Whether hitting the road or staying put, Garfield County residents should see their fair share of winter weather this week.
Tonight, the first of two storm systems will roll through the area according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Dennis Phillips.
The National Weather Service anticipates unfavorable travel conditions “leading up to, during and after Thanksgiving, especially in the mountains.”
“Snow ought to start falling pretty good probably by mid-evening [Monday],” Phillips said.
Phillips believed the first storm system could produce snow through Tuesday morning in lower elevations and into the afternoon for higher terrains within Garfield County.
“You might be lucky to hit 30 [degrees], maybe, up there in Glenwood,” Phillips said of Tuesday’s high temperature. “Overnight lows, probably, in the single digits.”
Phillips said the first storm system could generate between 2 and 5 inches of snow depending on location and elevation in Garfield County.
After the first storm system moves through the area, Phillips said Wednesday should stay mainly dry and warm up slightly with high temperatures in the low 40s.
However, the winter weather will return on Thanksgiving when another storm system makes its way across portions of the Western Slope.
“The main storm system will come through, probably, Thursday evening and this is going to be a much bigger storm.” Phillips said. “The big push … in most of Garfield County will be probably Thursday evening through Friday morning.”
Phillips did not have an estimation of how much snow Garfield County may accumulate as result of the second storm system other than to say a fairly significant amount was possible.
“It’s going to be another good snowmaker,” Phillips said.
