The National Weather Service has issued a combination of Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories across a wide swath of Colorado’s northern and central mountain ranges, with heavy snow and powerful winds expected beginning Tuesday evening and lasting through Wednesday night.
Rabbit Ears Pass and Elkhead Mountains Face the Worst of It
Rabbit Ears Pass is under Winter Storm Warning from 8pm Tuesday to midnight Wednesday night, with 8 to 16 inches of snow expected above 9,000 feet and wind gusts reaching 50 mph. The Elkhead and Park Mountains, including the areas around Columbine and Hahns Peak, face similar conditions with 8 to 16 inches forecast and gusts up to 60 mph starting at 6pm Tuesday.
Rocky Mountain National Park and Summit County Under Advisory
A Winter Weather Advisory covers Rocky Mountain National Park, the Medicine Bow Range, Summit County, the Mosquito Range, and the Indian Peaks from 8pm Tuesday through midnight Wednesday night. Total snowfall of 5 to 10 inches is expected in most areas, with locally up to 14 inches near Rocky Mountain National Park. Wind gusts could reach 65 mph.
Vail, Aspen, and the Western Ranges
The Gore and Elk Mountains, Flat Tops, and surrounding valleys including Vail, Aspen, and Snowmass are under a Winter Weather Advisory above 10,000 feet from midnight Tuesday night through midnight Wednesday. Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches are possible with gusts up to 60 mph, and the NWS warns conditions could impact both the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
Travelers should check road conditions at cotrip.org or by calling 511 before heading into the mountains Wednesday.
