12/28/21 Tuesday 7 am
Wolf Creek was closed again most of the night for adverse conditions. They just reopened it. I can’t tell from the new CDOT site if there was an avalanche overnight on Lizard Head or if they are just doing mitigation. CDOT’s website does not show it closed.
4 inches fell overnight at my house, 5 inches at Telluride in the last 24 hours, and 4 inches at Purgatory. I also have a report of 7 inches at Lake Purgatory and 2.5 inches from Durango in town. I just got a report from the west slope of the La Platas at 8,200 feet of 7.5 inches so far.
Here are the latest updated Advisories and Warnings for the area.
COZ021>023-282200-
/O.EXT.KGJT.WW.Y.0038.000000T0000Z-211229T1500Z/
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-
SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CORTEZ, DOVE CREEK, MANCOS, DURANGO, BAYFIELD, IGNACIO, AND PAGOSA SPRINGS
456 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2021
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM MST
WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES.
* WHERE…FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER, ANIMAS RIVER BASIN AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN.
* WHEN…UNTIL 8 AM MST WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. THE HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS COULD IMPACT THE MORNING OR EVENING COMMUTE.
=======================
COZ009-012-019-282200-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0009.000000T0000Z-211230T0000Z/
GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS-WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS- SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CRESTED BUTTE, TAYLOR PARK, MARBLE, SILVERTON, RICO, AND HESPERUS
456 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2021
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST
WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 40 MPH.
* WHERE…SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS, GRAND AND BATTLEMENT MESAS AND WEST ELK AND SAWATCH MOUNTAINS.
* WHEN…UNTIL 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
BLOWING SNOW WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY
==================
COZ018-282200-
/O.CON.KGJT.WW.Y.0037.000000T0000Z-211230T0000Z/
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF TELLURIDE, OURAY, AND LAKE CITY
456 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2021
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH.
* WHERE…NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.
* WHEN…UNTIL 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. BLOWING SNOW WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT. WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 20 BELOW ZERO COULD CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN IN AS LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES.
=======================
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUEBLO CO
350 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2021
COZ060-068-281900-
/O.CON.KPUB.WS.W.0013.000000T0000Z-211230T0000Z/
EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET-
EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET-WOLF CREEK PASS
350 AM MST TUE DEC 28 2021
…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST
WEDNESDAY…
* WHAT…HEAVY SNOW. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 FEET WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
* WHERE…EASTERN SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS ABOVE 10000 FEET AND THE EASTERN SAWATCH MOUNTAINS ABOVE 11000 FEET.
* WHEN…UNTIL 5 PM MST WEDNESDAY.
* IMPACTS…TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE COLD WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 25 BELOW ZERO COULD CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN IN AS LITTLE AS 30 MINUTES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
I will discuss some of the updated amounts in these Warnings and Advisories in my next update. I am generally on the upper end of their forecasts.
This afternoon, I will start diving into the next half of this storm cycle. It may not stop snowing in some areas until the system departs on Saturday, but it will really start cranking up late in the day on Thursday. It is going to get deep.
My next update will be out by 9:30 at the latest. Thanks for following and supporting the site!
CDOT is doing avalanche work on Lizard Head this morning starting at 7:30. Was scheduled last night. Son In Law works that patrol for CDOT.
Thanks!