STRONG WINTER STORM IS POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND...
THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF PACIFIC WEATHER SYSTEMS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION TODAY FOLLOWED BY A SECOND DISTURBANCE PASSING TO THE SOUTH ON FRIDAY. NO SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED FROM THESE TWO DISTURBANCES.
HOWEVER...A THIRD AND MUCH STRONGER PACIFIC STORM WILL ARRIVE SATURDAY AND COULD BRING SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN SNOWFALL THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE VALLEYS OF WESTERN COLORADO AND EASTERN UTAH MAY ALSO SEE SOME SNOW.
FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 9000 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN COLORADO...EARLY INDICATORS SUGGEST THAT MORE THAN 12 INCHES OF SNOW COULD FALL WITHIN A 24-HOUR PERIOD SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. FOR OTHER MOUNTAIN AREAS...6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE. CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL ACCOMPANY THE HEAVY SNOWFALL POSSIBLY RESULTING IN NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES.
PERIODS OF SNOW MAY CONTINUE FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY AS FAVORABLE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW SETS UP. MORE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL AND GUSTY WINDS ABOVE TIMBERLINE MAY CONTINUE.
ANYONE PLANNING TRAVEL OR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES INTO THE HIGH COUNTRY THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN CHANGES IN THE WEATHER...ESPECIALLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GJT FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM.