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A winter storm watch is in effect for the Aspen area from Tuesday evening through Thursday morning above 9000 feet. According to NOAA, the heaviest precipitation is most likely to occur early Wednesday morning through early Wednesday evening.
NOAA is forecasting snow accumulations of between 4-8 inches around 9000′ and upwards of 12 inches of snow near the mountain passes and above the treeline.
*Aspen Snowmass has a projected opening date of November 26th.
WINTER STORM WATCH
* LOCATIONS INCLUDE…THE CITY OF SNOWMASS AND INDEPENDENCE PASS.
* TIMING…SNOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TUESDAY NIGHT WITH PERIODS OF SNOW THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. TIMING OF THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING.
* SNOW ACCUMULATION…4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE AROUND 9000 FEET. UPWARDS OF 12 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE NEAR THE MOUNTAIN PASSES AND ABOVE TIMBERLINE.
* WINDS…SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH. LOCAL GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE ABOVE TIMBERLINE ON TUESDAY EVENING.
* VISIBILITY…MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A MILE AT TIMES.
* IMPACTS…THE COMBINATION OF ACCUMULATING SNOW AND WIND COULD MAKE TRAVEL DIFFICULT. POOR VISIBILITIES FROM SNOW AND FOG WILL EXIST OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES.