Wind Advisory In The Lower And Mid Elevations–Winter Storm Warning In The Mountains

10/22/22 Saturday 4:15 pm
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Wind Advisory

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
141 PM MDT Sat Oct 22, 2022

COZ022-023-231000-
/O.EXB.KGJT.WI.Y.0024.221023T0600Z-221023T1800Z/
Animas River Basin-San Juan River Basin-
Including the cities of Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio,
and Pagosa Springs

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON MDT
SUNDAY…

* WHAT…Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph
expected.

* WHERE…Animas River Basin and San Juan River Basin.

* WHEN…From midnight tonight to noon MDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

People, especially those with respiratory illnesses, heart
disease, the elderly, and children are recommended to stay
indoors and avoid prolonged outdoor exercise or heavy exertion
due to wind-blown dust.

Winter Storm Warnings

 

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
227 PM MDT Sat Oct 22 2022

COZ009-010-012-018-019-231000-
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0007.221023T0600Z-221024T1200Z/
Grand and Battlement Mesas-
Gore and Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys-
West Elk and Sawatch Mountains-Northwest San Juan Mountains-
Southwest San Juan Mountains-
Including the cities of Vail, Crested Butte, Taylor Park,
Telluride, Ouray, Lake City, Silverton, and Rico
227 PM MDT Sat Oct 22 2022

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY ABOVE 8500 FEET…

* WHAT…Heavy snow expected above 8500 feet. Total snow
accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with locally higher amounts.
Winds gusting as high as 60 mph.

* WHERE…Grand and Battlement Mesas, Gore and Elk
Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys, West Elk and Sawatch
Mountains, Northwest San Juan Mountains and Southwest San Juan
Mountains.

* WHEN…From midnight tonight to 6 AM MDT Monday.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible.
Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.
Strong winds could cause tree damage.


 

Wolf Creek

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
218 PM MDT Sat Oct 22 2022

COZ060-066-068-230430-
/O.CON.KPUB.WS.W.0012.221023T0600Z-221024T1200Z/
Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet-
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Feet-
218 PM MDT Sat Oct 22 2022

…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM MDT MONDAY…

* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 16
inches, with the greatest amounts expected over the eastern San
Juan Mountains. Winds gusting as high as 65 mph.

* WHERE…Eastern Sawatch Mountains Above 11000 Feet, La Garita
Mountains Above 10000 Feet, and Eastern San Juan Mountains
Above 10000 Feet.

* WHEN…From midnight tonight to 6 AM MDT Monday.

* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. Widespread blowing
snow could significantly reduce visibility.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Forecast

Generally, if I don’t see any drastic changes in the models, on the last runs before my last post before the storm arrives, I tend to go with what I have seen over the last few days. The heaviest snow with this storm will fall where no one will be able to access it in the La Plata Mountains backcountry. For the ski areas, I am forecasting the mid-mountain snowfall amounts.

Wolf Creek 16-20 inches

Telluride 10-14 inches

Telluride will get decent snow in SW flow with the positioning of the jet streak (the strongest part of the jet stream). Then the winds will shift to the NW and they will get their favorable flow adding to the total.

Purgatory 8-12 inches

As far as the rest of us go, I am expecting 6-10 inches for Silverton,  Mayday, and Rico. 2-6 inches in the forecast area between 7,400-8,400 feet. Below 7,400 up to an inch with most melting. I expect 0.40 inches to 1.00+ inches of liquid equivalent precipitation throughout the forecast area.

For the passes,12-16 inches at Wolf Creek Pass, 8-14 inches at Coal Bank, and Molas with 6-10 at Lizard Head.

My next update will be Sunday morning. Thanks for following and supporting the site and thank you for participating in the contest!

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