Big Storms On The Way–Winter Storm Warnings For The Entire Forecast Area

On By durangoweatherguy

1/14/23 Saturday early update 3:30 am

I will cover the models in my normal morning update in a couple of hours but wanted to get out this information for the early risers, because it is rare that the entire forecast area is under a Winter Storm Warning. If you have been reading my latest updates none of this should come as a surprise.

Lower elevations

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION CO  
210 AM MST SAT JAN 14 2023  
  
COZ022-023-150015-  
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0001.230115T0600Z-230116T0000Z/  
ANIMAS RIVER BASIN-SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF DURANGO, BAYFIELD, IGNACIO,   
AND PAGOSA SPRINGS  
210 AM MST SAT JAN 14 2023  
  
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING  
TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY...  
  
* WHAT...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8   
  INCHES. HIGHER AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE SAN JUAN FOOTHILLS.  
  
* WHERE...ANIMAS RIVER BASIN AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN.  
  
* WHEN...FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY.  
COZ021-150015-  
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0001.230115T0600Z-230116T0000Z/  
FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF CORTEZ, DOVE CREEK, AND MANCOS  
210 AM MST SAT JAN 14 2023  
  
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING  
TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY ABOVE 6000 FEET...  
  
* WHAT...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED ABOVE 6000 FEET. TOTAL SNOW   
  ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES. HIGHER AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE   
  SAN JUAN FOOTHILLS. EXPECT LESSER AMOUNTS BELOW 6000 FEET.   
  WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 35 MPH.  
  
* WHERE...FOUR CORNERS/UPPER DOLORES RIVER.  
  
* WHEN...FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY.  
  
* IMPACTS...PLAN ON SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. PATCHY BLOWING   
  SNOW COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN OPEN   
  AREAS.

This is a bit of a bold call for Cortez, or at least the 6,000-foot level, we’ll see. If I could substitute Dolores for Cortez in the wording, I would.

COZ019-150015-  
/O.CON.KGJT.WS.W.0001.230115T0000Z-230116T0600Z/  
SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SILVERTON, RICO, AND HESPERUS  
210 AM MST SAT JAN 14 2023  
  
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS  
AFTERNOON TO 11 PM MST SUNDAY...  
  
* WHAT...HEAVY SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO   
  16 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. WINDS GUSTING   
  AS HIGH AS 35 MPH.  
  
* WHERE...SOUTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.  
  
* WHEN...FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM MST SUNDAY.  
  
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW   
  COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY.

I am fully on board with this, noticeably absent is Wolf Creek Pass. Don’t get me started… Expect the same at Wolf Creek as is written above.

COZ018-150015-  
/O.EXA.KGJT.WW.Y.0003.230115T0000Z-230116T0600Z/  
NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS-  
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF TELLURIDE, OURAY, AND LAKE CITY  
210 AM MST SAT JAN 14 2023  
  
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO  
11 PM MST SUNDAY...  
  
* WHAT...SNOW EXPECTED. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8   
  INCHES. WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 35 MPH.  
  
* WHERE...NORTHWEST SAN JUAN MOUNTAINS.  
  
* WHEN...FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 11 PM MST SUNDAY.  
  
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT. PATCHY BLOWING SNOW  
  COULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY ON RIDGE TOPS  
  AND MOUNTAIN PASSES.

 

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