HIGH PRESSURE THAT HAS BEEN CENTERED ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES WILL BE BREAKING DOWN OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. THIS WILL ALLOW A SERIES OF FAST MOVING AND VERY MOIST PACIFIC STORMS TO PASS THROUGH THE REGION BEGINNING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS PATTERN IS EXPECTED TO BRING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION WITH HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND POSSIBLY SOME RAIN IN THE VALLEYS DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
AT THIS TIME...CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT MUCH OF EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO WILL SEE MEASURABLE AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND SNOW.
HOWEVER...THE EXACT AMOUNTS AND LOCATIONS FOR THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL REMAIN IN QUESTION. EARLY INDICATIONS SUGGEST OVER A FOOT OF NEW SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN COLORADO...WITH LIGHTER AMOUNTS TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH. ANY SUBTLE SHIFT IN THE STORM TRACK COULD ALTER THESE AMOUNTS GREATLY.
IN ADDITION...THESE STORMS WILL NOT BE AS COLD AS SYSTEMS EXPERIENCED EARLIER THIS WINTER AND SNOW LEVELS MAY FLUCTUATE DAILY WITH THE LOWER VALLEYS SWITCHING OVER TO RAIN DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS.
ANYONE PLANNING TRAVEL ACROSS EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO BETWEEN WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY SHOULD KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST FORECAST ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM. VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND JUNCTION WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/GJT OR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER. YOU CAN ALSO TUNE INTO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.