Thursday Afternoon Update

10/17/24 Thursday 3:15 pm

Today, some areas have seen light sporadic precipitation being pushed in before the storm’s “outer precipitation bands” start to move in.

I will prepare a snow forecast for higher elevation areas, mainly above 8,500 feet, and include it in my morning update tomorrow.

Here are the updated Warnings

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Grand Junction CO
218 PM MDT Thu Oct 17 2024

COZ018-019-181045-
/O.EXT.KGJT.WS.W.0010.241018T1200Z-241020T1800Z/
Northwest San Juan Mountains-Southwest San Juan Mountains-
Including the cities of Telluride, Ouray, Lake City, Silverton,
Rico, and Hesperus
218 PM MDT Thu Oct 17 2024

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON MDT
SUNDAY ABOVE 8500 FEET...

* WHAT...Heavy snow and blowing snow expected above 8500 feet. Total
  snow accumulations between 12 and 24 inches with locally higher
  amounts around 3 feet above timberline on favored peaks.  Winds
  gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Northwest San Juan Mountains and Southwest San Juan
  Mountains.

* WHEN...From 6 AM Friday to noon MDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will
  likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult
  to impossible. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce
  visibility.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Pueblo CO
133 PM MDT Thu Oct 17 2024

COZ066-068-180345-
/O.UPG.KPUB.WS.A.0017.241018T1200Z-241020T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KPUB.WS.W.0016.241018T1200Z-241020T1800Z/
La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet-Eastern San Juan Mountains
Above 10000 Feet-
Including Wolf Creek Pass, North Pass, and Cumbres Pass
133 PM MDT Thu Oct 17 2024

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO NOON MDT
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and
  3 feet. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...La Garita Mountains Above 10000 Feet and Eastern San Juan
  Mountains Above 10000 Feet.

* WHEN...From 6 AM Friday to noon MDT Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult, especially over Wolf
  Creek Pass. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday
  morning and evening commutes.

Here are the latest model runs; all models have boosted their liquid precipitation from the previous runs. The Euro has increased the snow totals at lower elevations.

GFS

Liquid equivalent