Winter Storm Warning Issued for Eastern Sawatch and San Juan Mountains Above 10,000 Feet

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Pueblo, CO, has issued a Winter Storm Warning (Alert ID: urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.a4f5af05fd165f6ee911f871fde54daff8d8ecd5.001.1). The warning is effective from 11:00 PM MST Monday, February 16, until 11:00 PM MST Wednesday, February 18.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically impacts high-elevation regions in Colorado, including:

• Eastern Sawatch Mountains: Areas above 11,000 feet.
• Eastern San Juan Mountains: Areas above 10,000 feet.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the warning area should take the following actions:

• Emergency Kit: If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
• Stay Informed: Obtain the latest road conditions for the state you are calling from by dialing 5 1 1.
• Safety Precautions: Prepare for difficult to impossible travel conditions and potential power outages due to high winds.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations between 8 and 14 inches are expected. Up to 21 inches is possible across portions of the Eastern San Juan Mountains.
• Wind Speeds: Winds are forecast to gust as high as 80 mph, causing significant blowing and drifting snow.
• Impacts: Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. Very strong winds may cause tree damage and power outages. Travel could be very difficult to impossible.

Timeline

• Start Time: 11:00 PM MST Monday, February 16.
• Heaviest Snowfall: The heaviest snow is expected to fall late Monday night through Tuesday morning, with a second round of heavy snow arriving on Wednesday.
• Duration: Strong winds and blowing snow will continue throughout the entire period until the warning ends at 11:00 PM MST Wednesday, February 18.