Winter Storm Warning Issued for Rabbit Ears Pass; Up to 24 Inches of Snow Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Denver CO has issued a Winter Storm Warning for high-elevation regions of North Central Colorado. The alert remains in effect until 5:00 AM MST on Thursday, February 19.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers West Jackson and West Grand Counties at elevations above 9,000 feet. This includes Rabbit Ears Pass.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are advised to take the following precautions:

• If travel is necessary, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
• Be prepared for winter driving conditions when traveling to the mountains.
• Check the latest road conditions and traction laws for Colorado by calling 5-1-1 or visiting www.cotrip.org.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations are expected to range between 12 and 24 inches.
• Wind Speeds: Winds are forecast to gust as high as 55 mph.
• Visibility: Snow and blowing snow will reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less. Sudden snow squalls may bring quick, intense bursts of snow and rapidly reduced visibility.
• Travel Impacts: Snow and ice-covered roads will make travel very difficult at times.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is currently active and will continue until 5:00 AM MST Thursday. Forecasters highlight a specific period of concern between 4:00 AM and 7:00 AM on Tuesday morning, when a burst of heavy snow and strong winds is expected to drop visibility to less than a quarter mile and cause roads to become snow-covered.