As Colorado’s Front Range and Eastern Plains contend with strong winds and heightened fire risks this week, the mountainous regions are set to receive significant snowfall, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Winter storm warnings were issued for the Gore and Elk mountain ranges, the Flat Tops, and the San Juan Mountains, spanning from 11 p.m. on Monday to 5 a.m. on Thursday.
Expectations indicate that the Colorado mountains could see more than a foot of fresh snow, particularly affecting popular areas such as Aspen, Snowmass, Vail, Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton. Snow forecasts, as of Sunday afternoon, project significant accumulation through early Wednesday morning, with varying amounts across different regions.
In detail, projections include:
– 2 inches in Eldora, with a potential of 3 inches.
– 3 inches in Breckenridge, reaching up to 4 inches.
– 3 inches in Grand Lake, with a possible 6 inches.
– 4 inches in Winter Park and at the Keystone Ski Area Summit, with up to 5 inches possible.
– Higher totals around 7 to 10 inches across U.S. 34’s Milner Pass and Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass, with Mount Zirkel potentially accumulating an impressive 14 to 16 inches.
Forecasters have strongly cautioned that travel conditions may be severely impacted, with situations leading to near-zero visibility due to blowing snow. Additionally, a winter weather advisory is in place for parts of Jackson, Larimer, Grand, Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, and Park counties, including Rocky Mountain National Park, extending from Monday night until Wednesday evening.
Intense snow squalls could emerge this week, contributing to substantially reduced visibility and challenging travel conditions across these areas. Snowfall is anticipated to begin Monday night, persisting into the weekend on Colorado’s tallest peaks and popular ski resorts, including Keystone and Breckenridge.
For those venturing into the backcountry, particularly in the Elk and Park mountain ranges, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center has issued warnings about potential avalanche risks. These areas are expected to have a high avalanche risk on Tuesday and will be under an avalanche watch from Tuesday through Friday, necessitating caution among outdoor enthusiasts.
Overall, while the weather poses several challenges in the state, the impending snowfall is a much-anticipated boon for ski resorts and outdoor enthusiasts who thrive on winter conditions.