Winter Storm Warning Issued for Grand and Battlement Mesas, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
Weather Alerts high NOAA · · Western Colorado
A major winter storm is expected to bring up to 20 inches of snow and 70 mph wind gusts to parts of western Colorado through Thursday morning.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a Winter Storm Warning for high-elevation regions in western Colorado. The alert is effective from 11:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16, through 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- Grand and Battlement Mesas
- West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
What You Should Do
Residents and travelers are advised to take the following precautions:
- If travel is unavoidable, keep an extra flashlight, food, water, and warm clothing in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
- Monitor the latest road conditions by calling 5 1 1.
- Prepare for potential power outages due to strong winds and tree damage.
Expected Conditions
- Snow Accumulation: Heavy snow is expected, with total accumulations between 10 and 20 inches. Locally higher amounts are possible in some areas.
- Wind Speeds: Winds are forecast to gust as high as 70 mph.
- Visibility: Blowing snow may result in near zero visibility at times.
- Impacts: Travel could become very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions are expected to significantly impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes. Strong winds may also cause damage to trees.
Timeline
- Onset: The storm conditions are expected to begin at 11:00 PM MST on Monday, February 16.
- Duration: The warning remains in effect until 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.
Source: NOAA Official Notice