A couple of Winter Storm Warnings right out of the chute this morning. The 550 passes and areas above 9,500 feet. Another for Wolf Creek Pass and surrounding areas above 9,500 feet.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
315 AM MST SUN NOV 22 2020
COZ019-221815-
/O.NEW.KGJT.WS.W.0012.201123T0100Z-201124T1800Z/
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SILVERTON AND RICO
315 AM MST SUN NOV 22 2020
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM ST TUESDAY ABOVE 9500 FEET…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED ABOVE 9500 FEET. TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 16 INCHES WITH UP TO 20 INCHES ON FAVORED SOUTHWEST FACES. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 40 MPH.
* WHERE…SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
* WHEN…FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 11 AM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY.
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
405 AM MST SUN NOV 22 2020
COZ068-221915-
/O.NEW.KPUB.WS.W.0010.201123T0000Z-201124T1800Z/
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET- (Wolf Creek Pass) 405 AM MST SUN NOV 22 2020
…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 AM MST TUESDAY…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 18 INCHES, WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH.
* WHERE…EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET.
* WHEN…FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 AM MST TUESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE MORNING OR EVENING COMMUTE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
I like the call on the first one. I am not so sure about the Wolf Creek Pass issuance. I think 8-16″ is too low and I would be surprised if they don’t change it that before the afternoon forecast package comes out. 3 of the 4 models I usually look at are showing close to 3 inches of liquid equivalent for Wolf Creek. The 4th is the German model and it is even showing close to 2 inches of liquid there.
If we have another set of robust model runs over the next few hours I think they will increase the Wolf Creek total.
The next post on this potentially long-duration event will be around noon today. I will answer all of your new questions at that time so contact me before then. Thanks for following and supporting the page.