Winter Conditions Affecting Utah, New Mexico And Colorado, 13 Inches Snow Possible
KEY POINTS
- Up to 13 inches of snow is possible in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado
- Utah officials warned of snowfall possibly hampering travel
- Temperatures are expected to drop below zero in parts of New Mexico
Winter weather conditions will affect the Rocky Mountains through Thursday, and up to 13 inches of snow is possible in some parts of Colorado, officials said. Winter Weather Advisories have been issued in affected states, including Utah and New Mexico.
"High-elevation accumulating snow across the Rockies through Thursday evening as upper-level energy digs southward," the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in its Short Range Public Discussion report released Wednesday. The Rockies include Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado.
❄️ High-elevation snow is expected across the Intermountain West today, extending from the Cascade Mountains into the Northern & Central Rockies. Expect Moderate to Major Impacts over parts of Western Colorado, where the highest probability of 4 inch+ snow accumulation is located pic.twitter.com/rLYnVRTM35
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) October 26, 2022
In Colorado, major winter storm impacts are expected in Glenwood Springs, Vail, and some parts of Montrose and Gunnison, according to the WPC.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Boulder, Colorado warned of hazardous travel conditions in some parts of elevated areas. "Conditions should deteriorate overnight," the office said.
Hazardous travel across portions of the high country currently. Conditions should deteriorate overnight.
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) October 27, 2022
Carry chains, take it slow, and monitor https://t.co/2Yc05FkFwG for road conditions! Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect.
Pictured: I-70 at Copper Mountain. #COwx pic.twitter.com/w2vyTxHjMp
In the Northern and Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, 3 to 13 inches of snow accumulations are possible, the NWS in Pueblo said.
Cool and unsettled weather across E UT and W CO today and Thursday, with snow in the mountains and rain and snow across lower elevations. pic.twitter.com/q72PaDbdYg
— NWS Grand Junction (@NWSGJT) October 26, 2022
The NWS in Grand Junction also noted that mountain travel "will be negatively impacted with snow-covered roads and poor visibility in falling and blowing snow."
Over in Utah, hard freeze conditions are expected for the Wasatch Front, officials at the NWS in Salt Lake City said. Temperatures are expected to drop at or below 28F or -2.22222C in the said area.
⚠️ Hard Freeze Warning tonight into Thursday morning for the Wasatch Front
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) October 26, 2022
If you haven't winterized sprinkler systems (esp those with above ground pipes), RVs, swamp coolers, etc, you may want to consider doing so as temperatures will fall near to below 28 tonight. #utwx pic.twitter.com/zXGKWRFXMj
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic has also warned of snowfall possibly hampering travel in parts of the state through Thursday morning.
Road Weather Alert Update: Periods of mountain and lake effect snow will hamper travel in portions of Utah overnight and into Thursday morning.
— UDOT Traffic (@UDOTTRAFFIC) October 26, 2022
For more information, visit: https://t.co/RpCDjCs6F1#utwx #utsnow @UtahTrucking pic.twitter.com/4FRaq5d5hf
In New Mexico, temperatures are expected to drop below zero in several areas Thursday, including Gallup at 31F or -0.5C, Taos at 27F or -2.7C, Raton at 26F or -3.3C, Red River at 24F or -4.4C and Chama at 23F or -5C, data from the NWS in Albuquerque shows.
A quick moving storm system will bring in a round of cooler temperatures. gusty winds, showers, and mountain snow from late tonight for northwestern areas through early Friday morning for southeastern areas. #NMwx pic.twitter.com/29HMmf5kFk
— NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) October 26, 2022
Winter Weather Advisory in Colorado effective through 9 a.m. Thursday:
Winter Weather Advisories in Colorado effective through noon Thursday:
- Western Mosquito Range - also Eastern Sawatch Mountains above 11,000 feet
- Lake County below 11,000 feet – also Leadville Vicinity
- South and East Jackson – also Larimer, North and Northeast Grand, Northwest Boulder Counties above 9,000 feet, South and Southeast Grand, West Central and Southwest Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Summit, North West Jackson and West Grand Counties above 9,000 feet
- Flat Tops - also Elkhead and Park Mountains
Winter Weather Advisories in Colorado effective through 6 p.m. Thursday:
- Gore and the Elk Mountains – also Central Mountain Valleys, Grand and Battlement Mesas, West Elk and Sawatch Mountains
- Northwestern San Juan Mountains
Winter Weather Advisory in Colorado effective from 9 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday:
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains – also Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 11,000 feet, Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains above 11,000 feet, Southern Sangre de Cristo mountains between 7,500 and 11,000 feet, and Wet Mountains above 10,000 feet
Winter Weather Advisory in Utah effective through 6 a.m. Thursday:
- Wasatch Mountains I-80 North – also Wasatch Mountains South of I-80 and Western Uinta Mountains
Hard Freeze Warning in Utah effective through 9 a.m. Thursday:
- Northern Wasatch Front – also Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley
Winter Weather Advisory in New Mexico effective from 9 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday:
- Johnson Mesa – also Bartlett Mesa and Raton Pass

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