inches and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Avalanche Watch
An Avalanche Watch is in effect from 9 AM Tuesday to 5 PM Friday for the West Elk and Elk Mountains. Heavy snow and strong winds will cause high avalanche danger. Avoid travel on and under slopes steeper than about 30 degrees in those areas.
Wind Advisory
A Wind Advisory is in effect from 5 AM to 5 PM Tuesday for the Central Yampa River Basin, Lower Yampa River Basin, Animas River Basin, Four Corners/Upper Dolores River, and Paradox Valley/Lower Dolores River. Winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts up to 50 mph. Be sure to tie down or bring inside loose objects. Areas outside the advisory can have wind gusts of 30-40 mph in the valleys with gusts up to 75 mph in the mountains.
Timing the Rain and Snow
Snow for the mountains and possibly even the valleys will begin during the overnight tonight as a widespread wave of snow moves through. It looks to arrive between 2 AM and 4 AM. Snow will continue in the mountains throughout the day Tuesday with scattered rain in the valleys. Another wave looks to move through Wednesday with the same story once again of rain/snow in the valleys and snow in the mountains. Thursday could be a little drier before one more wave moves through Friday and brings rain and snow mainly to Southwest Colorado before we dry out over the weekend.
Today’s Forecast
Today will be mostly cloudy with temperatures increasing to the low to mid 50s around noon. Afternoon highs will be about 61 degrees in Grand Junction, 60 degrees in Montrose, 62 degrees in Delta, 59 degrees in Cortez, and 61 degrees in Moab. Low temperatures tonight will be about 39 degrees in Grand Junction, 35 degrees in Montrose, 34 degrees in Delta, 30 degrees in Cortez, and 40 degrees in Moab.
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