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

Source: NOAA · Colorado Mountains

This alert is no longer in effect.

NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

A major winter storm is forecast to bring up to 21 inches of snow and 80 mph wind gusts to high-elevation Colorado mountain ranges through Wednesday night.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Winter Storm Warning
Affected area
Colorado Mountains
Issued
April 6, 2026
Issuing authority
NWS Pueblo CO

Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.

Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Colorado Mountains.

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.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
A major winter storm is forecast to bring up to 21 inches of snow and 80 mph wind gusts to high-elevation Colorado mountain ranges through Wednesday night.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Colorado Mountains. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.