Winter Weather Advisories take effect Wednesday for Colorado’s high country, with 4 to 12 inches of snow expected near Aspen, Vail, Winter Park, Breckenridge, Telluride and Wolf Creek Pass.
Four National Weather Service offices issued advisories for the first significant snow of the season. Mountain passes could be slushy and icy.
NWS Boulder called its advisory the season’s first for the northern mountains.
Northern and Front Range Mountains (Denver/Boulder)
The advisory runs noon Wednesday to 6 a.m. MDT Thursday above 9,000 feet.
Expect 6 to 12 inches of snow.
Areas: Rabbit Ears Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Medicine Bow Range, the Indian Peaks, Berthoud Pass, the Eisenhower Tunnel area, Winter Park, Breckenridge and the mountains of Summit County.
Check cotrip.org for closures and traction laws.
Central Mountains (Grand Junction)
The advisory runs 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. MDT Thursday above 9,500 feet.
Expect 4 to 8 inches, with more above timberline and gusts to 35 mph.
Areas: the Flat Tops, Elkhead and Park Mountains, Gore and Elk Mountains, Grand and Battlement Mesas, and the West Elk and Sawatch mountains. That includes Aspen, Snowmass, Vail, Vail Pass, Minturn, Crested Butte, Monarch Pass and McClure Pass.
The Wednesday morning and evening commutes could be affected.
Source: NWS Grand Junction on X
San Juan Mountains
Northwest and Southwest San Juans: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday above 10,000 feet, with 4 to 8 inches and gusts to 35 mph. This includes Telluride, Lizard Head Pass, Ouray, Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, Molas Pass, Coal Bank Pass, Lake City and Rico.
Eastern San Juans: midnight tonight to 6 p.m. Wednesday above 10,000 feet, with 4 to 9 inches. This includes Wolf Creek Pass and Cumbres Pass.
Sawatch and Mosquito Ranges
NWS Pueblo’s advisory runs 6 a.m. Wednesday to midnight Wednesday night above 11,000 feet.
Expect 5 to 10 inches and gusts to 35 mph in the Eastern Sawatch and Western Mosquito Range, including Climax and Bonanza. The greatest amounts are expected north of Cottonwood Pass.
Safety Reminders
Slow down and use caution on mountain passes.
Check road conditions at cotrip.org or call 511 before you go.
Carry winter gear, water and a charged phone, and allow extra time.
For live updates, follow NWS Boulder and NWS Grand Junction on X.
