12/7/21 Tuesday 3:45 pm
On one hand, I am glad to see it. On the other hand, I get nervous about the curse of the early Winter Storm Watch. If the models keep doing what they were doing this morning, I will be happy. We will see in about 12 hours. You don’t have to get up, I got this.
Here is the wording on the Winter Storm Watch (WSW). Grand Junction, Boulder, and Pueblo collaborated on this which makes me feel better. This is very early, so it is what I refer to as a blanket watch. Remember general to specific. They want to get the information out there. They will be more specific as time goes on.
Grand Junction
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO
256 PM MST TUE DEC 7 2021
COZ003>005-009-010-012-013-017>019-081200-
/O.NEW.KGJT.WS.A.0004.211209T0000Z-211211T0000Z/
ROAN AND TAVAPUTS PLATEAUS-ELKHEAD AND PARK MOUNTAINS- UPPER YAMPA RIVER BASIN-GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS- GORE AND ELK MOUNTAINS/CENTRAL MOUNTAIN VALLEYS- WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS-FLAT TOPS- UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU AND DALLAS DIVIDE-
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF RIO BLANCO, COLUMBINE, HAHNS PEAK, TOPONAS, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, ASPEN, VAIL, SNOWMASS, CRESTED BUTTE, TAYLOR PARK, MARBLE, BUFORD, TRAPPERS LAKE, RIDGWAY, GLADE PARK,
TELLURIDE, OURAY, LAKE CITY, SILVERTON, RICO, AND HESPERUS
256 PM MST TUE DEC 7 2021
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 FEET POSSIBLE. WINDS COULD GUST AS HIGH AS 40 MPH.
* WHERE…PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST, SOUTHWEST, AND WEST-CENTRAL COLORADO.
* WHEN…FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY ON RIDGE TOPS AND MOUNTAIN PASSES. THE COLD WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 20 BELOW ZERO COULD CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN IN AS
LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES.
Pueblo-Wolf Creek Pass
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
301 PM MST TUE DEC 7 2021
COZ058-060-066-068-080615-
/O.NEW.KPUB.WS.A.0010.211209T0600Z-211211T0000Z/
WESTERN MOSQUITO RANGE/EAST LAKE COUNTY ABOVE 11000 FEET-
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET-
LA GARITA MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET-
301 PM MST TUE DEC 7 2021
…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 FEET POSSIBLE. ABOVE 10000 FEET AND EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET COUNTIES.
* WHEN…FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. BLOWING SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE COLD WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 20 BELOW ZERO COULD CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN IN AS LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL FALL ON THE
SOUTHWESTERN SLOPES OF THE SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS WHERE 2 TO 3 FEET OF SNOW IS LIKELY.
The forecast discussion this afternoon was already talking about future highlights for our low and mid-elevations areas. That is a positive. They also mention next week’s storm.
I hate to even go there, but I keep seeing the storm next week in the models. Look at what happens, coincidentally or otherwise, when we go into phase 7 of the MJO next week Wednesday the 15th.
The models are pretty well aligned. The GFS is showing its bias. Here are the totals for next week’s storm. This is very early to be talking about it. Then again, I started talking about Thursday’s storm very early as well.
Euro
Canadian
GFS
Welcome to winter in Southwest Colorado. My next update will be Wednesday morning. Thanks for following and supporting the site!
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