After a prolonged dry spell across most of Colorado, Ullr is making his triumphant return, bringing with him high winds, heavy snowfall, and one serious cold front.
Related: 2018 Winter Weather Forecast | Long Range Prediction From NOAA
While the storm is forecasted to come in hot and heavy, a cold front will lower snow levels on Friday, which should make for a decent right side-up snowpack to start the season in Colorado.
“Snow levels will be high initially, ranging from near 9,000 feet in the north to 10,000 feet in the south Thursday evening lowering to 8,500 to 9,500 feet late Thursday night. As the cold front associated with this system moves southward across the area Friday morning through Friday evening, snow levels will lower to the mountain bases and high valleys. Winds will remain strong and gusty with frontal passage resulting in blowing and drifting snow.” – NWS Grand Junction
The winners out of this storm seem to be Aspen, Crested Butte, Vail, Winter Park and Steamboat. Other favored areas include Berthoud Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park.
LET IT SNOW!
Winter Storm Watches are in effect for the mountains of western Colorado Thursday night and Friday. Snowfall accumulations may exceed one foot in some areas. Be sure to check the latest forecast before traveling across W CO or E UT. #cowx #utwx pic.twitter.com/uqZQY7fOlK
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) November 16, 2017
NOAA Discussion:
A winter storm will be impacting the Colorado mountains beginning tonight and persisting into Saturday morning. The storm will start out on the warm side with impacts mainly near mountain pass level and above. Cold air arrives Friday afternoon to NW Colorado and will make the southern border by sunrise on Saturday. The colder air will make for better accumulating snowfall as well as quickly icing and freezing roadways. Travel impacts are possible tonight into Friday afternoon…but will be likely over a larger part of the area Friday night as the cold air arrives.
Winter Storm Warning [Steamboat + Rabbit Ears Pass]
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM MST SATURDAY…
* WHAT…Snow…heavy at times…along with periods of blowing and drifting snow. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 14 inches, with localized amounts up to 16 inches, possible.
* WHERE…Elkhead and Park Mountains and Flat Tops.
* WHEN…From late this evening through early Saturday morning.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds gusting 45-55 mph above 9500 feet will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow as well as reduced visibilities to under a half mile at times. Accumulating snow levels may fluctuate tonight through mid-day Friday before much colder air arrives and snow lowers to valley floors.
Winter Storm Warning [Aspen + Crested Butte]
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM MST SATURDAY ABOVE 8000 FEET…
* WHAT…Snow…heavy at times…along with periods of blowing and drifting snow above 8000 feet. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 8 to 14 inches, with localized amounts up to 18 inches possible.
* WHERE…Grand and Battlement Mesas, Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys and West Elk and Sawatch Mountains.
* WHEN…From late this evening through early Saturday morning.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds gusting as 45 to 55 mph above 8500 feet will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow with visibilities reduced to under a half mile at times. Accumulating snow levels are likely to fluctuate tonight and Friday until the colder air arrives by Friday evening when snow levels fall to valley floors.
Winter Storm Watch [Vail + Breck + Berthoud Pass + Loveland Pass]
…WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT…
* WHAT…Heavy snow possible. Plan on difficult travel conditions, especially the evening commute on Friday. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 18 inches, are possible. Highest amounts near Rocky Mountain National Park.
* WHERE…Rocky Mountain National Park and the Medicine Bow Range and The Mountains of Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the Indian Peaks.
* WHEN…From late tonight through late Friday night.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds gusting as high as 55 mph will cause
areas of blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Weather Advisory [Telluride + Silverton]
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 AM MST SATURDAY…
* WHAT…Snow…moderate to heavy at times…along with blowing and drifting snow above 9500 feet. Plan on difficult travel conditions. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, with localized amounts up to 15 inches possible.
* WHERE…Northwest San Juan Mountains and Southwest San Juan Mountains.
* WHEN…From late this evening through early Saturday morning.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds gusting 45 to 55 mph above 9500 feet will cause areas of blowing and drifting snow and drop visibility to under a mile a times. Accumulating snow likely to fluctuate tonight through Friday with warm air in place. Snow drops to valley floors Friday night with the arrival of much colder air.
